THURSDAY, MAY 4TH, 2023 - MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

 THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023 - MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

STAR WARS DAY - MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU 

Well, one event today and one (maybe two) tomorrow.

As a play on words, May the 4th had become “May the Force be with You” - the concept of the first (and most important?) Star Wars movie.  May the fourth - may the force.

The movies depict the force as something internal.  Christians might want to say it is the “infilling of the Holy Spirit”.  My cousin might say it is “Ahh”.  Others might have different names - “The Great Spirit” (Native Americans). 

In Star Wars, a Jedi would be able to see if another person was strong in the force.  

Seemingly all of the entities in Star Wars had a little of the force but some rare individuals had a great depth of the Force.

*****

Let’s tie that to Christianity:

From John 7:37-38

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

WOO - Rivers of Living Water.  

Do you?  Do I have such a reservoir of living water within me?  Is “the force” with me.  Is “The Force” of Star Wars the same or similar to the Holy Spirit?

It does seem that Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars is identified as “being strong in the force” by Obi-Wan-Kenobi.  And, his twin sister (Princess Leia) later is identified as having “the force”.  The Force - something inside and something that a person who has some awareness can see and notice.

How does that work?

King Saul, the first King of the Hebrews was not generally recognized as having “The Force”, but consider this:

How about 1 Samuel 10:10-11  (King Saul - Old Testament) 

When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.  When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”  

Hmmm - “The Spirit of God came powerfully upon him and he joined in prophesying.” Something that could be seen. Is that like “The Force” of Star Wars?

*****

Back to the New Testament:

From the Day of Pentecost - Acts Chapter 2:

Acts 2:4 -  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.  (and verse 9 - “ These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! )

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them <. . . >

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Something significant happened on that day.  The timid disciples had been meeting in locked rooms for fear of the authorities - and BOOM - they were FILLED with the Holy Spirit.  People even thought they were drunk.

And, a couple more examples:

Acts 6:5  They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

*****

Now, over the years, the Christian church has tried to decide how to handle this “Force”.  The most general is at some point a person (mostly a child) “enters” the church assembly; and then later they receive confirmation - the gift of the Holy Spirit.  But, maybe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for individuals.

1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy

14:5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,

14:15  I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.

4:18  I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

4:39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 

*****

The Force of God - rivers of living water will flow from within them. How do we get that living water?  Ask God for the Gift of the Holy Spirit!!

*****

May the Force be with you.  May there be something/someone - who seems to be strong in the force that you know?  Are you that person?  Do you want to be?

Are you timid and scared like Luke Skywalker was in the initial stages of Star Wars - episode 4 (which was the first movie)? Can we be open to The Force?  Luke turned off his computer and being ‘led by the force” - drops the bomb that destroys the Death Star.  (The voice of Obi-Wan speaks to the young rookie “MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU”.  

May some deep, positive, entity give you strength and wisdom on this Star Wars Day

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, MAY 4, 2023