Memory or Memorable?
A.W. Towzer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
That is a bold statement, but I tend to agree. So, let me narrow the scope by asking my own question.
“When you think about the Holy Spirit, do you think power or Person? Memory or a memorable life?”
Here is how I would answer my own question. Cheeky, I know.
In High School, I had a great friend named Mike. Now I haven’t seen him for twenty-five years. Nothing terrible happened; life just took us in different directions. When I happen to think about him, I have nothing but fond memories. Hold that thought.
In High School, I had another great friend named Jason, who continues to be a great friend. One I do life with weekly. When I think about him, I have fond memories from elementary and high school, but I also have something different. I have ongoing memorable life moments in the past and today. A gift I don’t take for granted.
“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 (ESV)
Another word for Helper is the Holy Spirit. My concern is that too many followers of Jesus have a relationship with the Holy Spirit as I have with Mike. You can remember a time you felt His power, even filled, perhaps spoke in tongues. But when you think about the Holy Spirit, you have moments, feelings, and even a powerful memory – all this is good, but what about a growing relationship with the Third Person in the Trinity?
You see, there is a big difference between being filled and a constant infilling. Here is something true of all of us, we leak. No, this doesn’t depend on who you ask – see what I did there. Naughty, I know. Life can knock the wind out of us. Just like there is a difference between saying I had a friend named Mike twenty-five years ago. I have a friend named Jason walking alongside one another for the last twenty-five years, so too is there is a difference, as Dr. Glenn Packiam says, “Between saying you’ve been filled with the Spirit versus saying you are being filled with the Spirit.” The latter is actually what the New Testament invites us into – not a static one-time experience, but an ongoing in-filling of the personal, powerful presence of God in the Holy Spirit.”
The early church and first, second, and third generational followers of Jesus knew and loved this, so they developed a daily prayer they would recite on their own and in their weekly church services. Do you know what it was? Three heartfelt words.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Come, fill my life Holy Spirit.
Come, empty me of pride Holy Spirit.
Come, convict me of sin Hoy Spirit.
Come, lead me today Holy Spirit.
Come, empower me in your love Holy Spirit.
Come, give me boldness Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, come and make me more like Jesus.
The truth is simple. We will never be more like Jesus, apart from an ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit. Don’t believe me? Trust Jesus.
“And while staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4–5 (ESV)
At this moment, the disciples had the finished work of the cross and the resurrection, witnessed the teachings and the miracles of Jesus, and received the great commission and the great commandment from Jesus.
But still, Jesus ordered them to wait to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
They did.