Spirit-Empowered Life
For years I have been telling myself that the Spirit of God only has a place in the charismatic movement. I would flip through channels, land on TBN and watch Benny Hinn perform one miracle after another because he was “empowered by the spirit.” It is about all I can do not to roll my eyes. It’s not that I don’t think the Spirit is real or plays an important part in people’s lives, it just hasn’t been my experience – or at least in the manner I have grown accustomed to on TV. So how do I come to experience the Spirit in a real sense? Catherine of Genoa writes, “When God finds a soul that rests in him and is not easily moved, he operates within it in his own manner. That soul allows God to do great things within it. He gives to such as soul the key to the treasure he has prepared for it so that it might enjoy them. And to this same soul he gives the joy of his presence which entirely absorbs such a soul” (Foster 214). Perhaps the key to a spirit-empowered life is resting in the presence of God. So how are you currently resting in God?
Well put i cant say it much better. by the way this is a patsy e mail ill have one up and running soon!
I’m a little uneasy right now. Not resting too well. But I am really looking forward to the next couple of weeks. I’ve decided to start reading the Bible every night, Love my wife as God loves us (or close too), start really developing a prayer life. We’ll see how things turn out. I’m stoked to see what God’s going to be doing.
P.S. The spirit is with you brother. You’ve helped come alongside a church and helped it grow. Not just grow in numbers, but grow with people who really love and understand what God we serve. You’ve been instrumental in that and don’t deny it.
The question was , ” how am I currently resting in GOD”? Right now I am trying to find out what it means to have joy in life. That means finding joy in the little things. Like watching children play with their parents or being around friends. I, for the longest time, and I think you are a witness to this, complain too much about my life.
Sometimes things suck and I have for the longest time just wanted people to feel sorry for me. Just recently, I have come to realize what a douche I am for doing that. So what if I feel that life sucks. Oh well. Things will get better and I’m just gonna keep on trucking. After all, tomorrow is another day.
You are hovering upon death, make a new post, quick!
Trying to rest. The spirit says ‘believe, go with it, be excited’ and my head says, ‘move to arizona–you can afford to buy a house there.’ those might seem non sequitorial, but they’re both job search and cash related. We miss you guys.
And yes, i’m gonna dead blog you in mere moments if you’re not careful.
Hurry hurry!
Dude, that’s really funny because I’ve been going through the same thing here at Point Loma. Always thought of the Spirit the Gifts of the Spirit as charismatic (and therefore kinda not Christian or at least biblical), but I have made a lot of really good friends who consider themselves “Spirit-Filled” and so have entered into this dialogue between my conservative evangelical upbringing and their Spirit Filled/Charismatic upbringing. And I have come to realize that the gifts of the spirit aren’t so scary as I once thought. Anyway, my point being a big thing I have been learning has been to rest in the presence of God. And it’s this rest that is foundational to have the strength to press on everyday in doing ministry.
SO GOOD!