Hello everyone!
I saw a dove the other day – not a pigeon (I know what they look like). No, this was a dove, a white dove. You don’t often see them in our neighbourhood. I heard the unmistakable sound of its fluttering wings breaking its descent as it gently landed on the spouting of my shed. Then it just stared at me as I was unlocking the door, as if curious. It stayed quite still and I suddenly became aware that any sudden, or threatening movement from me and it would immediately fly off. So, I stayed still and stared back in what I hoped was a non-threatening demeanour.
The dove occasionally moved its head from side to side giving me a really good look over from both eyes separately … and after a while, with curiosity apparently satisfied, it launched into the air and disappeared over the wattle tree near the back fence.
I unlocked the shed, turned on the light and set up the tripod to take a video of the weekly pastor’s update, then sat for a bit with my steaming cup of coffee … and thought about the dove. How carefully it had watched me, assessing things, scanning for any sign of hostility. I reflected that it had probably sat there staring for a good five minutes, probably more.
I thought of one of the New Testament descriptors for Holy Spirit - the dove. The dove describes the gentleness of Holy Spirit, the sensitivity of Holy Spirit to environment and so on. I realised that any inappropriate action from me would end the encounter with the dove on my shed roof … and I realised, too, that any inappropriate movement or behaviour from me would disturb Holy Spirit, and probably end a hosting encounter ...
Holy Spirit is extremely sensitive to environment – not fragile, just sensitive; not intimidated, but very sensitive to the environment of my heart …
FINAL WORD
Awareness of the presence of Holy Spirit is awareness and experience of the manifest presence of God – a magnificent thing! The presence of God is what changes things … everything. It dramatically changes the fellowship I have with God. So much closer and real and so very much deeper. In His presence sickness bows its knee, demons run in terror, darkness flees … peace and safety become very, very real. The love of the Father becomes overpowering reality. Security.
If I want to ‘host’ the presence of God in my life, my home, or my ministry, I need to become very aware of any environment that would cause Holy Spirit distress, to grieve … and even writing this, I want to be so careful so as not to disturb the environment for him such that he would want to depart. This doesn’t mean I have to walk on eggshells in some silly, religiously superstitious way – Holy Spirit is not frightened of anything, or anyone. But He is very sensitive to environment and will not linger in a manifest way if the environment is unclean, defiled or soulish, or hostile because of sin … Of course, we don’t ever lose the indwelling presence of Holy Spirit as ones born again, but conducive, sweet environment is crucial if we want to host His manifest presence – his tangible, presence – and hear His voice clearly …
And so, this morning I made a decision … I clearly articulated it and wrote it down in my SOAP journal. Here it is …
“Everything I do, I now do with the dove in mind … because I want Him to linger long with me. I will prepare a table for Him, an environment for Him, in the presence of my busyness and learn to host the presence of the Lord each day. Welcome Holy Spirit!”
Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
You are dearly, dearly loved.
Ps Milton