If you hadn't noticed, today is the halfway point of our 40 Days with the Holy Spirit. I hope that you have found this fruitful in your own life. Let me know how you have experienced this so far.
By now one of Levison's main themes is quite apparent: the slow work of preparation is part and parcel of the work of the Holy Spirit. I shared in a sermon several weeks ago about the chaplain that had had a charismatic experience that radically changed his life for the good. But the one thing that he misunderstood was how the Holy Spirit normally works and he would have benefited greatly if he had had an opportunity to read this book. I remember one worship service in which he basically said that he didn't prepare his sermons but trusted that the Holy Spirit would give him what he needed. The result was fluffy sermons for the most part--sermons heavy in upbeat praise, but light in substance.
In my travels in East Africa I have found similarities in some of the worship services I attended. Levison's description of the pastor of the church that he attended in Durham, NC reminded me of some of the evangelists/pastors I have heard over the years. I must admit that I haven't been able to understand much of what is preached, but it felt like a "high-octane" sermons. The one I have in mind occurred in a church service in Arusha, Tanzania and the preacher preached for 2 hours. High energy, and a tremendous amount of repetition. It felt like entertainment, actually. I think this evangelist could learn from Levison's book: "The works of the Spirit aren't just strutting, amen-ing, hallelujah-ing. You can prepare for an experience of the Holy Spirit. You can study in anticipation of the Holy Spirit's work in you life. You can learn what makes you a powerful witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus." So can we all learn from Levison.
By now one of Levison's main themes is quite apparent: the slow work of preparation is part and parcel of the work of the Holy Spirit. I shared in a sermon several weeks ago about the chaplain that had had a charismatic experience that radically changed his life for the good. But the one thing that he misunderstood was how the Holy Spirit normally works and he would have benefited greatly if he had had an opportunity to read this book. I remember one worship service in which he basically said that he didn't prepare his sermons but trusted that the Holy Spirit would give him what he needed. The result was fluffy sermons for the most part--sermons heavy in upbeat praise, but light in substance.
In my travels in East Africa I have found similarities in some of the worship services I attended. Levison's description of the pastor of the church that he attended in Durham, NC reminded me of some of the evangelists/pastors I have heard over the years. I must admit that I haven't been able to understand much of what is preached, but it felt like a "high-octane" sermons. The one I have in mind occurred in a church service in Arusha, Tanzania and the preacher preached for 2 hours. High energy, and a tremendous amount of repetition. It felt like entertainment, actually. I think this evangelist could learn from Levison's book: "The works of the Spirit aren't just strutting, amen-ing, hallelujah-ing. You can prepare for an experience of the Holy Spirit. You can study in anticipation of the Holy Spirit's work in you life. You can learn what makes you a powerful witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus." So can we all learn from Levison.
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