Footprints of Faith
Week 4: The Spirit of God
March 28-April 3, 2010
When Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 to his local congregation, as recorded in Luke Chapter 4, it was shocking and offensive to them. I think one reason for this is because they were not any more familiar or comfortable with the Scriptures contained in the books (or scrolls) of the prophets than we are. For the most part, the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, et al, were not comforting, but were intended to get the attention of God’s people and bring about repentance. We are much more comfortable reading the Books of Moses, or the Psalms or Proverbs than we are hearing judgment pronounced. But Jesus is bringing the Kingdom near, and these words from Isaiah are just right for that.
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter and the apostles are using a similar method by quoting Joel to explain the events of that day:
Acts 2
17 ” ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.
In both of these passages, it is the Spirit of God who is introduced as the agent of change. As God’s Holy Spirit enters the lives of His people, everything changes. And that’s what we’re asking for, especially during this week of our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting. We are asking to be changed and to be able to discern God’s will for this congregation of His people. As Paul reminds his friends in Corinth in First Corinthians chapter 2,
1 Corinthians 2
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit within? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Two weeks ago, Dewayne shared with you the desire of the elders for discernment about the proper Vision for Glenwood’s future, of which our minister searches have become a part. He shared nine questions. Some have asked if we really want answers. Our response is “Yes, we would like for our members to share with us the answers that they are perceiving after prayer and meditation, asking for God’s Spirit to give you understanding.” I’ll repeat those questions-
- How can we more clearly discern God’s will for Glenwood’s future?
- How can we follow the Holy Spirit both individually and corporately?
- How can we best balance our inward focus with our outward focus?
- How can we communicate better among ourselves?
- How can we implement processes for open communication among the eldership, staff, and congregation?
- How can we reconcile our fear of change with our fear of not changing?
- How can we be more effective in sharing the gospel?
- How can be better embrace and assimilate new members?
- How can we be more intergenerational?
Please share your responses with us in writing or by e-mail.
For the Elders,
Greg Grubb
