I sat in church one evening for a "Vision Gathering", at a church in High Point, North Carolina. We had all just finished eating dinner with one another and engaging in true, pure fellowship with one another. The "vision casting" began, and our pastor presente the church's fiscal plans for the near future. We were in the process of purchasing chairs. We desired that every member that attended church would have a seat to listen to the Word and the Good News.
Fast forward six months, and I felt as though I was continually sitting on busses. Missions are often a mix of "hurry up and wait". Much of our time is spent resting to recover for the following days.
The following week, I saw an article stating that "standing desks" were the new trend. In order to beter aid a pastor's help, many pastors were beginning to stand to write sermons, answer emails, and read scripture.
This morning, I watched an infomercial stating QUITE the claim. If we only allow ourselves to sit for one hour a day, we will drastically affect the amount of fat our bodies absorb on a daily basis.
Currently, I am sitting in a coffee shop. And, I am writing a blog about not sitting. As Christians, it is imperative we become renewed through rest. Jesus rested. But, we were never called to be sedentary Christians.
Let us look at a great example of movement in the Bible. Actually let us look at the center of the Bible-it's origination. We will look at the Spirit of God. The Hebrew word for Spirit is "ruach". The minimal vocabulary of the Hebrew language results in many words having double, triple or quadruple meanings. The word "ruach" signifies the Spirit of God, wind, or breath. When we say that the Bible is God-breathed, we are literally stating that the Bible if of the Spirit. That the words were brought to the minds of the prophets through the movement of the spirit. We are not speaking of a stagnant spirit that remains in one place. The Holy Spirit is active, moving, and fills the hearts and minds of His people.
So, if the Spirit moves within us and with each other during fellowship, we surely cannot be homebodies, lazy, sedentary, or still. As humans, we must rest. But as God's people, we must actively serve.
We are dead until we breathe in the Holy Spirit of life. And just as we cannot grab wind, we cannot grab the Holy Spirit. But, we can feel the effects of the Holy Spirit on our lives. Never have I felt the Holy Spirit say, "wait, Alexa, let us stay in and watch the TV. Your tasks can wait another day." I believe the Holy Spirit touches your life in a similar manner to mine. It is a jolt-a violent push in some instances to move. To get up, stop sitting, and actually do something that benefits the Kingdom. Maybe it is a nudge, maybe it is a voice. I do not know how the Holy Spirit has entered into your life. But, I strongly believe that the Spirit is not telling you to "chill". The Spirit will push you, as a gust of wind, to stand, to move, to give, to serve. Our spiritual gifts will never be exerted until we move when the spirit prompts us. I have never heard of a "giften thinker". I have heard of a gifted theologian, pastor, healer or leader. Movements of the Holy Spirit require action, and requires church benefit and blessing.
Let us be moved, let us stand. Let us rest when it is appropriate to rest. But let us allow the Spirit to consume us in such a radical way, that we MUST move to obey its' commands.
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”- John 3:8
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