Tag: Holy Spirit

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Just another new trick up his sleeve.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.” ‭‭Acts ‭8‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Simon the Sorcerer. What a nickname, what a title to carry around. Luke admits that Simon was a big deal in Samaria. He had a big following of people that called him “The great one – the power of God.” Interesting right? Simon was earnestly flamboyant. Then SHOCKER, he becomes a believer and is baptized. He was a formerly a great magician, a crowd pleaser. Now he’s a Christian following Philip around, learning the ropes of this new religion along with signs and wonders. Curiosity must have got the best of him. Simon must have thought, hmmm, Philip was a believer and so was he. Then how or why could Philip perform these feats of great power with miracles. Could he do the same?

The answer would soon arrive with Peter and John’s arrival. When the apostles heard what had been happening in Samaria (of all places), they sent a couple of guys down to see what was happening. Doing a little follow up, they “they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.” I’ll let you sort out the truth of this moment. Luke says that the Holy Spirit had NOT YET come upon them even though the belief in Jesus and Baptism meant the Holy Spirit would take up residence in them just as Jesus had promised. What? How is that possible? Yeah, there’s a second and critical “in filling, outpouring” of the supernatural work of the Spirit. Peter and John were just following the instructions that God had given them.

What were the results for the Samaritan believers being filled? Luke doesn’t say, but clearly Old Simon the Sorcerer saw something! He saw something they had that he did not have. Was it speaking in other tongues? Probably. Was it prophesying, boldly proclaiming the works of God? Sure. It was clearly something Simon had not received. And, he wanted it desperately! But, not for the right reason.

He tells Peter and John, “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” Wow! He wanted more “power” than his former theatrical performances could possibly possess. That’s just what the show needed, a new trick to bring in more people, possibly more money! Simon tries to cut a deal with the two apostles and Peter quickly rebuked him, immediately revealing Simon’s motives, “But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!” Whew. I never thought about people trying to buy the power of God. I’ve heard of people trying to buy salvation. Well there have been long dark seasons in history where the “church” was selling salvation as well!

Peter, who is full of the Holy Spirit and has the gift of discernment because of this, tells Simon far more about himself that we would have ever known, “for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” Whoa. Wasn’t Simon just some street performer trying to make a little more money? Where did Peter get all that from? From the same Spirit that Simon was trying to bribe! Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, wanted to lovingly and quickly judge this new believer’s heart and motives by exposing his sin and giving him opportunity to repent of his wickedness, this controlling sin of bitter jealousy. The light of Jesus Christ shines in darkness exposing sin to make us or allow us to get rid of it. We don’t know what happened to Simon or his sideshow after that. But all his new friends, who were believers, all knew what Simon was really struggling with.

Prayer

Dad,
As powerful as this scene is, it’s also a little creepy and convicting. Creepy because it is so mystical and outside of our understanding of how Christianity or certainly religion is supposed to work. Convicting, because it really hits home with my own sin and your desire for me to be completely free of things that I hold onto. Thankfully it’s not bitter jealousy or obsession with money, but I’ve got other problems to deal with. I am thankful that when I confess and turn away from my sin that you forgive and clean me up.

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Elizabeth did you know?

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭41‬-‭45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As with Mary, Jesus’ mom – yes, she did. I’m so jealous of these two women. Before Acts 2, before the general outpouring of the Spirit of God coming on all who would receive, Elizabeth gets this supernatural visitation that was rare in the Old Testament, but would be common in the New Testament and from there on. Little baby John leaped in utero and Liz was filled (plḗthō, filled to capacity)!

Ezekiel had prophesied this would happen, hundreds of years earlier, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬. The gals experienced this right at very beginning of the New Testament story. Was this infilling permanent? Or, was it a temporary visit like it was in the old days? Was it just to cover their time of carrying the child in their womb? Who knows!

Mary experienced it first, ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭35‬. Then Elizabeth. Then even Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭67‬). All three, being filled with the Holy Spirit, began to know things, Mary and Zach burst into these powerful prophetic prayers. Liz seemed to know exactly who the child was in Mary’s womb, saying “mother of my Lord,” even knowing about Mary’s extraordinary faith to believe! These three folks, in the Christmas storyline had supernatural things happening because of the Holy Spirit within them.

You realize that Luke is the author here as well as the author of the book of Acts, right? He writes in Acts 1, “In my first book I told you, Theophilus…” Luke had a particular interest and knowledge about the whole subject of the Holy Spirit and God’s ability to come and dwell not just “with” us as the Logos, the Word made flesh (Jesus), but also “within” us as the third person of what we call the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). And with God living within us, believers have both the Spirit in our heart as well as this unique and constant Spirit of God swelling up within like a supernatural eruption of power when we are also “filled” as Jesus, and the other New Testament writers speak of.

Peter watched in amazement as Cornelius and his friends were filled ‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭44‬-‭47‬. Paul asked some Ephesians believers, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19‬:‭1‬-‭2‬. They had even been baptized! In both scenes with Cornelius and the Ephesian crew, they spoke in tongues and even prophesied.

Supernatural things happen when the Holy Spirit comes flooding out from within instead of pouring out on us from above. Every believer can have, should have these experiences happening in and through them as God brings about the Kingdom of a God here on earth! Why not me? Why not you? Why not more often? These are questions for another time. Question to believers: “Follower of Jesus, did you know?”

Prayer

Dad,
I knew from the moment you flipped my heart and my life around that you live within me. I had a conscience, a sense, a new “knowing” of you and things around me. But learning how it all works and what it means has taken a lifetime to just begin to figure it out. I think the understanding and ways you work through us is sparked and fueled by faith. But as I have gotten older, I don’t like the feeling or idea of getting it wrong or looking like a fool about it. When I was young and in many ways a social outcast, I didn’t care. Now, sadly, I care too much of what others might think. I was more eager to obey than to care what others thought. Now, sadly, that has flipped around. What happened to those deep and compelling urges to obey? Are they still there? Are they just dormant? Can I change? Can I be more aware and obedient to the Holy Spirit moving in my life now?

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Like savvy shoppers soaked in the Spirit!

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​I just love this passage from Paul to the churches in Ephesus. Robin and I were able to go to Ephesus on a Mission’s Trip for Syrian refugee crisis to Turkey. The city walk, the downtown ancient city is still a wonder to behold. Just to walk the cobblestone road that Paul and Timothy walked was amazing. I also love this passage for two particular greek words Paul used here to describe the believers interactions and behaviors with the world they lived in at the time.

Paul was a spirit-strategist. He was brilliant in determination and dogged in being led by the Holy Spirit. Paul says look at, be perceptive, situationally aware of whats going on as you walk through life. Then he drops this incredible word about opportunity. He says eksagorázō, buy-up at the marketplace.

When he says make the most or redeem the time he uses a shopping term! You can hear the noise of the street and people buying and selling goods along the road in Ephesus. There were parts that were very much like an open-air mall! Paul says grab that deal, snag that bargain, get the sale! Who can’t understand what it’s like to live a life looking for a great deal?

What’s the great deal? We should we be savvy-shoppers for – Holy Spirit interactions with people that God has prepared to have a conversation with YOU. God has done all the work, all you have to do is be open and aware and used to speak to someone.

What would you say? That’s where the next word Paul uses really brings this passage to life. He says, believers don’t need to spend their days being drunk or soaked/intoxicated with wine. Instead believers need to be “filled” or plēroō, 100% completely soaked IN the Holy Spirit. Paul used a word that was common for taking animal skins which were used for tents and other coverings and soaking them in animal fat, thus permeating every part of it. It’s a great play on words here as well – don’t be soaked in spirits (wine) be soaked in the Spirit!

The believer is left totally and completely permeated with the presence of God as they walk about the marketplace where people gather to have God-ops by His design. What a way to live life! Am I prepared to be that available? Have I been soaking in the things of the Spirit to the place where I am seeing, perceiving this world through spirit-empowered lenses? It is here that Paul mentions one of the nine places in the New Testament about breaking out in song. If you can imagine an old Irish pub filled with ale and song, you can see how the church can gather to be soaked in the Spirit and sing songs of God’s great grace!

Prayer

Dad,
Oh, that I would, that WE as a church would be so aware, so cognizant of your presence, that we would walk about in our lives looking for these opportunities. And in those moments of seeing what you are doing in our world, our friends, family and neighbors we would be so filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that we could address whatever need, whatever difficulty people may face with your grace and mercy! Wow! What a day that would be. What everyday could look like IF we took Paul’s advice and believed your Word is true and effective in our daily lives!

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Do you hunger for the supernatural, then snuggle up to the Holy Spirit.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:10-13‬ ‭NLT‬

This past Sunday I spoke on Jesus final words before leaving for heaven. But before he left, Luke tells us that Jesus “opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” It takes God to help us connect the dots. Paul explains it so well here to the churches in Corinth. Corinth was totally into all things mystical and fantastic.

The Spirit of God shows us the deep secrets of God himself. I believe those deep things are God’s plans and His ways. Paul even says we need “Spirit” words to explain spiritual truths. Jesus was the master of this concept. His words, illustrations and object lessons were simple yet profound. He was taking eternal ideas and making them reachable, accessible to those who had “ears to hear” what the Spirit was saying. He also spoke in parables that cloaked truth just enough to cause the listener to press in an be curious and inquisitive to learn.

Paul certainly was impressive explaining a lot of spiritual truths, especially when it came to wisdom of God and the workings of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote more about the function and ways of the Holy Spirit to Corinth than any other church. You don’t see him write about things of the Spirit nearly as much in Romans or Ephesians. Corinth must have had a curiosity about the workings or “deep” things of God and Paul was boldly explaining them. I think these “spiritual truths” and “deep secrets”

Paul words are difficult for us westerners to understand. Last Sunday I said, we are “mystically challenged.” Oh, we enjoy our sci-fi, fantasy entertainment in movies, books and podcasts. But to explain or experience the the reality and truth of God’s word we are uncomfortable around miracles and the supernatural. It is dangerous to dabble in the fantasy world of spells, wizards, or even the paranormal while denying the very real spiritual realms of God himself and the purpose of power behind it. Let’s do as Paul suggests and reign in our imaginations or “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor 10:5.

Do you want to explore the mystical, supernatural wonder of the spiritual world? Snuggle up to the Holy Spirit and let the Spirit of God lead you into all truth!

Prayer:

Dad,
Let our imaginations, our fascinations, our affections be set on you and only you. Help us not be carried away and tricked into seeking and believing the fantasy world of magic while disbelieving and even denying your deep secrets of plans and purposes of heaven. There is plenty of mystical wonder in the workings of your Holy Spirit. There is a very real power to experience and transform our lives and the world we live in. Let us press in to find the real and not be all enamored with the fake.

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Peter meets the Greeks

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” Acts‬ ‭10:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

All those years in the Old Testament, where God used his spokespersons to get Israel to understand His whole plan of using the Jews to bring God to the whole world.

All those wild interactions Jesus had with Gentiles and Samaritans, many of them women, no less.

And it takes a supernatural and commanding vision to finally begin to fulfill this original plan of redemption offered to all.

Peter blurts out this awkward greeting to Cornelius – “hello, I’m not supposed to talk to you, but God made me.” Such strong words, “You know…” was it that obvious? “It is against OUR laws…” Were these civil or moral laws? No, they were Jewish religious/cultural laws. Talk about some deep-seated, systemic racism! I don’t know, maybe the hatred went both ways.

Peter summarizes his own personal vision, “I should no longer think of ANYONE impure or unclean!” Holy bacon bits – that’s such a huge shift for him. So much had changed and yet God kept pushing Peter into a “Kingdom of God” perspective. God had given both men this twinsy, matching visions. Peter’s vision went against a massive amount of food laws that had been handed down to his people for generations. Levitical laws were clear and strict! Cornelius had just been praying and giving to the poor yet had no idea what or why he was doing. He was without purpose or direction.

God saw him and said, boom, there’s the BRIDGE guy! There’s the guy that will get this religiously racial wall torn down. Angels were dispatched with one mission – let’s get Pete and Cornelius together. Cornelius was curious, Peter confused!

After story-swapping, Peter comes to this conclusion… it just give me goosebumps! “Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”

God shows NO FAVORITISM! In Christ there is complete and absolute equality across several physical and cultural boundaries – Paul later tells the Church, There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus!

And don’t even get me started in the fact that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Cornelius crowd. With not only a powerful outward indication of an inward change, but also a sign of unity. Peter’s crew was ASTONISHED at what they SAW and HEARD – “The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.”

PRAYER:

Dad,
Oh how I long for such reconciliation among the Church today. Unity, bridging the gap in racial and cultural- even denominational divides! These “laws,” this barriers are still causing issues today. It should not be so. There is so much social media trash slinging in the body of Christ, so many theological labels to hide behind and use against a unified church. Help us Lord!