so what?
Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 5.18-20)
This Sunday will be Pentecost Sunday completing the Christian trinity of “high holy days” - Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. Theologians continue to reflect on the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Pastors preach the power of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit. Today, I would like to suggest 4 “under-the-radar-so-what’s” that should be hallmarks of the Holy Spirit filled woman or man of God.
First, a Holy Spirit-filled believer is one who loves to worship God. You will recognize her by her intensity in prayer, her attentiveness to God’s presence, her exuberant praise, her expressive joy, and her gracious freedom. One of the most frequent and wonderful impressions visitors to the churches I pastored had was the joy, beauty, and freedom they perceived when the congregation worshiped. On one occasion, a woman described to me how she noticed one of the men worshipping with his eyes open: “His countenance possessed joy and wonderment… I was sure he was looking at someone, so I just had to follow his gaze… The way he looked, I expected to see Jesus standing there!”
Second, the Holy Spirit-filled believer does not stop worshipping when the church service is completed. His worship continues throughout the week as he “sings and makes music in his heart to the Lord.” Worship songs, hymns, scriptures, and God-honoring images and ideas regularly fill his mind throughout the week. He will frequently be aware that this wellspring of adoration is not his own creation; instead, it is being “poured” into him by the Spirit of God Himself!
Third, the Holy Spirit-filled person is not a worshipping “lone ranger.” She looks forward to praising God with others and strives to encourage and release vital worship in her church. Like King David, she exclaims, “Glorify the Lord with me: let us exalt his name together.” (Psalm 34.3) Her enthusiasm is contagious, and she remains steadfast in her resolve to gather with other believers even when inconvenienced by weather, travel, vocation, or even family.
Fourth, the Holy Spirit-filled believer trusts God through thanksgiving and praise for every situation. The Spirit-filled believer knows he is not called to praise God for evil or tragedy. Yet, he also understands that circumstances do not judge God's presence (or absence?) nor the verity of His ways. The Spirit-filled believer is free to thank God because he knows that God is in control.
Descartes epitomized the Enlightenment when he postulated, “I think, therefore I am.” The Holy Spirit-filled person counters, “I worship, therefore I am.”
What would your life look like if these four traits of the Holy Spirit were abundantly evident in you?
