“The Spirit of the Lord is On Me”
When Roger Lamb asked me to write this series, he encouraged me to share “the good, the bad and the ugly” from the past almost 19 years I have spent in Hartford, Connecticut. I wish I could say that “keeping in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25) has been an emphasis of mine for this entire time. It hasn’t been.
I am known as being organized and meticulous. Hard to admit publicly, but I even have a reputation for liking meetings. No one likes meetings, do they? Though there are some that even drive me crazy, I love to plan, scheme, put it on paper (for you, that’s an ipad) and then move on it. Some of that is good. But “quenching the Spirit” or “putting out the Spirit’s fire” (I Thessalonians 5:19) is definitely the bad and the ugly too often from my past. So let me work on some personal repentance and remind you that just like Jesus, you and I can say, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me.” (Luke 4:18)
What if I told you that an hour ago I was walking across the street to visit with my neighbor and an 18-wheel tractor trailer rig came flying down the road at 100 miles per hour and ran me down? Even though you can’t see me, you wouldn’t believe me. If that happened an hour ago, you would know I wouldn’t be typing or probably even breathing right now. If a truck crashes into you, you can see its multiple effects vividly.
In Acts 2:38 and a host of verses, the Bible says that when someone repents and is baptized, he or she is forgiven and receives the Holy Spirit. The Bible then describes what life in the Spirit is like. You will have amazing fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). You will put to death the misdeeds of the body (Romans 8:13). If the Holy Spirit crashes into you or the church you are a part of – you should see the dramatic effects everywhere! Does everyone around us stand aghast at the Holy Spirit collision that has taken place in our lives?
I am convinced that collectively and individually we have way too much of an “I can’t because I am weak” mentality more than an “I can and will when filled by the Spirit” one.
I have a wife and three daughters who drive. We have an interesting time juggling two cars. Let’s say that I notice one car is very low on gas and go fill it up. Immediately after I return home, let’s say my oldest daughter, Kelsey, begins to freak out because she has to go to Boston and there is no gas in the car. I try to calm her fears by saying that I just filled the tank. However, she begins to cry and agonize over the lack of gas in the car. Let’s pretend this goes on for hours. What is the problem? Maybe it is her hearing? Far worse, it might be that she doesn’t believe her father.
God promised us that he took away our sin and filled us up with the Holy Spirit. Why is it many of us seem to continually walk around saying “I can’t” and “it is too hard” when our Father promised us we are “full” and “we can”?
I hear often from people who say they just don’t or can’t love their spouse or boss or parents. Yet Romans 5:5 says that “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” God poured plenty of his love into our gas tank. That is either true or it is false. Holiness and sincerity come from God (II Corinthians 1:12), not your ancestral background or academic training. If he gives it, you’ve got it available.
I wonder if few miracles come our way because we think it is mostly about us. The recurring Biblical theme is “the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses” (Romans 8:26), “you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13), “live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:16) and more. I am either a natural man or a spiritual one (Spirit led). Which one will it be for you? What about for the church you are a part of?
I love the idea of “keeping in step with” or “walking with” (King James translation) the Spirit. That means, for one thing, we are heading somewhere. We are not hanging around doing the same old things in the same old places with the same old people. The Spirit is a mover and shaker. He is headed out into the world to make a difference. What are our churches doing?
Sometimes the call to “be like Jesus” or “live the Spirit-filled life” overwhelms people. I actually think it should thrill you. Of course, it is a high standard. Did you want to stay where you were? This is what you signed up for!
If I played a one-on-one basketball game with Lebron James, who do you think would win? I just watched a you tube video of Jet Li. If he fought against you, who would come out victorious? How about Jet versus you and your 10 best friends? I could practice hoops the rest of my life and still lose to Lebron. You could work out daily for 50 years and still get killed instantly in a Jet Li battle. But what if Lebron James was my best friend and we always played two-on-two basketball? What if all of your martial arts battles were two-on-two with, not against, Jet Li? That would change everything and give us amazing confidence.
Being like Jesus is way, way out on the far horizon. There is a long distance in light years to travel to arrive there. But God has said he calls us “friends” (John 15:15) and he has placed a part of the Godhead within us! Anything can change. Miracles can happen. Transformation is possible as I tap into the Spirit.
This incredible adventure is in front us! The wind of the Spirit is blowing (John 3:8). I am not sure where it will take me and us, but let’s go anyway. Your church is not defined by your past, your collective grade point average or your combined salary. We are partners with Jesus. You are God’s friend. I am filled with the Holy Spirit.
Check out this one last verse. In John 7:37-39, Jesus says: “. . . If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive . . . .”
There is a desperately thirsty world all around us. God has put the fire hydrant within us. It is time for small churches to quit thinking, believing and living small. It is past time for mid-sized congregations to stop the “woe is us and things are too hard” grumblings.
What does this mean practically for us all? Well, what if we preached this more often? What if we prayed like it depended on God and his Spirit, not us? What if we counseled people not so much with all of the “don’t do its” but the “he is in you” and “walk in the light” kind of talk? What if we all read our Bible like it really was the message of God to us for the day, and as if his special messenger – the Spirit – had crafted each word just for us at just that time?
I think it would change our churches and our lives because . . . when the Holy Spirit shows up – wind, fire and salvation rain down (Acts 2). And that goes for churches in the 21st century too.
Be sure to see Part 1 here >>>
