“Holy spirit come, guide us in your truth
Let us always run, back home to you
Till the race is done, all the glory be to you
Holy Spirit come, let us blaze your life anew” (“Holy Spirit Come” Chorus)
Though this week has been a longer one it feels as if not much has happened. However, even in the slower parts of life, God is still working and pointing our lives back to him. And that this week, has been without a doubt what God is continuing to do in my life. He continues to show me truth and lead me powerfully as I witness the gospel and preach the word to those who haven’t heard it. And what we’ve been learning about in class has also aided towards this.
The main topic we’ve studied this week has been the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. I feel like I often forget the purpose of the holy spirit, only that he convicts us and shows us what we are to do. But he does so much more than that. He leads us is producing spiritual fruit, he propitiates for us in prayer, he works through us in power, he equipes us for spiritual warfare, and he aids us in the killing of sin in our lives. He is our helper and the one that empowers us in times of trouble. He works through us to accomplish the Lord’s will, and if we humble ourselves before God, and allow him the room to work, he can do mighty things in our lives. Often however we group him together with our emotions. We feel frustrated or tired, and we let those things lead us rather than the Holy Spirit. Emotions our good, and often useful in experiencing God and the weight of all he does, but we must understand that what should always drive us is the truth. And like a train, the fuel for our truth should be our faith heated up by the Holy Spirit. These things should lead our lives and emotions toward God. Examine the Holy Spirit anew and let him fill you. Don’t come with pride or your own agenda but let him lead you and show you where you need to pursue him more in your life. He shall be your comfort and strength for he is in you and you in him.
While this week has felt somewhat unproductive here is a short summary of what we did over the last 9 days: I’ve gone to a nature park, shared the gospel from house to house in the community around our church, had someone come to Christ, preached a sermon and participated in what was a somewhat comedic worship service (we struggled), went to Samal island and experienced the biggest tree I’ve ever seen in my life (and climbed it), cliff jumped, took in some breathtaking views, did our classes on the Holy Spirit, wrote two songs, said goodbye to two of our close friends/leaders as they left for missions, went out and shared the gospel in homes and in the streets, held bible studies, comforted the heartbroken, did kids ministry, and preached a very heart felt sermon on justification, salvation, and the love of God for us.
In all these things, as I spoke on before, the Holy Spirit has been very present in my life. Speaking through me and giving me the words to say when I am lost in my own speech. He is truly powerful and thereby witnesses powerfully through us.
Some other random highlights were;
-continuing to disciple the 6 and watching their spiritual growth
-competitive twister games, fishbowl, and random field races (wheelbarrow, three-legged, ect.)
-mall run
-sending out our leader couple
-and again, randomly writing two songs
Only one more weekend of ministry left with these young adults, praying that God will grow them powerfully over these last few days. Some other prayer requests are;
- For a spirit of Humility and Love as I serve as team leader this week
- For continued spiritual growth on the fronts of spiritual warfare and encouraging others
- For healing of my random sniffles/cold so that I can be at 100% again
- For my heart to continue to seek after God and experience his spirit in me
As I go into these last few weeks of missions training, I hope to continue to grow in my faith. In my evangelism and preaching, my discipleship and bible study teaching, and let God do the work in me. I can’t rush him therefore I can only trust him. He will continue to do all in me that I cannot do on my own and give me the cry of victory he has achieved by his defeating of sin and death on that cross.
“Our lives transformed, the savior reigns, flowing with joy we can’t retain. Where we we’re blind now we see, your love has fully set us free.” (Holy Spirt Come) Go and live in that freedom, and let the Holy Spirit come and blaze in your life anew.
