The DoveSample

The Fire on us

We are found in this story.

This narrative arc is one in which we belong, and these foreshadowings and promises for a new creation, for Eden-hope and the power and presence of the Spirit, are not confined to those who live in the pages of our Bibles, but are for us too.

We are no longer enemies of God, but friends. We are not alone, but empowered by the Spirit. We are not dead, but alive in Christ, able to go and bear much fruit.

We are a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come.

As Jesus explains to Nicodemus, we have been born again: re-created, born of spirit and water, and by his grace, enabled by wind and fire.

Whenever you find yourself reading this, let me ask:

1) Are you attached to the vine, alive in Jesus?

2) Are you baptised in water and fire: by the rite of baptism and in the Holy Spirit?

3) Are you bearing fruit?

If the answer is no, maybe pray about it, or speak to a trusted friend or church leader. We weren’t meant to do this journey alone, and we weren’t made to live without this divine, dove-like helper and friend.

As the song summarises, ‘Holy Spirit, the truth, the living water/ All we need is more of You, we want more of You/ Holy Spirit, the helper and the healer/ All we need is more of You, we want more of You.’

Let’s pray:

Holy Spirit, alight on me.

Like a dove, like fire, do your work in me.

Thank you for being un-created so that I could be re-created, for taking the penalty of death so that I might freely receive the gift of life. Thank you for the hope of the Gospel, for incredible grace, and for your determination to make the creation you declared good in the Garden eternally good for us. Help us to bear much fruit and to live on mission until you call us home.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.