Musings on the Holy Spirit

In response to questions such as, "How do you know if someone is ministering in the Holy Spirit?", or "How do you know that the Holy Spirit is present in a service?", I received some excellent thoughts. One brother wrote, "You know Pastor, I am not sure. When a song is sung in any Church, I think I know if it is in the spirit. You know, chill bumps, hair standing up. But on the other hand, the same song might not do anything for someone else."

Another brother wrote the following:

How about, "That place is Spirit Filled because its a mess!"? :)

What about the evidence of the Holy Spirit through obvious (or sometimes, not so obvious) attacks of the enemy. Attacks that externally appear like "Wow, that church has got some major issue!...but this church over here is Filled with the Spirit. :) The members never argue, bicker, or fight (Its like Mister Roger's neighborhood). Everyone always greets you with how wonderful their life is going, and nobody would ever challenge your walk with God........like those "nosey" Christians down at the church with all the drama going on!"

I believe things are not always as they appear on the outside. A big "pretty" church does not necessarily equal one that is "Spirit Filled", and a small one does not always equate to one that doing something wrong. Also, one that has a lot of ongoing drama does not necessarily mean that "God has left the building" (just a figure of speech) and things are out of control.
Maybe it's quite the opposite...the Holy Spirit is cleaning house; sewing good seed; firing people up; and rocking the boat. Tables are flipping; bad attitudes are getting whipped into shape; and good stuff is on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Satan (and his helpers) are not just going to lie there and take it (unless God tells them to). They jump up and start tossing in barbs and thistles; seeds of discord; discouragement; and doubt (whatever God gives them permission to do...which He then uses for His own good). And where does that leave us? Growing! On the outside it may appear dysfunctional and chaotic (because without him, we are), but inside He is letting the circumstances bang away at our heart. Making them become more like Him through our outwardly broken life (and relationships).

So don't run away, and try to get comfortable...you'll only delay His work and make it more painful.

Wow! I need to let this brother write for my daily devotion! :)

And since we have the same Spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED AND THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Co 4:13-18)

It is not too late to write me at pastorbaron@cfl.rr.com with your questions that you would ask a person to determine if they were truly a Christ-follower, or your commments about the presence and working of the Holy Spirit.

"Abide in His Word" radio broadcast will be starting shortly on WMIE FM 91.5 from 6:30-7:00 a.m. (I plan on doing the broadcast live.) I will share more on this with you soon as we pray about helping take people through their Bibles and focus on the basics. (If you know of someone that could help me with the recording of the radio broadcast intro song please let me know.)

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.