February 23, 2003: Filled With The Spirit
Someone sent me these questions: How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I tell when I'm Spirit filled? Here is my response:
Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Make it a regular prayer request. Jesus said, "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13) That last part, to those who ask him!, is important. God likes to be asked. Perhaps the reason that some Christians are less Spirit-filled than they could be is because they do not ask for it. (See James 4:2b: "You do not have, because you do not ask God.")
I believe the Bible uses the phrase "filled with the Spirit" in two different ways. There is the temporary, powerful, even miraculous indwelling of the Spirit that is given for a particular purpose, as in Acts 4:8: "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said...", or Acts 13:9: "Then...Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas...". I would distinguish that focused, temporary filling of the Spirit from the more general type that speaks of a person's character, as in Acts 6:5b: "They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit."
This latter type of being Spirit-filled is not binary (either you are or you aren't), but a matter of degree. Some are "more full" than others. See Ephesians 5:18, where fullness of the Spirit is contrasted with drunkenness: "Do not get drunk on wine...Instead be filled with the Spirit." The more you drink, the drunker you get - so also the more you partake of the Spirit, the more full of him you will be.
How can you tell when you are Spirit-filled? I am not sure that is for us to say. It is the job of others, and ultimately God, to determine whether you bear the fruit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23) that are the signs of the Spirit's presence.
An example may help:
I doubt that my sister would be the type to conduct a spiritual self-examination and afterwards conclude, "I am full of the Holy Spirit." But she is full of the Spirit, and I'll say it for her. Last Tuesday she stood in a courtroom and embraced the sobbing young man who murdered her son last year. She did this without the support of
her husband, a hell-bound lying adulterer who stayed home. How can she do that - how can she forgive a murderer, and continue faithfully to fulfill her marital vows to a beast who renounced his? Only by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God. Sometimes the best way to understand what it means to be full of the Spirit is to find a good example and say, "Oh, I see. THAT is what it looks like to be Spirit-filled."
Sunday, February 23, 2003
Sunday, February 16, 2003
February 16, 2003: Not Ashamed To Pray
I hope you're not embarrassed to pray for people. By "people" I mean even total strangers, and by "pray" I mean out loud, in front of them.
A few years ago I was in the parking lot at Dominick's grocery store when I saw a troubled lady looking all over the place for something. I asked her what she was looking for, and she said she had lost her keys. She was frantic. The keys were work-related, and she was afraid she was going to lose her job. I helped her look.
I also asked her if I could pray for her. She said yes, and we stopped briefly and I prayed. I wish I could say the keys appeared suddenly after that. They didn't - I really don't know if she ever found them. But she was thankful that I stopped and prayed and helped her look.
I've had lots of opportunities to pray for strangers and near-strangers, and I find that they almost never say, "Are you crazy?" On the contrary, they tend to be appreciative. It happened again last week, when I stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 80 to provide some roadside assistance to a young man and his mother whose
car engine had caught fire. The fire was mostly out by the time I got there, and they had already called for help. There wasn't much I could do but listen to the poor woman's story and say, "Can I pray for you and your son?" She was so pleased! It made me happy I stopped and offered to pray.
Pray for people, and do not worry about whether you might come across as a religious freak. Just do it, just plunge in and offer to pray. Good will probably come of it.
I hope you're not embarrassed to pray for people. By "people" I mean even total strangers, and by "pray" I mean out loud, in front of them.
A few years ago I was in the parking lot at Dominick's grocery store when I saw a troubled lady looking all over the place for something. I asked her what she was looking for, and she said she had lost her keys. She was frantic. The keys were work-related, and she was afraid she was going to lose her job. I helped her look.
I also asked her if I could pray for her. She said yes, and we stopped briefly and I prayed. I wish I could say the keys appeared suddenly after that. They didn't - I really don't know if she ever found them. But she was thankful that I stopped and prayed and helped her look.
I've had lots of opportunities to pray for strangers and near-strangers, and I find that they almost never say, "Are you crazy?" On the contrary, they tend to be appreciative. It happened again last week, when I stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 80 to provide some roadside assistance to a young man and his mother whose
car engine had caught fire. The fire was mostly out by the time I got there, and they had already called for help. There wasn't much I could do but listen to the poor woman's story and say, "Can I pray for you and your son?" She was so pleased! It made me happy I stopped and offered to pray.
Pray for people, and do not worry about whether you might come across as a religious freak. Just do it, just plunge in and offer to pray. Good will probably come of it.
Sunday, February 9, 2003
February 9, 2003: He Knows What Wounds Are
Our God is a wounded God.
There are good reasons why, when Jesus rose with a renewed and glorified body, his wounds remained just as they were. For one thing, they rebuked the doubts of Thomas. Thomas had insisted that he would not believe the resurrection until he saw Jesus standing before him, wounds and all. Jesus showed up and obliged him. "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (John 20:27-28)
The wounds of Christ not only silence doubt; they also bring about a silence of spirit to those who, like Jesus, bear wounds in their bodies and grief in their souls. The poem Jesus of the Scars, written by Edward Shilito after he had witnessed the carnage of World War I, speaks of the way in which Jesus' wounds address our sufferings. The last two stanzas read,
If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know today what wounds are, have no fear.
Show us Thy Scars; we know the countersign.
The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.
I am thankful that my God has wounds. He knows by experience the pain this world inflicts. His "rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified" stand as eternal testimony that he entered into our suffering, and took upon himself more of it than we could bear. Now his wounds are a balm to ours. The Bible says that by them we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
A seminary professor told us about the time a practical-joking fool shook hands with Pastor A.W. Tozer and said, "I am Jesus Christ!" Tozer looked at the man's hands and said calmly, "No you're not. Jesus’ hands have nail-scars." Tozer was right. The hands of our Lord still show the scars that bore away our sin, and false pretenders to his throne lack his credentials of pain. Not a god has wounds, but Christ alone.
Our God is a wounded God.
There are good reasons why, when Jesus rose with a renewed and glorified body, his wounds remained just as they were. For one thing, they rebuked the doubts of Thomas. Thomas had insisted that he would not believe the resurrection until he saw Jesus standing before him, wounds and all. Jesus showed up and obliged him. "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (John 20:27-28)
The wounds of Christ not only silence doubt; they also bring about a silence of spirit to those who, like Jesus, bear wounds in their bodies and grief in their souls. The poem Jesus of the Scars, written by Edward Shilito after he had witnessed the carnage of World War I, speaks of the way in which Jesus' wounds address our sufferings. The last two stanzas read,
If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know today what wounds are, have no fear.
Show us Thy Scars; we know the countersign.
The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.
I am thankful that my God has wounds. He knows by experience the pain this world inflicts. His "rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified" stand as eternal testimony that he entered into our suffering, and took upon himself more of it than we could bear. Now his wounds are a balm to ours. The Bible says that by them we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
A seminary professor told us about the time a practical-joking fool shook hands with Pastor A.W. Tozer and said, "I am Jesus Christ!" Tozer looked at the man's hands and said calmly, "No you're not. Jesus’ hands have nail-scars." Tozer was right. The hands of our Lord still show the scars that bore away our sin, and false pretenders to his throne lack his credentials of pain. Not a god has wounds, but Christ alone.
Monday, February 3, 2003
February 2, 2003: Grin
A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
Let me recommend a smile.
I never used to smile much when I was young, and people often commented on it. I tell you the truth - several times people actually came up to me and asked me what was wrong, and I'd say, "Nothing, why?" and they'd say, "You look grim." I didn't feel grim, especially, but apparently I looked that way. I’m embarrassed now to look at old photographs and see that not only did I not smile, but sometimes I looked positively ticked off.
People can misinterpret a dour countenance. I remember one time preaching as a guest speaker at a church where my mother was visiting. During the sermon I looked her way and saw that she was glaring at me! For the rest of the message I was trying to figure out what I had said that had bothered her so much. When I asked her about it later, she said no, she liked the sermon, and was shocked to hear that she had looked so upset. Apparently she resolved (with her typical earnestness) to change that, because the next time I preached and looked her way, she plastered on a grin so forced and toothy that I had to look away to keep from laughing. I didn't dare make eye contact with her for the rest of the sermon for fear that she would make that clown face again and I would lose it.
Charles Spurgeon once told a class of grim seminarians, "When you speak of heaven, let your face shine. When you speak of hell, your normal face will do." Take care lest your "normal face," your default expression, be one that reflects the gray misery of hell. Look to God, practice joy, and let your face shine forth the merriment of heaven.
A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
Let me recommend a smile.
I never used to smile much when I was young, and people often commented on it. I tell you the truth - several times people actually came up to me and asked me what was wrong, and I'd say, "Nothing, why?" and they'd say, "You look grim." I didn't feel grim, especially, but apparently I looked that way. I’m embarrassed now to look at old photographs and see that not only did I not smile, but sometimes I looked positively ticked off.
People can misinterpret a dour countenance. I remember one time preaching as a guest speaker at a church where my mother was visiting. During the sermon I looked her way and saw that she was glaring at me! For the rest of the message I was trying to figure out what I had said that had bothered her so much. When I asked her about it later, she said no, she liked the sermon, and was shocked to hear that she had looked so upset. Apparently she resolved (with her typical earnestness) to change that, because the next time I preached and looked her way, she plastered on a grin so forced and toothy that I had to look away to keep from laughing. I didn't dare make eye contact with her for the rest of the sermon for fear that she would make that clown face again and I would lose it.
Charles Spurgeon once told a class of grim seminarians, "When you speak of heaven, let your face shine. When you speak of hell, your normal face will do." Take care lest your "normal face," your default expression, be one that reflects the gray misery of hell. Look to God, practice joy, and let your face shine forth the merriment of heaven.
Sunday, January 26, 2003
January 26, 2003: Against Bait-And-Switch Evangelism
I like to quote from time to time a slogan I picked up from Presbyterian pastor and theologian James Montgomery Boice, who got it from former Moody President William Culbertson, namely: "What you win them with you win them to."
Let me explain. We Christians are agreed about what we want to win people to: faith in Christ, virtuous character, joyful worship, charitable works, fervent prayer, reverence for the Word. But it seems to me that we make the mistake of believing that we can win people to these things by means of completely unrelated stuff like entertainment, free hot dogs, guest musicians and a softball league. Then we're surprised when all we've really done is win people to entertainment, free hot dogs, guest musicians and a softball league. But why should we be shocked that they are reluctant to take up their cross and follow Christ when we have been so reluctant to make it clear that that is really what we are all about?
We must put Jesus Christ, and devotion to him, front and center at all times. Don't hide Jesus away till later. I have seen well-meaning missionaries put service first, and then puzzle over why the indigenous peoples won't make the transition from enjoying the social benefits we provide to following the Lord we worship. I have seen
well-meaning suburban Christians put activities first, and then wonder why their friends won't receive Christ after they had so much fun at the church's special events.
What you win them with you win them to. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). Win them with, and to, Jesus.
I like to quote from time to time a slogan I picked up from Presbyterian pastor and theologian James Montgomery Boice, who got it from former Moody President William Culbertson, namely: "What you win them with you win them to."
Let me explain. We Christians are agreed about what we want to win people to: faith in Christ, virtuous character, joyful worship, charitable works, fervent prayer, reverence for the Word. But it seems to me that we make the mistake of believing that we can win people to these things by means of completely unrelated stuff like entertainment, free hot dogs, guest musicians and a softball league. Then we're surprised when all we've really done is win people to entertainment, free hot dogs, guest musicians and a softball league. But why should we be shocked that they are reluctant to take up their cross and follow Christ when we have been so reluctant to make it clear that that is really what we are all about?
We must put Jesus Christ, and devotion to him, front and center at all times. Don't hide Jesus away till later. I have seen well-meaning missionaries put service first, and then puzzle over why the indigenous peoples won't make the transition from enjoying the social benefits we provide to following the Lord we worship. I have seen
well-meaning suburban Christians put activities first, and then wonder why their friends won't receive Christ after they had so much fun at the church's special events.
What you win them with you win them to. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). Win them with, and to, Jesus.
Sunday, January 19, 2003
January 19, 2003: Fostering Community
As missionaries my wife and I were often asked, "So how do you like Colombia?" It was hard to answer, because frankly we weren't in Colombia because we liked it. We were there to translate the Bible. As for liking it, well, Colombia was not in our top ten list of places where we wanted to retire.
But after returning to the U. S. I realized one thing I missed about Colombia: the sense of community. You knew all your neighbors there. You played soccer in the street with them. When the daughter of the neighborhood orange peddler got sick, you pitched in to buy her medicine. Community life had the feel of "Sesame Street" or "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood."
At home in the U. S. I have found it harder to get to know people. Our affluence and technology make it easy to avoid them. You don't have to see your neighbor's face when you come home: your garage door opener gets you inside without having to step out of the car. You don't have to ask anybody for directions: get them off MapQuest. You don't talk to a gas station attendant: swipe your credit card, fill up the tank and go. And your kids never organize themselves into baseball teams in the park any more - their thumbs are too calloused anyway from the video game buttons they've been pressing alone in their rooms.
We have to work harder than our Colombian counterparts to foster community. Psalm 133:1 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" That unity is more than peaceful co-existence - it involves some actual contact.
Let me encourage you this week to say hello to a neighbor, or call a friend you haven't seen in a while, or just do something - anything - to take a bold step forward against the isolating winds of modern culture that tend to blow us into sad little corners all by ourselves.
As missionaries my wife and I were often asked, "So how do you like Colombia?" It was hard to answer, because frankly we weren't in Colombia because we liked it. We were there to translate the Bible. As for liking it, well, Colombia was not in our top ten list of places where we wanted to retire.
But after returning to the U. S. I realized one thing I missed about Colombia: the sense of community. You knew all your neighbors there. You played soccer in the street with them. When the daughter of the neighborhood orange peddler got sick, you pitched in to buy her medicine. Community life had the feel of "Sesame Street" or "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood."
At home in the U. S. I have found it harder to get to know people. Our affluence and technology make it easy to avoid them. You don't have to see your neighbor's face when you come home: your garage door opener gets you inside without having to step out of the car. You don't have to ask anybody for directions: get them off MapQuest. You don't talk to a gas station attendant: swipe your credit card, fill up the tank and go. And your kids never organize themselves into baseball teams in the park any more - their thumbs are too calloused anyway from the video game buttons they've been pressing alone in their rooms.
We have to work harder than our Colombian counterparts to foster community. Psalm 133:1 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" That unity is more than peaceful co-existence - it involves some actual contact.
Let me encourage you this week to say hello to a neighbor, or call a friend you haven't seen in a while, or just do something - anything - to take a bold step forward against the isolating winds of modern culture that tend to blow us into sad little corners all by ourselves.
Sunday, January 12, 2003
January 12, 2003: Goodness As The Route To Happiness
One of my favorite movie lines comes from the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice, a series that I think actually does justice to one of the best books ever written. There is a scene where Jane, who is as sweet and kind and saintly as a person can be, exults over a marriage proposal from the man of her dreams. As she shares her joy with her sister Elizabeth, she says she hopes that someday Elizabeth can be as happy as she. Elizabeth smiles and says, "Till I have your goodness, I can never have your happiness."
There is great wisdom in that confession. Goodness expands our capacity for joy, and that is why the greatest delights can only be experienced by good people. She who has cultivated the virtues of generosity, graciousness, patience and love will spring a bit higher and make merry a bit longer on those days when God blesses her with a reason to rejoice. And she will be able to spot those occasions more easily than the dull sinner who can never find anything to be happy about.
Solomon said, "The prospect of the righteous is joy" (Proverbs 10:28). That joy, of course, may be some time in coming. Jesus had to wade through great sorrow to get to it. But after the pain of the cross he was finally able to delight in “the joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2).
My mother was fond of saying that joy is a by-product of obedience, and I think that is exactly right. Pursue happiness by itself and you will find it elusive. Pursue goodness instead, and you will find happiness sneaking up behind you and catching you unaware.
One of my favorite movie lines comes from the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice, a series that I think actually does justice to one of the best books ever written. There is a scene where Jane, who is as sweet and kind and saintly as a person can be, exults over a marriage proposal from the man of her dreams. As she shares her joy with her sister Elizabeth, she says she hopes that someday Elizabeth can be as happy as she. Elizabeth smiles and says, "Till I have your goodness, I can never have your happiness."
There is great wisdom in that confession. Goodness expands our capacity for joy, and that is why the greatest delights can only be experienced by good people. She who has cultivated the virtues of generosity, graciousness, patience and love will spring a bit higher and make merry a bit longer on those days when God blesses her with a reason to rejoice. And she will be able to spot those occasions more easily than the dull sinner who can never find anything to be happy about.
Solomon said, "The prospect of the righteous is joy" (Proverbs 10:28). That joy, of course, may be some time in coming. Jesus had to wade through great sorrow to get to it. But after the pain of the cross he was finally able to delight in “the joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2).
My mother was fond of saying that joy is a by-product of obedience, and I think that is exactly right. Pursue happiness by itself and you will find it elusive. Pursue goodness instead, and you will find happiness sneaking up behind you and catching you unaware.
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