Friday, February 19, 2010

Currently Reading

Forgotten God
Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

- By Francis Chan

I just started a new book and already I've come across a paragraph worth blogging about. Someday I'll have read enough books and will have walked with the Lord long enough to write about my own thoughts and insights on spirituality, until then your stuck reading about what I find enlightening from others.

As I wrote this book, the question that kept burning in my mind was how can any human being write well on the sacred topic of the Holy Spirit of God? No subject intimidates me more, yet I cant' think of anything more essential for God's church everywhere, and especially in the western hemisphere where it seems that the Holy Spirit is all but missing from most of our churches. I am most definitely writing from western context, and I know that the body of Christ is vibrant and growing and the Holy Spirit active on continents like Africa, South America, and Asia. I also know that God works uniquely in various places and times, and I do think this explains part of the difference between here and there. However, I also believe that the Spirit is more obviously active in places where people are desperate for Him, humbled before Him, and not distracted by their pursuit of wealth or comforts (like we are).

Chan goes onto say,

The Holy Spirit is absolutely vital to our situation today. Of course, He is always vital; but perhaps especially now. After all, if the Holy Spirit Moves, nothing can stop Him. If he doesn't move, we will not produce genuine fruit - no matter how much effort or money we expend. The church becomes irrelevant when it becomes purely a human creation. We are not all we were made to be when everything in our lives and churches can be explained apart from the work and presence of the Spirit of God

Francis Chan


2 comments:

  1. The Holy Spirit is available (freely) to everyone who believes in Christ and that HE died for their sins on the Cross, rose from the dead on the third day and ascended into Heaven. Those who do not believe in the Triune God, do not understand the "Spirit of Truth." The apostle Paul talks about this in I Corinthians 2:12-14- "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words, taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." In John 14, Jesus comforts the disciples as he promises them the Holy Spirit who would come to them after his ascention into Heaven. He taught them about the support, strength, counsel & comfort that would be available to them through the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the disciples in John 14:17 that "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. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." Christ was telling them that "on that day, they would then realize that I am in my Father and you are in me, and I am in you." (That day, was the Day of Pentacost). Jesus also said in John 14:21, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (NIV) As a Christian yields himself to Christ's teaching (Scripture), the Holy Spirit becomes alive and moves. Spending time in THE WORD is the beginning of movement. In order for the Church (believers)to be on the move, they have to be in THE WORD. Often because our society is so self-sufficient, many of us do not depend on THE WORD for direction. God is continually working on me in this area. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Trey. Love you guys

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  2. It makes me so happy to know that you are reading such wonderful books that ponder the Great Heart of God. I did't become a true born again Christian until we were in our second pastorate and both boys were very young. I know it was the Holy Spirit that followed after me, calling me, wooing me like a lover - The writer of your book is right - we must first humble ourselves before we can reach the place where we are willing to give up everything in order to have the greatest of all gifts - the gift of His Presence, His Precious Holy Spirit. As long as I was full of myself He no place to dwell in me - it was only in surrender that I became empty, hungry, thristy and lonely for God and miracle of miracles, He came to me! This wonderful happening occured after much searching of the Word as Janie said, and much prayer during which I made a covenant with God that I would be His Wholly and Completely - no strings attached. It's amazing what happens when we finally stop the charade and say - take it all, I can't do this any more! The pretense was breaking me down - make me real, change my heart. . . and He did! Today looking back on that time ~ I know it's all one story - my journey to God - His journey with me tucked under His arm. "Holy Spirit, Light Divine, come and fill this heart of mine, take the shades of night away, change my darkness unto day." What sweet peace to have the Holy Spirit in charge of it all. He is Jesus without a body and He is God; Jehovah Shammah, ever present! Praise His name!
    Love you sweet ones! Good night from Alabama
    Gammy

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