The Story, Scene 7: Spirit
Posted on 27. Jul, 2011 by Josh Agerton in Formation
This next scene of the story begins in the book of Acts – short for Acts of the Apostles – and continues through the book of Jude. But this is also the scene that we are living in today. That same Holy Spirit that blew in and filled those first disciples is the same one that comes and dwells in those today who yield their life to Jesus. And by doing so the Holy Spirit becomes the very life of Christ in us. As we grow in faith faith, we become more and more sensitive to the promptings of God’s Spirit in us. As we learn to walk in step with his Spirit, we begin to experience Christ living his life through us.
This Holy Spirit living in us is something much more powerful than my words can explain here. But I begin to see the power and wonder when I look back at Scene 4 – The Law. In this scene God chooses a band of slaves to become his holy, set apart people. They are in bondage, and in great need of instruction of how to order life as a society. He rescues them from Pharaoh in Egypt and begins to instruct them through Moses on how to live and care for eachother in the way he designed.
But he also instructs them to build a tabernacle with a special tent where his presence will be with them again – but in a limited way. Only the high priest can enter into the most holy place of the tent and that was only once a year to offer a sacrifice for the sin of the people. While God’s presence was with his people they had to keep their distance. It’s was dangerous for broken, messed up, sinful people to be in the presence of a perfect and holy God (Think of the end of Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark.) So God was there with the people but still a great separation because of sin. This picture really captures the essence of God’s presence in relation to his people in that time…The Old Covenant.
Now compare that picture to this one below…the new tabernacle of the New Covenant made not by the blood of bulls, lambs or doves – but by the blood of Jesus, Son of God and perfect sacrifice for such great sin. This is the dwelling place now of the Spirit of God…his people cleansed by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. (This is my dear friend Brandon Frenzel and his daughter Ava who live in Texas…could just as well be your picture too.)
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
To hear more on this, listen our Cornerstone Church podcast, The Story, Scene 7: Spirit. And here’s more to chew on…
God’s ever-present Spirit – Psalm 139:1-16
Life found in the Spirit – Romans 8
The gifts of the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12
The fruit of the Holy Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23
The Spirit marks us as God’s people – Ephesians 1:11-14
