Tag: Holy Spirit

Wonder & Mystery

~ Steve Vandop ~ 1 Comment

There are times in life and faith that we all put on our detective’s hat and dive deep into the mysteries that occupy our minds with the question of why. The author of a good mystery story reveals certain (sometimes very specific or intentionally vague) pieces of information to keep its reader yearning for more, keeping them on the edge of their seat while they frantically read to discover the ending. As an avid mystery reader and writer my oldest daughter says there is an incredible tension (and satisfaction) between revealing all to the reader or leaving them “hanging on a cliff”. 

Whether it is a detective novel about murder, a cozy mystery, or a grand caper, we typically find an end to the story, the answer to the question of “whodunnit”, and why. When we come to reading and studying scripture, we are at times left “hanging on the cliff” wanting more, expecting more, and at times, even demanding more. 

God in his infinite wisdom has authored for us an incredible story that continues from the first days of creation to this moment in time right now and reaches into the future, a future to which only he knows. As the author of the greatest story ever told we as his creation are characters with limited understanding as we are placed somewhere into the timeline of this grand narrative. 

For me, one of the greatest mysteries in this story that we are all a part of as followers of Jesus (and perhaps even those who are not) is that of the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Through His inspired word to us God reveals to us pieces of information that create in us a great sense of wonder and mystery of who he is.

One God, “three persons”. It is a lot to wrap our minds around. There is a lot that do know from the words of scripture and yet there is still plenty of mystery surrounding this incredible God that we have. Many have dedicated their lives to the study of the doctrine of the Trinity over centuries of time and I in no way can explain much here in less than 600 words. One thing I can do is share this thought. 1 John 4:6-21 talks about God’s love and ours; simply stated, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

At the beginning of time God walked with Adam and Eve (3:8), he was present with them and desired to be with them. When sin entered the world that loving intimate relationship was broken. Yet, God still desired to be with his people, so he sent Jesus to be present with his people; to show us how to live in love with him and one another. Jesus showed his love for us through his life, death and resurrection. When Jesus left to be in heaven we were not left alone, he sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, to know how to live in love, and continue to know the love of God and so that others could know him. 

In each expression of who God is, we as followers of Jesus will experience his incredible love. He is present in our lives each and every day through the Spirit, who is God. When we live in love, we live in God who is love and he lives within us. (is your head spinning yet?) 

For me, I love that there is wonder and mystery around this incredible truth. I don’t have to have it all figured out, to know every little detail. I have faith in the words of scripture that reveals to us who he is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I am okay with sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to know more. How about you? Are you living in love; in God, who is love? Do you wonder about this incredible mystery?

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Wonder & the Holy Spirit

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12v, 18v, 24v or 40v?  What is the best battery capacity for the job? How much power do you really need? Well, it all depends on the job. You might be a contractor looking for a larger capacity battery so you can work faster and longer. Or you might be a DIY kind of person who only needs a smaller capacity battery. No matter the job, batteries have the capacity to supply the power needed to get the job done. 

In my last post I talked about the idea of wonder as a powerful response to something bigger than you and me. I recently listened to a sermon presented by my friend and fellow pastor and was inspired to think more about the power of the Holy Spirit in my own life. He commented that “power to live has to come from an external source.” His point was this, as followers of Jesus Christ we have been given the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives “to do what we were created and then redeemed to do.” 

Do you ever wonder what this means for us as believers? What is it that we are created and redeemed to do? Acts chapter 1:8 has helped me understand better the wonder of the work of the Holy Spirit in my own life. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In life, the power and work of the Holy Spirit is so much bigger than who I am, but at the same time, is the “external source” that leads and guides my life and actions. In general terms, the power that you and I receive from the Holy Spirit is the ability or capacity (the gifts of the spirit) to carry out our purpose as participants in the Missio Die, the mission of God. What capacity do we have to affect change by the power of the Holy Spirit?

In Acts chapter 1:8 we are reminded of our mission; these words echo the commands of the great commission given in Matthew 28:19-20. In slightly different terms, Jesus calls his disciples to be a witness for him to Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth. This role as witness is to testify about the life, death and resurrection of Christ; to speak about the kingdom of God and to know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit gives us the capacity and drive to actively be on mission, to teach, to preach, and lead others to Christ. 

The mission we are called to like any good mission, is well planned with purpose and intent. The Holy Spirit is the one who renews us each and every day (when we pray and ask) with the knowledge and understanding of all that Jesus has taught us through the words of scripture. The Holy Spirit guides us into the truth of the Gospel, convicting us of our sins, bringing us before Jesus to seek forgiveness so that we can continue to grow in our understanding of the incredible love and compassion that is poured out for us into our lives. 

Knowing and trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives comes when we put our faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ. You and I were created by God for a purpose and gifted by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a witness to all the world so that they may see and know of him through us.

The power we have through the Holy Spirit is not our own, it is a gift from God that is so much bigger than you and me. Yet, God in his infinite wisdom gives it to us so that we can partner with him and others of like mind to continue the work of Jesus and his disciples. Have you experienced the wonder of the power of the Holy Spirit in your life? Are you a witness to the wonder and truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, doing what you were created and then redeemed to do? 

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Incomprehensible… not Unknowable

~ Steve Vandop ~ 1 Comment

Incomprehensible is the word used to describe a thought, idea, or action that is not able to be understood.

I was reminded this past week of the unity or oneness of who God is while listening to a message on Baptism. According to the great commission in Matthew 28:18-20 When we baptize someone, we do so “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” 

Opponents of the Christian faith will argue the doctrine of the Trinity, (the oneness of God, the deity of three, his three in oneness) is incomprehensible. Guess what? They are right! Our finite human minds are not able to understand the fullness of the nature of God.

The psalmist writes. “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (145:3). Following Jobs’ account of how great God is as he commands the skies above him, he says “And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” (Job 26). 

Speaking through the prophet Isaiah the Lord himself declared, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8-9)

The incomprehensible truth of who God is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit for some people is a proverbial “brick wall,” stopping them from pursuing a relationship with God as their heavenly Father. 

The “faint whisper” Job so eloquently describes are the words given to us in scripture today that have the power to draw us near to God; it supplies all we need to know about him. The revelation of who God is through the inspired words of the Bible provides for us great assurance of who he says he is. 

Does this understanding of who God is require faith? Absolutely! What is it that stands in the way of those who oppose the truth of the Gospel? Could it be a lack of faith? 

The writer of Hebrews tells us that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is confidence, it is to trust in the word of God that draws us into a relationship with him. Faith is more than the mere knowledge of what is true; it is embracing what we do know and trusting in what has not yet been revealed as true and good as we seek to know an incomprehensible God. Faith is acting in obedience to the call of the Lord to be on mission for him and with him. 

In no way can I examine the intricacies of this foundational truths of the Trinity in 600 words or less here. Books upon books have been written to help us dive deeper into the understanding of the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and for that I am thankful. 

I have questions just as I am sure you do. What I do know is that our Father in heaven has given us an incredible gift through the death and resurrection of his Son (salvation – the forgiveness of our sins). Through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives we can continue to grow in relationship with a God who loves us unconditionally. There may be things about God that are incomprehensible but, he is not unknowable. I pray that your faith is placed in the arms of our loving father. 

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A Particular kind of Confidence

~ Steve Vandop ~ 3 Comments

Confidence in its various forms can be defined either as a feeling or belief that one can rely on something or someone. It can also be used to describe the feeling of certainty about the truth of something. Confidence in oneself can be described as a feeling of self-assurance coming from one’s appreciation of our own abilities or qualities. 

Today I began reading Paul’s letter to Titus and was reminded once again that God reveals himself and his truths to us in incredible ways. As I was reading the opening words, I was struck by the remarkable confidence Paul had in knowing who he was and his role (purpose) in advancing the message of the Gospel. Read his words as he opens the letter and “introduces” himself,  

“…a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior…”

Considering the depth of meaning attached to the word “servant” or “slave” as some translations write, Paul makes a very powerful statement. While our minds tend to think of this position through a negative lens, Paul helps us understand it differently. He is declaring in this letter that he belongs to the Lord, that his life and purpose are to serve the God who created him. Understanding who Jesus is and what he has done for him, Paul put all his trust in him. 

Paul’s words of introduction have made me stop and think about the confidence he had in his faith. Normally I equate Paul with his title of Apostle, one that gives him authority and responsibility in the mission that was entrusted to him. The roots of Paul’s work to advance the message of the gospel go so much deeper than any prescribed role. His life, his work, his passion for God reflects the incredible power of the Holy Spirit through the work of Christ in his life. 

Paul’s confidence, his knowledge and understanding in living for Jesus underscore the hope that he has in the promise of eternal life with his Father in heaven. The same promise given to you and me as we live our lives here and now. Paul’s life should be an inspiration for our lives. 

Can you or I claim to be a servant of God like Paul? Absolutely! We serve the same God as Paul and are afforded the same power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives when we place our hope in trust in the message of the Gospel, in our relationship with Jesus. 

For me, Paul’s actions speak louder than the words that he wrote. He lived a hard life as a follower of Jesus. Paul was entrusted with a mission, one that he took with him to the grave. The heart and soul of Paul’s life and writing continue to live on. The confidence he had in the message and reality of the Gospel will carry on for generations to come. 

Today, as I read the opening words of Paul’s letter to Titus, I am thankful for the reminder that we can have confidence in the promises of God. I am thankful for the power of the Gospel message. I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit I can have the same confidence as Paul to be on mission for Jesus Christ. This is my prayer for you as well.

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Big Shoes to Fill

~ Steve Vandop ~ Leave a comment
Here is a somewhat interesting fact about me, I wear size 15 shoes. Now, to most of you that might not sound so interesting but when your “in my shoes” it certainly can make for some curious conversation. I have been the heel of many big shoe remarks like, “at least you don’t need water skies”, or “wow, you have your own flippers for swimming”. While I inherited my larger than average foot size from my father who was a size 16, I do wonder how this will play out for any one of my three daughters. 
 
We often use the expression they have some “big shoes to fill” when a person takes over a job that the person before them performed particularly well. It typically means that it is going to be hard to do the job as well as they did. 
 
Recently as I began reading through the book of Joshua I was thinking about the “shoes” that Joshua was filling. The leadership role that Moses provided in the deliverance of the nation of Israel out of Egypt and the giving of the law would have been a tough act to follow. Joshua had some big shoes to fill but he was not alone. 
 
Standing on the shores of the Jordan River the Lord gave direction to Joshua to move forward in the promise that he would provide for them all that they needed. His words to Joshua read like this, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” What incredible words these would have been for Joshua to hear from the Lord as he stepped into his new role as the nation’s leader.
 
As followers of Jesus, we all have some big shoes to fill as we are called to carry on his mission. Jesus clearly lays out his mission for us, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
 
These words in Matthew chapter 28 are as real for us today as the day they were spoken by Christ himself to his disciples. Just as Joshua had a mission from God to continue leading the nation of Israel, we too have a God given mission to continue as his disciples. The mission is clear and might sound simple enough yet in our eyes there are seemingly unmoveable barriers in front of us. We might feel like Joshua standing at the shore of the Jordan River wondering how the impossible might happen. 
 
The incredible words spoken to Joshua by God as he stepped into his role as leader are echoed in Christ words to his disciples and to us following the command to go and make disciples of all nations, Jesus reminds us of an incredible promise that we see and hear all throughout the pages of scripture, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
 
Yes, we may have some big shoes to fill in carrying on the mission Jesus started but he continues to live in us through his Spirit today. We are not alone in our own shoes. As Christ followers, we carry within us the same power of the living God who parted the waters of the Jordan River for Joshua and the people of Israel. How many steps have you tried to take on your own in carrying out the mission given to us? Remember this, God is with you always, to the very end of the age, you are not alone. 
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The Law Says What?

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law1“In Vancouver it was illegal to sell a stove on a Wednesday from 1947 to 1986. In Alberta it’s illegal to set fire to the leg of a wooden-legged man. Purple garage doors are against the law in Kanata, Ontario. In Canada it is illegal to challenge someone to a duel or accept an invitation to a duel. It is illegal to remove a band aid in public in Canada”. As crazy as this sounds, these laws at one time were written in our nations law books. In some ways, this is reminiscent of the laws we read about centuries ago during the time of Moses, the law given to God’s chosen people, Israel.

 In the book of Romans, Paul has some very thought provoking and enlightening words to explain the relationship between law and grace. “… we have been released from the law (by the grace of God given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code (the law of Moses).” Paul does not dismiss the law all together in this narrative, “I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law… So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.” (7:12). The law continues to call us as believers to be obedient to the commands of the Lord, it calls us to a moral and ethical purity that we can only stand true in through His grace and forgiveness. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that these things can be accomplished.

 Sin has a heavy grip on all our lives and relentlessly battles to pull us away from what is holy and true. We like Paul might have the desire to do what is good but because of sin, we do not do what we want. Romans 7:25 reminds us of the mindset that keeps us “on track”. Paul writes, “So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” It is only by God’s grace, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we can overcome death (sin). Sin separates us from God; grace breaks the hold that sin has on our lives, offering forgiveness (something the law could not do) and draws us back to Him. The law cannot set us free from sin and death, it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of our Father in heaven that he pours out on us that we will be free to spend eternity with Him.

Something Even Greater

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Waiting in Line

There are so many things in life that we wait for. Kids and parents alike often can’t wait for Christmas to come; kids more than parents can’t wait for their next birthday. We wait expectantly for a child to be born and we often wait with mixed emotions about our mortality. Many wait in anticipation for their wedding day and some wait patiently for “the one” to come into their life. We wait in line at banks, grocery stores, doctors’ offices and for our turn to get on a plane for that well-deserved holiday. What is it in life that you wait for?

When you take the time to think about the incredibly powerful visions and imagery found in the book of Revelation that John records for us, you can’t help wonder or be curious about what God has planned for us. There is one particular passage in John’s writing that has stuck with me this past week, one that made me curious, excited and wanting while waiting. Found in Revelation 22:1-5, subtitled “Eden Restored” we get an glimpse into heaven. John describes what the angel showed him, “the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb… on each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Can you imagine the beauty these words portray? Do you believe that one day this will be a reality? I do. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

There is something else, something even greater than the crystal-clear rivers, trees and bountiful harvest of fruit that I find in this passage.  Verse 4 of chapter 22 talks about you and I, it says, “They will see his face.” (read that quote again) To see His face means we will one day walk with God, our creator, just as Adam and Eve did. This incredible promise is a picture of restoration, a renewal of the intimate relationship our Heavenly Father intended to have with us. With his own breath, He created us so we could walk with Him and talk with Him, to be one with Him. If you are not on the edge of your seat in anticipation of this incredible promise, WAKE UP. God wants you to know that this is His greatest desire, a desire that I have put all my hope and trust in today. Through His Son, through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will one day meet him face to face. So, will you wait with me? We have so much to look forward to.

Pick Just One.

~ Steve Vandop ~ 2 Comments

candy-store-wallpapers“That one… wait, maybe that one”. Should I get the orange one or the red one? “Ok, I am getting this one… I think”, “Only one?” When confronted with only one choice from the rows and rows of sweets that line the shelves at the corner store, my kids, or any kid for that matter has a difficult decision to make. There are many factors at play that can influence the process of choosing. What’s kind are the others choosing? Do I try something new? Which one is the biggest? Which one will last the longest?

There are 40 chapters in the book of Exodus and found within the verses of each, there are incredible stories of the works and power of God in the lives of His people. The crossing of the sea, the provisions of water from a rock, manna and quail, the building of the Tabernacle to name a few. Today, it is the story of Moses that captures my attention as I read and reflect on how God reveals himself to us through his word. Often we have a hard time recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament stories, the words or actions of the Spirit seem absent. What comes to mind when you think of the Holy Spirit? For me, I think about things like leading, guiding and even protecting. God, through the work of the Holy Spirit was leading and guiding the life of Moses right from the beginning of his existence on earth. The events surrounding his birth (the basket in the river, being reunited with his mother) are clear examples (for me) of the Holy Spirit working not just in His life but the lives of others. (His mother, sister and even Pharaoh’s daughter).

Romans 8:26 holds a powerful message that can give us confidence in knowing how the Holy spirit works in our lives. “the spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit himself intercedes for us.” There are times when we are completely overwhelmed by the sin and trials of life (weakness) that bring us to a place where we feel we no longer have control. I can’t help but think about the mother of Moses and the moments leading up to her decision of putting her small child into a basket and letting it go down the river. We read that things were out of her control, she did what she had to do to save that child. Through the power of God, through His Holy Spirit, He interceded in the life of Moses and his mother and brought him to a place where he flourished and did some amazing things for the Lord. The purpose of God’s word is to reveal himself to us, for us to find hope in His display of power and love that leads and directs our lives.

Guess Who?

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guesswhoIs your person wearing a hat? Does your person have white hair? Is your person wearing glasses? Is your person young? Is your person (fill in the blank)? Those are the type of questions you might ask when you play the game Guess Who. The object of the game is to guess the mystery person on your opponents card by asking one question each turn, and eliminating any game board faces that don’t fit the mystery person’s description.

As we read through the book of Genesis we are introduced to people like Adam, Eve, Cain, Able, Noah, Abram, Lot, Hagar, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Joseph and many others. There is one particular portion of scripture that you will come across in Genesis 32:22-32 that introduces us to a man, a man who wrestled with Jacob. Unlike the game of Guess Who, we don’t have a physical description of who he is, we are only told that he was a man. Within the context of these verses we are given some clues that point us to the identity of the unknown wrestler. Verse 28 reads “you have struggled with God”, in verse 30 Jacob says “I saw God face to face”. Jacob wrestled with God, let that sink in for a minute… From nightfall to daybreak this indescribable wrestling match took place between Jacob and God, how can this be? God, through his divine power has revealed himself to Jacob and brought to him a blessing and renewed hope of the promise that He will always be with him.

Throughout scripture and particularly in Genesis chapter one we are introduced to the Bible’s main character – God. There should be no “Guess Who” questions or surprises when we come to knowing who God is through His word. We often read the bible with “blinders” on, this causes us to wrestle with and question who God is. The narrative of Genesis reveals God as our creator, it describes the work of the Holy Spirit and reveals the promise of His Son who will come one day to walk among us and save us from our sins. As we grow in our faith, as we wrestle with might seem like endless questions of who God is, we must remember that God is all things; hope, joy, love, peace, patience, kindness and more. Yes, Jacob wrestled with God, the text tells us that he did not let go of Him until he received his blessing. I “guess” we have to do the same. No matter what, we must hold on to the promises of God. Never let go. Take God with you everywhere you go, trust in Him, live for Him.