The Introduction definitely makes me eager to read the rest of the book. His description of churches being known for human accomplishments instead of the power of the Spirit reminded me of how unaware I am of the Spirit's role in the church body and my life already, let alone to long for Him to play a more significant role. I really don't know what that would look like. As you guys know, I struggle to figure out what the Holy Spirit is responsible for and human effort is responsible for, and how the two are combined to bring about God's Kingdom in our own lives and in this world. What role does the Holy Spirit desire to play in our lives? I hope that Chan uses scripture to paint a clearer picture of that for me. Along those lines, his explanation on page 19 resonated with me big time.
"By journeying honestly, I hope we can go beyond our current understanding of the Holy Spirit and begin to commune openly... that our experience with Him would be day by day, or even moment by moment. That by keeping in step with the Spirit, we might regularly fellowship over what He's doing rather what He did months or years ago. We'll be reminded of the strength and wisdom available to us in the Spirit and earnestly pray for more. As we trust in the promises of the Spirit, we will be led away from discouragement and into lives marked by confidence, power in the midst of our weakness, and the fruit of the Spirit."
He goes on to to say that his prayer for us is that our lives would produce the same kind of astonishment as Peter and John - that in interacting with those men, people "recognized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). I am encouraged because I already see such evidence of the Spirit in your lives, brothers. When I think about the growth I have witnessed personally in you guys - the victories that the Spirit has brought about, the fruit He has produced in you - I rejoice in His faithful presence with us and good intentions for our lives. It also makes me long for more! More of His presence, power, fruit, good works - which will mean less of our comfort, ease, pride, selfish ambitions. May we embrace all that He wants to bring about in us and do through us, believing that His will is good beyond description or understanding.
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“By journeying honestly, I hope we can go beyond our current understanding of the Holy Spirit and begin to commune openly… that our experience with Him would be day by day even moment by moment. That by keeping in step with the Spirit, we might regularly fellowship over what he is doing rather than what he did months or years ago. We’ll be earnestly reminded of the strength and wisdom available to us in the Spirit and earnestly pray for more….And they recognized that they had been with Jesus” (19)
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Sorry for the delay, but I was traveling back from Pittsburgh last night and did not anticipate there being no free internet in the airports I was in…lame. Anyway, I am really excited to read this book for a variety of reasons. However, I have been trying to make this entry nice and coherent, but am having a hard time articulating what this passage has stirred in me. ..so here is a list of some thoughts…I hope they make a little bit of sense.
- Lately, it has been hard for me to think about the work of the Spirit as happening in real time in real life. Sometimes I will come home from school and reflect, but usually while I am at work I am just so preoccupied with stress and anxiety that I assume the Spirit is too and we should just talk later when we are both more relaxed. Obviously this is as absurd as it is counterproductive, but that’s how it has been. Which makes me realize that asking and earnestly praying for more of the Spirit is a discipline…maybe not for everyone, but definitely for me. I know I have moped inwardly about the “absence” of the Spirit in my life, but have neglected the simple, but necessary act of asking our Generous Father for the Spirit.
- Also, I think the prayers in the epistles are really neat requests for the Spirit/ things of the Spirit…to be praying for one another
- Colossians 1 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption,[e] the forgiveness of sins.
Matt
ps how do i post and not just comment..i am not very blog literate :)
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