The Role of the Holy Spirit

After the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened,

and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove,

and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son,

with whom I am well pleased (Matt. 3:16-17).

The very first role of God's Spirit in us is to convince us that we are loved, that God cares for us, watches over us, protects us, defends us, runs interference for us against our enemies, directs our paths into good and safe places, and blesses the socks off us!

When God called Abraham out of Ur and led him on a journey to "a place I will show you," it was to convince Abraham of the watchful providence of the Most High in every and all circumstances.  The day- to- day journey of Abraham was a jouney of faith, of learning every day that God was with him, caring for him, providing for him, defending him. 

When Abraham entered the land of Egypt, and Sarah was taken by Pharoah's servants into the king's harem, Abraham said, "She is my sister."  Critics have noted that Abraham was only partially truthful in this circumstance, but we are judging from our 20th-21st century perspective and values.  We cannot know or judge Abraham from our standpoint.  All we can truly see from where we are now is God's provision and protection in a time of danger.  Abraham's truthfulness was not the issue: God had promised Abraham a son and many descendents; now that promise was in danger of not being fulfilled.  Generations later, God would speak through Isaiah to say that He Himself watched over His Word to fulfill it, to accomplish it. 

The deliverance of Sarah and the safe journey of Abraham were the work of God.  Once again, Abraham was to experience the faithfulness of God on his behalf.  His confidence grew with every event and circumstance of his journey.  By the time he was settled in the land of promise, Abraham knew in his bones that he was loved, cared for, watched over, established in God's plan and provision.  He could afford to be generous and loving towards others; he could afford to refuse the spoils of war because he knew God to be his "shield and very great reward."

Once the Holy Spirit has entered into our bones, our day to day experience; once we know that we, like Jesus, are the Beloved, and that God is "well pleased" with us, despite any confusion or mistakes on our part (like Abraham), then and only then, are we able to love freely and confidently, without counting the cost or feeling sorry for ourselves. 

The "journey" is the first stage of learning, of learning deep down, God's care, provision, direction of our lives, of His leading us into all truth, into righteousness, into love, into establishment as a blessing on the earth.  We don't always experience that we are being led, or cared for, or watched---but if we surrender our lives to God, daily "build an altar to the Most High," as did Abraham, and trust Him to do the rest, we will discover what Abraham knew, what Jesus knew----that we too are the Beloved, in whom God is well pleased. 

Only then can we trust that, in the words of Jesus through Julian of Norwich, "all things will be well."  Only then are we truly ready to begin our ministry on earth.