Dear
Southcity
May I
encourage you today to live in the same manner as Paul encourages the church to
do when he says:
"But I say, walk by the Spirit... If we live by the
Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." - Galatians 5:16, 25.
In
understanding our togetherness as 'church', as the people of God, it is
important to grasp that the Spirit is not a part of God that we get after we
have been established in the church, as though he could be something we choose
to accept or reject as an additional blessing from our Father. While studying
this week, I came across the following which I believe articulates this
relationship so clearly:
The Spirit is not something that "animates" a
Church which already somehow exists. The Spirit makes the Church be. Pneumatology
does not refer to the well-being of the Church but to the very being of the
Church. It is the very essence of the Church. (Zizioulas 1985:132)
So again,
since our very being is dependent upon the Spirit giving us life through
Christ, hence we live by the Spirit, I urge you to walk by the Spirit also.
Church,
be strengthened and encouraged today that the Spirit who moved in power and
overcame death in Christ's body and raised him to life, is the same Spirit who
calls us to Jesus and to live in His power.
My prayer
for you is that as we approach the Easter weekend, where we as Christians have
a heightened focus around the pinnacle of our faith, where Jesus won
forgiveness and victory over our sin and through his resurrection has offered
us life, that we would experience and know the magnitude of our God's love for
us, in His holiness, righteousness, grace, mercy and creative power.
Much love
to you all.
Rich
