LEADERSHIP LETTER ARCHIVES

A MONTHLY READING FOR ALL ARC LEADERS
April 2004

THE EMPOWERING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

God has given of himself to the church in the person of the Holy Spirit, and by the Spirit God himself indwells every believer. The Spirit applies God's Word to our hearts in power, produces in us new life and victory over sin, and gives gifts to God's people both natural and supernatural for the building up of the church.

We must rely on the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives: in ministry, in struggle with sin, and in each area of responsibility to which we are called. We trust the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth, to apply that truth to our lives, and to gift us charismatically in many and varied ways for God's service.

--ARC Common Concerns

The Easter season is a time to reflect upon all the Lord Jesus has accomplished on our behalf.  As I reflect, I have often thought about what it would be like to walk with Jesus and the disciples.  Can you imagine?  What an awesome experience that would be!  When I was much younger in the Lord, I used to think about this regularly, as some of you probably have, until one day God gave me a wonderful revelation.  In the book of John, Jesus says, "Now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:5-7).   This is actually quite a statement.  Jesus tells His disciples it is better for them, it is to their advantage, that He goes away.  I would venture to say that this was hard to take.  It was probably one of those, duhh!… moments.  Of course Jesus is referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Father, Who is to be given to all believers under the New Covenant.  The realization of this truth has made a tremendous difference in the way I relate with God.  It is a truth I am growing in understanding and appreciation of continually.  Paul understood this need for growth as he prayed, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.”  Eph 1:17

I’d like to discuss this advantage we have and what it means to walk in the Holy Spirit.  The good news of the New Covenant is that we are people of His Presence.  We have the Spirit of Christ.  He is in us and we are in Him.  Exodus 33:15-16 tells how Moses knew his desperate need for the Presence of God so much that he would not go on without Him, so too our need is the same.  Praise God!  We have confidence knowing that His Presence is within us, and in every situation we find ourselves - He is with us.  Under the New Covenant we all know Him from the least to the greatest, from the youngest to the oldest, because His Holy Presence is in us.  Thank the Lord; we have this position because of the magnificent redemptive work of Jesus.  We are forgiven, the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us of all our sin, and we are being purified of all unrighteousness.  Praise God!  This is clearly a gift of His grace.   This is the Good News.  We are people of His Presence.

 In my walk with Christ over the years I find myself growing in faith believing this truth more and more.  There was a day when I would try to gain a sense of God’s Presence through activities, such as, worship, prayer, bible study, service, and the like.  This type of striving can be death to the soul.  It makes a huge difference to know that He is present, I in Him and He in me, because I am a child of God.  This walk of faith is life and peace.  This walk of faith makes a tremendous difference on how I experience the Spirit’s Presence in my daily life.  Through the Spirit I can embrace the truth of the Bible.  He is my Comforter and Counselor.  He is my Teacher.  He reveals truth and He reveals Jesus Himself.  He reveals the secret things of God.  He will never leave me or forsake me.  He is in me and I am in Him.

His Presence working in us is the only way to effectively function in ministry.   People desperately need to experience the love of God.  His love is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  This “life giving water” refreshes our soul and the souls of all those we pass it on to.  The love of God is the most powerful force in the world.  In love He is drawing men, women, boys, and girls to Himself; therefore, we can have boldness and confidence in evangelism because the Holy Spirit is in the world lovingly convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.   The Holy Spirit is the Gift of God and He gives His spiritual gifts to the church by which we minister effectively. 

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,

faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks,

he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves,

he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things

God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory

and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 

1 Peter 4:10-11

The Bible teaches that we can grieve and quench the Spirit within us.  If that does happen what can we do?   We merely get up, shake the dust off, confess, repent, receive His forgiveness, and believe that I am in Him and He is in me.  He has put the law of God in our hearts and minds.  It is through the Spirit that we gain victory over sin.  His Presence is a light and a fire within us; as we give Him freedom to work in us, His light exposes all that is dark and His refining fire purifies our hearts and minds.  “We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18).

Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  We experience His Kingdom through the work of the Holy Spirit within us.   “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17-18).   We are people of the Kingdom of God.  This is a supernatural existence and I can’t imagine trying to live the Christian life in my own strength.  I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit in my life and in the church.  We are indeed people of His Presence; the more we believe this to be true and experience His life, the more our Lord will be magnified in the earth.

As we lead and pastor those who are in our care we teach them to be people of His Presence.  We point them to Jesus.  We teach them to persevere and throw off all that entangles and hinders in our relationship with Christ.  And we teach them to stand in the simple but profound truth that His Holy Presence is within us.  As we stand in this truth by faith, God the Spirit does His transforming, equipping, and empowering work in us. 

The essence of Christianity is not about religion, a system of morality, a code of ethics, or turning over a new leaf; but it is living in the glorious truth that we have an ongoing relationship with God.  He is near.  We are people of His presence.  He is in us and we are in Him.   We are the dwelling place of God in the Spirit.  We are the light of the world.  So this Easter as we reflect upon the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, I encourage each of us to draw near and burn brightly.  And it is my heart, “. . . that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph 3:16-17).

Gerry Soviar