Afternoon Thoughts:

Is the Holy Spirit a Part-Timer?

The Spirit continues the work of Christ... [and] he himself is a person. He determines itineraries (Acts 16:6), distributes spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7–11), and selects church leaders (Acts 13:2). He teaches (John 14:26), guides ( John 16:13), and comforts (John 16:7). "He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:17). Occasional guest? No sir. The Holy Spirit is a year-round resident in the hearts of his children. As God’s story becomes our story, his power becomes our power. Then why do we suffer from power failures? I believe we make the mistake the Welsh woman made. She lived many years ago in a remote valley but determined that it would be worth the cost and trouble to have electricity in her home. Several weeks after the installation, the power company noticed that she had barely used any. So they sent a meter reader to see what was wrong. "Is there a problem?" he asked. "No," she answered, "we're quite satisfied. Every night we turn on the electric lights to see how to light our lamps." We're prone to do likewise: depend on God's Spirit to save us but not sustain us. We are like the Galatians whom Paul asked, "After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3). We turn to him to get us started, and then continue in our own strength. The Christians in Ephesus did this. The apostle Paul assured them that they had received the Spirit. God "put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised" (Ephesians 1:13). Even so, he had to urge them to be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). Interesting. -God's Story, Your Story: When His Becomes Yours by Max Lucado