For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry,“Abba, Father.â€16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.    Romans 8:14-17 (NIV)
I am reading In His Steps by Charles Sheldon again. A group of people have an encounter with a homeless man which prompts them to make a group commitment to make every decision in their lives after answering the question, “What would Jesus do in this situation?†The story has been interesting to me because it looks at their faith struggles as they make decisions and how those decisions impact their lives and others.
God has faithfully been teaching me about trusting Him throughout our relationship. Learning how to listen and discern God’s voice in the everyday decisions is a 24/7 exercise. And just like with any exercise, the more I do it, the better “shape†I will be in. Jesus tells me in John 14 that the Holy Spirit will remind me of all that He has taught. Luke 12:12 says that God’s Spirit will give me words to speak “at the time†that I need the information. So if I am uncertain about whether to take a job, it would be wise for me to ask the One who knows all. The Holy Spirit may speak to me while I am reading the Bible (a passage may speak to me about the opportunities for ministry in the job), He may bring a trusted friend with wise words, or He may show me a “pro†and “con†list about the job.
I have also seen the Holy Spirit move like the wind (John 3). It is sometimes like a comforting, gentle breeze that brings peace at a time and place that is unexpected, like the hospital room of a child receiving chemotherapy. And at other times, the Spirit comes into me more like a tropical storm or even a hurricane. In the natural, those types of storms bring destruction. But when the destruction is cleaned up, often there is a new beginning or a fresh slate to work. Approximately two weeks after I made my commitment to Jesus Christ, I had such an experience with the Holy Spirit. I felt like I experienced a complete “spirit scrub.†It was a “refiner’s fire and launderer’s soap†(Malachi 3). When I left the church that night, the hard crust that had been around my heart was gone. The wall that I had built around me was gone.
When I read Acts 2, I can miss many important points about how the Holy Spirit moves and what happens when the Holy Spirit moves. When I take the time to participate in the story and insert myself, I can bring that 1st century story into my 21st century life. I can know that a touch from God can be expected but a surprise when He shows Himself in a way that I have never experienced (tongues of fire). I can know that God brings power and authority when He comes into my life (the fisherman, Peter, leaves the room and proclaims God’s Word in front of thousands of people). I can know that God in His Spirit moves in the lives of His children.
Breathe on Me written and sung by Hillsong Worship Team
