Demons, Pagans and Power, Oh My!

I have a confession to make. I don’t have anywhere near enough time to say all that I want to say on Sunday mornings. Therein is the reason for this article. We have been examining the baptism in the Holy Spirit from the book of acts. Here I want to invite you to join me for a run through of first Corinthians chapter 12 verses one and two.

The Greek word for “special abilities” or in the NIV version “spiritual gifts” is cool. πνεῦμα

I need to draw your attention to a few of the words that are used to describe this Greek word.

• Wind
• breath
• to breathe out
• to paint
• God breathed
• inspired by God
  The Holy Spirit is consistently represented by wind and breath in the Scripture. In Genesis chapter 2 verse 7 we find:

“Then the Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”

John chapter 20 verse 22

“Then he breathed on them and said, “receive the Holy Spirit”.

These two verses are just the beginning. I’ve spent a lot of time lately reflecting on the metaphor of breath and breathing that we find in the Scripture. It is no coincidence that God created us with the necessity of breathing. Breath in the Scripture represents his life giving power. The fact that we can only go a couple of minutes without air is representative of our need for God.

In 1st Corinthians 12 verse 2 Paul tells us “I don’t want you to miss understand”. This suggests that it was likely that they would misunderstand. He is writing this letter because the Corinthian church had gotten out of balance when it comes to flowing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I find it very telling the Paul takes the time to teach on the power of the Holy Spirit. He does not, as some have now done, tell them not to flow in the power of the Holy Spirit. He recognizes that the power that Jesus promised was absolutely necessary to bringing the gospel to a lost and dying world. Indeed, much of the book of Corinthians is teaching them how to flow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Paul then reminds the Corinthians that they used to be pagans and swayed by the doctrines of demons. He is reiterating to them their need for humility. It is very common for people to begin to move in the power of the Holy Spirit and get prideful. It’s just our human nature to think that we have something to do with what’s happening around us. God has very little patience for pride and arrogance. When we get too excited by the results and manifestations of the Holy Spirit we get distracted by the true purpose of seeking and saving the lost. Ah, but I get ahead of myself as we will ring that bell in verses 3 through 7.

May The Lord Richly Bless you and I hope to see you in Church on Sunday.