Life with the Spirit: Expectancy

Why does my relationship with the Spirit feel more like hanging on than expecting anything?

The sermon names the gap between how we usually describe our walk with God and the way children seem to live, sure that something good is about to happen. Jesus put a child in the middle of the room when his disciples asked who was greatest.

Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:2–4

Yahweh, my heart isn’t arrogant, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me. Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Psalms 131:1–2

For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;…

Romans 8:15–16

Does God still speak today the way he spoke to people in the Bible?

The sermon traces a God who keeps stepping into ordinary lives, from Moses to Saul knocked down on the Damascus road, and argues that prophecy is one of the main ways he does it. It reads the whole Bible as a book where God breaks in when no one is expecting him.

As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 9:3–6

God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

Hebrews 1:1–2

“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.

Joel 2:28–29

Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:1

How do I know if a word someone gives me is really from God?

The sermon lays out markers for a genuine prophetic word: it can be understood, it comes from God and not the speaker, it is specific to the moment, it points to Jesus, and the church weighs it together. It also names how often this gift has been mishandled and used to control people.

Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.

1 Corinthians 14:29

Don’t despise prophecies. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:20–21

Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.

1 John 4:1–3

You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken?” When a prophet speaks in Yahweh’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.

Deuteronomy 18:21–22

If God speaks today, does it have to fit with the Bible, or can it say something new?

The sermon holds the gift and the book together, insisting that prophecy will never run against scripture or against the character of God revealed there. Jesus told his disciples the Spirit would remind them of what he had already said, not add to it.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

John 14:26

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

Turn to the law and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

Isaiah 8:20

But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.

Galatians 1:8–9

What if I want to be used by God but I am afraid of getting it wrong?

The pastor tells a story where the only role he played was almost messing it up, and says God uses imperfect people anyway. The sermon points to the fact that God has always chosen ordinary, fallen vessels to carry what he wants to say.

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” Yahweh said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, Yahweh? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”

Exodus 4:10–12

Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.” But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh. Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

Jeremiah 1:6–9

…but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, that no flesh should boast before God.

1 Corinthians 1:27–29