The church of Christ on McDermott Road

In this first parable, Jesus uses four types of soil to illustrate a sobering truth, many people have ears to hear but don’t really hear or hang onto the word of God. You’re likely familiar with this parable. You may have even thought about what sort of “soil” you are. However, have you considered the uncomfortable truth, bad soil doesn’t even know it’s bad soil? That seems to be Jesus’ whole point with this story, if you’re not exceptionally aware of what is happening, you will fall away and you may not even know it happened. (Scripture: Luke 8:4-8)

Most of what the New Testament says about the Holy Spirit is in the context of the collective life of the church. The Holy Spirit is equipping other Christians for your benefit. And he is equipping you for the benefit of other Christians. Therefore, you will only ever experience the complete benefits of the Holy Spirit when you are living in close fellowship with other Spirit-filled believers. The more connected you are to other Christians, the more the Spirit is able to work in your life through them. (Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20)

Jesus assumed that after his ascension to the throne, his followers would fast. He even gave them specific instructions about how to fast. Fasting is one way that Christians have—for the last 2,000 years—disciplined their bodies in order to be more aware of the Spirit. The desires of our flesh, even the most natural desire of hunger, will control us if we are not intentional about disciplining ourselves and surrendering our lives to the control of the Spirit. (Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18)

Paul gives Christians this command, “be filled with the Spirit.” The next few phrases in Ephesians 5 either teach Christians how to be filled with the Spirit or describe what it looks like when we are filled with the Spirit. Either way, there is no doubt that singing songs of praise is an essential part of a Spirit-filled life. When we praise God, we are aligning ourselves with the Holy Spirit, treasuring his truth in our hearts and expressing his thoughts with our mouths. If we want to be filled with the Spirit, we must be people of praise. (Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21)

The pouring out of the Holy Spirit marks, for those who receive him, entrance into the age to come. This is an age in which, for us, war has ceased and everyone can sit “under his vine and under his fig tree.” This is the peace that was promised when the Messiah established God’s kingdom. And though the present evil age has not yet ended, followers of the Messiah have entered this rest and peace now through faith. Therefore, it is important that we intentionally take time to remind ourselves of, and begin to experience, this rest and peace. (Scripture: Micah 4:1-5)