I have spent several weeks thinking about and writing about the Holy Spirit, His gifts and the fruits of those gifts. I thought I was finished with that subject matter for a while but I can’t shake the need to share these thoughts with you. As I listen to the nightly news (the outlet isn’t important), peruse social media, hear people talking in public; I am saddened that the most important of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the second most important commandment from God himself (Matthew 22:35-40 ESV), is being found in such short supply in today’s socio-political climate. People are so intolerant, so hate-filled. I, for one, am losing patience. If we could just find some common ground, some respect. It should be easy to do. There is no cost, no qualification; all you need is Love.
The Solution is Simple
My apologies to the Fab Four for borrowing their title. And now the song is playing in both our heads. Cool. Thanks, guys. But I digress.
Credit: John Hain; Pixabay
Could not most of the problems that we face today be solved if more people practiced the love that we are called to by God. If we would just love one another. I think that love of self has gone too far. Don’t get me wrong. I have a love for myself as God’s creation. I have been gifted with grace and mercy beyond measure. I pray that I will use those gifts for God’s glory, I believe that is the reason that they were poured out on this broken sinner. I am not the point of God’s Creation. I am a servant (I pray to be, daily), helping to fulfill His plan.
Compassion On The Cross
Mankind was given the perfect example of love, unconditional, in the person of Christ Jesus. He loved us so much that he gave His life up to death on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven, giving us direct access to the Father through prayer, and giving us life eternal through that death and resurrection.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 ESV
Credit: Pixabay
Can’t We Just All Get Along?
Are we not hearing the right words from the pulpit of our churches on Sundays? Is no one paying attention? Or are we making a conscious choice to live as though those words don’t apply to us? And when there are hatred and violence committed against one another in our cities; where are our churches? Why are they so often silent? Why are they not among the first on the scene to heal the hurt and to bring the love of Christ into the places where it is needed most?
All You Need is Love
Look, I am not perfect. I am not saying that loving everyone is easy. It isn’t. What I know is that love is a healing salve that can cure a whole sack full of hurt. Our world will not get better by itself. We are headed on an express lane toward the End of Days and the only way to slow down the runaway hatred and despair is to apply that salve liberally. You may not be able to change the whole world, but you can make your portion of it a better place… all you need is love.
Credit: Pixabay
Abba, Father, fill us with a love for each other that flows from us like the waters of a great river. Take away any fears that keep us from sharing that love with those who need it most. Create in us compassionate hearts and guide us to show that compassion unashamedly. All this we ask in Jesus’ name, who was the perfect example of your love. Amen
The last couple of posts have been regarding the arrival as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I would expect that we each have a story or two to tell of how the Holy Spirit has shown Himself in our lives. I pray that each of us has come to know the Holy Spirit personally as he touches and guides our lives. As we walk as the Spirit leads us we will begin to change from worldly creatures, driven by the desires of self and desires of the flesh. The gifts of the Holy Spirit will begin to bear fruit and we will transform into beings who are driven by the Spirit, mindful of things that make us more holy, children of God.
Credit: Andreas F. Borchert Dublin Christ Church Cathedral
The Desires of the Flesh vs. the Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Saint Paul wrote of the Fruits of the Spirit in his letter to the Church in Galatia. He told the Galatians that the fruits of the Spirit were in direct opposition to the desires of the flesh.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Galatians 5:16-17 ESV
Mankind is weak-willed when it comes to the desires of the flesh. We are all too easily distracted and even more easily swayed. It is far too easy today to follow our flawed nature. St. Paul goes on to identify the desires of the flesh and to point out their danger.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit come with an Inheritance
Credit: Naasoom Azevedo; Unsplash
Finally, Paul tells us that if we use the gifts of the Holy Spirit; wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, Fear of the Lord, they will manifest in us and bear fruit. That fruit will lead us to our Heavenly reward.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5 22-24 ESV
Jesus ascending to Heaven; Credit: John Singleton Copley
Lead Me Holy Spirit
So, as Jesus was preparing to ascend to Heaven, He promised to ask the Father to send us a Helper. The Father sent us the Holy Spirit to be that helper, that guide to light our path. He came with a great commotion that Pentecost Day long ago and rested upon the Twelve. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter addressed the thousands of Jews who were gathered and they too received the Spirit. Through the succession of generations, we too, have received, been counseled, led, and strengthened. Within us, the seeds of Salvation have been sown. We must bear fruit. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:8-9 ESV
Father, I pray that each of us gathered here will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and that they will grow within us, bearing fruit through their use and practice. Erase our fears and send us into the world to love and serve with a compassionate heart. Let us become a reflection of your love for all who are lost, neglected, sick and downtrodden. Abba, I pray these things not for our glory, but for Your Glory. In Jesus‘ name, I pray. Amen
Last time I was with you I posted about the coming of the Holy Spirit on that long ago Day of Pentecost. As the Apostles were gathered in The Upper Room, the Holy Spirit made an auspicious entrance. He settled upon The Twelve and their lives were instantly changed. His presence was witnessed by many, the Disciples spoke in tongues that were foreign to them and the gathered crowd understood in their own languages. Peter became the Rock upon which the Church was built and thousands of souls joined their souls to Jesus. The gifts of the Holy Spirit were introduced to the world that wonderful day.
Holy Spirit
I shared with you a personal revelation in that the Holy Spirit is not only intended to be our internal, personal guide and spiritual helper as indeed Christ had foretold. His wisdom and strength are meant to also work in an Upward and Outward path, helping to spread the Good News of Christ even to the ends of the earth. Wisdom and strength are not the only gifts that the Holy Spirit brings us. These gifts are first mentioned in the Old Testament, Isiah 11:1-3a. ESV.
“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord”
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church has long recognized the gifts of the Holy Spirit as being wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. All these gifts are intended to work together inside of us to increase and perfect our ability to show the greatest gift of all which is love. Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote (in Summa Theologiae) that the four gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and counsel direct the intellect and the remaining three gifts (fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord) direct the will toward God.
Wait… Hold On…Stop!
credit: pixabay
Y’all, I just realized I was going into book report mode! Holy Junior High! That is not what you should expect to find on TheNarrowPath. That isn’t me. I can’t imagine that is why you are here. Let me get back on track.
Haunted
As I write this, I am listening to one of my new favorite songs. The message is simple and comforting. I hope that you will give a listen to Ghost by MercyMe. (I apologize for the commercial.) I woke up yesterday with this message playing in my head. I had an overwhelming feeling that I was to share it far and wide. So I called K-LOVE to make a request (boy, that sent me back a couple of decades!), but they didn’t have it yet. Everything is digital these days.
“Holiness keep haunting me”.
“Lead me through the darkness. Lead me through the unknown.
Oh, lead me Holy Ghost”.
Thanks, guys. Guide, comforter, teacher, mover, and shaker; the Holy Spirit is all of these and more.
Baptized in Water, Cleansed by the Holy Spirit
We, as Christians, are baptized in water and cleansed by the Holy Spirit. His gifts are bestowed on us all. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit guides us in the use of His gifts.
“4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” Matthew 12:4-11 ESV
It is my prayer that each of us is aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and that we use His gifts to grow in Faith, that we allow Him to guide us in the service of God and that through the power of the Holy Spirit we will spread the Good News of Jesus Christ even to the ends of the earth.
A couple weeks ago we, in the Anglican Communion, observed the Holy Day of Pentecost. On that day we celebrated the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus after His Ascension to Heaven. Held on the seventh Sunday after Easter, Pentecost is celebrated 10 days after the Feast of the Ascension which is celebrated 40 days after Easter. Chapter 2 of Acts of the Apostles describes the arrival of the Holy Spirit like this:
1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 ESV
Holy Spirit Credit: pixabay.com
This was no casual deal. It didn’t just slip by unnoticed. A multitude of Jews from all over the land observed this raucous commotion. They thought the Apostles were in their cups, too much wine. On this day Peter finally found his voice and his conviction as the rock upon which the Church would be built (Acts 2:14-41 ESV). He boldly spoke to the gathered crowd as he was moved by the Holy Spirit and around three thousand souls were saved.
The gift of the Holy Spirit
Jesus had promised the Apostles, as he prepared to ascend into Heaven, that He would ask the Father to send a Helper.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 ESV
The Spirit comes in so that the Gospel goes out…
I read a great blog post on the gift of the Holy Spirit recently on RookieAnglican that described the Holy Spirit in a way I had not previously considered. The article introduced me to the idea that the Holy Spirit was not
Holy Spirit
meant to only dwell inside of us, to speak in that small, quiet voice, guiding us in our personal faith journey. The article describes the Spirit’s movement as something Outward and Upward rather than something to cling to as a point of personal pride. Unshared, the Holy Spirit made the Apostles look pretty silly, even drunk when first settling upon the Upper Room. When the Spirit moved Peter to speak to the crowd, thousands of souls were given to our Savior. Outward – to send the message out far and wide, Upward – to lift souls up to God. The Spirit goes out, so that all might be lifted up.
The Holy Spirit, for sure, was sent to live inside of us, to guide us, comfort us, teach us, to be God’s Presence in our lives. But the Holy Spirit, like the Gospel of Christ, was meant to be shared, to the ends of the earth, that all might know the glory of God.
Next time we will reflect on the “Gifts of the Holy Spirit.” Until then, may your paths be illuminated by the Power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that you be moved to share His light with the world.
