Celebrating the Spirit's Work

Celebrating the Spirit's Work

This weekend some of our leaders will be meeting together for a leaders retreat. I know Eric just said in his sermon that retreats were originally meant for silence and solitude, but for lack of a better term we'll still call this a retreat. We'll be getting out of our usual working space (out of the council room and out of the church building) and we'll spend time talking about exciting things like vision, strategy and objectives. Keith Doornbos, who has worked with us in the past, will be leading us. We'll evaluate where God has currently positioned us as a church, where he's leading, and how we can faithfully follow Him. Eric and I had a Zoom call with Keith this week to go over the details for the weekend and there was something Keith said that I really liked. I'm paraphrasing here, but he was talking about how as a church it looks like we've got a strong boat built and are already out on the water. Now it's all about adjusting the sails to catch the wind. Of course, what he means is that it looks like we've got a strong foundation as a church; now it's all about positioning ourselves to "catch the wind" and follow the Spirit's leading.

It got me thinking, how are we doing as a people following the Spirit's leading? The very identity of the "Church" is the Spirit-filled people of God who are gathered into his eternal family through faith in Jesus. Jesus says in John 4:23-24 "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

When is the last time you really sensed the Spirit leading you? We've been in a sermon series on the "Spiritual" disciplines. How are our faith practices and routines helping us hear from the Spirit? Has the Spirit challenged you through your Bible reading? Has the Spirit filled you as you've fasted? Has the Spirit generated a deeper gratitude in you as you've practiced frugality? Has the Spirit been speaking to you through whispers in silence and solitude? And how has the Spirit challenged you to pursue life with God deeper?

The Spirit of God is unique. We don't always know where it comes from or where it's going, but isn't that the adventure of life with God? He leads us by His grace into circumstances we weren't prepared for. He pushes us out of our comfort zones and into places where we have to trust in him. He challenges us to serve those around us. He shows he is at work whether we join him or not, always accomplishing God's sovereign will. I think it's worth it for us all to take a step back and examine how the Spirit has been moving in our lives, enjoying the blessings, learning from the challenges, and celebrating that God is always at work in our world and in our lives. How can we celebrate the Spirit of God and join his work today? 

-a note from Pastor Kendall