U of Washington crew team on Lake Washington. Near my home town of Kirkland, WA

The Spirit 

Thoughts on the Spirit-filled Life 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and the darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:1,2 

I will often read a short devotional book in the morning before I go to the Word and prayer. Currently I am using The Valley of Vision, A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions. This morning’s reading was on the Holy Spirit. The Puritan prayed: 

O God the Holy Spirit, when thou didst first hover over the chaos, order came to birth, beauty clothed the world, fruitfulness sprang forth. 

Sometimes, I will read a phrase and it will light up my brain with excitement and realization. This phrase did so for me this morning. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were all present and at work in the act of creation. The Father created “out of nothing” the formless and void earth and the Holy Spirit moved over the surface of the land and the water. What followed was a process of creating order, light and beauty. 

The Spirit in our lives is in the business of transforming that which is formless and void into order, light and beauty. The Spirit gives life. 

Much of the confusion about the Holy Spirit in evangelicalism today comes from some who want to make the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives mystical. The allure of instant spirituality is tempting. Who wouldn’t rather have a sudden and instant result of spiritual strength and fortitude that leads to instant joy and a life of victory?  

Yes, it happened in the Bible from time to time at specific and special times in the narratives of the Bible. And yes, it could happen today and does, I suppose, in some situations. But the consistent teaching of the Word is that the work of the Holy Spirit to transform chaos into order within our lives occurs as a process, just as we see in the creation of the universe as a process. 

In the simplest terms, the Holy Spirit takes us through the following process to transform our formlessness into order and beauty: 

1. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and awakens our minds to the rebellion of our hearts toward our loving God and creator. John 16:8 says, and when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.
2. The Holy Spirit gives new life and we are born again. Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3;3-6. 
3. The Holy Spirit gives guidance and power toward righteousness. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness…if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Romans 8:13,14 
4. The Holy Spirit produces beauty in our lives. Paul calls this the fruit or the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Galatians 5:22-25 

# 1 & 2 can happen rather quickly and suddenly in one’s life. # 3 & 4 are a process whereby we daily submit to the work of the Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to use other “means” of spiritual growth. Other means such as the Bible, prayer and meditation, Christian fellowship, etc. The outcome of the Spirit-filled life does take some effort. Our salvation can be sudden and requires no work on our part. It is solely a work of God’s grace and free gift. The beauty of the fruit of the Spirit does take intentional effort and submission on our part.  

Peter describes our responsibility and applied effort to the work of the Holy Spirit in this way: 

Now for this very reason, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness and in your brotherly kindness, love. 

Father, cause Your Holy Spirit to move upon my disordered heart; subdue my rebellious and unruly desires and strengthen me to stay close to You. Lift the fog of doubt and fear that attacks my soul and replace it with the brightness of Your truth and the glory of Your grace. Cultivate the ground of my life to produce a beautiful garden of love, joy and peace…all for Your Glory and Honor. And please do the same for my family and loved ones. Amen!