This month we’ll continue our exploration of the Holy Spirit in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Here’s another good example,
A Prayer for the Clergy and People:
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our Bishops and Clergy, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. (BCP, p13)
That healthful Spirit of grace will empower you and me, along with the Bishops and Clergy, to be who God made us to be and to do what God calls us to do.
That healthful Spirit comes with Gifts and Fruit: Gifts that empower us to be more than we know how to be, and do more than we know how to do, and Fruit for the good of all.
Then on the next page we find this:
Prayer for all Conditions of Men (and Women):
More especially we pray for the good estate of the Catholic Church; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. (BCP, p14)
If we want our Church to enjoy a “good estate,” it needs to be guided and governed by the good and Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, remind us of all that Jesus said (John 14:26), bear witness about Jesus (John 15:26), convict us concerning sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16:8) and “guide us into all the truth” (John16.13).
Since “truth is in Jesus” (Eph4.21) we can trust the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth) to guide and govern us as to what’s what with Jesus.
Prayers at Mid-Day
Tucked away in between Morning and Evening Prayer on page 16 and 17 are some prayers for Missions. Brief and to the point, they provide an excellent two- or three-minute act of worship and prayer with an evangelistic missional focus for the middle of the day. As usual, the work of the Holy Spirit is woven into this short liturgy. One of those prayers says this:
And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.
BLESSED Saviour, who at this hour didst hang upon the cross stretching out thy loving arms: Grant that all mankind may look unto thee and be saved; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
What, or who, will cause all humankind to look to Jesus? The Helper or Counsellor (the Holy Spirit, in other words) is who, says Jesus in John’s gospel.
When the Counsellor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father — He will testify about me (John 15.26).
The Counsellor, the Spirit of truth, has come and this Holy Spirit is constantly testifying and bearing witness that Jesus is who the Bible says He is. He testifies to that truth in the Scriptures, in our worship, through our lives and witness.
For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor4.6).
So, in the power of the Holy Spirit, you and I have an important role to play in fulfilling that prayer at midday — encouraging people to look to The LORD and be saved. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not only, or even mainly, about spectacular manifestations of the Spirit — miracles, signs and wonders — although they can be fun and fruitful.
It is about ordinary Christians (including Anglican ones), like you and me, just knuckling down in worship, prayer and service to be who God made us to be and to do what He calls us to do. Day after day, after day. Amen.
