04.25.07 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

Last week, I drew out some of the "The Acts of the Holy Spirit" and challenged us to renewing our moment-by-moment relationship and obedience to our Savior and the Spirit.

I continued musing on how the "Branching Out" or the Vine and Branches picture in John 15 related to the Holy Spirit. The Father and Jesus are in the middle of Jesus' teaching. Remember, the Father is the Gardener and Jesus is the Vine & we are the branches. Where is the Spirit?

As you keep reading (or as Jesus kept talking that special last night with His followers) one can see the important place the Holy Spirit has:

"Now I am going away to the One who sent me...you grieve because of what I've told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate (Holy Spirit) won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you." John 16:5-7 NLT

The Holy Spirit is the critical part of the whole plan. The Father and Jesus had to do their work, but without the Holy Spirit we'd still be stuck. God Himself wouldn't actually live in us. God would still be the transcendent, all powerful one who defeated sin and death. But without the Spirit and His presence in our lives, God wouldn't be so close and intimate with us.

I'm wondering out loud with you if we take the Holy Spirit for granted and don't relate to Him as He desires. He is our Advocate. He is God with us. He is active and alive. He spoke to the primitive followers (examples in Acts 8:29; 10:19; 13:2; 21:11, etc.)

He still speaks, so the question is:
Am I listening and moving on what He says?

Press on,
Mike

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04.18.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

I spent time in the book of Acts this week. The traditional "full-length" title of the book is "The Acts of the Apostles." A commentary has been produced on it recently suggesting a new title--"The Acts of the Holy Spirit." In reading through it this week, I would concur with such a re-naming.

As I began in the first couple of paragraphs...I began to highlight passages on the Holy Spirit. I found myself highlighting multiple times on every page. Some 50+times in the book the Spirit is mentioned. An integral part of the story He is...at nearly every turn.

As I evaluated my life in contradistinction to the prevalence in Acts, I realized I leave Him on the sidelines more often than not. The Spirit is certainly active in my life, yet I discount His work. Often-even while writing this email-He prompts me and I squelch His prompt.

One of the verses that compounds two of the things I've been learning (about Jesus & the Holy Spirit), I wanted to pass on to you :

The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
Acts 9:31 NLT

An awesome reverence of Jesus and comfort/encouragement by the Holy Spirit were the things that built the church. May we recover this as well. A moment-by-moment relationship and obedience to our Savior and the Spirit.

"Letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace." Romans 8:6b NLT
Join me in growing by Spirit-Control.

Press on,
Mike

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04.11.07 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

How do you respond when someone tells you what to do? My guess is that most of us bristle. We are flaming individualists who don't like to be told to do anything--whether our parents, our boss, our spouse, our friend or our neighbor.

So how does that impact our relationship to Jesus? Do His requests of you make you bristle? All over the place in the New Testament is the call to obey His commands. So Jesus is telling us what to do...not just one thing but all of life!

Is it conceivable that Jesus asks us to do things with OUR best interests in mind? When Mindi asks me to bring up the clean laundry from the basement my response internally is a cringe and a "don't-want-to-attitude." My kids do the same thing to me when I ask them to do something they just aren't as good at hiding it as I have learned to be.

My wife doesn't have me get the laundry only for her benefit. It is for our whole family's benefit. We all want to wear clean clothes, so bringing up the clothes is a part of that process. I know why it is necessary, and that helps.

The great thing about the Scriptures is that they often make very clear WHY. Jesus explains why we ought do what He asks--that is obey His commandments. Listen in:

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:10-11 NLT

Jesus let's us know that He wants us to have His Love and JOY. So He isn't just a selfish ogre wanting His way. Or a big meanie in the sky who wants to take away all the fun. He wants something huge for OUR benefit. His Love and Our Joy.

Walk forward into this week in obedience and His Love and joy.

Press on,
Mike


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