Jonathan K. Dodson - Here in Spirit: Knowing the Spirit Who Creates, Sustains, and Transforms Everything

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InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
ivpress.com

2018 by Jonathan K. Dodson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, a movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges, and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, visit intervarsity.org.

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

While any stories in this book are true, some names and identifying information may have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Published in association with the literary agent Don Gates of The Gates Group, www.the-gates-group.com.

Cover design: David Fassett
Interior design: Jeanna Wiggins
Images: Portland satellite photo: FrankRamspott / iStockphoto
textured paper: ke77kz / iStock / Getty Images Plus

ISBN 978-0-8308-7398-2 (digital)

ISBN 978-0-8308-4544-6 (print)

This digital document has been produced by Nord Compo.

Dedicated to professors Richard Lovelace and Colin Gunton,
who taught me to know and enjoy all three persons
of the Trinity.

W HEN I STEPPED onto the premises of the East Austin projects, I sensed a heaviness in the air. We were serving the community alongside another Christian group. Their group made the initial connection with project residents. Our group provided food and drinks and joined them in ministry. We were eager to lighten the atmosphere there with the hope of Christ. As time passed, the residents began to look forward to our visits. The youth loved connecting with the Christian hip-hop artists who came with us. I had several significant conversations with some of the residents and got to pray for them on the spot. The weight seemed to be lifting.

One afternoon I heard shouting and decided to follow the noise. The ruckus led me to a few residents surrounded by several Christians from the other group, who were praying loudly asking God to baptize them in the Spirit and to give them financial prosperity. I hung back, observed, and prayed. Afterward, one of the people from this group asked me if I was Spirit filled. I thought to myself, It depends on the dayor the moment. But I knew that wasnt what she meant.

So I replied, What do you mean by Spirit filled? They responded by describing a person who has had a very specific experience, marked by speaking in tongues. I had in mind the passage in Ephesians where the filling of the Spirit results in singing, thanksgiving, and submitting to one another (Eph 5:18-21). We clearly had two different perspectives of Spirit filled. Although we both affirmed the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, our differences became so great we had to part ways. Sadly, our differing doctrines of the Holy Spirit divided us, not just in theory but in ministry among marginalized people. The parting was done in humility and love on both sides, but I left brokenhearted. Does it have to be this way?