By Associate Pastor Miles Johnson
There are five NT commands relating to the Holy Spirit. Sound surprising? The Holy Spirit’s gentleness has led to the dove symbol in most Christian art.
But the Holy Spirit is also considered a “blowing, violent wind” in Acts 2:2. Here are few specific commands relating to our best friend on earth, the Holy Spirit.
What quenches the Spirit? Our conduct. Apathy. Mechanical attitudes towards worship. The frozen chosen. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says for Christians to be joyful always. Always. That’s another command, really. If Christians were more that way we’d see more people attracted to church. Guaranteed.
God shows us a better way in Galatians 5:22, love, joy, peace – the fruits produced by a close walk with the Holy Spirit. When we sin we trust in God, go to him, ask him to forgive us and to use some “replacement therapy,” replace the deeds and urgings and promptings of the flesh with the fruits of the Spirit. And how do we get those fruits?
Ah, read on. This gets close to what it’s all about.
Think about that. How wonderful. Prayer ushers us into the heavenly presence of God when we “pray in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). What an unbelievable privilege Christians are given through this access by the Holy Spirit. Think of it! What if you were going to talk with President Bush or Governor Schwarzenegger tomorrow? How would you feel? Well, we are to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. Then we come from God’s presence fully energized to be His ambassadors. Paul mentions this in 2 Corinthians 5:20 and it is so powerful and visionary about our Christian calling: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
Did you catch the last part of that verse? What a privilege, what power is available to God’s people. Pray in the Spirit and pray often.
Miles Johnson is a West Covina resident, a volunteer at Pomona Valley Shelter, a Korean War veteran and an elder in WCG.