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A few months ago, I was studying the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.  I think sometimes we don’t have a clear picture of how the Holy Spirit worked in the Old Testament and it leads us to some conclusions that were not necessarily true.  There is no doubt about it, after the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the believers in the upper room, and today fills every believer at conversion - which must continue on a daily and moment by moment basis.  Because of that, we can get the idea the Spirit wasn’t that active in the Old Testament - but the Spirit was.  The Spirit was present in creation, The Spirit was put upon people for special tasks, and the Spirit was present in their worship as well.  I always wanted to be careful we don’t undermine who the Triune God is in the Bible in any and all roles.  It might be a fun study for you to study the Spirit in the Old Testament using your concordance - you’ll be amazed, encouraged, and enlightened at all you see - I was. 

One of the most fascinating passages for me Is Exodus 31:1-12.  It’s where Moses is on Mt. Sinai with God and he is being given the directions for building the tabernacle and he says, “See, I have called Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge, and all craftmanship to devise artistic designs. . . ” That is an interesting passage to me - God’s Spirit comes upon someone for the purpose of creating art. 

In my new book Real-Time Connections - I write about a painter Minh Song - who I know and has sold his art in the US.  You can’t go to Hanoi to any art gallery and not see his paintings all over the place - he’s simply incredible.  Our church has many of his paintings and many of our members - me included - have his art in our homes.  I asked him once what it’s like to paint, he told me “When I paint I feel God all through me and in my hands.” 

Have you ever thought how you are moved when you see art, hear a beautiful piece of music, watch a powerful play - - - - I believe art is a gift from God.  John Adams viewed it as the highest form of man’s existence.  How many times have you experienced something in art and you think “how in the world did they do this?”  I believe God’s Spirit is moving at all times in all ways in tragedy and suffering, and in beauty and form. 

Art and beauty always leads me into worship of who God is.  Whether admiring nature on the side of a mountain while hiking, or sitting at the Apricot Gallery in Hanoi - I can sense beauty that only God can create and give ability to do.  I believe this is why worship is even more powerful, connecting in music, singing to God, all the artists - and then the promise of the Spirit upon everyone - should always be a profound experience, be it reflective or enthusiastic.