Convergence
Malcolm Salunga Douglas
When you think of the Holy Spirit, what do you think? For instance, how often do you hear sermons on the Holy Spirit? Yet without it, the church would be dead, Andrews University would have never existed, and there would be no Bible (or Spirit of Prophecy for that matter).
However, the Holy Spirit has always been around: It was at the beginning of earth’s history (Gen. 1:1-2), the beginning of human history (Gen. 2:7), the beginning of Israel’s exile (Exo. 14:19-21), in the form of wind (John 3), at the anointing of David (1 Sam. 16:14), the beginning of Christ’s ministry (Matt. 3:16), and at Pentecost and the beginning of the churches history (Joel 2:28; Acts 2). It even has as nearly as many illustrations as Christ himself, it has been described as fire (Exo. 4, Acts 2), a dove (Matt. 3:16), wind (John 3), the Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7), and many others.
And yet the Holy Spirit’s influence was not only seen by converts, but by heathens. It was the question that has been passed down from the lips of a heathen Pharaoh when electing Joseph as overseer of his kingdom, “Can I find such a one as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Gen. 41:38), that evokes the sincerity and spirituality that a true follower of God is to posses. Others (converted or unconverted) can often tell that there is something different about this man or this woman. That is why the Holy Spirit wants to be personal: It attended Moses and the seventy elders (Num. 11); it was with Joshua (Num. 27:18); it gave Samson his strength four times over (Jud. 14:6); it was with Elijah and Elisha (II Kings 2:9); and even Jesus himself didn’t start a single miracle until he was baptized by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16-17). It was only through the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was led in the wilderness and resisted temptation (Matt. 4:1-11). And it was at the cross that Jesus closed his earthly ministry by quoting Psalm 31:5, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
The Holy Spirit is so important that without it we would not have the Bible. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of men: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet. 1:21). However the Holy Spirit not only inspired believers (and sometimes non-believers like Nebuchadnezzar), but the Holy Spirit is a most often forgotten agent in the production of all scripture which is profitable for our doctrines, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness: that we may be perfect (1 Tim. 3:16-17). We can become mature Christians only through the Holy Spirit. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can study and apply the words of the prophecy of this book (a.k.a. the Bible, particularly and contextually in this verse, Revelation), we will be blessed (Rev. 1:3) as we come to understand these words (Job 32:8), we can come to know the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2).
And yet, on another hand, oft times it seems that people [particularly, and in relation to this article, Seventh-day Adventist young people] forget that there is actually a spiritual warfare that surrounds every circumstance. There is a serious, literal, not always visible war over your souls and mine – even when you are studying, praying, in church, in the classroom, talking on the phone, eating, watching TV, listening to your iPod, and reading this article something around you is happening (Eph. 6:10-12). The whole universe is watching what you are deciding (I Cor. 4:9). So why not reevaluate?
And yet the call for us is “higher than the highest human thought can reach;” for God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor his ways our ways (Isa. 55:8-9). In reality, there are only two groups of people – those who walk in the Spirit and those who walk according to the flesh. And the Bible says that only those who walk in the Spirit will have no condemnation, because they are in Christ (Rom. 8:1). Yet the Bible says that God sent “his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3). So instead of being condemned because of our sins, Christ condemned sin, so that “the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:4). We can live a victorious Christian life today. The Holy Spirit was the promising agent to all those who will believe and accept the influences of his grace – a grace that teaches “us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,” that “we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world [or age]” (Titus 2:12). And because we have been taught by this grace, we will be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14). God wants us to have a victorious life today in the Holy Spirit, why not experience a dose of the Holy Ghost? So that when the latter rain pours, we can experience an extra dose of the Holy Ghost like Elisha of old? Why not give our best for God?
Yet, truth be told, more often then not, our case it that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41); however, God promises that the poor in spirit are blessed, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). It is without the Holy Spirit that the church will not grow, Christians will stay unconverted, people will not be changed, sins will not be just a thing of the past, victories will not be met, this article will not reach someone, and Christ will not return.
It is there in the last chapter of Revelation that we find that the Spirit and the church have to work together before Christ can return (Rev. 22:17); why not have that start here, at Andrews University? Why not have that start with you? And with myself? Why not have that start now?
It is not going to be “by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6).
Why not experience the Holy Spirit? Not just the limited influences that you and I feel and know when our consciences are pricked because we have done something wrong; but why not be led by the Spirit and resist the temptations? Why not have the Spirit lead our lives? Why not let the Spirit aid us in our studies? In our relationships? In our school? In us? Why not?
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