Living Water: Pregnancy of the Holy Spirit

Chapter five of Living Water by Brother Yun this morning.

Interesting chapter (as usual). The author uses the story of Mary becoming pregnant through the Holy Spirit as his primary illustration.

Brother Yun makes the statement: "Do you realize that God wants all Christians to be pregnant with the Holy Spirit today? He wants to give you a vision for His kingdom that originates from Heaven, not from yourself. He desires that all of His children would be overshadowed by His presence in such a way that they are changed and give birth to something in their lives that brings many into His kingdom."

I think that the idea of being "pregnant with the Holy Spirit" is a tough thing for men in particular to relate to. I think that it is much easier for women to relate to especially when the metaphor turns to giving birth.

Unfortunately I think that today many people are not seeking the Holy Spirit in their lives. They are content to do the religious activity that is often required by the organized church and not truly seek God's will in their lives. To many, "worship" is an hour or so obligation each week where they want to be entertained. They watch the praise band perform because they don't know the words to the songs. They listen to a lecture from center stage. They smile fake smiles and say fake things and then go home and live life as if they don't know Christ.

They are the Christians who have found Christ and pulled out the lawn chair and plopped down and said: "Made it. Wake me when Christ returns. Let me know if you need anything."

And then if the church calls they may be willing to go to work if it doesn't get too spiritual.

Again to quote Brother Yun: "Today much Christian activity seems to originate with human plans, and it is then carried out in human strength with human results. It has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God."

Unfortunately, I have seen far too many church projects bathed with a minimum of prayer and then presented to "the body" as the Lord's will and then miserably fail because they are actually our human wants and desires and not actually God's will.

The last quote from the book for today: "Unfortunately, there are many in the church today who will do all they can to stamp out your call and enthusiasm for the Lord." I have experienced this first hand.

This comes under the guise of: "We've never done it that way before." or "We've prayed about it and it is not the Lord's will." or "We have to make things suitable for the community." or "You'll have to go through training." or "What you want to do just won't work out." or any of a hundred other excuses to just keep on keeping on and not seek the Lord's will for His Church.

And we have to keep that in mind: It is His Church, not our church.