Abide in the Spirit

Hello sweet friends!

This has been an amazing week (surprised?). Haha! I feel like I say that every time but it really is always true! This week Dr. Pete Deison taught a class on the Holy Spirit. It was just wonderful. The person of God that I felt like I understand the least was the Holy Spirit so it was so neat to spend a week discovering more about Him.

Knowing the Holy Spirit is such an important aspect to our faith! Different views on the Holy Spirit cause controversies in the church and can cause confusion so it is so vital for me to know what I believe about Him. Also, Jesus promised that the Spirit would come after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Jesus said that it would be better for us if He left and the Holy Spirit arrive. This makes me want to know the Spirit more and excites me that He is dwelling inside of me.

Did you notice that I’ve been referring to the Holy Spirit as a “Him”. I think before this year I would have referred to Him as an “it”. One thing that I learned this week was that the Holy Spirit is a person. Yes, I always knew that He’s a person of the trinity, but I think my view of Him was more as a power than a person. This idea might come from the fact that the word Spirit seems to imply a breath or wind. But actually, the Holy Spirit has characteristics like intelligence (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), Feelings (Ephesians 4:30), and he has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). He also has many works: He teaches (John 14:25), guides (Romans 8:14), commissions (Acts 13:4), commands (Acts 8:25), restrains (Genesis 6:3). intercedes (Romans 8:26), and speaks (John 1:26, 2 Peter 1:21). Also He can be obeyed (Acts 10:15-21), lied to (Acts 5:3), reverenced (Psalm 51:11), blasphemed (Matthew 12:31-32), grieved (Ephesians 4:32), and insulted (Hebrews 10:29).

Sorry that was kind of a lot of lists; hope you’re sticking with me. It just empowers me so much to know that the person of the Holy Spirit is living inside of me.

Another encouragement from this week was learning about what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Pete taught us that being “filled” means a continual filling and growth. It’s not that we can receive more of the Holy Spirit but that our relationship and knowledge and practice of walking in the Spirit will grow as we mature in our walk with God. The Greek word for "fill" is pleroo which means “wind”, “permeates”, and “control”. I love the illustration of wind guiding and allowing myself to be controlled by it. The Holy Spirit reveals all things to us and allows us to understand scripture in a way that we would not be able to without Him. As I grow in my walk with God I want to beg the Holy Spirit to reveal more and more to me so that I can be continually sanctified and grow in my understanding of our amazing Lord.

I hate that I often suppress the Spirit and try to do life on my own. I want to fully embrace the life that is offered to me in Jesus name! Friends, the Holy Spirit lives in believers! He is God. The God of the universe wants an intimate relationship with us! May our quiet times never become routine or a check list, but instead let us abide in the Lord and keep ourselves in His love. Also in thinking about what I am going to be doing this fall (which is still uncertain), I want to choose to trust the Lord and have a restful attitude in seeking out opportunities. One thing that Pete said that will stick with me is “Clarity is the last thing you get” when making future plans. It is so true and it is so good! If decisions were clear then we would not have to practice our faith. Proverbs 16:3-6 says ^“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.  ⁴ The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.  ⁵ The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. ⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.” It says commit. I want to trust unwaveringly in the Lord and the way that the Spirit is guiding me.

He is good. I cannot wait to leave tomorrow for Israel and see the places that I have been learning so much about this year! I promise to take lots of pictures! Hope you all have a great week!

Joyfully His,

Mallory Joann