In writing about spiritual formation under the authority of the Hily Spirit, JD Walt, author of the Seedbed Daily text wrote:
“There is a missing middle movement here. It is the Holy Spirit’s work of actuation. This will require the development of the most neglected and, consequently, atrophied muscles of the soul.”
Amen!
Jesus’ disciples received three years of instruction, living among parables and examples, and practicing under constant instruction and Jesus’ watchful eye to prepare for the move from aspiration/inspiration to activation/application. The Apostle Paul required a time of actuation between the Damascus Rd. Experience and the beginning of his calling to ministry to the Gentiles under the tutelage of Ananias and others of the brethren to gain the big picture of how he fit into Christ’s plan.
We awaken to the stirring of the Holy Spirit within our spirit and feel the flush of initiated Love-Joy-Peace in the depth of our spirit igniting godly love in us in return. And with that ignition we want to shift into overdrive to DO SOMETHING physically, demonstrably. So we start serving in the first place that our enthusiasm is received. But the actuation of the soul takes time…. the Patience-Goodness-Kindness in keeping with the character of Christ has to be worked into, through, and out of the soul…. by the work of the Word and Spirit in transforming our minds, informing our emotions, conforming our will, refining our personality’s responses in relationships and honing the acuity of our consciences in keeping with the principles of the new Kingdom we have entered. During this time understanding has to be nurtured, consistency of response is cultivated, determination and direction of mission are illuminated, etc. During this actuation of all the gears, the moving parts of the soul, a lot of hurts and misunderstandings can occur. Deep wounds of earlier times have to be diagnosed and healed by the Spirit through such exposure.
This is the testing of one’s Faithfulness-Gentleness-Self Control in cultivating steadfastness in prayer, discipline in humility, sensitivity to conviction and quickening of mercy and repentance, practicing forgiveness, listening in quietness. ….. allowing the control of “Self” in the fullness of the soul to be under the authority of the Holy Spirit/spirit catalyzing, actuating power.
As that process builds and flows into one’s body, finding its niche in the larger Body, one begins to cooperate and align in formation and engage with purpose and power that fulfills the purpose of God through us.
It is a process that, if not catechized in community with an understanding of the process and goal can be like a wildfire that goes out of control and threatens the very home where it is being fanned and stoked.
Depending on one’s history, maturity, knowledge, support, comfort in diving into the Word that actuating process can be brief….. weeks or months. For others of us it will require years and considerable effort… sometimes a function of our caution and resistance; other times a function of God’s purpose in our lives that we have not yet begun to recognize, embrace and walk into.
The oil of the Spirit in the human spirit flows into the mechanisms of the soul’s cognitive, affective, and volitional systems and actuates the flow of the Living Water that flows from us at a physical level observable by and effectual upon the world through relationships.
The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit upon our human spirit brings knowledge and understanding of God’s love and brings reconciling peace with God.
The flow of Spirit/spirit into and among components of the soul brings healing and integrating peace within one’s own self.
The outward flow through our renewed self in engagement with the world brings reconciling and unifying peace with others.
The Prince of Peace reigns with us, in us, through us and between us to make us peacemakers who, by having become sons and daughters of God by adoption, are now in Christ Jesus to be His witnesses and doers of God’s Word and Will by the power of His Spirit.