pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: spirit


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Loving Deeply

Reading: Romans 6:1-11

Verse 8: “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

Photo credit: Shane

In Romans 6 Paul writes of our new life in Christ. Our new life begins with our baptism into Christ – professing our faith in Jesus as the Lord of our life and as the Savior of our soul. Our old worldly self is left behind figuratively as we become a new creation in Christ. In reality, though, our old self is still there, trying to be reborn again and again in us, tempting us towards sin. Into this reality, Paul writes, “we are no longer slaves to sin.” Because Christ lives in us, sin no longer has “mastery” over us. Through the Spirit of Christ in us, we can use his power to resist the temptations.

As new creations in Christ we live differently. In verse 8 we read, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” Taking on and welcoming in the Spirit, committing to follow and walk in Jesus’ example, we walk in a new way in the world. Just as Christ “lived to God” so too are we to live. In a general sense this means advancing and building the kingdom of God here on earth. This entails being love lived out, being kindness and mercy for all. This means we live as persons of peace and of healing and of restoration and of reconciliation. At times this will call us to stand out as we stand up against injustice and oppression and other forms of evil, just as Jesus himself did. This leans into the cost of discipleship that we heard Jesus speaking of yesterday in Matthew 10. May we lean in well, loving deeply into Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Lord God, make me a willing servant, a faithful follower. Open my eyes and my heart to the ways you want me to love well in this world. Use me to draw all peoples into your kingdom here on earth. Amen.


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Holy Spirit Power

Reading: Matthew 10:16-23

Verses 19-20: “When they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it… for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

As we continue today with the story of Jesus sending out the disciples, Jesus addresses the difficulty of the journey and the help we receive along the way. In today’s text we see one of the qualities of Jesus that I find most refreshing: honesty. Our section today begins with these words: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” Oh boy coach, sign me up, right?!

The 12 disciples knew and lived this difficulty out. As a whole, the Jewish religious leaders were never supporters of Jesus and as his 3 years of ministry went on they became more and more adversarial in their relationship with Jesus. Jesus wanted the disciples to know that this would continue as they went out now and as they continued the mission after his death, resurrection, and ascension. The idea that people and powers will oppose the faith is still very much a reality today.

Into this honest assessment of discipleship Jesus offers this hope and promise: “When they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it… for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Not “if” but “when” they oppose, persecute, arrest, abuse… God in Spirit will be there, giving you words to speak. This is a powerful promise. As we seek to be followers of Christ in a post-Christian landscape, may we be faithful to our call and may we ever trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our every step and our every word.

Prayer: Lord God, give me the courage to seek out the lonely, to stand up for the oppressed and marginalized, to speak against injustice and evil. Fill me with your Holy Spirit power. May it guide all of my words and deeds. Amen.


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All Always

Readings: Genesis 1:1-2 and Matthew 28:18-20

Verses 1 and 20: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” and “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Today, on Trinity Sunday, we are reminded of the eternal nature of the three-in-one God. And we are reminded of the eternal relationship that we receive when we commit our lives to serving and worshipping this triune God.

In Genesis 1 God created the earth and all that was in it and on it and in its waters and sky. In verse 2 we read that the Spirit hovered over the chaos – assessing, taking in, becoming a part of the creative process. In John’s gospel we hear echoes of Genesis as he tells us that Jesus too was there at the beginning: “In the beginning was the Word… And through him all things were made.” Since before the beginning of time and creation: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

At the end of Matthew’s gospel Jesus commissions all disciples – those present then and all who will follow in their footsteps – to make new disciples, baptizing them also in his name and teaching them too to walk in Jesus’ ways. Then he gives the promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The one who was and is always will be. In Spirit, Christ remains alive and present to each of us, both now and forevermore.

Just imagine for a moment what “us” means. Imagine the diversity of folks who will read these words today. And just imagine all the other folks who today are sharing about our three-in-one God. God continues to call and to touch and to use a diverse and yet cohesive body of believers to build God’s kingdom here on earth. Each day, may we all play a role in this building process, all for the glory of God.

Prayer: Lord God, in whatever ways – big or small or somewhere in between – use each of your children to bring glory to your name. Amen.


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Chaos to Beautiful Diversity

Reading: Genesis 1:1-25

Verse 2: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Genesis 1 is a great place to begin the week that culminates in Trinity Sunday. As Disciplines writer Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli puts it, “In the beginning, a diverse God – Creator, Word, and Spirit – created a diverse world, all interdependent, all profoundly good” (page 184). What a beautiful thought!

Now, the world did not begin this way. Verse 2 establishes the starting point of our world: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” In the beginning there was a nothingness. It was formless and empty, dark. The deep waters represent the unknown. Because the deep was unknown, it was feared, it was avoided. Chaos and angst lived there.

Chaos and angst are still the parts of life that we avoid or wish we could avoid. Yet “life” happens – death enters unwanted, relationships become strained and break, illness and disease impact us, nature reeks havoc, employment and other decisions that people make affect our lives and families… In these moments we can feel like our world is formless, empty, dark.

As Genesis 1 begins God takes action. The chaos and nothingness are replaced with order and purpose – 2 things we love! As creation unfolds all that God does is good, everything is valued, there is an interconnectedness to all of creation. There is a beautiful yet connected diversity to this world that God created. May we see, appreciate, and love this world, especially one another. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, what an awesome and amazing and beautiful world you created! Thank you for this gift. May we receive it, live in it, love it, and honor all parts of it as all of our world is your creation. Amen.


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Power and Authority

Reading: John 20:21-23

Verses 22-23: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven.”

Continuing in John 20 today, Jesus offers the disciples peace once again and then he sends them into the world – just as God had sent him. This means that they go with all of the power and authority of the one who sent Jesus. Just as he ministered, taught, and healed through the power of God, so too would the disciples. So too can we.

“And with that” – with the command to go into the world, Jesus breathes on them the Holy Spirit. There is a connection here. It is the Spirit within us that connects us to God and to God’s power and authority. Jesus says to the disciples, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven.” This gift comes with some responsibilities. The first and most obvious is the mission to go into the world to represent God and Jesus. Filled with the Spirit, we are to be Christ to the world.

The second responsibility is helping people in their sin. For most of us, at first at least, this is an uncomfortable thought. Sin feels private, personal. That’s the way Satan wants it. But Jesus knew how important community was. He lived and practiced community. Not just for worship or fellowship, but also for support and encouragement and accountability. In this second role we help one another to be freed from our sins. In a similar way we can walk with non-believers, helping them to find freedom from the trappings of this world. Both of these actions are fulfilling the command to represent Jesus as ones sent into the world.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, filled with God’s authority, may we go into all the world, bringing forth the good news of Jesus Christ!

Prayer: Lord God, fill me and send me out! Guided by the Spirit within, may the words I speak be your words. And may the actions of my hands and feet mirror those of Jesus. Amen.


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The Common Good

Reading: 1st Corinthians 12:4-14

Verse 7: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Photo credit: Ditto Bowo

In this week’s Epistle reading Paul speaks to us about the gifts of the Spirit. There is a list of 9 gifts in verses 8-10. You may recognize one or two of your gifts in that list. Or maybe your gifts aren’t listed here. The 9 are a partial list. There are many other gifts of the Spirit. Counsel, piety, teaching, exhortation, generosity, mercy, and leadership are gifts listed in Isaiah 11 and in Romans 12. Some have the gift of ministering to the grieving or with children. Some have the gift of music. There are many gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In verse 7 Paul writes, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” There are two parts of this verse that I’d like to highlight today. First, “to each one.” The gifts of the Spirit aren’t given to just the select few or even to a handful of people. No, every single one of us has been given gifts by the Spirit. Second, “for the common good.” There are two aspects of the common good. Within the body of faith our gifts are to be used to build up and enrich the body of Christ. The common good here would be growing deeper in Christ. Outside of the body our gifts are to be used in the world, yet for the same overall purpose: to build up the kingdom of God. Using our Spirit-given gifts in the world enhances the common good of everyone. This happens as we strive to live out and to live up to Jesus’ example, loving God and loving neighbor.

Each of us, using the gifts that we have each been given by the Spirit for the common good, is essential, needed, vital, necessary, important. Without you using your gifts, we are less than we could be. Imagine your body without a brain or without a heart or without lungs or eyes or blood vessels or… That is the body of Christ without you and your gifts. May we all use our gifts for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide me today and every day to use all the gifts that your Spirit has given to me. Whether for just one or for a group, use me to enhance the common good and to build up the kingdom here on earth. Amen.


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Ongoing Creativity

Reading: Psalm 104:24-34

Verse 30: “When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.”

Psalm 104 is a celebration of God’s creation. Our passage today begins with “How many are your works, O Lord!... the earth is full of your creations.” Everything that is and everything that has ever been is the outpouring of God’s creativity. Just looking out the window one can see many things created by God. And that collection is just a teeny, tiny fraction of all that God has made.

In our verses today the psalmist focuses on the creatures of the sea. They are indeed “teeming beyond number” – there are some in the depths of the ocean that we have not even discovered yet. That is amazing. Today we are reminded that God gives life and that God takes away breath. All is within God’s control, even our lives. We too are part of God’s creation. Our breath comes from God and is just one way that we connect to the Creator. Like our breath, every time we appreciate God’s handiwork and each time that we are graced by God’s touch – these are reminders that God is ever with us.

In verse 30 the psalmist celebrates God’s ongoing creativity. Here we read, “When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.” Second by second, moment by moment, day by day, God sends new life through the Spirit. We are daily a part of this process. Thanks be to God our Creator.

Prayer: Lord God, each breath we take is a reminder of your gift of life. Each moment you bless us with is an opportunity to be alive and engaged with you and with all of creation. Thank you for this sacred gift. All praise and glory to you, our Creator. Amen.


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Share the Good News

Reading: Acts 2:1-13

Verses 1 and 6: “They were all together in one place… each one heard their own language being spoken.”

Photo credit: James A. Molnar

This week we celebrate the day of Pentecost – the day the Holy Spirit came down upon and into the followers of Christ. Many people were gathered in Jerusalem: “God-fearing Jews from every nation.” In verses 9-11 we see that there are literally people from all over the known world gathered in the city.

In one place “they were all together.” The ‘they’ are the followers of Jesus. Suddenly and loudly the Holy Spirit comes. It rests upon each one of them. Each person – men, women, young, old, children – each is then filled with the Spirit. This indwelling presence then leads each to speak in a new language. The noise draws a great crowd of Jews. The crowd gathers in “bewilderment.” These Galilean followers of Jesus – these country folk – they speak to all in the diverse crowd. In verse 6 we read, “Each one heard their own language being spoken.” God has a plan. It was to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the crowd. This was just step one.

As we consider what happened this amazing day, what lessons can we learn? I think the first lesson is that there is no real ‘us-them.’ It is clear that God wanted to create a diverse unity in the church. To this point we must ask: Does our church reflect the beautiful diversity of the local community? The second lesson is that all were and are equipped to be ministers of the gospel. The question this leads to is this: How will you use your unique ‘language’ – your story and voice – to make Christ known to “every nation under heaven?”

Prayer: Lord God, in each encounter today, help me to find my voice. Fill me with the words that need to be spoken, that need to be heard. Through the power of the Holy Spirit may the words given be received in a way that draws others towards your love and grace. Amen.


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One

Reading: John 17:1-11

Verse 11: “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”

After clearly telling the disciples that it is time for him to return to God, Jesus tells the disciples, “In this world you will have trouble.” He immediately follows this up with words of encouragement: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” It is from this place that Jesus offers the prayer that we read today in John 17.

Jesus first prays mostly for himself, thanking God that eternal life will be given to those that belong to or believe in him. He acknowledges that he has “completed the work you sent me to do.” Jesus has lived out God’s love, revealing God to the world. He will be glorified here through the resurrection and then he will return to glory in heaven.

In verses 6-11 Jesus prays for his disciples – “those whom you gave me out of this world.” Living as exiles or sojourners in this world, we too fit this description. Jesus acknowledges their obedience and their belief that God was in him and he is in God. Recognizing that they will yet remain in the world, Jesus prays, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” There is power in the name of Jesus. Calling upon his name will invoke a holy presence. Calling on Jesus for power or guidance or protection or… invites Jesus to be right there with us.

And why might a disciple need this power? “So that they may be one as we are one.” To bring unity, to build community, to develop relationships, to work together – to be one with one another as we are one with God, Jesus, and the Spirit. It’s all about relationship and connection. As disciples of Jesus Christ may we too seek to be one with each other and one with the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, through the power of your Holy Spirit, connect us to one another and to you. Build us up as the body of Christ, finding power and unity in the name of Jesus Christ, your son and our perfect example. Bind us together as we seek to minister to the needs of the world. Amen.


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The Foundation: Love

Reading: John 14:18-21

Verse 20: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

Jesus continues to offer words of reassurance and promise as we press on into the second half of this week’s gospel lesson. Reassuring the disciples that their connection to him, that their relationship with him, will not end in his death. He states, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” While this will not be in the earthly physical sense it will be in a tangible, real, spiritual sense. The presence of the Holy Spirit is something that we can feel, sense, and connect to.

Jesus then says, “You will see me.” As the Spirit works in the hearts and minds of the disciples it will remind them of Jesus. It will bring back memories of his actions and words, bringing guidance, direction, encouragement, strength… In this way, they will see Jesus. Along these lines, because Jesus lives in them, they will in turn live as his hands, feet, words, and actions in the world. No, they will never be orphans. They will forever be connected to Jesus Christ and to the kingdom of God. We too experience this living presence when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In verse 20 we read, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” Indeed so! On the day that the Holy Spirit becomes a part of our lives we realize this indwelling of Christ in us and of us in Christ. In the Biblical story, the disciples will soon experience this as the risen Christ breathes the Holy Spirit upon them. In the last verse, Jesus speaks again and again of love. This is the foundation of our relationship with the Lord and with one another. Each day may we live into this love and may we pour it out into the world.

Prayer: Lord God, your Spirit is a wonderful gift. It connects us 24/7 to you. It is a constant guide and companion. Through the power and presence of your Spirit lead me in love – for you, for others, for the world. Amen.