The Holy Spirit

Pentecost season raises the subject of the Holy Spirit, and His actions in our lives and the impact on us.

When people asked about John and his strange ways, Jesus asked the question, ‘What did you come out to see?’  The same question can be asked regarding the Holy Spirit.

What do we expect of the Holy Spirit? What are we hoping or expecting to see or experience? My experience as a member of the LCA since its inception is that our expectations are way too low. Or maybe I should say, too narrow, too specific, too limited. We say the Holy Spirit, ‘calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies.’ And it seems we interpret those words to be mainly in the area of giving and building faith, helping us believe and growing within us a penchant for righteousness. This has been usually interpreted as getting to know about Jesus and developing a growing desire to worship Him, and live a holy life. While this is wonderful, and quite a big thing, we do ourselves a great disservice if we see that as the limit of what the Holy Spirit seeks to do in us.

With low expectations, we cannot be disappointed, and that has been at the centre of a lot of counsel I have received over the years regarding things of the Spirit. Just to explain that a bit, I have been told – cautioned, if you will – that if I pray for people for healing, if I pray for gifts, if I pray for renewal, what if nothing happens? I run the risk of destroying someone’s faith. That, however has not been my experience, nor is it the approach Jesus calls us to. When He sent out the twelve, then the seventy-two, He gave fairly big, bold instructions, including ‘proclaim the kingdom’, ‘cast out demons’ and ‘heal the sick’.

Paul calls us to ‘eagerly desire spiritual gifts’, (1 Corinthians 14:1) which seems to run contrary to our practice.

What did we come out to see? If our experience of the Holy Spirit in our lives is only distinguishable by the fact that I believe and another person doesn’t, could it be that our expectation is too low? I don’t want to lead anyone to believe that their faith is inadequate. If you believe that Jesus is Lord, then that is quite adequate. But if I read scripture, I see more going on than belief. I see more than salvation. And if I look at what Jesus calls us to, I see so much more than forgiveness of sins and salvation. And if I look at the actions and experiences of the early church, I see lives transformed by the introduction of the Holy Spirit, and I see lives lived in wonder as the helper is given and the miracles begin.

I cannot listen to the readings during the Pentecost season and be satisfied with ‘normal church life’. I want more. I know there is more, and as I open myself to that possibility, I see more and I experience more. What have I come out to see? Well, I want to see what God has for me to see. (I guess I need to hold on to my hat.)

May this season of Pentecost be for you an excited expectation of what God may be going to do in you. I don’t know what that will be for you – I have found it futile to try to predict what God is going to do in someone – but may you yearn for more of what He has in store for you.

Blessings,

Pastor Rob Edwards
Peace Lutheran Church, Gatton.