Theological study relating to doctrines of the Holy Spirit is called “Pneumatology,” pneuma being the ancient Greek word for breath, spirit, soul. It is also the root of our word “pneumatic,” referring to compressing air to generate power. And, on the other end of the intellectual spectrum (and a lifetime ago…), there was that recurring Saturday Night Live sketch, with the body builders Hanz and Franz and their catch phrase, “Pump you up!"
Definitions of pneumatic speak of things being “filled with air,” or “using air pressure to move or work.” Inflated tires help move vehicles; steam-fed pistons power machinery. The compressed air moves the pistons, which move other parts (or something...), small things powering the whole. That’s a pretty good image of a church engaged in God’s mission to reclaim, restore and renew all of creation to wholeness. We are parts working pneumatically to accomplish far more than we could on our own.
The New Testament contains many instances of people being “filled with the Spirit.” This is the way the Holy Spirit often seems to work in the world – by filling human beings. We read of Jesus, before certain miracles, that “the Spirit was with him.” When we are filled with the Spirit, we are able to do “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine,” to use Paul’s phrase. We are able to exercise faith, mobilize others, speak boldly, pray powerfully, organize brilliantly, joyfully aware that God is working with and through us.
What does it feel like to be filled with the Holy Spirit? It can be a gentle experience, waves of comfort or well-being or peace washing over us. It can be feel like an influx of energy, with a physiological effect on our nervous system – increased heartbeat, tingling, trembling, feeling heat in extremities or all over. It can come with an intensity of emotion – joy, hope, faith, love, or give us total clarity about something we’re doing or saying. What does it feel like for you?
I can feel the difference when doing something on my own steam (writing Water Daily, for instance), using natural talents and ideas, and when it feels like the Holy Spirit is filling me, writing through me. Sometimes I don’t feel anything different – I only know by the result that the Spirit added more than I brought. And sometimes I’m in a flow that I know to be Spirit-filled. We might call that pneumatic ministry. God desires us to be filled with compressed power that moves us so that the whole enterprise functions at peak effectiveness. God wants our faith tires filled so we can move mountains.
Of course, “pumped” is also slang for “excited,” “psyched up,” anticipating great things. If we truly want the gifts and blessings and ministries that are our inheritance as beloved believers in Christ, we will allow the Holy Spirit to "pump us up," and seek to live “pumped.”
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
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