Awakening to the Ever-Present Holy Spirit

 

Summary

In this gathering, we explore the profound and often misunderstood phrase, "Come Holy Spirit." This phrase, frequently used in our church community, invites us to delve deeper into its meaning and implications. The phrase is not about summoning a distant spirit but rather about awakening to the ever-present reality of God's Spirit in our lives. The Spirit is omnipresent, woven into the fabric of creation, and intimately involved in every moment of our existence. When we say "Come Holy Spirit," we are not asking for the Spirit to arrive from elsewhere, but rather for our awareness to be heightened, for our hearts to be opened, and for our lives to be aligned with the Spirit's work.

The Spirit's presence is not limited by time or space; it is the breath of life that animates all creation. This understanding challenges us to see the world as Jesus did, recognizing the Spirit's work in every aspect of life. The Spirit empowers us to become more like Jesus, to embody His teachings, and to participate in the ongoing creation and renewal of the world. This transformation is not just about personal growth but about contributing to the reunion of Heaven and Earth.

The biblical narratives of Spirit-filled individuals like Joseph, Bezalel, Micah, and David illustrate how the Spirit works through us, despite our flaws, to bring about God's purposes. These stories remind us that while we are imperfect, the Spirit can still use us to make a significant impact. However, they also highlight the tension between our potential for good and our propensity for failure.

Ultimately, the phrase "Come Holy Spirit" is a prayer for transformation. It is a call for the Spirit to create in us the most Jesus-like version of ourselves, the true selves hidden in God. This transformation is essential for the healing of our communities and the world. As we pray this prayer, we invite the Spirit to guide us, to empower us, and to make us agents of God's Kingdom on Earth.

Key Takeaways:

- The phrase "Come Holy Spirit" is not about summoning a distant presence but about awakening to the Spirit's constant presence in our lives. It invites us to become more aware of the Spirit's work in every moment and aspect of our existence. [10:11]

- The Spirit is the breath of life that animates all creation, present in every "when" and "where." This understanding challenges us to see the world as Jesus did, recognizing the Spirit's work in every aspect of life. [19:34]

- Biblical narratives of Spirit-filled individuals illustrate how the Spirit works through us, despite our flaws, to bring about God's purposes. These stories remind us of our potential for good and our propensity for failure. [35:03]

- The prayer "Come Holy Spirit" is a call for transformation, inviting the Spirit to create in us the most Jesus-like version of ourselves. This transformation is essential for the healing of our communities and the world. [54:29]

- Our communities need the most Jesus-like version of us, animated by the Spirit. This version of ourselves is hidden in God and is the most real and true version of who we are meant to be. [56:09]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:07] - Introduction of Tim Mackey
[01:02] - Reading of Psalm 139
[02:20] - Personal Reflections
[03:11] - Listening to God
[04:09] - The Phrase "Come Holy Spirit"
[06:21] - What We Don't Mean
[08:46] - The Analogy of Calling a Dog
[10:22] - The Spirit's Omnipresence
[11:03] - Becoming Like Jesus
[13:38] - Jesus and the Psalms
[16:18] - Creation and the Spirit
[20:01] - Psalm 104 and Creation
[25:34] - Genesis and the Breath of Life
[30:00] - Spirit-Filled Individuals
[35:03] - The Role of the Spirit in Our Lives
[41:40] - The Complexity of Human Nature
[49:40] - Jesus as the Perfect Image of God
[54:29] - Transformation Through the Spirit
[57:04] - Invitation to Pray

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Come Holy Spirit"

Bible Reading:

1. Psalm 139:7-12
2. Genesis 2:7
3. Psalm 104:27-30

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Observation Questions:

1. In Psalm 139:7-12, what does the psalmist say about the presence of God's Spirit? How does this relate to the idea that the Spirit is omnipresent? [14:58]

2. According to Genesis 2:7, how is the breath of life described in the creation of humanity? How does this connect to the sermon’s discussion on the Spirit as the breath of life? [25:34]

3. In Psalm 104:27-30, how is the relationship between God and His creation depicted? What role does the Spirit play in this relationship? [21:05]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate how the Spirit works through individuals despite their flaws? [35:03]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the understanding of the Spirit's omnipresence in Psalm 139 challenge or affirm your current view of God's presence in your life? [14:58]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Spirit empowers individuals to contribute to the reunion of Heaven and Earth? How does this align with the biblical narratives of Spirit-filled individuals? [41:25]

3. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "Come Holy Spirit" as a call for personal and communal transformation? What implications does this have for the way we live our daily lives? [54:29]

4. How does the sermon address the tension between human potential for good and the propensity for failure? How does this tension manifest in the biblical stories of Spirit-filled individuals? [43:48]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How might the understanding of the Spirit's omnipresence change your perception of that experience? [14:58]

2. The sermon suggests that saying "Come Holy Spirit" is about awakening to reality. What practical steps can you take this week to become more aware of the Spirit's presence in your daily life? [29:30]

3. Consider the biblical examples of Joseph, Bezalel, Micah, and David. How can you allow the Spirit to work through your unique gifts and talents to contribute to God's purposes? [35:03]

4. The sermon highlights the importance of becoming the most Jesus-like version of ourselves. What specific area of your life do you feel needs transformation to align more closely with Jesus' teachings? [54:29]

5. How can you actively participate in the ongoing creation and renewal of the world as empowered by the Spirit? Identify one action you can take this week to contribute to this mission. [41:25]

6. The sermon discusses the tension between our potential for good and our propensity for failure. How can you address this tension in your own life, and what role does the Spirit play in overcoming it? [43:48]

7. Reflect on the idea that our communities need the most Jesus-like version of us. What changes can you make in your interactions with others to embody this version of yourself? [56:09]

Devotional

Day 1: Awakening to the Spirit's Presence
The phrase "Come Holy Spirit" is a call to awaken to the Spirit's constant presence in our lives. It is not about summoning a distant entity but about becoming more aware of the Spirit's work in every moment and aspect of our existence. This awareness invites us to open our hearts and align our lives with the Spirit's work, recognizing that the Spirit is already here, woven into the fabric of creation and intimately involved in every moment of our existence. By praying "Come Holy Spirit," we are asking for our awareness to be heightened and for our lives to be transformed by the Spirit's presence. [10:11]

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you become more aware of the Spirit's presence in your daily life today? How can you invite the Spirit to guide your actions and decisions?


Day 2: The Spirit as the Breath of Life
The Spirit is the breath of life that animates all creation, present in every "when" and "where." This understanding challenges us to see the world as Jesus did, recognizing the Spirit's work in every aspect of life. The Spirit empowers us to become more like Jesus, to embody His teachings, and to participate in the ongoing creation and renewal of the world. By acknowledging the Spirit's omnipresence, we are invited to live in a way that reflects Jesus' vision of the world, seeing the divine in the ordinary and the sacred in the mundane. [19:34]

"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job 33:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you recognize the Spirit's work in the ordinary moments of your day? What steps can you take to align your perspective with Jesus' vision of the world?


Day 3: Spirit-Filled Individuals and Our Potential
Biblical narratives of Spirit-filled individuals like Joseph, Bezalel, Micah, and David illustrate how the Spirit works through us, despite our flaws, to bring about God's purposes. These stories remind us of our potential for good and our propensity for failure. The Spirit's presence in our lives empowers us to overcome our weaknesses and to contribute to God's work in the world. By reflecting on these narratives, we are encouraged to embrace our potential and to trust in the Spirit's ability to work through us, even in our imperfections. [35:03]

"But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him." (Judges 6:34, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel inadequate or flawed? How can you invite the Spirit to work through you in this area to fulfill God's purposes?


Day 4: Transformation Through the Spirit
The prayer "Come Holy Spirit" is a call for transformation, inviting the Spirit to create in us the most Jesus-like version of ourselves. This transformation is essential for the healing of our communities and the world. As we pray this prayer, we invite the Spirit to guide us, to empower us, and to make us agents of God's Kingdom on Earth. This transformation is not just about personal growth but about contributing to the reunion of Heaven and Earth, embodying the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. [54:29]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you desire transformation? How can you actively invite the Spirit to work in this area today?


Day 5: Becoming the Most Jesus-Like Version of Ourselves
Our communities need the most Jesus-like version of us, animated by the Spirit. This version of ourselves is hidden in God and is the most real and true version of who we are meant to be. By embracing this identity, we become agents of healing and transformation in our communities and the world. The Spirit empowers us to live out this calling, guiding us to embody the love, compassion, and justice of Jesus in our interactions with others. [56:09]

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to become more like the Jesus-like version of yourself? How can you allow the Spirit to animate your actions and interactions with others?

Quotes

"Come Holy Spirit, my friends, what on Earth do we think that we mean when we pray Come Holy Spirit? It's the number one thing that we have been saying together as we've been gathering over the last almost 24 hours. Yeah, and you know what's really interesting is this is actually a conversation that I've had spontaneously independently, not me initiating it, but with many of you in our church community." [00:04:55]

"The number one thing that we certainly do not mean is that the Holy Spirit isn't already here. Are you with me? And so it's actually kind of a weird thing to say if you stop and think about it because what we are saying means that the Holy Spirit isn't here, but that is certainly the one thing that we do not mean, but it's the number one thing that we say." [00:09:51]

"So whatever I mean by the phrase Come Holy Spirit, I certainly do not mean that the spirit is not already here. It's a figure of speech, it's an agreed upon metaphor because the reality is if I share Jesus's view of reality is that there actually isn't anywhere that I can go." [00:15:10]

"One way to think about why or how it is that God's ruach is present in all of creation and that there is nowhere where the spirit is not is because there is no when in which the spirit is not. Are you with me? The fact that there is anything at all is because of God's spirit." [00:19:25]

"Not only is there nowhere in which the spirit is not, there is no when in which the spirit is not, there is no what in which the spirit is not, and there is no who in which the spirit is not. And this goes all the way back for slides I'm going actually going to skip a slide and go right to Genesis 2." [00:25:12]

"Every single breath that he's taken ever since then is just This Kiss of God to your precious son. Are you with me? Like this is such a beautiful way to exist in the world and this is the way Jesus saw the world so clearly. Like what else would Inspire somebody to say like do you know every time a sparrow falls to the ground my dad knows everything about it?" [00:24:25]

"Jesus knew that his father was going to give that ruak back and he knew that when he gave that ruach back it would mean not just the resuscitation of like this version of Jesus of Nazareth, it would be like like Psalm 104 yeah, creation creation we sang last night about the moment that Jesus took his first breath on Easter morning." [00:53:30]

"I think that what I mean on a third level when I say Come Holy Spirit is I'm saying Holy Spirit please, please create me as the Jesus version of me, the most Jesus like version of me that is actually the true me and would you animate that me by the power of your spirit." [00:54:29]

"What our communities need is the most Jesus like version of you and me that could exist and I goodness new it exists uh it's it's actually more real than you and I are right now. It's the most real thing about us because it's the most real thing that exists because it is the you and the me that is carried in love and the generosity of the spirit of God." [00:56:09]

"When I pray Come Holy Spirit I'm actually praying that I would come into a deepening experience of reality. What I'm praying for is that Jesus and the spirit would make every act and every deed and every word that I say today contribute to the union of Heaven and Earth." [00:57:19]

"Would you come Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit would you please come, please come, we really really really need you. We are dying and we are contributing to each other's death in ways that we don't even know and mean but we're doing it and we really need you, really really need you." [00:58:29]

"Come Holy Spirit, please, please come, come Holy Spirit." [01:00:01]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?