Words Have Meaning

2024 – A Year of Holy Spirit Empowerment

To continue the discussion regarding the Holy Spirit Praxis, consider a case study from scripture that begins in Acts 1:8; “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all of Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Luke is careful to order this narrative to show movement in three societal spheres; Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth.

Hit a hard pause at this moment! The Gospel of the Messiah had become lost in religion and had to break out of religion in order to accomplish God’s plan of redemption to “whosever will…” This narrative now moves to Acts 10, 11, and 15, this is the story of the conversion of Cornelius. There are five distinct elements to this story. Consider…

1. Acts 10:1-2; “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and continually prayed to God.”
2. Peter is now being challenged to act in a manner entirely foreign to his concept of mission. Consider the mission in Acts 10:11-48.
3. Cornelius’ conversion and yet on another level Peter and his whole community were also being transformed.
4. Peter’s report to the council in Jerusalem. He clearly had stepped well outside the framework of acceptable Jewish behavior in Acts 11:1-16
5. The Jerusalem Council’s watershed moment. Acts 15:1-35. The Gentiles were included into the church of Jesus Christ. Suddenly, the Messiah’s message went beyond the bounds of Jewishness.

Study the Praxis Model of the Holy Spirit below. The Word and Spirit Define this model by Peter Roennfeldt in his writing of: Holy Spirit Praxis: “A Frame For Contextualization.”

Take your study deeper. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you and the church today given our political, social, and religious climate in our nation. What change is the Holy Spirit attempting to work through you or challenging to return to biblical anchor points?