When the soul knows the love of God by the Holy Spirit, then he clearly feels that the Lord is our own Father, the closest, dearest Father, the best. And there is not greater happiness that to love God with all the mind and heart, and our neighbor as ourself. And when this love is in the soul, then all things bring joy to the soul.
~St. Silouan the Athonite
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
~ Jesus, King of The Universe, and One with The Holy Spirit
Oh beloved, it is true.
The very G_d of the universe is not far away. He is with us.
At the cross, our King Jesus took down death and crushed its head. Now, that was an incredible part of the work He did. Further, His death took on all the terrible rotten sin of the world, and swallowed it whole. He, the Perfect Sacrifice, did pay what sin demanded. And all of this would have been wonderful beyond words – but there is more.
There is so much more that it would take oceans of ink to even begin to write it all out. But, tonight, let’s speak of one of the best parts.
In the past; in the time before Jesus came to be born and live as a man, His Spirit would visit, and even stay with some people for some time. One speaker called this the visitation culture of G_d. This was a joy for many. But the sense of aloneness and distance from Him, is probably what even launched some of the philosophical views of dualism. At times, it seemed as though G_d were somewhere else.
However, at the death of Jesus, He was far from a victim. And at the end of His Work, that He chose and endured, He cried out in a loud voice: IT IS FINISHED. And, in that very moment, existence on this planet changed forever. For something that happened in the natural was actually accomplishing something even bigger in the spirit.
In the moment that Jesus died in this world, something else died too. Actually, all of us died with Him and were united in a way that we never expected. Further, what died was an entire age of man, that had started at the creation of Adam.
Can we see it?
Now, there was a new Adam, of an entirely new race of beings. And this Jesus was the Firstborn of many who would become not only like Him, but united with Him through His very own Holy Spirit. This race of now truly human beings are those who compose His body across this planet.
The Body of Christ is not a symbolic thing. Rather, the Body of Christ is composed of those in whom His Spirit dwells. And the simplicity of G_d shows us that All of Him is in each and all of us. We don’t get just a tiny portion or slice of G_d when He saves us. We get all of Him, and everyone who believes gets all of Him – and He gets all of us.
And this is where it gets interesting.
His Body, over the centuries has always waxed. It is not shrinking. It is growing. But the growth looks different across the years. It is so organic and moves and flows in ways that we don’t fully understand. Parts of His Body that seemed to be rotting, have come to life in explosive ways throughout the world. And parts that seemed to be the most whole and robust have often atrophied more quickly.
Said more simply: Denominations and sects of the church often try to stake their claim to being The Body, but the Holy Spirit does not recognize any boundaries, let alone those set by an organ or cellular grouping. He goes where He wills, and grows His Presence where He desires.
And, in this part of history, it really seems that Holy Spirit – the very infinite and personal bond of Love between The Father and The Son – is moving in some mysterious ways. He is awakening parts of the body that seem to have been slumbering. As the darkness pushes out across the planet, His ancient Body seems to be shining ever brighter across the same space.
Wonderful to behold!
So, are you uncomfortable where you are going to church? Does it feel like it is just some sort of human gathering, going through the motions? Maybe it is time for you to look for something. And no, I am not suggesting another man-made organization. Look to what He is already doing, and join Him. He is already in you. Maybe it is time you let Him do His thing.
Tonight is your night. Time to let His Spirit flow.
Today on planet Earth, may you experience the wonder and beauty of yourself as Abba’s Child and temple of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.
~Brennan Manning
