Day 16 - Why Pick on Stephen?

The Spirit helps us know what to say—and how to say it—when we are in perilous or uncertain situations. He helps us to bear witness during these times.

Let’s look at an example of this. Read Acts 6:8-15.

Stephen was one of the men chosen by the apostles to serve within their community. Apparently, he did more than serve—he preached as well. And this made some of his fellow Jewish countrymen really mad at him. Some scholars say that they felt threatened that Stephen was insisting that true worship no longer required temple rites. So they launched their own smear campaign against Stephen, twisting his words to sound like he was attacking God and the Law of Moses. They even produced false witnesses and had them testify that Stephen said that Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs Moses handed down.

In response to these charges, Stephen gave the longest speech recorded in the book of Acts, indicating how important it was in the story of the apostles and the church. Just before the speech starts, we read in verse 15, “All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

That description was Luke’s way of indicating that the Holy Spirit was upon the one who was speaking. This was no “off-the-cuff” message!

Now I’m sure that Stephen knew the history lesson he was about to give his accusers would make them even angrier, bur the words he used were positively inspired. That’s exactly what they were- inspired by the Holy Spirit. In fact, as he closes his message in the face of their fierce opposition he states, “You always resist the Holy Spirit!” Stephen had the confidence in Jesus’ words recorded in John 16:1-15 outlined simply: Tough times will come for the disciples of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will be right there with you, bearing His witness as you bear witness. Stephen trusted this promise.

Have you ever been “over your head” in a conversation or a situation and you used just the right words-but you really weren’t sure where they came from? Credit the Holy Spirit. He helps us know what to say and how to say it.

Take few moments to recall that particular moment in time. Was the Holy Spirit helping you? How?

Day 15 - Bearing Witness

The Spirit helps us know what to say—and how to say it—when we are in perilous or uncertain situations. He helps us to bear witness during these times.

Romans 8:16 (New English Translation)

The Spirit Himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s Children.

Romans 8:16 (Today’s New International Version)

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s Children.

What does it even mean to bear witness?

The word used here is equivalent to the concept of testifying or giving testimony. We know what a witness is—it is a person who saw and experienced something and then tells about it. We have learned in the last weeks and months about passive witness vs. active witness. But it doesn’t stop there—it’s not just testifying or giving testimony. It’s confirming testimony.

There are so many legal dramas on television these days. I confess that I do like both of the NCIS dramas, as well as CSI: New York. Have you ever noticed how pumped the good guys get when they find corroborating witnesses? You, know, witnesses whose testimonies match? That’s the concept here. The Spirit testifies with our spirit—we corroborate. I love being in step with the Spirit.

Have you seen many sailing movies? Every one I’ve ever seen has scenes in it where the sailor and the wind are as one—moving gracefully and powerfully across the water. This passage (Romans 8:16), is THE REASON we are in this series on the Holy Spirit. We have two powerful images, that when combined can transform our world. The Spirit is the wind. Our receptivity to His presence and influence in our lives is like a spiritual sail. The wind of the Holy Spirit is HIS WITNESS that you are God’s child! Of everything the Holy Spirit wants for us, His greatest witness is that you have royal identity. You have a future of eternal happiness, joy, freedom and security, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:5 and Ephesians 1:13-14). You are an heir of the King, a co-heir with Jesus, the child of God!

Imagine what life from this moment forward could be like if you had the wind of this Holy Spirit witness filling your sail!

Day 14 - What Does the Spirit Do?

When the Holy Spirit lives in us, there are several things that ought to be part of our lives. Francis Chan, author of Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit encourages us not to merely skim the “list” like a grocery-store list or to-do list, but to spend time reading about them, meditating on them, and asking for them. We will be exploring these facets of the Holy Spirit over the next several weeks.

• The Spirit helps us know what to say—and how to say it—when we are in perilous or uncertain situations.
• Our Counselor provides the teaching—and the reminding—of what we need to know and remember. He guides us in the way we should go.
• The Spirit gives us the power to witness for God to the ends of the earth. He equips us with the strength we need to accomplish God’s purposes.
• The Spirit sets us free from our sins. We can’t do that on our own.
• Through the Spirit we enjoy adoption as children of the Father.
• The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins.
• Where the Spirit is, there is freedom and life.
• Because of the Spirit, we abound with hope and are filled with joy and peace.
• The Spirit gives us gifts—each one of us—that bless the Body.
• When we are led by the Spirit, we bear a fruit that includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

When I look at that list, I am humbled at what gifts are offered to me. I want to be a vessel that turns its sails in such a way that I can catch the wind of the Spirit.

How do you feel about these gifts?

Do you believe you have access to them?

Will you commit to reading about them and praying for them in your own life?

Day 13 - The Holy Spirit Is NOT a Substitute

The Holy Spirit is NOT a substitute for the Father, but He is deity.

Acts 5:1-4

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.

Back to Ananias and Sapphira—that couple who tried to convince Peter and the apostles that they were giving all of the proceeds of a sale of land to the church for their use for the saints in need. Remember them? Peter told them that they had lied to the Holy Spirit and lied to God.

Peter didn’t say that the Holy Spirit told God that they had lied to Him, and then God did something about it. Rather, Peter spoke confidently to Ananias and Sapphira that they had lied to the Holy Spirit—deity.

If you are a parent, you know that kids seem to instinctively know how to play one parent off against the other. You know what I mean. It goes something like this:

Child: “Mom, can I spend the night/go to the mall/etc. with Sarah/Michael/etc.?”

Mom: “Ask your dad. I know he wanted you to do some chores.”

Child: “Dad, Mom said I could spend the night/go to the mall/etc. with Sarah/Michael/etc. if you said it was okay. Can I?”

Dad: “Well, if your mom said it’s okay, it’s fine with me.”

Child: “Mom, Dad said it was okay for me to go.”

Mom: “If your dad said it was okay with him, it’s okay with me.”

In this scenario, and dozens more like it, the parents are manipulated because the child goes back and forth between them. That’s not how it is with the Holy Spirit and with God the Father. There is no back and forth. The Holy Spirit is deity. Everything involved in loving and obeying the Father is also applicable to the Spirit.

Are you willing to give Him control?

Day 12 - The Holy Spirit Is NOT Passive

The Spirit is NOT passive, but active and involved.

John 16:7-8, 13-14

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you…But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

Have you ever gone fishing in a boat that came equipped with a fish finder? That kicks “drowning worms” up a notch, right? All it takes is the signal that there are lots of fish under the boat to turn even lazy fishermen into active and involved participants! Visualize it. Nice warm day, pleasant breeze, not caring if there’s a worm (or whatever bait you choose) on the hook…versus dropping your line in the water and hardly getting your line set before it jerks and you haul fish in as fast as you can bait your hook. That’s how the Spirit is in our lives—active and involved.

In an earlier post (Sailing Is Easy), I mentioned that the second step of learning to sail involves steering. More exactly, it involves steering accurately. The article says, “This takes most folks about five minutes to learn, maybe ten for those who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. But you can’t trim (adjust) your sails properly unless you can steer a straight line.” Hmmmm...steering...that’s something important to consider as we put ourselves into the position of catching the wind of the Holy Spirit in the sails of our vessels.

Does the thought of giving the Holy Spirit that kind of active reign in your life make you excited...or frightened?

Day 11 - The Holy Spirit Is NOT an It

Chuck Swindoll writes this about the Holy Spirit:

There are some things the Spirit of God is not. Let me point out three or four erroneous ideas that many people have about the Holy Spirit…I have often heard Him called an “it”…so let’s start there.

The Spirit is NOT an “it,” but a distinct personality.

Look at John 14:14-17.

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.

It’s kind of overwhelming, isn’t it? But we don’t have to understand everything. I don’t understand all the properties of wind, but I am convinced of its power. Similarly, the power of the Holy Spirit is incredible and awesome. And I know Him. And He knows me and lives in me. His power is both universal and personal. His understanding and knowledge are both infinite and intimate. He knows you and me. And that passage reveals thrilling truths:

• The Spirit is a powerful person, not an impersonal “power.”
  
• The Spirit is present around us and in us. His influence comes from the outside and from the inside. He is not swayed in any way by our struggles or weaknesses, but he is also an internal guide, empowering and directing us from the core of our being.
  
• The Spirit is a truthful counselor. He is not a deceiver, manipulator, or ruthless dictator. He comes alongside with us to guide us.

According to discoverboating.com, “Sails work by ‘catching the wind’ only when the boat is sailing directly downwind.” Just as the wind is alive and when used properly can drive you toward what feels like the perfect day, so is the Spirit alive when He is at work in our lives.

He is not a destructive storm; but rather, He is the exact mix of guidance and strength to move us closer to God and the abundant life He promised.

What will it take for you to come to grips with what you can understand about the power of the Spirit? Are you willing to try?

Day 10 - The Holy Spirit Is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient

Zechariah 4:6

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit”’ says the Lord Almighty.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Psalm 139:7-8

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Just as God the Father is all-powerful, everywhere, and all-knowing…so, too, is the Holy Spirit. Just as I acknowledge that our Father is present wherever I am and knows everything I do and think, so I must acknowledge the Spirit’s presence and knowledge and power. That’s so vast, isn’t it?
Wikipedia defines some physics of sailing. Under “Energy Capture” it says this:

The energy that drives a sailboat is harnessed by manipulating the relative movement of wind and water speed: if there is no difference in movement, such as on a calm day or when the wind and water current are moving in the same direction at the same speed, there is no energy to be extracted and the sailboat will not be able to do anything but drift. Where there is a difference in motion, then there is energy to be extracted at the interface, and the sailboat does this by placing the sail(s) in the air and the hull(s) in the water.

Now let’s examine our spiritual movement. Would you characterize your spiritual life as a ship plowing through the water with the wind billowing in your sail? Or do you find yourself disappointed that others seem to be moving on while you are adrift?

Let’s consider the power of the wind of the Holy Spirit:

• Always Present (Omnipresent)
• Limitless Power (Omnipotent)
• Perfect Guidance (Omniscient)

When we take advantage of the Holy Spirit’s presence, power, and knowledge, we—as vessels—extract energy from the Spirit. Let’s try this today. Let’s look for a decision today where we can take direct advantage of the presence, power, and wisdom of the Spirit.