This past Sunday we launched into a six week series called "Power: The Holy Spirit Unleashed". As we began thinking about the journey we would be taking through this series, I was challenged with the idea to read the entire New Testament in 30 days and too issue that same challenge to the Worship Team. I began today by reading the familiar words in the Book of Matthew. The genealogy can often find us drifting into thoughts of epic boredom, but this time was different. I was immediately struck by the characters that God used through out the course of history. If we spent time on many of the characters we would discover that more than a few could be put in the category of unfortunate band of misfits rather than Kingdom inspiring agents. The beauty of God is that He can use the weakest people in His great epic story.
As I continued reading, I was drawn to the text more than ever before. Without being redundant, I have read the Book of Matthew several times, but today I was not just reading with my eyes but I felt the words moving through into my heart. For the first time I came face to face with the text as it spoke about the authority of Jesus. How was it that a simple man could live His life in an ordinary way for 30 years, and all of a sudden He is awed at and feared by those who both love Him and despise Him.
I can only imagine the face of John the Baptist when Jesus comes to be baptized. I won't even go into the theological quandary my feeble mind went into over that. Jesus is baptized and the Holy Spirit fell on Him. As I continued to read, I found myself pouring over the words where Jesus talks about the Spirit of God. For the first time I read it and saw the authority that Jesus spoke with with and through the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew who He was....who sent Him...and with whose authority and POWER He spoke with and lived. Why is it that we see God the Father with a giant throne in heaven, Jesus with a smaller one...and well The Holy Spirit, He just gets to float around in the air like Casper the friendly ghost.
It is clear that Jesus knew The Holy Spirit. As I continued to read, I was drawn to seek repentance for neglecting The Holy Spirit as some second rate God, rather the source of Power that Jesus speaks of. If we are love Jesus as He says in Chapter we MUST depend on the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, actions and attitudes.
I want to keep reading, but I'm afraid if I do my mind will absolutely explode from the intensity of just Day 1. I don't know if everyday will be like this, but I am excited to be on this journey!!
Nirup
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