I am sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, The Holy Spirit of promise. What is that? I know who and what the Holy Spirit is, but what is this promise? The Greek word means “an officially sanctioned promise” or “a summons.” In Acts Sha’ul says we are given the promise of the Holy Spirit. One writer says that almost all New Testament mentions of a promise point back to the Old Testament, which makes sense since that’s the only “Bible” Sha’ul had when he wrote all his letters. I wonder if it refers to the promise that God made to Abraham. Or, even more likely, the promise that Yeshua made when He told the disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to them. That makes sense. In John 14:26, Yeshua says, “But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” Perhaps the promise is of the Holy Spirit, who is a comforter and a helper to remind me (remember ADAM means to remember) of all the things that Yeshua taught. Next, what does it mean to be sealed… a seal is used on a piece of wax that is melted in order to place an image upon it. Once the wax dries the image, if it is whole, means that the document or whatever is being sealed hasn’t been broken. If the seal is broken, it’s a sign that the item has been opened, read, or tampered with. So perhaps the Holy Spirit is that image imprinted into the wax of our lives that declares that we are God’s based on His promises and the message of truth (that YHWH is the One True God and Yeshua is His Son who, through His sacrifice, enabled us to have a restored relationship with YHWH again). I wonder if the seal can only be broken by God – kind of like the doors that only God can close and open. Interesting.
I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? The Holy Spirit makes His home in me! That means he hangs out here, relaxes here… Well, I’m not sure if the Holy Spirit actually hangs out, but if I am the temple of the Holy Spirit that means He’s close to me. This is His home. It also means that I have the responsibility to keep it habitable for Him. Throw out the junk and keep it clean! Here’s an interesting article on what it means for the Holy Spirit to make His temple inside of us. It’s really good (except for the replacement theology bit about half-way down).
Numbers 11:26 But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but had not gone out unto the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. The people of Israel wanted meat to eat and were complaining about it to Moses. Moses was tired of their whining and complained about the burden of being responsible for all the people. God agreed and told him to gather together 70 elders who would share the burden with him. He did as God said, but two men didn’t make it to the meeting (maybe they had to stay in camp to “watch” the people). Interestingly, when God’s Spirit rested on the elders who had assembled, it also found the men who weren’t there and rested on them. They prophesied in the same manner as those who had met Moses to receive the responsibility of the people. Sometimes we’re not where we should be, but God can find us no matter where we are. And just because we’re left behind in camp doesn’t mean that God won’t use us. His Spirit found these two men and filled them, despite their location. Another interesting thing to point out in this story is that it’s about the people “lusting” for the things they had or the things that others had. Ultimately it made God mad, especially after all the things He’d done (like giving them manna and keeping them alive as they fled from Egypt), and He caused a plague to kill many of them. The other day some friends of mine were telling me about this home they had just purchased for an insanely small amount of money. And I admit, I was jealous. I would love to be able to have a place of my own, especially when the market it so low and home prices aren’t ridiculously unaffordable. It’s easy to get frustrated and lust after those things which aren’t mine. BUT, as I spoke my frustration to God, I remember all the ways I am incredibly blessed. I have a place to live that is comfortable and clean and affordable (free, which is all we really can afford until the boys get out of daycare). My mom’s generosity in this is amazing. And I remember that they are older than I am and have had more time to get life sorted out. They’re on a different path than I am as well. There’s a plan and a purpose for each thing in life. There are lessons to be learned at every stage along the way. I don’t want to forget the blessings God’s given me and to complain about the things I don’t have. Sometimes that’s hard, but I believe He understands. I’m thankful that He’s so patient with me!
2 Corinthians 2:12 And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. I was reading a book by Skip Moen last night where he explains parts of the Bible in the context of the Hebrew world instead of the Greek. The Bible was written from a Hebrew context but translated into Greek later (I think). The problem arises when we try to understand the Bible from a Greek point of view because, as Skip points out, the Greek and Hebrew points of view are fundamentally different. The Greek point of view revolves around man and man’s ability to think and reason. The Hebrew point of view revolves around God and His ability to reason and do. Skip makes a chart for comparison purposes of some of the different ways this is shown in scripture and in the choice of words. It’s really interesting, because it’s something I hadn’t thought of before. I mention all this now because my first reaction when I read this verse was to focus on the last part where it mentions the wonderful things God has freely given us. Cool! Free stuff! And then I thought, I’ll bet that verse isn’t talking about stuff. At least, it’s not stuff in the sense of something I can touch. I think that free stuff is more like the Holy Spirit. It’s love and salvation, spiritual gifts, fruit of the spirit, etc. Sure, there might be some other, more tangible, stuff mixed in, but that’s not the whole point of the verse. I know I get so focused on material needs and wants that I forget that in the Hebrew world view, it was about God and the Spirit and His gifts – material and immaterial. We think Greek. The Bible thinks Hebrew. It’s a miracle we understand it at all. Although, I guess that’s why we have the Holy Spirit. When He speaks to us and moves in us, it’s like a translator shifting our minds from one way of thinking to another. That way we can shift our focus from ourselves and our lofty opinions of what we can do to God and how little we can do without Him.
Romans 8:16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. I like the imagery here. First, the Holy Spirit speaks deep inside us. It’s not a surface whisper that comes and goes easily. He’s deep inside, speaking from the core of our beings. And second, he doesn’t whisper just anything. He tells us we are God’s children. And since God created that parent-child relationship, He loves us way more than I could ever love my two little ones… which is an awful lot! I think being a mommy has made me realize a lot about God’s love for me. And even though I know and can, somewhat, understand God’s love for me as His child, I’m constantly forgetting it. Anyhow, I loved those two things – about how the Holy Spirit isn’t some surface visitor; rather he’s deep inside. And He constantly reminds us of who we are and how much we are loved (not what we’ve done wrong and not that we’re anything other than greatly loved). I like it.
Isaiah 32:15Until at last the Spirit is poured down upon us from heaven… Preceding this verse, Isaiah talks about the utter destruction of Israel, the failure of their crops, and the desolation of their cities. Then, at last, the Spirit is poured down upon them. Afterwards, God blesses Israel and restores that which was destroyed. I can only imagine what caused God to pour out His Spirit. I’d imagine the people cried out and changed their ways. It talks about (a few verses later) how “all this righteousness” caused blessing. So, I’m guessing that the people repented, and God relented. What’s the point? Well, God loves His people (you and me, too). Despite the complete ruin that He brought on them because of their laziness and sin, once they turned back to Him, He didn’t withhold anything good from them. In fact, He sent His Spirit to pour down on them, blessing them and restoring them. He does that with us, too. I know in my life I make such a HUGE mess of things. I question God and doubt His Will for me (or at very least doubt His methods of achieving His will – the clay questioning the potter…). And yet, when I finally remember that I am not God and that I really don’t know the whole picture (which lately seems to have becoming more and more obvious – that I don’t know the picture, not that I see the whole picture), He pours out His Spirit on me. Just like trees and crops and flowers don’t grow overnight (bountiful harvests were part of God’s restorative blessing), neither will the blessings that God gives me. He isn’t going to just dump a bunch of money in my lap or suddenly solve all my problems, although He certainly could, and there have been times with others that He has done those things. I’m beginning to think, more and more, that God’s blessing is sometimes more gradual. A trickle effect that starts small with our needs being met day-by-day… which becomes a stream which becomes a torrent that washes over my life. I keep expecting it to just dump on me, but maybe by allowing a slow but steady increase in blessing I am reminded to keep looking to God, to reinforce the lessons that I’m learning now, and to keep me from getting too full of myself. He is faithful. He promises. He follows through. No matter what.
1 Corinthians 2:10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. Sometimes when I try to understand the Bible, I understand this verse better. I have no clue. And when I do things I realize I have no clue. For example, I had the priviledge of leading worship at my old church last week, and the part that I find the hardest is talking to everyone and praying. It’s not a big deal in a small group but for some reason I guess I figure they’re waiting for some great spiritual words of wisdom or eloquence to come from my lips. But, even Paul said that he would speak plainly and let the power of the Holy Spirit make things wise and eloquent. Later on he says that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (Is. 64:4) It doesn’t matter what we try to plan or say or do with grace or wisdom. God’s Spirit can move in our weakness, our stumbling, and our fear to turn even the most horribly incompentant conversation or simple prayer into something far more powerful than we could ever imagine. We may not see their impact, but God sees them and knows how He can use it to powerfully impact others. Despite our weakness – or maybe even because of our weakness.