Mark Watson

In the last chapter, chapter 7, Chan challenges the reader and churches to be supernatural.  He states that just because a church is growing and energetic does not mean the Spirit is involved.  The same is true for us as individuals. 

He further clarifies supernatural with the following statement:  ” I don’t want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit.  I want people to look at my life and know that  I couldn’t be doing this by my own power.”

Chan goes on to give examples of certain Christian gatherings that resemble the prophets of Baal in I Kings 18 more than Elijah.  We are more concerned with those “performing” than what God is doing in us and in our churches.  Great things may be happening but God is not the one being glorified and lifted up.

Individually this manifests itself by us not acting any differently than those without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  “We worry, strive, and grieve no differently than unbelievers.”   We display no fruits of the Spirit as in Galatians 5:22-23.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  Against such things there is no law.” 

Chan says if we aren’t experiencing these fruits, it’s not a matter of trying harder.  Its a matter of asking for help from the One who has the power to change us.  It is not all us or all Him.  It is a constant pursuit praying desperately and corageously for the Spirit to work in your life.

Chan states toward the end of the chapter, “God wants the praise for what we do in our lives.  But if we never pray audacious, courageous prayers, how can He answer them?  If we never follow Him to positions where we need Him, how can He show up and make His presence known?”

Can you identify times in your life and in your church when you followed that nudge from Him?  What were the results? 

I’ll add some of mine after I read some of your answers.

In chapter 6 Chan points out that saying “I just wish I knew God’s will for my life” can now be misguided thinking.  He points out that few biblical figures received their life plan in advance from God.  He points out Abraham as an example that was just told to “go.”

This too is convicting for me.  I’ve always been jealous of people who say they’ve received such a revelation.  I can honestly say that I’ve only received next steps and never the whole picture.  Some moves I’ve taken in faith, I’m still waiting on the purpose or reason for the move!  More times than not I’ve ignored the gentle nudge in wait for the full picture.

A quote from A.W. Tozer:

And to expect our hearts to truth and consistently refuse or neglect to obey the impulses it arouses is to stymie the motions of life within us and, if persisted in, to grieve the Holy Spirit into silence.

Chan also states that we must be an active participant in the process in order to make change in our lives.  The spirit will only start the process but we must actively participate and engage the spirit to complete the process (Galatians 3:3).

Do you wait on the Spirit to give you your full life plan or are you actively engaging the Holy Spirit?

In chapter 5 Chan discusses having a real relationship with the Spirit.  The quote by Karl Barth at the beginning of the chapter really made me think:

When we are at our wits’ end for an answer, then the Holy Spirit can give us an answer.  But how can he give us an answer when we are well supplied with all sorts of answers on our own?

Chan follows this statement up with:  There’s nothing worse than insecurity.  So many people live in fear because they are uncertain . . . but on the flip side, there’s nothing better than being absolutely sure that the most powerful Being in the universe adores you as His own child.

Chan goes on to say if we don’t have this security there could be two issues, comfort and volume.  By comfort maybe our lives are so comfortable, we don’t long for the Comforter.  If it is volume, it is possible that we’ve made our lives so busy, we don’t leave time for communion with Him to enjoy that security.

I have at different times in my life fallen into the comfort and volume issues.  In the past couple of years we have been unsure where my job is taking us or even keeping me employed at all.  For a long time, I was discouraged, frustrated, and was wondering if God had a plan for me at all.  That status hasn’t changed but finally Stacie and I have found comfort.  Finally we just gave up and gave it to God.  I really didn’t know where the peace came from, but in retrospect, I think I found the Comforter!

At one point in the chapter Chan says it is “breathtaking to picture Almighty God saying, I love Francis Chan.  He is my son.  I love him!”

Can we say with confidence that we can picture God saying that about ourselves?  Or, do we have too much comfort and volume?

This book has generated a lot of conversation around my house and with my friends.  When you have these kind of discussions, you’re never sure what your kids pick up from these conversations.

One of my wife’s tennis friends was telling a story about her grand daughter the other day as it relates to the God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that was so funny I thought I would share it here for a little levity.

On the way home from preschool one day the girl told her mom that she had been hit by one her friends.  She went on to tell her mom, “Jesus don’t like it when we hit each other.”  To which her mom replied, “That right.”  The little girl went on to say that “Jesus’ daddy don’t like it when we hit each other.”   ”You mean God?” her mom replied.  ”Yea Him . . . and what about that Ghost that lives with them.  What does He think about that?”

We’ve all had a good laugh about the ”Ghost.”  It’s been a long time since I’ve heard the Holy Spirit referred to as the Holy Ghost.  Obviously her day care teacher is an older woman!

In chapter 4 Chan questions our motives.  Why do we really want the Holy Spirit?  This really hit me.  I have to confess I just thought it would make my overall existence easier.  Decisions would be taken out of my hands.  “Doing good” would be easier.

Chan sites I Cor 12:7 as the “right” reason, “manifestations of the Spirit for the common good.”  I’m not sure I ever thought of it that way.  Not only does Chan quote that as the right reason but also as a commandthat we use this manifestation or gift and not deny others by withholding this gift.

Chan also refutes those that claim to have a gift but attention is called to themselves and not to the glory of God.  He sites I Cor 14:23-33 when people with “gifts” were disruptive and God was not exalted.  People were seeking attention for themselves and not to glorify God.

My takeaways for this chapter are as follows:

1. Seeking the Spirit must be for His glory and not ours
2. Miracles can and do happen but only when God is glorified and His purposes are accomplished
3. Withholding our gifts (each Christian has one or more) is sinful and is like a body part refusing to function

I think my personal struggle is many times I don’t like my “gift”.  It’s no fun (for me) and I want to withhold my gift for my own comfort.  Until now, I thought any gifts from the Holy Spirit had to be a miracle like a magic trick and not just a God-given talent.

How many of us are attending church but we are no more than parasites?  We aren’t benefiting the body at all!

In chapter 3 Chan states while it is impossible to fully know God, the Holy Spirit, there are certain qualities we can be sure of.  It is also this mystery that should intrigue us and desire Him even more.  Here are the 7 practical truths listed by Chan:

1. The Holy Spirit is a person
2. The Holy Spirit is God
3. The Holy Spirit is eternal and holy
4. The Holy Spirit has His own mind and prays for us
5. The Spirit has emotions
6. The Holy Spirit has His own desires and will
7. The Holy Spirit is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient

Here are some of things according to Chan that should be present in your life if the Spirit dwells within you:

1. The Spirit helps us speak in precarious situations
2. The Counselor teaches and reminds us of what we need to know
3. The Spirit enables us to witness to others
4. The Spirit empowers us to put to death the mis-deeds of the body
5. The Spirit gives us an adoption to be God’s children
6. The Spirit convicts us of sin
7. The Spirit brings us life and freedom
8. By the Spirit we abound in hope
9. We are given a manifestation for the common good in community
10. We exhibit the fruits of the spirit

The two list above were very helpful for me in understanding the spirit and helping me recognize presence of the spirit in some one’s life. I was both encouraged and concerned by this chapter.  I can recall times in my life when the Spirit was both active and suppressed.

For me the challenge is to let the Spirit remain in control and me follow Him. 

Your thoughts?

In chapter 2 Chan challenges the reader not to let preconceived notions, upbringing, and religious views taint our study of the Holy Spirit.  He asks us to take a fresh look and use only the scriptures.

He then challenges us to honestly ask ourselves if we really want the Holy Spirit.  Are we afraid the Spirit would guide us where we don’t want to go.  Prompt us to do things we don’t want to do.  Basically, giving up control for Him.

Growing up conservative when it comes to the Holy Spirit, it is difficult for me to think of the Spirit as anything more than a little man whispering on my shoulder.  It was also frowned on in my circles that the Spirit “told” you to do anything. 

I never heard anyone mention such notions until I was 40 years old when  my neighbor Cindy Dean told me she had regular conversations with God and promptings from the Holy Spirit.  To be honest, I thought she was a little naive or at least a little over the top.

Here’s some thoughts I had while reading chapter 2:

1. God, the Spirit will only operate within the space I give Him.  I think I made Him to small.
2. I have really never challenged my own beliefs.
3. My current beliefs are comfortable.  Nothing is required of me.
4. I don’t like not being in control.  Every time I have listened even a little to the Spirit, it cost me something.

For now I’m willing to re-think what I believe.  I want to hear and obey the Spirits leading.  Where are you?

Click here to listen to this song by Addison Road: Play

Scott Gatlin, one of my best childhood friends, gave me this book right after Christmas.  We were both raised in the Church of Christ and rarely heard of the Holy Spirit except during baptism, in which case the minister would announce, “I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.”  After that it was pretty much inferred that the Spirit quit doing anything miraculous once the Apostles and the ones they specifically laid hands on died and left this earth. 

I think most of us have a view of the Holy Spirit based on our upbringing and whatever religion in which we were born.  Few of us, me included, have ever studied and embraced our own beliefs.  I’ve always towed the party line.  It seems there was always one extreme or the other.  There were charismatic nuts or those of us who stifled the Spirit totally. 

In this post let’s review the Introduction and Chapter one.  

Francis Chan cites the working of the Spirit in other countries that are “more desperate and humbled before Him.”  Chan’s assessment is “the light of the American church is flickering and nearly extinguished.”  We Americans have it so good, we don’t have a need to cry out to the Spirit, nor can we even acknowledge that we need help beyond ourselves. 

Here are two statements from the first chapter that I think we need to reconcile:

1. . . . we don’t need the Holy Spirit.  We don’t expect the Holy Spirit to act.  Or if we do, our expectations are often misguided or self-serving. Given our talent set, experience, and education, many of us are fairly capable of living rather successfully (according to the world’s standards) without any strength from the Holy Spirit.
2. If it’s true that the Holy Spirit dwells in us and that our bodies are the Holy Spirit’s temple, then shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person that has the Spirit of God living inside him or her and the person who does not? 

What are your experiences and beliefs?  How do you respond to the two statements above?

A good friend of mine gave me a couple of Francis Chan books at the beginning of the year, Crazy Love and Forgotten God.  I read Crazy Love first and was stunned.  I just started Forgotten God and am equally stunned.

This book is a call to acknowledge and embrace the power of the Holy Spirit (Forgotten God).  A quote in the Preface “. . . the Spirit is more obviously active in places where people are desperate for Him, humbled before Him.” 

Here’s the deal.  I would like to get a few of you to discuss this book with me.  I will post in a couple of weeks about the book and I ask that you give comments on my post as well as your own thoughts based on your reading and upbringing as it pertains to the Holy Spirit.  

I will give 5 copies of the book away to get the process started.  To receive a book you have to leave a reply on this post and tell why you want to join in the discussion.  I will select five from the best entrants.

Even if you don’t get a free book you are more than welcome to join in on the discussion.