What is the work of the Holy Spirit today?
The 21st Century Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
As we end the first decade of the 21st Century there are many things that are becoming apparent. Mainly, the fact that doing church the way we did it 20 years ago will not accomplish what God wants to do in our country.
1. God is not leading us the same way.
2. There is little or no fruit in the way it used to be done.
3. It is a different world we live in now.
4. This different world needs a fresh wind of God.
5. The Church needs some new ideas.
What is evident is the 21st Century Spirit Filled Church is re-gathering and asking the hard questions. Streams from many denominations and movements are wanting to know what can be done to change the course from diminishing returns for their efforts to growth and vitality. Following are some thoughts to ponder and that will become the basis for what we as a Spirit-Filled movement will do next to bring revival to our churches and consequently to our Nation.
He wants to empower believers to be His witnesses.
He wants to administer spiritual gifts.
Spiritual gifts must be measured by the fruit of the spirit.
Emphasis will not be on the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit as much as the lasting evidence of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is leading us to be passionately strategic as well as being passionate.
The harvest will be much more important in Sunday services than individual manifestations.
The Holy Spirit will not be defined by our emotional reactions, rather by how we allow Him to impact the world through us.
We will realize that the Holy Spirit is not weird, people are.
Holiness will not come as a result of legalism but by real Holy Spirit sanctification.
What can we say for sure that the Holy Spirit wants to do?
Give me your thoughts.
Billy
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Comments
Andy Jenkins
There is nothing I can possibly add to this… this is a great post. So refreshing. Incredible point-of-view.
Jeff Jenkins
This is really good Pastor Billy!
Of course there are so many answers to this … I feel like saying “what is he not doing today”. So many methods are maturing and yet becoming more fresh and deeply connecting to the WHOLE body!
But the work I see unfolding all over the world is a working to establish an authentic – vibrant – mature – visionary – highly yielded – fearless – non-uniformly united – sacrificially giving & serving – radical but grounded – passionately worshipful – multi culturally missional – rapidly reproducing – kingdom focused force of Gods love on the earth.
He’s doing an unstoppable work through people who get His urgency, know the seasons, and give Him the honor & don’t care who gets the credit.
What a great time to be on the frontlines!
Pastor Billy – I’d also like to point out – did you guys notice that not a single person left the Building last Tuesday night after the messages etc.
People didn’t stay to hear a band. People stayed because the Holy Spirit is drawing a multifaceted force together in authentic worship all over the earth and is transforming entire cultures through expressions of worship and service as never before.
There is finally MUCH room on the frontlines for ALL the gifts of the Spirit and there is a deeper wisdom in leadership that is allowing the body to more fully operate in the Spirit OUTSIDE the Sunday morning gatherings.
Connie Firmin
Pastor, to answer your question for myself, I think the only response for me is to just listen and be obedient when He speaks. Too many times I think too much about it or try to analyze things. That’s when “I” just get in the way. Great post!
Raul Bermudez
Pastor,
As to the question of “What can we say for sure that the Holy Spirit wants to do?”… in my humble opinion: to bring glory to Himself.
Great post.
Raul
Matt Fry
Thanks for sharing Billy. Good stuff!
Rich Hagen
I disagree. This ‘new thang’ idea is dangerous to pure religion.
First of all, pure religion is what James 1:27 says, “to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unspotted by the world.” These three things imply the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is our only hope against being spotted by the world and for even having compassion for those who are family-less.
Secondly, if what we as a evangelical community say about the Bible is not upheld then woe unto us. I think most would agree that the scripture is the infallible rule of righteousness, the complete decree of GOD to us and governs the way we do everything and by which we should measure moves (such as how GOD moves), ministries and missions. Therefore, to say any of those five things listed above discredits what the evangelical church has up to this point affirmed. GOD is not moving in new ways, what worked in Acts works today and there is nothing new under the sun.
You ask, “what can we say for sure that the Holy Spirit wants to do?”
He wants us to discover the old paths (Jeremiah 6:16) and come back to the true preaching of the word. A quick survey of historical revivals would show that true, convicting, Holy Spirit unctioned, gospel filled, sin-despising and Christ-exalting preaching preceded waves of revival. We must go back to the way Acts chronicles and pray, fast and study only the Word of GOD! We need men who will be nothing else but for GOD with singleness of heart. For if the eye be not single the whole body is full of darkness (Matthew 6:23).
Billy
Rich, the old way according to Acts was to preach the Gospel with signs following…miracles, deliverance, supernatural manifestations. I’m ready for some of that… The Apostles preached grace, faith and repentance with a demonstration of power. As Paul put it, “3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Cor. 2:3-5
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