We Need Bricks
A simple, brief thought packed with important thoughts to ponder …
At the last meal Jesus had with His disciples, He told them of the Holy Spirit who’d soon indwell them. Though they couldn’t understand how it could possibly be better for Jesus to leave, He said it was. His departure was part of the overall plan to turn them into new people who had something better than Jesus’ physical presence beside them. They’d have His presence inside them!
In John 14:25-26 Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” The specific application of that was to those disciples. To our knowledge, they’d not been keeping a journal of Jesus deeds and words. It was only later, after His ascension, that they began to record things, drawing from memory and their joint counsel what He’d said. The Holy Spirit proved to be an invaluable help in recalling all that.
Surely that’s not the only application of Jesus’ words. The Holy Spirit, who originally inspired the penning of Scripture, inspires our study of it as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2.
Consider a journeyman bricklayer. He’s ultra-skilled with many of hours in his craft. He’s built houses and laid thousands of square feet of patio. Though he has vast experience and knows every conceivable aspect of his trade, he can’t do anything unless he has à Bricks.
The Holy Spirit is a ready and ultra-capable helper, counselor, and guide. But He needs bricks; God’s Word and words. That’s often how He leads in a manner we know is indeed from God and not merely our own inner desires masquerading as the divine.
Lance is the founding and lead pastor of Calvary Chapel Oxnard where he has served since 1982. Lance & David Guzik co-pastored the church for six years before David planted a church in a nearby community.
Lance & his wife Lynn were married in 1980 and have three adult children and five grandchildren. Lance loves teaching the Bible, History, and Leadership. He holds Masters-of-Arts in Biblical Studies and Ministry.
Lance serves as a chaplain for both the Oxnard and Port Hueneme Police Departments and enjoys backpacking, wood-working, working out, gardening, home improvement projects, reading, and graphic design.
The popular Communio Sanctorum: History of the Christian Church podcast can be found in both audio and video at the Into His Image website along with a growing inventory of Lances teaching.
