Richard Dawson, 4 June 2015

The story of the Christian Church begins of course with the work of Jesus—His life, death and resurrection. But the birth of the Church is always considered to be coincidental with the events in Acts which are associated with the Holy Spirit’s coming on to the gathered disciples and empowering them to witness to Jesus in languages they had never learned. This was called the ‘infilling with the Spirit’ and from then on it was considered normal for all followers of Jesus to be ‘filled with the Spirit.’ But what does this mean? It means that when we become Christians we are to be open to taking on the personality of Jesus for the ‘Spirit’ is, in fact, the Spirit of Jesus. We are, perhaps, used to thinking that our personalities are unique and immutable (unchangeable) but this is not the case. There is as much will involved in the people we become as there is predisposition. We spend much of our early life having our personalities shaped by our parents—usually quite appropriately but sometimes not. When we become Christians we begin a new process of having our personality changed and of taking on the characteristics of Christ and this is, in fact, a never ending process. I am continuing even now after many years of being a Christian to learn how best to love others and, indeed, even to love myself. With this taking on of another Spirit comes a new confidence in God because this Spirit knows God intimately and it is this knowledge which releases the power of Christ to work in ways we could never imagine to bring that love to others. Are you open to the Spirit of Christ? Ask God that you might be today!