HOLY SPIRIT: ENABLER

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:8-18 ESV)

            The ministry of the Holy Spirit is described throughout Scriptures in a variety of defining ways. He is the Helper, giving aid through life. He is the Teacher, providing the lessons of life and disclosing correct answers to the questions of life. He is the One who Convicts, confronting the rebellious nature.

            The Holy Spirit is also the Enabler. He gives the ability, creates the means, and presents the opportunity. He then makes human efforts more effective, making possible things considered virtually impossible.

            The word enabler in modern times has taken on negative connotations, suggesting co-dependency to debilitating and demeaning behavior. The Holy Spirit is just the opposite, delivering and dignifying.

            Jesus accommodates a request from Philip to “show us the Father.” He states the Father is visible in His life in three ways. If Philip looked openly he would see the Father in the inward nature of Jesus (V.9). If Philip listened intently he would hear the Father in the reliable words of Jesus (V.10). If Philip observed carefully he would witness the Father in the supernatural activities of Jesus (V.11).

            Jesus then applied the statement to His followers: “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” His going is associated with the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Enabler.

            People today still ask the request given by Philip, show us the Father. The church, the Body of Christ, is commissioned to disclose the One True God to every nation.

            Does this cause a sense of alarm? What an overwhelming expectation. Followers of Jesus do not possess a perfect demeanor nor are they all powerful. The obligation is humanly impossible, so much responsibility with so little capability.

            The threefold response of Jesus to Philip is the clue to showing God to the world. The nations are asking and believers are able because of the Enabler.

He enables you to show the inward nature of Jesus

            “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:16, 22-24 ESV)

            The Enabler implants divine characteristics, the natural qualities of Jesus, the attributes expressing genuineness that can disarm skeptics.

            Those not knowing Christ are bogged down in faithless lifestyles, living as doubters. They view followers of Jesus through tinted classes, assuming everyone has selfish motives and arrogant attitudes. The fruit of the Spirit is designed to impact the cynic’s opinion.

            When serving in church ministry in Montana, I supplemented the family income by being a Glazer, a glass worker. The co-workers were raw and rough. They constantly formulated sentences with every imaginable debased innuendo. While driving home from work, in preparation for conversations with my wife and kids, I put my mind through a divine washing, a spiritual cleansing through singing and praying.

            A new church assignment became available in South Dakota and we made plans to relocate. On my last day at work an extremely raunchy employee came up to me and said, “I have been watching you. Maybe there is something to this church stuff. I am going to have to check it out!” People do notice the Lord you serve, whether Jesus or some other.

            Christ’s love – self-giving, unconditional, vulnerable and enduring. Pure love is often misunderstood, exploited and abused. Followers of Jesus willfully take the risk and become exposed to possible hurt and rejection.

            Christ’s joy – comprehending life from an eternal perspective gives an inward glow, a deep-seated satisfaction.

            Christ’s peace – world situations are increasingly non-peaceful. Unholy ambitions make for strife and division. Yet the church is to reveal, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. (Ephesians 2:14 ESV)

            Christ’s patience – having a long fuse. A man known for having a short fuse, a quick temper, owned a car dealership. He committed his life to Christ and employees were amazed at how he gracefully managed problems previously causing outbursts of anger. He gained the fruit of peace and was transformed in Jesus.

            Christ’s kindness – “There was a man who had a heart transplant. But the operation was a total failure. For the man was a mean man and the heart was a kind heart.  His body simply rejected it.” (Helen Brenneman) The fallen nature has a natural propensity to be unkind. A place where most believers fall short is in failing to be considerate. The Holy Spirit gives a new heart, making a person compassionate.

            Christ’s goodness – a sincere, honest and moral heart.

            Christ’s faithfulness – trustworthy and reliable.

            Christ’s gentleness – sometimes referred to as power under perfect control, restraint coupled with strength and courage, being courteous and modest.

            Christ’s self-control – the capacity to manage emotions, desires and impulses for the purpose of serving others.

            To a world wanting to see the purely integrated Jesus, the Enabler gives you the ability to show His everyday attributes.

The Holy Spirit enables you to speak uprightly the words of Jesus

            James writes about a major obstacle toward talking honorably: “…the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness…. But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.” (James 3:3-10 ESV)

            Responding to others like Jesus is a monumental task. The Enabler shapes the heart of believers to be like Christ.

            Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34 ESV)

            Jesus also said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (Matthew 12:36 ESV)

            Your words express your devotion to God. A sharp tongue, a crude tongue, a thoughtless tongue, a slanderous tongue, and a bitter tongue is an unholy tongue. The unchurched recognize this deficiency. When an unholy tongue is manifested Jesus is not heard in the conversation. Take on His heart and the Holy Spirit cleans out your mouth.

            “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:29-30 ESV)

            As a young teenager I had a rotten mouth. The only words I used were crude. The only jokes I knew were coarse. After committing my life to Christ vocabulary usage became a major challenge. I desperately needed the heart of Jesus and for the Enabler to cultivate wholesome speech.

            To a world wanting you to show the heartfelt communicative Jesus, the Enabler gives you the ability to speak His words, His way.

The Holy Spirit enables you to reveal the supernatural activities of Jesus

            Jesus gave strict instructions to His followers: “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 ESV)

            A week later, not knowing what to expect, the power came and impacted their tongue. “And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:3-4 ESV)

            Peter then tells a gathering crowd, “Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him….” (Acts 2:22 ESV) and concludes with an invitation, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

(Acts 2:39 ESV)

            The Holy Spirit gives the ability for the supernatural activities of Jesus. The grace actions recorded in First Corinthians 12 validates the promise “…whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 ESV)

            The gifts of the Spirit are the reason God’s story is confirmed with signs and wonders. Supernatural manifestations are not the message, Jesus is the good news. Yet signs and wonders give credibility to His story.

            You need to include the supernatural activities of Jesus to fully present Him to others. The grace actions add potency to the message of grace. Eight times the book of Acts directly connects signs and wonders with the telling of His story.

            Paul and Barnabas went to speak to the people of Galatia. Acts records, “So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” (Acts 14:3 ESV)

            The world is waiting for you to show the doing the impossible Jesus. The Enabler gives you the ability to perform His supernatural activities.

An inclusive testimony

            You cannot give an accurate witness of Jesus by just living His natural life or speaking His gracious words or revealing His supernatural activities. Showing the world Jesus involves all three. Living His natural life validates His word. Speaking His gracious words accredits His signs and wonders. Manifesting His supernatural activities certifies His Lordship.

            I became exposed to the reality of Jesus by meeting a person living for Him, who brought me to church to hear about Him, in a worship service supernaturally revealing Him. My soul was demanding, “show me Jesus.” I was given a genuine witness of His nature, words and activities, made possible by the Enabler.

            Become fully enabled and represent Him inclusively to others.

PRELUDE TO CHRISTMAS

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-5 ESV)

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:5-6 ESV)

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord…. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John…. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:5-6,8-13,16-17 ESV)

            The gospels were written to describe various events involving Jesus, the Son of God. Matthew and Luke begin the narrative with the Christmas story. Yet Luke saw additional value in an event preceding the birth of Christ and gave an encouraging thought about prayer.

            What did Zechariah pray? What captivated his thoughts? What was foremost on his mind? Many today believe he was obsessed with having a child, wanting to remove, completely erase, disgrace from the family name. Really? Would a priest of Israel pray a selfish prayer on the only occasion in his life when he would stand before God in the temple? Would the fragrance of prayer only be for him and his wife? I wonder.

            Approximately 19,000 descendents of Aaron existed during this period of time. A priest usually had just one opportunity in a lifetime to enter the temple for the incense ceremony, a sacred moment. The privilege was not given to every priest, only those selected by lot. Once chosen, names were hardly given any further consideration.

            The last word from the Lord was prophetically written four hundred years earlier when Jews were returning from captivity and rebuilding the temple. Malachi ends the divine admonishments with an encouraging word, the promise of a powerful spokesman for God. What would a priestly representative of captive people pray after hundreds of years without a word from the Lord?

            History records several discouraging events occurred in those four centuries. The Jewish race endured the corruption of Greece, only to end up living under the cruelty of Rome. And a despicable Herod became the recognized king of Judea. He was the combination of corruption and cruelty, wickedness personified. No one was more deranged, debased and depraved, the defecation of evil.

            Was this the best Israel could hope for? Divine intervention was desperately needed.

            Did the priestly Zechariah pray something more in line with what associates and friends were wondering: “Lord, is this the time when you will provide the real King, one from the linage of David? Things could not appear more frightening and hopeless. We live under subjection to godless people and have a leader from within our own ranks just like them, even worse. Wouldn’t this be a good time for the fulfillment of the promise mentioned by Malachi? Will you now send the voice of one crying in the wilderness after the pattern of Elijah?”

            The angelic reply would then be better understood as, “Do not be afraid, your prayer for a Rescuer has been heard. In fact, you will personally be part of the solution. You will have a son directly connected to the promise.”

            Zachariah struggled believing what had just happened, a unique encounter and divine announcement in a sacred chamber of the temple. Questions and doubts filled his heart. The outcome? Since God had remained silent for four hundred years, surely Zachariah could be mute until he saw the fulfillment. His silence ended with a mouth filled with praise.

            The priestly father was old when the boy was born. The number of years Zachariah was involved in the life of his son is not known. Did he have enough time to tell John about the circumstances of his birth? Did he teach him the promises of Isaiah and Malachi? Did the boy hear from the lips of his father about a special calling?

            John the baptizer seems to have had involvement with a religious sect called Essenes, a cluster of Jews dedicated to purification rites and praying for the promised Messiah. They daily studied Scripture and watched over the promises of God. Shunning marriage, they regularly took in orphans and raised them. Did Zachariah make arrangements with the leaders of Qumran, an Essenes “wilderness” community, to raise his son should anything happen to him and his wife? Did this group of devoted protectors and preservers of the Promise become the guardian of the Forerunner, molding and shaping John to prepare the way of the Lord?

            More than praying for a son Zachariah prayed for an Elijah to correct a terrible injustice, and gained in response the special honor of providing the forerunner for the Messiah.

            You have been praying a very long time. Does heaven appear to be taking an extended vacation? Has the Throne been silent, your petition remaining unanswered? Has your situation gotten worst? Are you wondering, “Lord, wouldn’t this be a good time for an answer?”

            Take to heart the words of an angel, “Do not be afraid … for your prayer has been heard.” The moment you have waited for is about to unfold and you will be part of the solution. Wait silently for the answer and believe.

            Have a blessed 2014 Christmas.

FINAL THOUGHT

            Most often Zachariah’s prayer is associated with, “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.” (V.25) Yet consider the circumstances: He was a priest “in the days of Herod, king of Judea.” (V.5)  If you had only one opportunity to represent your nation before God and present an appeal, would you pray a personal prayer or a priestly petition? The plea for intervention is more connected to a blatant tyrant then to a barren wife, to verse five instead of twenty-five. Zachariah did not focus on a child, he sought a Redeemer. And John the forerunner was a favorable yet personal blessing in response to praying.

             “And [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1 ESV) Some answers are more connected to praying than to the prayer. Keep talking to God!

THANKSGIVING REFERENCE POINTS

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’” (Luke 15:8-9 ESV)

            After graduating from college I received an invitation to become the Assistant Pastor at a small church in a Montana railroad town just north of Yellowstone National Park. They provided a very nice little house next door to the church building. Our second child Nannette was only 10 months old when we came and just starting to crawl. We loved the house, church and town.

            By springtime Nan had learned to walk. Like most children she loved to explore and get into things. She especially liked sparkly items. One Sunday morning I went to the church building to finish preparing for Sunday School while my wife got the girls and herself ready. Between Sunday School and Worship service Brenda approached me in a state of panic. She could not find her diamond wedding rings. While getting ready Nannette searched her jewelry box. My wife found our daughter playing on the little patio just outside the back door. She was afraid Nan took the rings outside and lost them somewhere in the yard. The Worship Service was starting in ten minutes but this terror-stricken wife needed immediate attention.

            I literally ran back to the house and went straight to the patio. I stood by the edge of the cement slab and did a very quick search, the sun directly overhead. Looking straight down I saw something sparkle between a couple blades of grass. I carefully reached down and pulled out my wife’s rings. When I arrived at the church with rings in hand there was much rejoicing and Nan’s life was rescued. J

Look at all the coincidences making this hunt successful: Home at the exact time the sun was positioned overhead at the perfect angle, starting my quest at the patio and being positioned right over the ring, able to see a sparkle caused by sun rays through blades of grass.

            My experience reminds me of the woman in Jesus story. Already having nine coins she became excited finding just one and wanted others to rejoice with her.

            A great secret to gaining thankfulness is valuing something by how much it is appreciated, not by its price. My wife has received much more costly jewelry since then yet those rings are considered irreplaceable.

            When people see the same blessings everyday they eventually stop noticing their value. When they stop noticing they quit appreciating. When they quit appreciating they stop thanking. When they stop thanking they start complaining. By this point they forget the Lord, the only One providing benefits full of wonder.

             Remember the counsel of Paul: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17 ESV)

            You will not forget your blessings if you thank the Lord for all things. How well have you cultivated a thankful attitude?  One way to remain grateful is by having reference points.

            I recently had a conversation with one of my grandchildren and asked a generic question about how he was doing in school. He responded, “Good!” To gain a better understanding of his classroom performance required more specific questions. A point of reference helps measure what good means and places value on the treasure of good experiences.

            Five reference points will help you appreciate finding the riches that normally go unnoticed.

Hypothetically trading places

            Years ago a popular television show was on the air called “Trading Places.” Close friends would remodel each other’s house within a 48 hour period. The completed work was well received most of the time. Occasionally the changes were clearly not appreciated. Friends were hoping and wanting to help, yet some thought the appearance of their home ended up ugly.

            Although the United States may appear ruined and increasingly ugly, over 90 percent of the world’s population would be thrilled to trade places with an American right now. Starving people would love to sit at a finely set table filled with tasty foods and delicious desserts to eat a turkey meal, instead of rummaging through garbage dumps.

            Visit a third world country with mud huts and diseased infested streets. They make the poorest neighborhoods in America look like luxury condominiums.

            Do you find yourself complaining about your aging vehicle? Millions of people in foreign countries walk or ride animals to their destination, mostly walk.

            Are you willing to change your clean water from a kitchen faucet for water from a source filled with parasites? Multitudes would love clean water. Some people have no choice but to drink water wherever they can find it.

            God does not want you feeling guilty having pleasant surroundings. He just wants you to be grateful. And He wants you to help the less fortunate.

Remembering lean years

            Occasionally I incorporate the early years of marriage into my writings, a time when we hardly had even the bare necessities. My intention is never to gain pity. We benefited greatly from the lessons in the days of small beginnings, but I never want to forget how fortunate we have it today.

            My dad’s father died when he was only sixteen. He dropped out of high school to support his mother and brother. The Great Depression hit America. He lost his job, went back to school and got his diploma. His lunch during high school consisted of whatever he could buy for ten cents. World War II followed the Depression and he went to war. By the time my sister, brother and I were born things began looking up for the family, a nice house in a pleasant neighborhood, with delicious food, warm clothing and reliable transportation. Throughout my upbringing he spoke of his lean years and was grateful they had not continued.

            Stirring up memories of less fortunate times creates a reference point to thank God.

Losing and recovering blessings

            Sometimes people do not realize the value of their blessings until they lose them. Many say they hate their job until out of work. Some complain about spouses and kids until the marriage fails or kids runaway.  People at fitness centers occasionally bellyache about exercise until injured and unable to do their workout.

            When situations turn around attitudes are transformed. A job becomes priceless. A restored marriage and a runaway child back home feels heavenly. A leg or arm fully mobile once again brings deep-seated satisfaction.

            These become reference points of thanksgiving, making people know what it is like going without.

Comparing a worse situation

            Clarence was a very poor man with a large family. It took every penny to take care of his six kids. Three had worn out their shoes but the family needed a washing machine. He started looking for a used appliance.

            An ad was posted in a newspaper and he went to the home. The couple offered to sell it at a very low price. Being able to buy both a washing machine and three pairs of shoes made Clarence very appreciative.

            Expressing his gratitude to the sellers he casually added, “I bet you’ve never had to worry about buying shoes.” The woman started to cry and left the room. Her husband explained, “We only have one child and she has never walked a step in her life, she’s never worn out a pair of shoes.” Clarence went home with a used washing machine and a new reference point.

            People would do well to remember circumstances could be worse.

Experiences not happening to you

            Dale Carnegie went through a prolonged period of depression. To pull out of despair he wrote a list of everything important to him. He then imagined life without these things. He included a number of hypothetical tragedies – his children in jail, his wife leaving him, being flat broke, his health ruined.

            After completing his list, Carnegie drew a line through each misfortune that was not true, which ended up being the whole list. His reference point for thankfulness was the bad things that never came to pass. His depression lifted. Thank God for the numerous tragic experiences not happening to you.

Thanksgiving

            By using reference points you gain the ability to appreciate the wonderful blessings you have and the unpleasant moments you have escaped. Have a blessed Thanksgiving day.

GOD, who are You?

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"Personal reflections on the nature of God by exploring His titles and names in Scripture."