Do We Need to Wait for the Spirit?

Let’s imagine that you are attempting to do an in-depth study on the book of Acts. Today you are going to tackle Acts 1:1-5. You find yourself studying and applying Acts 1:4;

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father… –Acts 1:4

Clearly from this text we see that Jesus’ charge to his disciples—prior to his ascension and after his resurrection—was to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Spirit before they took the gospel to the ends of the earth. So how do you apply this passage? What does this mean for the church of the 21st century?

The most obvious lesson for us to learn is that it is vital for us to wait on the Holy Spirit before doing things. The disciples needed the Spirit’s power before they were able to complete the mission of proclaiming the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. We too would be fool-hearted to launch into mission without the Spirit’s powerful presence.

The Problem

The biggest difficulty with the above interpretation is that what Luke has written here is meant to be descriptive and not prescriptive. He’s telling his readers what happened, not what his readers ought to do in response. In fact if you keep reading through Acts you will discover that the apostles did receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And what is even more astounding is that when Gentiles become followers of Jesus they too receive the gift of the Spirit.

This means that the condition which Jesus mentioned in Acts 1:4 has already been fulfilled—always and forever. Therefore, believers do not need to sit around and wait for the “Spirit to come” before they engage in mission. He already has come.

The way, then, that we apply Acts 1:4 is to realize that the Spirit is vital to our mission. But we do not stop there. We celebrate the fact that Jesus has kept His promise and we have the indwelling Spirit. We have the Spirit that is needed to engage in the mission of Christ.

This isn’t permission to launch into out own missions, doing so upon a whim. This is permission to boldly engage in Christ-exalting mission because we know the Spirit is always present when Christ is exalted.

A Lesson

This little illustration shows why it is important to always read a text in its context; not only it’s immediate context but also read a text within it’s place in God’s unfolding story or redemption. If we fail to do this we will apply passages wrongly. We will find ourselves praying for things that God has already provided.

You and I don’t need to “wait on the Spirit” in the same way that the early apostles did. So let’s get busy.

A Word From an Inadequate Preacher

All genuine preaching is rooted in a feeling of desperation. You wake up on Sunday morning and you can smell the smoke of hell on one side and feel the crisp breezes of heaven on the other. You go to your study and look down at your pitiful manuscript, and you kneel down and cry, ‘O God, this is so weak! Who do I think I am? What audacity to think that in three hours my words will be the odor of death to death and the fragrance of life to life (2 Cor. 2:16). My God, who is sufficient for these things?”  -John Piper, The Supremacy of God in Preaching, 41-42

If a pastor is not convinced that he is weak and inadequate for the task he is blind. Paul came to the Corinthians with fear and trembling. Our knees shouldn’t be more sturdy than Paul’s.

But…

That’s not the whole story.

If I’m not careful my self-obsessed heart will take this truth and use it to turn the spotlight on me, the preacher. Not for my awesomeness of course; I’m Reformed, after all. I know that God is glorified in my weakness. And so, I’ll make sure everyone knows how weak and inadequate of a preacher I am. That’ll get me the thumbs up that I desire.

It is true that I’m weak and inadequate. But this shouldn’t be the truth that shines the brightest. If it does, then the clay gets the attention. There is a reason why Spurgeon ascended the stairs into his pulpit saying, “I believe in the Holy Spirit…I believe in the Holy Spirit…” and not, “I’m weak and inadequate…I’m weak and inadequate”.

A knowledge of my inadequacy and insufficiency in the pulpit is only a good and helpful truth if it is married to the incontrovertible truth that the Spirit is powerful and does shine forth His glory through insufficient jars of clay.

Therefore, I keep before me the knowledge that I’m weak, insufficient, and that my manuscript is usually quite pitiful. But I proclaim that pitiful manuscript with all the boldness and force that this weak and insufficient jar of clay can muster. I do this knowing that the Holy Spirit actually does accompany the preaching of His Word and He truly does delight in shining a light on Jesus.

Yeah, I’m weak and inadequate. But He’s not! And I want that to be the truth that drives every sermon that I preach.

Resources on The Holy Spirit

A good friend asked me a few days ago to give him a recommended list of books on the Holy Spirit. I had to confess that my reading has been somewhat sparse. It seems that most books that would be filed under Pneumatology (the study of the Spirit) deal more with controversy than actually positively addressing the Spirit. To really get books like that you have to go back about a hundred years before the Pentecostal-type excesses. 

I figure that my friend isn’t the only one that would benefit from such a list. So I’ve tweaked it for your benefit. I will organize it by older books on the Spirit, newer books on the Spirit, and finally controversial issues related to the Spirit. Note: some of these books I have skimmed, some I’ve read thoroughly, others I’m only recommending based upon others I trust.

Older Books:

The Works of John Owen Volume 3 by John Owen. There is a Puritan Paperback called The Holy Spirit that is really beneficial as well. But why not try to snag a copy of Volume 3 from his works and get everything he has written on the topic. Be aware that while this is perhaps the best work on the Spirit it is from John Owen, who can be a bear to read.

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit by George Smeaton. I’ve never read Smeaton but this one comes highly recommended from people that I trust.

The Work of the Holy Spirit by Abraham Kuyper. I haven’t read this particular book by Kuyper but what I have read of him I have found balanced and helpful. I assume (and other’s have noted) that this is a good book on the Spirit.

The Works of Thomas Goodwin Volume 6 by Thomas Goodwin. Again, I haven’t read this particular volume but Goodwin is one of my favorite Puritans. I have this book in my wishlist (with Goodwin’s other works) and hope to purchase it soon.

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit by B.B. Warfield. Warfield is a theological stud. His works are impressive. This will read more like a text book but it is beneficial nonetheless.

If you have Calvin’s Institutes he has some pretty good stuff in there. Just scan the index for the Spirit.

Newer Books:

The Holy Spirit by Sinclair Ferguson. A great summary of the doctrine of the Spirit. It is weighty but also very accessible.

The Forgotten God by Francis Chan. Many people raved about Chan’s book on the Spirit. Personally I thought it seemed like a really awesome looking plane that made a great amount of noise but never really got off the ground. But that’s just me. You might like it. Reading this book will probably make you consult a list like this. It makes you want to know the Spirit more but it doesn’t deliver in doing such.

The Mystery of the Holy Spirit by R.C. Sproul. I have not read this but need to. Sproul is a great teacher. I’d assume this book wouldn’t be any different than his other excellent resources.

Anointed with the Spirit and Power: The Holy Spirit’s Empowering Presence by John D. Harvey. This is one of THE things that is the work of the Spirit. Yet, sadly many books on the topic are concerned with other issues. John Harvey is helpful in this regard.

Issues Related to the Spirit:

Keep in Step with the Spirit by J.I. Packer. This could easily have been in the second list, but I put it here for his section outlining the dangers of Keswick theology’s view of the Spirit and sanctification.

Showing the Spirit by D.A. Carson. This is Carson’s exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14 and it is a must-have piece on the role of spiritual gifts in the life of the church.

The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts by Sam Storms. Storms is a continuationist and this is a helpful defense. He is balanced and thorough. Looks like it will be updated in 2013.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit by James DG Dunn. Dunn is a quality scholar. This book is written on a more scholarly level but it’s a must-read for issues related to baptism of the Spirit. (Also check out Stott’s book on Baptism and Fullness of the Spirit for a less ivory tower approach).

Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? 4 Views by Grudem, Gaffin Jr., Saucy, Storms. I love these 4 views books. I haven’t read this one but I have read the positions of Grudem and Storms and I think this would be a great introductory book for issues related to the miraculous gifts.

What if I can only get three books: Get Ferguson, Packer, and Owen.

What if I can only get one book: Get Ferguson.

There are many more that I could have listed. Any major books I left off the list that you would recommend?

Waiting on the Spirit?

One of the books I’m reading through right now is Robert’s Rules of Writing.  In this book Robert Masello gives 101 unconventional lessons on writing.  Number 9 is “Lose the Muse”.

The Muse in case you are unaware is

“the embodiment of inspiration, usually portrayed as a comely woman loosely draped in a diaphanous gown—is what every writer longs for.  Once she appears, you’re supposed to be able to write effortlessly, at the height of your powers, with an unequaled command and energy and zest.”  (18)

Some writers will sit and wait for inspiration before they begin writing.  To this silly notion Masello encourages writers to “stop worrying about where she [the muse] is, and focus instead on doing the work at hand, she is most likely to put in a surprise appearance.” 

I wonder how many times Christian writers (or even those pursuing evangelistic efforts or anything else which puts us in desperate dependence on the Spirit) sit around wait for the Christian version of “The Muse”; namely, the Holy Spirit. 

One verse that can give credence to this notion of “waiting on the muse to show up” is Acts 1:4-5. 

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5 ESV)

In other words, don’t do anything until you’ve received empowerment from the Spirit.  I have heard--and sadly been guilty of--using this verse to not engage in a ministry endeavor until we have received a thumbs up from the Lord and empowerment from the Spirit.  Which, of course, is true in that “apart from me you can do nothing” and ministry apart from the Spirit doesn’t deserve to be called ministry. 

Yet, it is also true that the promise of the Spirit that the disciples were to wait for has already been given.  We can’t recreate Acts 1:4-5 nor should we.  After the day of Pentecost we aren’t called to sit around and wait on an indwelling of the Spirit.  No, once you become a believer that indwelling happens.

What happens after Pentecost is that the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:19 are fulfilled.  “Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour”.  How does that happen?  It happens through the Spirit empowering common ordinary men like Peter and John and making them bold before a Sanhedrin.  It happens through a group of believers gathering together, reciting Scripture, praying for boldness and then going out opening their mouths believing that the Lord answered their prayer. 

Pray? Yes, of course.  But don’t pray and then sit there and wait for the muse to show up.  Pray and then get to work doing the obvious.  As a writer, one way that I apply this is that I pray for the Lord’s work in my writing, I also plead for sanity and holy affections, and then I get after it.  I go to work.  I “open my mouth” and trust the Spirit’s work. 

It’s not spiritual to sit in your attic waiting to hear from the Lord when He’s already spoken and He’s already empowered.  That’s not spiritual.  That’s lazy and unbelieving. 

The Godly Man's Picture Chapter 4 (Part 8)

The Canvas:

Today we will discuss the tenth characteristic of a godly man: he has the Spirit of God residing in him. Watson starts this section by dismissing the heresy of Montanus and instead proposing that rather than taking upon His essence he flow to us in measure. He reveals himself in us, Watson says by his motions and by his virtues. We are then given seven virtues of the Spirit of God:

1. Teaching
2. Sanctifying
3. Vivifying (giving of life)
4. Jurisdictive (ruling and governing)
5. Mollifying (softening)
6. Corroborating (confirming, making certain)
7. Comforting

Watson then discusses how the Spirit comforts. The Spirit comforts, says Watson, by showing us that we are in a state of grace, by helping us apprehend the love of God, by take us to the blood of Christ, by enabling our conscience to comfort, and through the divine ordinances.

Our author then considers whether or not the wicked may partake of the Holy Spirit. His argument is simple. The wicked only partake, the godly are indwelt. The unregenerate merely taste, the godly feast.

What are the uses of these doctrines? For one, it marks those that do and do not have the Spirit. If a man does not have the Spirit then we know he is not a godly man. Furthermore it marks off those that not only do not possess the Spirit but also deride Him. It admonishes those that do have the Spirit to acknowledge God's distinguishing love and not to grieve the Spirit.

The second use is for those that are godly to strive for the blessed indwelling of the Spirit. We ought to consider how necessary the Spirit is. We cannot pray without Him. We cannot resist temptation without him. We cannot be fruitful without Him. The ordinances will not be effectual without him. Therefore, we must strive to attain more of the Spirit.

Discussion:

Do you agree with Watson's counsel concerning whether or not we are laboring in our strength or God's? Would you add anything, or do you find his three answers sufficient? (His answers are that when we minister humbly, when our aims are pure, and when we glorify God in everything we can know it is through His power and not ours).

As a Southern Baptist I have noticed that the Puritans put more stock in the ordinances than we typically do. Perhaps we labor with such fervor to make certain that people understand them as "only symbols" that we forget they are symbols that display grace. In as much as they preach the Word they can be effectual as conduits of grace. Thoughts?

Do you agree with this quote: "The Spirit is the soul of the Word without which it is but a dead letter"?

What about this one? "The blood of God is not enough without the breath of God."

On page 75 Watson urges those that are godly to "strive for the blessed indwelling of the Spirit". I do not understand his view of the indwelling of the Spirit. Is he simply saying we ought to strive for more of the Spirit (as in "be filled with the Spirit"). If so, then I agree. Does he believe that a believer is saved and then indwelt later? Does anyone have any insight into this?

Strokes of Genius:

"The motions of the Spirit are always consonant with the Word." (p68)

"The Spirit gives not only a sufficiency of strength, but a redundance" (p70)

"The Spirit applies whatever Christ has purchased; he shows us that our sins are done away in Christ, and though we are spotted in ourselves, we are undefiled in our Head." (p72)

"Ordinances are the conduit pipes of grace, but the Spirit is the spring." (p76)

"The blood of God is not enough without the breath of God." (p76)

"If we check the motions of the Spirit, we shall lose the comforts of the Spirit." (p77)

On to Part 9...