‘As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God’. (Psalm 42:1)When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Fatherthe Spirit of truth who goes out from the Fatherhe will testify about me (John 15:26 NIV)
Have you ever heard of the phrase, in the limelight? It means that someone is the centre of attention.
Limelight is an intense white light which is produced by heating a piece of lime in a flame of burning oxygen and hydrogen. The effect was discovered in the 1820s by Goldsworthy Gurney and it was widely used in 19th century theatres to illuminate the stage.
Leading actors holding the centre of attention on stage were said to be in the limelight. In other words the spotlight was on them.
This idea of the limelight, or spotlight, is often how I think about the key role of the Holy Spirit.
The whole point of a spotlight is to light something up. You dont look at the spotlight when its on, rather you look at what it lights up, whether it be a stage, a path, a building or a person.
The Holy Spirit is the spotlight for Jesus. His work is to illuminate Jesus; to testify about Jesus and the work Jesus has done.
The gospel writer John records Jesus as saying, When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you (John 16:13-14)
In the Message paraphrase it says, the Spirit of the Truth wont draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I [Jesus] have done and said. He will honor me [Jesus].
The Spirits work is to take the work of Jesus and make it known to us and in doing that, He brings glory to Jesus.
On the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit came accompanied by the sound of a violent wind, what seemed like tongues of fire and the speaking of different languages you might have expected Peters sermon to have centred on the Holy Spirit; His gifts or at least the fruit of Spirit.
But the thrust of his message was everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Acts 2:21) The Holy Spirit then goes on to inspire Peter to speak about the life (V.22), the death (V.23), the resurrection (V.24) and the ascension of Jesus (V.33) with the purpose of demonstrating that Jesus is indeed both Lord and Messiah (V.36).
The spotlight was on Jesus; the Holy Spirit had placed Jesus in the limelight.
As a result the people were cut to the heart asking what they should do (V.37).
The way the Holy Spirit penetrates into peoples hearts is by shining a light on Jesus.
If we are living a Spiritfilled life our words and deeds will be illuminating Jesus, and as on the Day of Pentecost, it will affect people.
Prayer
Father, help me to keep in step with the Spirit ensuring that Jesus is always in the limelight.
Amen.
Have a good week illuminating Jesus,
Pastor Barry
