Friday, November 22, 2013

The Holy Ghost is like…


The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
I think here Jesus is trying to teach about how the witness and feelings of the Spirit come at unexpected times to people who are born again.  It is something you feel and enjoy, but you don’t control it.  It just comes on its own.

This made me wonder what other parables we could make to teach about how the Spirit works, so I decided to try to write my own, with the limited knowledge I have. 

The Spirit is easily driven away by thoughtless, hostile acts.  It is like a flock of birds on a lawn.  When someone walks by, if they merely turn their head and look, the birds may be frightened away.

When bad things and misfortunes come upon you, the Spirit’s comfort is like learning some secret good news that fills you up and keeps sadness at bay.

Suppose an invisible hand planted the seed of that fruit tree you really want in your yard.  You never knew you could have it (or even knew that you might want it) until you discover it is there and you are told what it is.  That’s what it is like to have the Spirit move you to develop a particular virtue.

The Spirit is like a small, shy child that pulls at the hem of your shirt until you give it your attention.

Suppose you owned the actual video footage of Christ’s life, mission, crucifixion, resurrection, etc. and all of the events of the Restoration, yet you had never actually watched it.  That’s what having the Spirit’s witness is like.

Okay, now it’s your turn to make up some parables about how the Spirit works in your life.

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