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God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5b, ESV).
I was raised in a denomination that, while believing in the Holy Spirit as a part of the Trinity, had no practical use for the Spirit in the daily lives of believers.
I often heard this quote in churches and seminaries of this denomination, “The power of the Spirit was limited to the first century as proof or ‘signs’ of the inspiration of the New Testament. Since the Bible’s complete, miracles are no longer needed.”
I wonder how Bible scholars and pastors come up with such stupid ideas.
Paul prays for the Ephesians (and I think by implication for us today), “According to the riches of His glory may He grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16). I’m glad the prayer didn’t say, “May we be strengthened with power in the first century that will be limited in scope for the next two thousand years of church history.”
Again, ridiculous.
Through years of learning to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) and be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), I’ve learned three principles of what I describe as my “Spirit who works today” theology.
First: Believe!
Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you” (Matthew 9:29).
Two blind men received healing because of their faith. The same principle impacts miracles today.
Jesus couldn’t do many miracles in his hometown due to their lack of faith. Do we inherently lack belief because of erroneous theology or a pessimism created by false, naturalistic science?
Second: Seek!
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).
J.I. Packer, in his book, Keep in Step with the Spirit, sums up the need for seeking the Spirit in this quote. . .
Those who have thought about and sought after the power of the Spirit in their own lives have regularly found what they were seeking … Conversely, where the Spirit’s ministry arouses no interest and other preoccupations rule our minds, the quest for life in the Spirit is likely to be neglected.
Third: Honor the Spirit!
Honoring the Spirit has been key to every revival movement in the history of the church. The Spirit should also be front and center to any personal renewal of spiritual formation.
We most honor the Spirit by daily asking to be filled with the Spirit of Christ. There is no greater honor to God than seeking His presence through His Spirit. We should also pray for a latter-day revival of an outpouring of God’s convicting Spirit.
Believe — Seek — Honor!
Three tenets of my (and hopefully yours too) — “Today” Theology of the Spirit.