We believe in the Holy
Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken
through the prophets.
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| Jesus said the Spirit is like living (moving) water, a constant stream to invigorate and refresh us (John 7:37-39) |
Try playing a
word association game. Water – refreshment, cleansing. Wind – fresh air,
blowing away the cobwebs. Fire – warming, refining, burning waste. Power –
light, bringing appliances to life, authority. Advocate – supporter, champion
for our cause.
These are all
biblical images of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. He is given a whole
section of the creed to himself, a sign of how important he is. But the third
person of the Trinity has suffered an unfair identity crisis in the eyes of
many Christians. That hasn’t been helped by the archaic title given to him of
“Holy Ghost”, which in its current usage has no biblical warrant whatever. He
isn’t a shadowy thing to fear but a powerful being to welcome.
The Holy Spirit
is fully God, just as are Jesus and the Father; he is an equal Person in the
Trinity. Therefore he can be worshipped along with them, one God in three
Persons. “He proceeds from the Father and the Son” means that they sent him on
a mission, to bring the presence and power of God into our human experience. A
simple way of thinking of the Spirit is that he is God active in our world and
our daily lives.
Jesus described
the Spirit as a teacher, who helps us understand God’s truth, which the creed
notes as the inspirer of the prophets. That includes the message of Scripture
which Paul says was “breathed out” by God (2 Timothy 3:16; see also 2 Peter
1:20f). So when we read Scripture we can, and should, ask for the Spirit to
interpret it for us and to aid our understanding of God’s character and
purposes revealed in it.
For everyday
life, look again at the images of the Spirit. They are among the most helpful
aids to “practising the presence of God”. In our busy lives our awareness of
God is eclipsed by the pressing and constantly changing demands of the moment.
As a result we are less inclined to “pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances” as Paul encouraged (1 Thessalonians 5:17,18). And as a result of
that, God can sometimes seem far away
instead of pervading every place and circumstance, just when perhaps we need
him most.
So here’s a
simple exercise. Take the images of the Spirit, and link them to everyday
things. When you turn on a tap, draw on the Spirit’s refreshment and cleansing.
When the wind howls outside or you feel the breeze on your face, be aware that
God is moving all around you. When the heating fires up, or you light a gas
stove or barbecue, pause and feel the warmth and perhaps observe the burning or
cooking effect, and remember that the Spirit can rekindle our love and purge
away all that is spiritually unhealthy
or unhelpful within us.
When you turn
on an appliance or light recall the promised unfailing power of the Holy Spirit
to equip you for every good work and to illuminate your way through the world.
And when you are enjoying the company of others, or when you are alone and
wishing, perhaps, that you weren’t, remember that the Spirit is an unseen
companion close by you. You could use an empty chair, or a space in a room, as
a focal point to imagine the presence of God; he is there, watching, listening,
and ready to assist.
Think and talk
1. Here is where the five images occur in the
Bible. Consider what they meant at the time, and commit them to memory:
·
Water:
John 7:37-39· Wind: John 3:8; Acts 2:2
· Fire: Luke 3:16; Acts 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
· Power: Acts 1:12; Ephesians 3:16
· Advocate: John 14:16-17,26; 16:7-11
2. Now here are eight functions of the Holy
Spirit; look up the references. If you are in a group discuss the circumstances
in which each is especially relevant, and share your experiences. If you are on
your own, why not take one a day and use it as focus for that or the following
day to help you practise the presence of God.
·
He gives new life to the spiritually dead: Titus 3:5; John 3:5,6· He gives confidence to the doubtful: Ephesians 1:13,14; 1 John 4:13
· He gives knowledge to the confused: John 16:12-15
· He gives holiness to the sinful: John 16:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:7,8; Galatians 5:22-25
· He gives power to the helpless: Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 10:12,13
· He gives companionship to the lonely: 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:3-6
· He helps the dumb to pray: Romans 8:26,27; Ephesians 6:18
· He gives gifts to the poor: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
