|
From Emotional Anxiety to Energetic Action
In Acts 2, we read about the beginning of the early church. Consider how this first body of believers is described. They are daily receiving new additions to their membership (“added” 2x); they are continually teaching and learning from each other (“apostles’ doctrine”) and regularly sharpening one another through relational edification (“fellowship); they are enjoying Christ-centered, God-honoring worship (“breaking of bread” and “praising God”), unceasing prayer (“prayers”), ongoing ministry (“had all things in common…sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”), and successful evangelism (“Lord was adding to their number…those who were being saved”). Their happy facial expressions radiate from hearts of commitment (“devoting”), consistency (“day by day, continuing”), reverence (“awe”), sacrificial humility (“selling their property…and sharing them with all”), joy (“gladness”), focus (“sincerity of heart”), and graciousness (“having favor with all the people”). In summary, this snapshot is an exciting group of people with unity, love, zeal, enthusiasm, passion, vigor, purpose, and vision; they are bold and confident, consistent and stable; they have a reason to live, and they are living every moment for Christ. Such a picture is even more compelling when you realize that just a few hours earlier, this was a group of 120 believers hidden in an upper room, frightened, confused, anxious, ignorant, and sad. Wow, what a group! What an exciting, passionate, zealous, fruitful group of believers! But, when I read this passage, questions come to mind: is my church like that? is my particular ministry (i.e., Single Focus) like that? am I like that? So, what's the key...what makes this happen? I know it's not a formula, but how do we lay a foundation for this same kind of zeal for God's work and people? I believe the key is in Acts 2:4–"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." This phrase, then, is the key. It fills in the gaps, answering for us how this group could go from being confused, hurting, doubting, etc. to passionate, fervent, purposeful, etc. The reason is that “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Taking It Home As we consider the application of this passage for ourselves individual or for our Single Focus ministry, let me share two concluding considerations: 1. God powerfully resides within His church in the Person of the Holy Spirit (i.e., “indwelling” of the Spirit…corporately and individually). This consideration, however, provokes a question: why are we not seeing the same results of power, passion, unity, purpose, and success in many of our churches today? 2. God powerfully works through His church as it submits to the indwelling Person of the Holy Spirit (i.e., “being led by/walking in/being filled with the Spirit”). (As in the doctrine of Justification and being placed “in Christ”), positionally, we have been indwelt/baptized by the Spirit; but, practically, we must be “filled” with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) to see those same results. Power begins with the Spirit’s indwelling, but is utilized through His “filling.” Paul uses these phrases in Galatians to enhance our understanding of what it means to be “filled with the Spirit”: “walk in/by the Spirit” (5:16, 25), “be led of/by the Spirit” (5:18), “sow to the Spirit” (6:8). Simply put, having had the Spirit take up permanent residence in our hearts, we must now submit to His reality and leadership in our lives–He must “control” us (just as wine might control a person, cf. Ephesians 5:18). We must “walk” or make our daily decisions in keeping with His path, His way–i.e., God’s Word. We must “be led” by the Spirit’s counsel and commands in Scripture. We must “sow” to the Spirit by developing habits of mind and life that are spiritual, not fleshly. Thus, submission to/control by the Spirit cannot be easily divorced from immersion in God’s Word. We must not remove the Holy Spirit from the church corporately or individually. We must not let (1) confusion as to the Person and nature of the Holy Spirit or (2) fear of improper doctrinal or practical conclusions concerning the Holy Spirit keep us from remembering His presence, relying on His power, and submitting to His will. The Holy Spirit is, after all, very God of very God, just a different Person of the Trinity. He isn’t an aberrant expression of the Father and Son; He is consistent with them in equality, character, and ministry. We must maintain the power, passion, and purpose in the church (its distinctiveness), by understanding the Holy Spirit’s necessity to the church and by drawing from His power. Consider three concluding applications concerning being Spirit-controlled this next week in your personal life and in the ministry of your local church:
|
|
