“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit.”-Romans 8:5
This week at the Kanakuk Institute we had the Pastor of Park City Presbyterian in Highland Park come to the Institute to teach us about the Holy Spirit. He taught us a range of lessons ranging from spiritual gifts to the roles of the Holy Spirit. He taught us the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit in our own lives.
Throughout the Bible we see the Holy Spirit move in the lives of believers. One of my favorite stories is that of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. In Acts 8 we see an Angel of the Lord commanding Philip to go down from Jerusalem towards Gaza taking the desert road. Vs. 29 tells us that the Spirit of the Lord led Philip to go up to a chariot he had spotted on the road. As a result of the Spirit’s prompting and Philip’s obedience to follow through an Ethiopian Eunuch is led to Christ. What’s crazy about this story is that in vs. 39, which says, “when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.” I love this story because it shows us the immeasurable power of the Holy Spirit and how He guides and directs His people for His glory. I love that the Spirit leads Philip to this divine appointment, resulting in a conversation that ultimately leads an Ethiopian to Christ. I have seen in my own life, conversations that I know happened only as a result of the Holy Spirit’s prompting and leading.
Another story in the Bible in which we see the Spirit’s guidance is that of the story of Zerubbabel. In Zechariah 4 we read Zechariah telling us about Zerubbabel. How Zerubbabel was commanded by the Lord to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Zechariah 4:6 tells us that “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, say the Lord of hosts.” I love this story because it so clearly shows that the Spirit at work in Zerubbabel’s life. That although Zerubbabel may not have known how he would build the Temple of God, God basically says don’t fear...it’ll happen by my SPIRIT. I love this. The Spirit is so clearly seen enabling Zerubbabel to build the Temple as well as putting a passion within his heart to have it completed.
So we see clearly the Spirit directing, instructing, and living within His followers just as He does today. One thing that I loved learning about this week was the Spirit’s personality and how that personality now lives within us. The Spirit can be grieved, angry, patient, loving, caring, insulted, peaceful, full of truth, etc. There are several more characteristics that the Spirit has and as we walk by the Spirit, we carry out His personality and characteristics all the more and at the appropriate times.
My desire is to be full of the Spirit. To walk with ears open to hear His tones and know precisely where He would have me go, and what He would have me do, just as He so clearly spoke to Philip and Zerubbabel. To live a life radically set apart for the use of the Holy Spirit. To live for the beckoning of the Holy Spirit would be a life not built on might, or by power, but an exciting life built solely around the Glory of God. The Spirit will not always lead you to the safest place, but it will always lead you to the advancement behind enemy lines for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. For His joy and for His glory, I’ll strive to walk in the Spirit.
