We know the Holy Spirit is God, a distinct and equal member of the Trinity. We know about the fruit of the Spirit and can recount the Pentecost story from Acts 2. But there’s a difference between knowing right things about the Spirit and experiencing the Holy Spirit. We need to experience the Holy Spirit, not merely talk about it. But the Holy Spirit’s activity is a challenge to our sense of control, management, and know-how. It’s hard to give up control; this process can produce legitimate fear and anxiety. It will feel like a risk because it is. The question for us is this: Will we risk trusting in and following the Spirit? In Acts 1:5 Jesus tells the disciples: “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” In response, the disciples ask Jesus: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6). Jesus doesn’t correct his disciples when they ask this. Instead, he tells them to wait in Jerusalem. They understand something we often miss: the Spirit is here to continue Jesus’ work, to bring God’s kingdom. But they don’t understand everything. So, Jesus says, “wait and soon you’ll start to understand.” In the same way, if the church is to thrive and succeed in her mission, we will need to welcome and embrace of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Jesus commands us to venture courageous, countercultural, demanding lives. He orders us to love one another, to pray for our enemies, to take up the cross and follow. But he does not expect us to do these demanding tasks or to live and to die by ourselves. Thus, we wait for the Holy Spirit.
We know the Holy Spirit is God, a distinct and equal member of the Trinity. We know about the fruit of the Spirit and can recount the Pentecost story from Acts 2. But there’s a difference between knowing right things about the Spirit and experiencing the Holy Spirit. We need to experience the Holy Spirit, not merely talk about it. But the Holy Spirit’s activity is a challenge to our sense of control, management, and know-how. It’s hard to give up control; this process can produce legitimate fear and anxiety. It will feel like a risk because it is. The question for us is this: Will we risk trusting in and following the Spirit? In Acts 1:5 Jesus tells the disciples: “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” In response, the disciples ask Jesus: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6). Jesus doesn’t correct his disciples when they ask this. Instead, he tells them to wait in Jerusalem. They understand something we often miss: the Spirit is here to continue Jesus’ work, to bring God’s kingdom. But they don’t understand everything. So, Jesus says, “wait and soon you’ll start to understand.” In the same way, if the church is to thrive and succeed in her mission, we will need to welcome and embrace of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Jesus commands us to venture courageous, countercultural, demanding lives. He orders us to love one another, to pray for our enemies, to take up the cross and follow. But he does not expect us to do these demanding tasks or to live and to die by ourselves. Thus, we wait for the Holy Spirit.