The Holy Spirit in Community

My six siblings and I love getting together to catch up on life. We tell stories on each other, share memories of growing up together and laugh -- a lot! Sometimes we're all talking at the same time and have
to stop and figure out who should go next, but the bond between us keeps us open and sharing. That's the same concept as when a group of us Jesus-followers meet and pursue God's will in community. How can we do that better? What part does the Holy Spirit play? Let's look briefly.

Romans 8:15-17 describes that by enormous grace of God, the Creator of the universe actually wants to live in us weak and broken humans, in the most intimate way possible, right at the level of the spirit he put in us. "His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children" says Paul in verse 16. Each of us has the Spirit of God imbedded in us, at the deep, mysterious spirit level, giving us that affirmation. So, since each of us is receiving that same message of belonging, doesn't that shared Spirit tell us we belong to one another? And doesn't the Spirit prompt us to hear from him, not only directly, but from each other as we gather?

Well, that is the testimony of scripture, describing the early church. In Acts 2:42-47, they had a community of prayer and worship, as well as sharing physical needs. In Acts 4:23-31, they gathered to pray together because of Peter and John being imprisoned and threatened. Someone had to lead the prayer, or maybe several of them prayed different topics, but they all prayed together for what they needed, and Luke records for us the things they prayed about. In Acts 11, Peter tells the story of Cornelius, and in verse 18, those who objected are convicted and turn to praise (v. 18). The same thing happens in chapter 15 when the leaders gather to debate the Gentile issue. At first there is a lot of clamor, but after all is said, they agree that they have heard together from God (v. 28).

We are all in a process of being transformed by God, and as we are transformed, we learn to discern the will of God (Rom. 12:2). Learning to listen to the Holy Spirit's wisdom and love in one another, we will grow in knowing and doing the will of God together. And we will live out Jesus' prayer in John 17:23, that we "experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." Let's journey there together, shall we?