Holy Spirit Spectrum

In Acts, we see a variety of folks who end up getting filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Alpha Course's Nicky Gumbel does a terrific job teaching this on the Holy Spirit weekend.  Attached is a video of his teaching.

At Pacific Lutheran High School chapel last week I meddled with with words, and maybe the Holy Spirit meddled with hearts?  Holy Spirit has no problem with alloyed hearts.  Divided hearts are the Holy Spirit's expertise.  He is faithful to come and fill and transform people.

Here are some funny alloy words that express alloyed hearts.
1 Feager: Fearful & Eager.  The Acts 2 disciples were terrified and terrifically eager for the Promise of the Father.  Acts 2.4, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit."  What a difference this made! Out of hiding, into the city square!  Turtullian calls the Holy Spirit, "The Coach of the martyrs."  The Holy Spirit gives the church courage.

2 Cunlikely: Confused & Unlikely.  The Acts 8 Samaritans and especially Simon were unlikely candidates for Holy Spirit activity.  Always hated by the Jews because they were always on the compromised side of history.  Who would think the HOLY Spirit would come to such UNHOLY people.  Philip went and preached there and Acts 8.13 says, "Even Simon himself believed."  Even though he believed he was terribly confused.  He thought he could buy the Holy Spirit.  Wrong!  The Holy Spirit comes freely.  He had witnessed the Holy Spirit come on the whole group "When they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit" (8.17).  Simon was confused.  The Samaritans were unlikely, but that is no obstacle to the Holy Spirit.

3 Meanurtrear: Mean & Hurt Rear.  Acts 9 tells us about the meanest guy met in the book of Acts.  The worst offender against the Holy Spirit would become the greatest preacher of the Holy Spirit.  Saul was mean.  Cold, hard, stony mean.  He also got hurt when he fell to the ground (hurt rear) and Jesus spoke to him.  Ananias would introduce Saul to the Holy Spirit, "be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9.17) and nurture him and baptize him.  Mean and hurting folks are no obstacle for the Holy Spirit, in fact they may end up being the greatest candidates.

4 Ignoropen: Ignorant & Open.  The Ephesian believers in Acts 19 were visited by Paul and the first thing he asked them was, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"  They said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit was not a secondary doctrinal issue or advanced Christianity.  Paul treated the Holy Spirit as essential and primary.  In 1 Corinthians 12.3 he would say you can't say "Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit."  In Galatians 4.6 he would say "God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"  They Ephesian church was ignorant of the Holy Spirit, but they were open.  Acts 19.6 "When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying."  Ignorance is no obstacle to the Holy Spirit's ministry.

Where are you?  Have you taken a test before with a spectrum that ranged something like: strongly agree to strongly disagree?  I wonder if there was a spectrum of openness to the Holy Spirit, where you would have put yourself last year? How about right now?

• I am fearful about the Holy Spirit
• I am eager about the Holy Spirit
• I am confused about the Holy Spirit
• I am a unlikely candidate to receive the Holy Spirit
• I am too mean to receive the Holy Spirit
• I am ignorant about the Holy Spirit
• I am open to receive the Holy Spirit

All of those on this spectrum in the New Testament receive the Holy Spirit.  Good News-you can too!    Jesus says, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11.13