The Word of God is written on our hearts not in our hearts.  Our hearts need to be broken for the word to come in.

Spirit is God travelling incognito – us!

The Spirit breathes energy into our tired souls.  Sustaining anonymously until we know we need a breath of fresh air.  It’s when we feel breathless/”’I can’t breathe” – we cry out for fresh air and the Spirit rises to answer.  Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones. Yahweh a wind that comes like a rush of air àrevival of a group of people.  God will breathe within it.  Coming of the Spirit restored that nation, giving strength and resolve to its people.

Jesus told disciples – not the rules and regulations but the Spirit at the heart of his being that gave him energy to be who he was.  They didn’t get it.  Be empty, open, receptive, create a hospitable space in your heart for the Spirit to come.  Disciples spent time in prayer – not rushing around but waiting until the Spirit came. Pentecost came and they were ready, speaking in tongues. I will pour out my spirit on all people. Spirit descends in ‘tongues of fire – takes ‘nobody’ disciples and makes them somebody.  In touch with core passion – who we were created to be in the first place.  Desire to fulfil our potential.  Creates more light than heat – we won’t burn out if we are being true to who God created us to be.  Need to be our true selves authentically in any situation.

Engage with struggle. No one with an unmet need – glimpses of glory in community.  Disciples fought over distribution of resources – sought the power of the Spirit.  Greater collective and individual control.  In Acts – they choose 7 men who are strong in the Spirit.  All agreed to give power to the minority.  Marginalised given authority to have control and manage affairs for themselves ‘today scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’.  Spirit is not only working in us but working in others – no culture, church, tradition where Spirit is not already working.  Go with the flow.  Grieve when it ends and wait for the breath of fresh air to come again. Fruits of the spirit are love, peace, joyfulness, self control… à where the fruit is, that is where the Spirit is already working.  Arrogant to think it arrives with me. Work with a Spirit of forgiveness and compassion, follow the spirit of text rather than the law. Pray “God fill us with the Spirit that was in Jesus” – a spirit of love and justice.  We don’t have a monopoly on the Spirit but we need to be open/receptive to it.