The NOT so Whole Theology of the Holy Spirit

Growing up, I was almost always leading my Sunday School class in attendance percentage. I thought I knew all of the answers and for the most part, I did. I learned very quickly what type of questions my teacher would ask, and most of them, stereotypical involved Jesus or God.

I received a Bachelor of Arts from Ouachita Baptist University and during my studies I quickly learned that my theology of the Holy Spirit was almost entirely absent. Anytime discussion of our great helper the Holy Spirit would come up, my friends and I immediately found ourselves doggy-paddling in the deep end. My professors and mentors graciously guided me into the richness of the text and challenged me (and my biased understanding) with their lives and conversations.

Most often, (among Bible Belt Believers) conversation of the Holy Spirit ends with a downward looking view concerning speaking in tongues, or simply with sweaty palms and extreme anxiety.

I understand the concern that stems from a counterfeit experience and most people within this "Christian culture" have rarely (if ever) experienced authentic outpouring work of the Holy Spirit.

But do we desire it? Do we plead for the Holy Spirit to pour into our lives and churches like the fire that broke into the moment of worship in Acts 2? Do we truly believe that our context deems us capable of surviving this fallen world without the Spirit of God?

So, first off, I challenge a careful reading through the book of Acts, which speaks of the Holy Spirit twice as much as any other book in our Holy Bible.. For so long this book has been called "The Acts of the Apostles" and rightly so, but if you focus on the agency of the action I hope and believe your heart and head will be challenged with the constant requirement of the great helper.

Second, I pray for the day (for myself, for you, and for the Church) that we truly worship the Trinity in fear of the perfect will of God, and not in fear of gibberish coming out of your mouth. Do not take part in speech as debate, but challenge one another and seek the truth of our sacred text.

Ephesians 1:13

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, 

and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee 

of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

The Holy Spirit is God and if you are saved by Christ Jesus you have received this beautiful promise. Do not run from this truth, but run to our helper, and pray to be filled by Him as we wait for the great return of our Savior Jesus Christ.