It is an interesting thing, discussing the Holy Spirit...or not discussing Him. Even the classic Apostle's Creed falls short of anything but acknowledgement:
Some about God:
I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth...
Lots abut Jesus:
"...and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son,
our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
The third day He arose from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
The Holy Spirit is mentioned in Jesus' conception and:
I spend a fair amount of time with pastors and other brothers and sisters from a variety of denominations. Between us, there does not seem to be much difference in our views of the Father and the Son...but bring up the Holy Spirit and see a huge chasm appear...baptism of the Holy Spirit...speaking in tongues...on and on. Among many of us, "too much" discussion of the Spirit labels one as differently, somehow.
But church!
"Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant...no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit...there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit...there are different kinds of service, but the same Lord...there are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men...now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good...for we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink...there are many parts, but one body...you are the body of Christ...if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it...and now I will show you the most excellent way...so I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Selected verses from 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Certainly there is room for discussion that different parts of the Body have different responsibilities; the entirety of this chapter states overtly that different ones display different gifts. But we are one Body and have all received the same Spirit. While we may not exhibit the same gifts we, without a doubt, must revere and accept the presence of the Holy Spirit...we cannot ignore Him, or even downplay Him. Hear the words of your Savior:
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Lk.11:13) Anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Lk. 12:10) The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. (Lk.12:12) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Jn.14:26) Receive the Holy Spirit.(Jn.20:22)
Jesus Himself proclaimed the Holy Spirit in our lives. God's words through Paul tell us we will receive and exhibit the Spirit.
Amen.
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Questions:
1. How does your church and/or your denomination express the Holy Spirit?
2. Is there a fear associated with seeking the Spirit's gifts?
3. How does any of that compare with the words of Scripture?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A church in the land without the Spirit is rather a curse than a blessing.
If you have not the Spirit of God, Christian worker,
remember that you stand in somebody else's way;
you are a fruitless tree standing where a fruitful tree might grow."
Charles Spurgeon
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