Then It Came To Me…

     “…Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit.” Are the “spiritual” and “earthbound” aspects of life mutually exclusive? Is there some measure of synthesis, or coming together, of the two? All of the time? Some of the time? How do my spiritual beliefs im-pact my earthly existence?

     My beloved, in biblical Christianity, the believers’ earthly life is a spiritual matter. Christianity informs and influences all of life. For the Christian, all of life is sacred, and all life is sacred. We exist in a society dominated by western thoughts and values. Unfortunately, western thought maintains a strict compartmentalization of life. In this way of thinking, one’s life can and does maintain the sacred and the secular, the holy and the unholy, Christian and pagan ideals.

     We realize that in this world, the sacred and secular, holy and unholy, Christian and pagan separations are real and appropriate. These ways of the world cannot, however, be appropriated in the believer. II Corinthians 5:17 explicitly states, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; be- hold, all things are become new.” Consequently, all pursuits for the Christian, becomes Christian. How is this done? How do we pursue life God style?

     Christians must be aligned with, connected to and committed to one life- force, the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is identified as our Comforter, Guide, and Teacher. Through Him, we are empowered to live as “new creatures.” Jesus Christ promises the Holy Spirit:

     John 14:15-18a, “If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless.”

     Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The fulfillment of Jesus’ promise is recorded in Acts 2.

Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

     Saints, we are heirs, recipients, and participants in this promise of our Lord. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God, we are empowered. As we see ourselves as our Lord sees us, eternal spiritual beings traveling through the boundaries we call time, we will understand that this is only accomplished by, “Walking in The Power of The Holy Spirit!!”

                                         Shalom, my friends,

                                         Bishop Kenneth C. Doe