Someone said religion is what you're left with after the Holy Spirit leaves the building.
But religious tradition isn't the only substitute we have for the Holy Spirit today.
Of course being fleshly and permissive can also be a substitute. But still there's something else.
Another common substitute is this: being 'contemporary'. Being 'relevant'.
"We're not religious!" they may say.
But that doesn't necessarily mean they're making room for the manifestation of the Spirit.
We have whole churches, whole denominations, a whole movement today which is neither traditional nor permissive - yet they don't often see the manifestation of the Spirit.
Why? Because their events are 'contemporary' - 'relevant'.
Perhaps there may be a thing or two which needs to be adjusted or even let go of maybe. But I think I have seen that some of the best elements of the Contemporary Church movement, and the manifestation of the Spirit, can be entirely compatible.
We just have to want it!
For example, you can have friendly carpark attendants; a digital countdown to starting time; restrictions on what an announcer can talk about during his moment on stage; a nice stage set; even lighting; state of the art audio-visual technology; skilled musicians; you can have some fun; not every meeting needs to be long - but not every meetings needs to deliberately program the manifestation of the Spirit out of it either. You can excel at all that and still have the ministry of the Spirit, in the same meeting.
But religious tradition isn't the only substitute we have for the Holy Spirit today.
Of course being fleshly and permissive can also be a substitute. But still there's something else.
Another common substitute is this: being 'contemporary'. Being 'relevant'.
"We're not religious!" they may say.
But that doesn't necessarily mean they're making room for the manifestation of the Spirit.
We have whole churches, whole denominations, a whole movement today which is neither traditional nor permissive - yet they don't often see the manifestation of the Spirit.
Why? Because their events are 'contemporary' - 'relevant'.
Perhaps there may be a thing or two which needs to be adjusted or even let go of maybe. But I think I have seen that some of the best elements of the Contemporary Church movement, and the manifestation of the Spirit, can be entirely compatible.
We just have to want it!
For example, you can have friendly carpark attendants; a digital countdown to starting time; restrictions on what an announcer can talk about during his moment on stage; a nice stage set; even lighting; state of the art audio-visual technology; skilled musicians; you can have some fun; not every meeting needs to be long - but not every meetings needs to deliberately program the manifestation of the Spirit out of it either. You can excel at all that and still have the ministry of the Spirit, in the same meeting.
Some meetings are meant to be an all-out outpouring of the Spirit.
Other meetings can focus entirely on the lost.
Or have a special purpose or target group.
Have some elements of contemporariness and relevance, but still:
"Earnestly desire spiritual gifts".
"Quench not the Spirit".
"The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal".
"Stir up the gift that is within you, that is in you through prophecy, through the laying on of hands of the presbytery".
"In as much as ye are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel..."
"I would that ye all spake with tongues"
"Ye may all prophesy one by one"
"Not in word only, but in power"
"Not in wisdom of words, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power"
"The Lord working with them, confirming the word with signs following"
"He that believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also..."
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