Don’t try to be the Holy Spirit
2Samuel 19-20 / Acts 1-3
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OT
19:1-4 Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. As the troops heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. They crept back into the city as though they were ashamed and had been beaten in battle. The king covered his face with his hands and kept on weeping, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
:22 “What am I going to do with you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “This is not a day for execution but for celebration! I am once again the king of Israel!”
NT
1:14 They all met together continually for prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
2:42-47 They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity–all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.
OT Flash Points
David’s overwhelming grief brings shame on those who had saved his life and his kingdom
Thanks to the challenge from the commander of his armies, David turns his attitude around and takes his place as the gracious and powerful leader
That moment of instability gives the commander the justification to take things in his own hands
Which results in entrails on the ground, the common product of presumption
NT Flash Points
Peter seems to presume to lead the way in selecting a replacement for Judas
The Holy Spirit is given and leads the way
Perspective
Holy Spirit – Culturally, we complicate, trivialize and redefine the Holy Spirit – the inevitable work of neurotic humans who fall prey to greed and hunger for power
While He, Holy Spirit, stands by, we ignore Him and create a substitute that complies with our neat little requirements
Compare the result of that presumption with the fruit of a common, hard-working man living a good, spirit-filled life
Guess and fake it = Tragedy
Entrails on the ground
Jesus said, Holy Spirit will come to empower you to tell the whole world about Him
That may not mean, establish a worldwide organization
Just faithfully tell the people He has sent you to.
Be about Him, He’ll build His Church