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The Way of the Spirit
Jesus described the Spirit in this way. We are familiar with this verse.
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. (John 3:8)
The Spirit is like the wind. We can hear the sound of it. We can even feel it.
But we can’t control or predict its movement. It blows where it chooses.
We may not like hearing this.
We like to be in control. We like what is logical and predictable. We like to live our lives on our own terms.
What Jesus says about the Spirit seems to tell us otherwise.
The Spirit does not move the way we want. That doesn’t mean it moves arbitrarily either.
Notice how Jesus said, it blows where it “chooses”. It moves with its own purpose and intent.
He even said to Peter after the resurrection—
Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go. (John 21:18)
We may not know exactly what the Spirit is thinking all the time. But the Spirit always moves according to God’s will.
Jesus revealed what that is to the disciples.
It is our theme verse for the year—
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
The Spirit does not remain insular. It doesn’t stay in one place.
The Spirit always moves outwards. From our immediate circle to the neighbouring communities, and to the ends of the earth.
The Spirit moves in such a way so that God’s blessing and the gift of new life can be experienced by all people, not just some.
It fulfills the promise which God originally gave to Abraham, the forefather of our faith.
I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
With Clear Direction
In order for the Spirit to continue doing its work in this world, God calls us to do one thing.
It is uncomplicated and simple in theory. But it can be challenging and difficult in actual practice.
That is, to GO WHERE THE SPIRIT LEADS.
That is how the early church started. That is how the good news of the resurrection spread.
It wasn’t necessarily the “acts” of the apostles. It was the “acts” of the Spirit, and the people who went wherever the Spirit led them.
In today’s passage, we read the story of Philip. This isn’t Philip the Apostle, but Philip the Evangelist. He was one of the Seven who were chosen to care for the poor in the early church community.
Philip lived his life going where the Spirit led him. He didn’t think twice. He simply went. He trusted in the way of the Spirit.
Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south…” (Acts 8:26)
So he got up and went. (Acts 8:27)
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” (Acts 8:29)
So Philip ran up to it… (Acts 8:30)
Each time, the Spirit directs Philip’s steps. It almost seems too simple and straightforward to be true.
But I believe that is how the Spirit works. It is absolutely CLEAR when it calls. Like the wind when it blows.
Because it comes knocking on our hearts. It pulls us in a certain direction. It is so clear that it frightens us at times.
So, rather than going where the Spirit leads, we turn away from it. We let the voice of fear and doubt dominate our hearts. We come up with clever justifications on why we can’t go.
I’m not ready yet… I have other plans… Other people can do it… We complicate what is so simple and straightforward.
The Spirit Takes us Beyond
When I first sensed my call to ministry, I was so anxious and afraid that I didn’t address it for about two years.
I had this deep conviction that I was to live my life for others. That conviction was answered in the form of calling to ministry.
But it came at the most unexpected and inconvenient time. I was afraid to make such a drastic change to my life.
Then one day, I had this vision while I was praying.
I was alone in a house on an island. I was floating through this particular area in the house.
When I looked to my right, I caught a view of this vast, beautiful ocean through the window.
I remember thinking, “I wonder what it’s like to be out on those waters…”
Even though I wanted to go and see it for myself, I didn’t go out. Actually, I couldn’t. I was too scared.
The experience kept on repeating itself. I found myself circling the same spot, over and over again.
The Spirit always wants to take us beyond our small world of familiarity and certainty.
The Spirit wants to lead us into the world of the unknown, where there is SURPRISE, CONNECTION, and TRANSFORMATION.
That is what happened to Philip.
He just went where the Spirit led him. Because of that, he became connected with an Ethiopian eunuch.
Through his help, the eunuch’s life was totally changed. The eunuch even wanted to be baptized!
When we go where the Spirit leads, we experience wonderful things. Things we never planned or expected.
We see the Spirit working in concrete yet mysterious ways. People come together. Lives are changed.
We see the Spirit opening new doors.
The moment I decided to go into ministry, I began to see the Spirit open doors, one by one. It all happened quickly and effortlessly.
The Spirit connected me to Simon at Knox. Through Simon, I first heard about St. Tim’s.
The Spirit then led me to this community, while I was looking for a place to serve during my studies.
It was through this community that I met people whom I would have never met otherwise. That includes Rev. Kim, whose spiritual mentorship and guidance have shaped me into the pastor I am today.
Now, after seven years, I sense the Spirit leading me once again. Not someplace else though. But here.
Intertwined with the Calling at St. Tim’s
I feel called to remain where I am. I feel called to continue serving this community.
Now in a slightly different capacity. As a minister of Word and Sacrament.
On paper, it may not seem like a logical decision. Someone on the Search Committee asked me, “When you could’ve gone anywhere you wanted, why here?”
That is a mystery – even to me.
But I see how God has been working in this community. I see a story that is unfolding.
I see how God is calling us to go beyond and be his witnesses. Not just in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. But to the ends of the earth.
To be faithful to our roots as a Korean-immigrant church, yet still grow to be a culturally diverse community of faith. I see this community stretching, growing, and blossoming, bit by bit.
I feel called to participate in this unfolding narrative at St. Tim’s. To continue journeying with you through this story.
In that sense, my calling is not just personal. It is deeply intertwined with the calling of this community.
It is interesting to see how Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian ends.
Luke describes it like this—
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39)
Don’t worry, I won’t vanish all of a sudden. I’m pointing to this verse for a different reason.
It reminds me that it is the Spirit who leads, not me. So, I don’t need to worry.
I simply need to go and be faithful. And I will be faithful until the end.
May we go where the Spirit leads us, no matter what. I pray that we can commit to this journey together.
The Spirit will provide us with what we need. The Spirit will give us wisdom and boldness. The Spirit will guide our every step.
Through us, the Spirit will work wonders. I believe that.
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