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Celebrating the freeing, supportive presence of God.  So your experience of God may become your experience of life.  It is wonderful what God can do!

May 1, 2005

A SECRET FRIEND

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THE EXPRESSION, HOLY GHOST?

WE WERE TALKING THE OTHER SUNDAY MORNING IN OUR DISCIPLE I CLASS THAT MEETS ON SUNDAY MORNING ABOUT A TOPIC NEW TO SOME OF US. AND DEE REMEMBERED TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC AS SHE WAS GROWING UP AS THE HOLY GHOST. SHE SAID THAT HAD SOUNDED A LITTLE SCARY TO HER, SO SHE DID NOT PURSUE IT ANY FURTHER AT THAT TIME.

WE MAY KNOW THAT THE NAME HOLY GHOST IS AN EARLIER TERM FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. I IMAGINE THAT THE TERM HOLY SPIRIT SOUNDS MORE FAMILIAR.

YET, EVEN THE IDEA OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NEW TO MANY AS WELL. SOME OF US HAVE GROWN UP FOCUSING OUR SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION ON GOD. OTHERS HAVE GROWN UP FOCUSING THEIR SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION ON JESUS OR CHRIST. YET, THERE IS ALSO THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY, THE HOLY SPIRIT.

SO, THREE QUESTIONS COME TO MIND. ONE, WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? TWO, IS THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR REAL? AND, THREE, IF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR REAL, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HOW CAN HE HELP ME IN MY DAILY LIFE?

LET'S START WITH QUESTION ONE. WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

BUT, LET ME ANSWER THAT QUESTION BY ASKING YOU ANOTHER ONE. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SENSE OF WHAT YOU CONSIDERED TO BE GOD'S PRESENCE OR CHRIST'S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE?

MAYBE YOU WERE WATCHING A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET OR SUNRISE AND YOU SENSED SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOURSELF. OR, WHILE YOU WERE PARTAKING IN HOLY COMMUNION A SENSE OF THE HOLY TOUCHED YOUR LIFE. OR WHILE YOU WERE PRAYING OR DURING A TIME OF CRISIS, YOU EXPERIENCED A PRESENCE GREATER THAN YOURSELF HELPING TO GUIDE YOU.

WHENEVER YOU FELT GOD'S PRESENCE OR CHRIST'S PRESENCE, YOU WERE EXPERIENCING THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHAT IS CALLED THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEN, ALLOWS YOU TO EXPERIENCE GOD AND CHRIST IN A REAL WAY.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE. I WAS HAVING THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD. I WROTE THEM DOWN IN MY JOURNAL. AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS WONDERING IF GOD WAS REAL. THEN IT DAWNED ON ME THAT I WAS HAVING THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD BECAUSE GOD WAS ANSWERING MY SILENT PRAYER. AND THE THOUGHTS I WERE RECEIVING ABOUT GOD, AGAIN, WERE THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

SO, WITH MANY PERSONS, YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT BUT MAY HAVE NOT REALIZED IT AT THE TIME.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THAT "SENSE OF THE PRESENCE" OF GOD AND/OR OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES.


OUR SECOND QUESTION WAS THIS. IS THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR REAL? OR TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY, IS WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT REALLY TRUE? THE ANSWER? THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REAL. AND, IT IS TRUE THAT THERE IS A HOLY SPIRIT.

BACK FOR A MOMENT TO OUR DISCIPLE I CLASS IN WHICH WE ARE STUDYING AN OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE IN A YEAR, WE ARE UP TO THE BOOK OF ACTS NOW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

YOU RECALL THAT THE FIRST FOUR BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT ARE CALLED "THE GOSPELS," THE "GOSPELS OF JESUS. " AND THEN THERE IS THE BOOK OF ACTS. IT IS OFTEN CALLED THE "GOSPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." FOR THE KEY FIGURE, PERSON IN THE NEW TESTAMENT BOOK OF ACTS IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS VERY MUCH FOR REAL, VERY TRUE IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS AND ACTIONS OF THE PERSONS PORTRAYED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, I HAVE ENJOYED HEARING MANY OF WHAT I CALL YOUR SPIRITUAL STORIES. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED HEARING PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF SPIRITUAL STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH WHOM I HAVE BEEN VISITING EITHER IN CHURCH OR IN A RETREAT SETTING.

I REMEMBER THE SPIRITUAL STORY ON ONE LADY WHO EXPERIENCED THE HOLY SPIRIT DURING HER DIVORCE. SHE TELLS HER STORY LIKE THIS.
"FOLLOWING THE END OF MY MARRIAGE, I BECAME SO DEEPLY DEPRESSED THAT I COULDN'T WORK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I BEGAN TO QUESTION THE VALUE OF MY EXISTENCE. IT SEEMED THAT MY LIFE HAD BEEN PLAGUED BY A SERIES OF DIFFICULTIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.  I WAS BORN WITH A HEART DEFECT THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED MY LIFE SHORTLY AFTER MY FIFTH BIRTHDAY HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A RECENTLY DEVELOPED OPERATION. I WAS A CHILD OF DIVORCE AND I CAME FULL CIRCLE IN FACING MY OWN DIVORCE AFTER FOURTEEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT EITHER EMOTIONALLY OR PHYSICALLY. ALL I COULD WONDER WAS WHY ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING TO ME. WHY DID EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE HAVE TO BE SO HARD? WHY DID I LIVE WHEN I COULD HAVE DIED --NOT ONCE BUT TWICE? THEN I FELT WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS A SPIRITUAL REVELATION. (THESE WORDS CAME TO ME.) THERE IS A REASON.  YOU'RE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK. YOU'VE MADE IT THROUGH TOUGHER TIMES THAN THESE. YOU CAN DO THIS, TOO. I FELT AS THOUGH THE LORD WERE TELLING ME MY LIFE HAD PURPOSE, AND BEGAN TO TRULY BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD GUIDE ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PURPOSE WAS. AS I BEGAN TO TRUST IN HIS GUIDANCE, SOME POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENED IN MY LIFE, AND I HAVE FOUND STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE TO DEAL WITH LIFE'S MORE DIFFICULT CHANGES." 

IN HER TIME OF CRISIS, WHEN THE WORDS CAME TO HER. "THERE IS A REASON. YOU'RE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK. YOU'VE MADE IT THROUGH TOUGHER TIMES THAN THESE. YOU CAN DO THIS TOO." SHE WAS EXPERIENCING CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT SUPPORTING AND GUIDING HER.

SO HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR REAL, IS REALLY TRUE?

WE KNOW BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OFTEN IN OUR OWN LIVES AS WELL AS IN THE LIVES OF MANY OTHERS AS WELL.

THERE ARE OTHER STORIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN COPIES THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE OF "OUR SPIRITUAL STORIES" FROM MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF OUR CONGREGATION. THERE ARE STILL EXTRA COPIES ON THE TABLE IN THE BACK OF THE SANCTUARY.

FINALLY, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HOW CAN HE HELP ME IN MY DAILY LIFE?

THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO FACILITATE GOD AND CHRIST'S REDEEMING PURPOSE.

LET ME ILLUSTRATE.

BONNIE CHURCH IS A MEMBER OF OUR DISCIPLE I CLASS. I BELIEVE THAT I MENTIONED ABOUT THAT CLASS BEFORE.

LAST SUNDAY SHE CAME IN WITH AN E-MAIL THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED. BUT BEFORE SHE READ THE E-MAIL WHEN SHE HAD FIRST RECEIVED IT, SHE HAD ASKED GOD THAT DAY WHAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. AND, SHE CONFESSED TO GOD THEN THAT SHE WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SHE COULD DO TO HELP ANYONE, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SHE WAS FEELING A LITTLE LOW.

I NEED TO ADD THAT BONNIE ALSO WRITES POEMS. THE POEMS SHE COMPOSES JUST COME TO HER. AND MANY OF HER POEMS TALK ABOUT GOD'S PRESENCE IN ONES LIFE. THEY OFTEN DEPICT GOD BEING EXPERIENCED THROUGH NATURE AS WELL AS IN OTHER WAYS.

SO, HERE IS THE E-MAIL SHE RECEIVED AND READ TO OUR CLASS LAST SUNDAY.

"HI. MY NAME IS HANNAH AND I AM 14 YEARS OLD. I WAS ON THE INTERNET LOOKING FOR CHRISTIAN POETRY FOR A PROJECT I NEEDED TO GET DONE FOR SCHOOL. I REALLY LIKED THIS ONE, IT EVEN BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE. IM A CHRISTIAN AND HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. I FEEL LIKE HE'S SO FAR AWAY AND I FEEL LIKE I CANT REACH HIM WITH MY PRAYERS. THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS POEM, I KNOW GOD LIVES IN MY HEART NOW AND IS ONLY AS FAR AWAY AS I MAKE HIM. . . HANNAH

DO YOU SEE OR DISCERN THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK HERE? THROUGH BONNIE'S POEM (, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO HER BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,) A HIGH SCHOOL AGE GIRL RECEIVED A REAL SENSE OF GOD'S PRESENCE WHICH SHE HAD BEEN MISSING IN HER LIFE.

AND, BONNIE ALSO RECEIVED ASSURANCE THAT SHE COULD DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO, WE CAN SEE GOD, CHRIST'S REDEEMING PURPOSE BEING FACILITATED BY THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. FOR GOD, CHRIST ARE ALWAYS SEEKING TO REDEEM.

SO, AGAIN, THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO FACILITATE GOD'S REDEEMING PURPOSE.

AND, THIS BEING A TWO PART QUESTION, HOW CAN THE HOLY SPIRIT HELP ME IN MY DAILY LIFE?

ONE OF THE MORE EMOTIONALLY POWERFUL WORDS IN THESE WORDS OF JESUS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE WORD "ORPHANED. " HE SAYS TO THE DISCIPLES, I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU "ORPHANED. BUT I AM COMING TO YOU. I WILL ASK THE FATHER AND HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER ADVOCATE, TO BE WITH YOU FOREVER."

THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS SITTING IN OUR SANCTUARY ONE DAY. IT WAS NOT A VERY HAPPY DAY. FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL HAPPENED TO BE HERE FOR A FUNERAL SERVICE OF A MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY.

AND, DURING THE WORSHIP SERVICE THIS PERSON WAS TRYING TO BE STRONG FOR OTHERS, PARTICULARLY THEIR CHILDREN. SO, THEY DID NOT WANT TO CRY IN FRONT OF THEM.

BUT, AS THE FUNERAL SERVICE PROGRESSED, THEY FOUND THEMSELVES NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP CRYING. YET, WHEN THEY TOUCHED THEIR EYE TO WIPE AWAY THE TEARS, THEY WERE VERY SURPRISED. FOR, THEY COULD FEEL NO TEARS IN THEIR EYES.

GOD, CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD HELPED THIS PERSON BE STRONG FOR THEIR CHILDREN YET FEEL TOO THE GENUINE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE.

SO, THE HOLY SPIRIT, THOUGH OFTEN UNSEEN, CAN BE OUR BEST FRIEND.

WE BEGAN OUR SERMON WITH DEE'S REMEMBERING THE HOLY SPIRIT BEING TALKED ABOUT AS A HOLY GHOST, A LITTLE FRIGHTENING ESPECIALLY TO ONE WHO WAS A CHILD AT THE TIME.

YET, AS WE HAVE LEARNED TODAY, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BE MUCH BETTER DESCRIBED AS A FRIEND.

I TRUST, THEN, THAT CHRIST'S PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MAY CONTINUE TO COME TRUE, HELPING YOU MOVE TOWARD REDEEMING EXPERIENCES IN YOUR LIFE.

 

LET US PRAY.

DEAR HOLY SPIRIT,
THANK YOU THAT YOU HELP US EXPERIENCE GOD'S AND CHRIST'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES.
WE ARE THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE REAL.
HELP US TO TURN TO YOU WHENEVER WE NEED CHRIST'S REDEEMING PRESENCE AND GUIDANCE.
AMEN.

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