Billy Joel is another one of my favorite musical acts. Love a ton of the music he has put out over the years. Never seen him in concert before but hoping to. He is coming to Progressive Field this summer but I was unable to secure tickets (still hoping though). There are many songs of his which I enjoy. My favorites include "Pressure", "Longest Time", "Tell Her About It", and "It's Still Rock n Roll to Me" I believe his album Glass Houses was the first cassette tape I ever owned. (If you don't know what a cassette tape is - you'll need to google it - also means I am old)
Now, Billy's music is not worship music and I don't exactly know what his faith is. He's not doing worship songs and they just happen to hit the Top 40. Yet, as I have said in the past, God sometimes speaks to me with words, images, and music to drive home a point. A song or lyric can make me contemplate some greater truth that God reveals. That's what is cool about God, its not always church, bible verses, sermons, and worship music that God uses. He uses all different aspects of creation, even secular, to speak truth to all of us. This happened while listening to "We Didn't Start the Fire".
There are a couple lyrics that are worth noting in the chorus. The rest of the song is a machine gun fire of names and events from the 1950's through the 1980's. The part in the chorus "We didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the world's been turning. We didn't start the fire. No we didn't light it. But we tried to fight it."
Fire has been connected to the Holy Spirit ever since Pentecost. Tongues of fire came to rest on the disciples and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. During this, Peter spoke to the crowd which had gathered and evangelized, speaking of Jesus. Three thousand were added to their number that day. They went from a frightened group of 12 to 3,012 in one day through the actions of the Holy Spirit.
Paul adds in Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don't know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans"
The definition for advocate is one that pleads the case of another, such as arguing the cause of a person in a court of law. Both Jesus and Paul use a similar description in their comments on the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will help us to remember all that Jesus had taught. Also, the Spirit is a helper in our weakness, praying for us, and interceding for us. The Spirit is also referred to as our counselor. Elsewhere, it is stated by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope, that we will be taught by the Spirit, who will interpret spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. Also, the Spirit is considered a Helper.
That's a lot of things the Holy Spirit does for us. Which makes sense as He is God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three in one. Most of the time we refer to the Holy Spirit as "it" rather than being God. Might explain why we know less of the Spirit as opposed to God and Jesus.
But, taking liberties with Billy's lyrics - the Holy Spirit has been around always - we had nothing to do with Him, and often we resist His call.
Throughout Romans 8, Paul discusses what living a life led by the Spirit looks like rather than the law. There are two lifestyles referred to here. Being governed by the flesh or governed by the Spirit. Two polar opposites as Paul denotes. Living in the flesh leads to being against God and to death. While the Spirit brings life. He gives the warning that those in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Those led by the Spirit of God are children of God, not slaves. That is good news. As children we are heirs of God. This means we share in Christ's sufferings in order that we may share in His glory. Paul, I admit, explains it better in Romans 8 than I am here.
Our lives revolve around the Spirit. For without Him, we would be lost. God has sent Him to fill many roles to help us out.
Now, Billy's music is not worship music and I don't exactly know what his faith is. He's not doing worship songs and they just happen to hit the Top 40. Yet, as I have said in the past, God sometimes speaks to me with words, images, and music to drive home a point. A song or lyric can make me contemplate some greater truth that God reveals. That's what is cool about God, its not always church, bible verses, sermons, and worship music that God uses. He uses all different aspects of creation, even secular, to speak truth to all of us. This happened while listening to "We Didn't Start the Fire".
There are a couple lyrics that are worth noting in the chorus. The rest of the song is a machine gun fire of names and events from the 1950's through the 1980's. The part in the chorus "We didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the world's been turning. We didn't start the fire. No we didn't light it. But we tried to fight it."
Fire has been connected to the Holy Spirit ever since Pentecost. Tongues of fire came to rest on the disciples and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. During this, Peter spoke to the crowd which had gathered and evangelized, speaking of Jesus. Three thousand were added to their number that day. They went from a frightened group of 12 to 3,012 in one day through the actions of the Holy Spirit.
Paul adds in Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don't know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans"
The definition for advocate is one that pleads the case of another, such as arguing the cause of a person in a court of law. Both Jesus and Paul use a similar description in their comments on the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will help us to remember all that Jesus had taught. Also, the Spirit is a helper in our weakness, praying for us, and interceding for us. The Spirit is also referred to as our counselor. Elsewhere, it is stated by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope, that we will be taught by the Spirit, who will interpret spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. Also, the Spirit is considered a Helper.
That's a lot of things the Holy Spirit does for us. Which makes sense as He is God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three in one. Most of the time we refer to the Holy Spirit as "it" rather than being God. Might explain why we know less of the Spirit as opposed to God and Jesus.
But, taking liberties with Billy's lyrics - the Holy Spirit has been around always - we had nothing to do with Him, and often we resist His call.
Throughout Romans 8, Paul discusses what living a life led by the Spirit looks like rather than the law. There are two lifestyles referred to here. Being governed by the flesh or governed by the Spirit. Two polar opposites as Paul denotes. Living in the flesh leads to being against God and to death. While the Spirit brings life. He gives the warning that those in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Those led by the Spirit of God are children of God, not slaves. That is good news. As children we are heirs of God. This means we share in Christ's sufferings in order that we may share in His glory. Paul, I admit, explains it better in Romans 8 than I am here.
Our lives revolve around the Spirit. For without Him, we would be lost. God has sent Him to fill many roles to help us out.
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