Epic Bible College

Forgotten God 1

Posted on 19. Mar, 2010 by abdrumm in Forgotten God

Written December 11, 2009

I just finished the book “Forgotten God” by Francis Chan. This “Forgotten God” is the Holy Spirit…Are we neglecting him…Do you miss him? Many times reading this I wanted to cry. There is a very intimate God wanting you and what I am I doing about this? Do I even notice him? When we do notice him? How close do you let him in? 

What makes you and me different from everyone else? We can say a lot of things in response to this because naturally we are all different. But what really makes my everyday life different from the non-Christian, or let’s take it a step further from everyone else in the church or am I just another Sunday morning clone that doesn’t actively live a life open to the Holy Spirit? Can I be distinguished as a Christ follower when I’m hanging out with friends? Do I display virtues of the Spirit? Am I joyful or am I always pessimistic waiting for something bad to happen? 

Francis starts off his book by telling a story about a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses that came to his door. They had there discussion but towards the end Francis voiced his feelings about how he is offended that they believe Jesus/Michael is the only Archangel. Francis asked them to read Daniel 10:13 “…The Michael ONE of the Chief Princes” They were perplexed and admitted they hadn’t read much of the Bible. Francis encouraged them to not be spoon fed their beliefs but search out the scriptures themselves. After closing the door he was convicted that he does the same thing without knowing it. You could be spoon fed by your parents, friends, your church and our pastor to believe a certain way yet you never read the scriptures yourself.

I’ll be the first admit I did this very thing. I grew up in a very Charismatic church and I took the beliefs on that denomination and took their interpretation as the ultimate truth and everyone is just plain wrong. I then came to TLBC and began to study the scriptures for myself and found myself finding out why people believe what they believe scripturally. This is so important in the Christian community because there is so much division because someone believes a woman can preach and another says she can’t or once saved always saved, or you can lose your salvation, and the Holy Spirit gifts, etc. This list goes on, regardless on where we stand on these issues we should love one another and feel comfortable to discuss the scripture and study. 

What I love about Francis’ book on the Holy Spirit is he didn’t try to tell his interpretation on the Holy Spirit and how he should be viewed so we can see his theological vantage point. It is very simple and straight scripture about the simple activity in our daily life yielding to him, communing with him, being counseled, etc. After reading this book what I got most out of it was having an intimate relationship to the Holy Spirit and the place he has in my life. It’s based out of love and every else will flow through obedience.

Let’s be candid though. Allowing the Holy Spirit in our life can be complicated because of us. There are a lot of things that put a wall up with the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It could be a number of things. Do you genuinely feel like you need him? Stop and think before you answer. Me…I still struggle with this. We all have gifts and talents in areas therefore we rarely rely on him. If we do feel we need him. Why? What’s your motive? Is it selfish to prop up your spiritual ego? “Hey, look at what God is doing through me; I’m so godly and have it all together.”   Or you can be the opposite and be scared of what the Holy Spirit may ask you, so you ignore and pretend you didn’t hear him. This part really pierced my heart although I’ve heard it many times. “Are you grieving the Holy Spirit?” 

There was something about reading that broke my heart. Jesus said he was leaving so our counselor may come. We no longer had the physical/tangible presence of God. It was traded in for an invisible spirit. To this day I think all of us would love to have the physical Jesus walking with us day in and day out. I wonder if this hurts the Holy Spirit? He’s kind of the Forgotten God in all this because he is with us when wake up, when we go through the day, and while we sleep. Did I even stop to acknowledge His presence and asked him what’s on the agenda or hey lets go take a walk together me and you. No cell phone, no twitter, no facebook, no internet, no fantasy football, no TV – I could probably record it anyway, no friends to interrupt. We are so attached to technology and communication it distracts us from the intimacy God desires to have with us. I don’t know about you but I get hurt when the people I love and who “love” me don’t seem to care I’m there or desire to talk to me, and most of all desire to be with someone else. When you are in a relationship that hurts the most especially when this is supposed to be the most intimate relationship in your life yet, they want other things. You may be thinking, “Geez, you’re making the Holy Spirit sound needy and very unlike God.” I’m sorry, that I’m not sorry (LOL) there was something about the word grieving the Holy Spirit that hit me. I believe God feels, I mean he did create it. 

Holy Spirit, I miss you. Bring me back to intimacy with you. May my heart long for your voice and your touch each day that I rise and fall. On days I just forget, let me know you are here waiting and give me the heart to listen and willingness to obey

Amen.

David Pineschi