Archive: Pentecost’s Promise

The Joyful Grace of the Holy Spirit

By Gary L. Moore

As we approach this Pentecost season it is good for us to think about the work of the Holy Spirit in our United Methodist Church. Beyond just thinking, we should be praying and expecting an empowering move by the Holy Spirit to revive our church.

Like so many others, I became even more mindful of the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit through the witness of charismatic United Methodists. Believe me, I had plenty of questions about their experience of “baptism in the Holy Spirit” and the “gifts” they talked about (especially tongues, healing, deliverance). However, their love and joy were infectious. And even though I was inhibited and uncomfortable with their style of worship, I couldn’t escape the fact that it was alive and energetic; and that their prayers were filled with a sense of expectancy.

Testimonies like this could be multiplied 350 million times during the twentieth century. According to David Barrett’s statistics, the Pentecostal/charismatic movement is the fastest growing Christian movement in the world. It crosses denominational lines and is occurring on every continent.

Many leaders worldwide are praying for God to “pour out His Spirit upon the global Christian community during this decade, empowering her to do the work of world evangelization in the power of the Holy Spirit, together!” As this movement has matured during these last 20 years, there has been a growing sense of unity of purpose across the world…”a striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil.1:27).

Charismatics are often described as overzealous, tongues-speaking, fanatics who have invaded our churches. True, there are many who have not matured in their experience and have had a negative impact on this world-wide movement of God’s Spirit. On the other hand, there are those who have been equally immature in their desire to rid the church of that kind of folk, claiming that they are disruptive and divisive. There are, however, tens of thousands of maturing Spirit-filled United Methodists who feel called to stay, pray, and work for the renewal of our denomination.

No matter what our label, it is essential that we all come to understand and embrace the ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through the body of Christ. A charismatic, or Spirit-filled Christian, should be a “joyful, grace-gifted Christian.” Toe definition that I have come to use is derived from the Greek word charismata, and from my understanding of the Spirit filled life.

First, the Holy Spirit encourages us with joy. The Greek word char means joy. Scripture says that “in thy presence is fulness of joy” also “the joy of the Lord is my strength” (Neb.8:10). Jesus promised this joy to those that love and obey Him. If we live in the reality of a daily relationship with Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the joy of the Lord will be obvious. This joy comes not from our theology, but from learning to “be in His presence.”

Secondly, the Holy Spirit also enables us with Grace. The Greek word charis means grace. The unmerited favor of God that grants us the free gift of salvation is truly “amazing grace.” If that grace is overflowing in our lives, the result will be grace-fulness or graciousness toward others. If we are full of grace, we should also be filled to overflowing with the love of God. Scripture teaches that the evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the love of God flowing in and through our hearts (Romans 5:5). Love orders our life according to the priorities of Jesus. Our love of God compels us to praise and worship Him, and to be obedient to His word. To love one another compels us to love His church and to be intentional about edifying the body of Christ.

Third, the Holy Spirit empowers us with spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. The Greek word charisma/charismata means gift or gifts (I Cor.12-14;Romans 12; Ephesians 4; I Peter 4:10-11). Christians should all be gift bearing, allowing any and all of the charisms of the Holy Spirit to flow through us for the benefit of others. We must recognize that it will take all of God’s gifts flowing through all of God’s children to touch all of God’s creation. It’s the only way that the task will ever be completed, “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zech 4:6).

We must be aware of our calling. We are saved, sealed, sanctified servants with the same anointing as Jesus (see Luke 4:17-19; 1 John 2:20,27; 2 Cor.1:21-22). Jesus was a servant. He said that the essence of our lives would be that of a servant (see Matt. 20: 25-28 and Luke 22:25-27).

The year I began to seek a closer walk with God and to desire the power of the Holy Spirit I had an encounter with God that radically changed my life. When the Holy Spirit came upon me, I was filled with a peace that passed all understanding and a love that the world could not give. My heart was filled to overflowing.

After my encounter with the Holy Spirit, I began to anticipate the gifts of the Spirit in my own life. Prophetic words and words of wisdom gave direction and guidance. There was healing for damaged emotions, memories, relationships, and a physical problem. A new language of praise and power seemed to intensify my sense of God’s presence and power in my life. Gifts began to flow through me to bless others; exhortation and leadership enabled me to challenge, motivate and equip others for the work of the ministry.

As Spirit-filled Christians we should live in an experiential awareness of the presence and power of God. We have the privilege of walking daily with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. We should learn to expect His presence in praise and worship. We should expect His power in the proclamation of Scripture. We should expect the preaching of the Word to be accompanied with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (see I Cor. 2:4-5). We should live with an evangelistic expectancy that God will “add daily those who are being saved” (Acts 2:47), and that He will use us as His instruments.

Regardless of our respective labels as Christians, the apostle is clear when he addresses the church and says, “Be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Eph.5:18-20). The work is too great and the time is too short to attempt the work of the kingdom in the weakness of our own flesh… we need to be filled, and filled, and filled to overflowing, with the Spirit of the living God!

Isn’t it time for the people of God to stop analyzing and criticizing one another? Shouldn’t we stop trying to determine whether or not another person is filled with the Spirit according to our definitions? It’s time to stop arguing and start using whatever charisms (gifts) that we have been given by God to serve one another and to bring praise and honor and glory to Jesus. He alone is worthy!

Gary L. Moore is executive director of the United Methodist Renewal Services Fellowship (UMRSF), also known as “Manna Ministries.” UMRSF sponsors an annual National Conference on the Holy Spirit known as “Aldersgate” which will be held this year in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This article is adapted from Ed Robb’s Challenge newspaper.