Kingdom Tension: What "Come Holy Spirit" Really Means

Tim Mackie Session 3 from the Holy Spirit Conference

Photo by Gabriel Crismariu on Unsplash

I have been writing about the talks Robin and I were able to be a part of at the Holy Spirit Conference in Portland. Again, an absolutely amazing experience, and the fact that I got to be in the room with Tyler Staton, NT Wright, and Tim Mackie…that is just about as good as it gets. If you are not familiar with Tim, I'm sorry! Tim is one of the creators of the Bible Project, and in my opinion one of the most important modern day theologians.

Ok, so here we go. Tim unpacked what do we really mean by "Come Holy Spirit." Let's walk through the talk, and I will do my best to share his key points.

The Paradox Tim Uncovered

The first thing that struck me was Tim's observation about the paradox in this phrase we use constantly. When we say "come," we typically mean something isn't here that we want to be here. Tim talked a lot about his new dog Pippin, and circled back to him regularly. When he calls Pippin from across the yard - "Come!" - he says that precisely because Pippin is over by a tree and Tim needs him to be next to him.

But Tim pointed out that this can't possibly be what we mean about the Holy Spirit, and here's why:

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” -Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is literally nowhere in God's creation where the Spirit isn't already fully present. So when we say "Come Holy Spirit," we certainly don't mean that the Spirit isn't already here. And yet this is our number one most-used phrase in our spiritual gatherings. So what are we really saying?

The Spirit's Presence Throughout Creation

I loved how Tim expanded on this using other psalms. In Psalm 33, we read: "By the word of Yahweh the skies were made, by the ruach (spirit/breath) of his mouth all their inhabitants."

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” -‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Tim highlighted the parallel structure - God's word is associated with the structure of reality (the blue dome of sky), while God's spirit is associated with all the living, animated creatures under that dome. Every breath we take connects us to this reality - we're literally sharing the same "breath" as we inhale and exhale.

Psalm 104 takes this even further: "You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. You send forth your ruach, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground."

“All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭104‬:‭27‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This blew my mind - creation isn't a one-time event in the distant past. It's happening continuously! Every new birth, every breath, every generation is a fresh intimate kiss of God's spirit. Every creature who dies is returning that borrowed breath back to God.

Let that sink in. Back up and read that again. Creation isn't a one-time event, it's happening continuously.

How Jesus Saw Reality

A key insight Tim offered was about how Jesus himself viewed reality. Jesus' perspective was shaped by deep immersion in the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly certain books.

If you count which books Jesus quoted and referenced most often, the clear winner is the Psalms. The runner-up is Isaiah, followed by Deuteronomy and Genesis. These texts, especially the Psalms, formed Jesus' entire worldview and understanding of God's presence.

One of the most powerful moments in Tim's talk was when he connected Jesus' saying about sparrows to this Psalm-shaped worldview. Jesus told his disciples, "Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without your Father knowing it" (Matthew 10:29). This wasn't just a nice metaphor – it was Jesus expressing his deep conviction, formed by Psalms 139, 33, and 104, that God's Spirit is intimately present in every moment of creation.

As Tim put it, "There is nowhere, no when, no what, and no who in which the Spirit is not." Every breath, every moment, every creature, every person – all exist within and because of God's ruach. This is how Jesus saw the world, with such clarity that he could recognize God's presence in the most ordinary moments.

This helps me understand why Jesus could see God at work everywhere - in birds being fed, in seeds sprouting, in the wind blowing across fields. His imagination was saturated with the Psalm-writer's vision of God's spirit animating all creation.

Spirit-Filled People in Scripture

Tim walked us through several examples of spirit-filled individuals in Scripture that I found fascinating:

1. Joseph - When he interpreted Pharaoh's dream and proposed an economic policy solution, Pharaoh exclaimed, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the ruach of God?" (Genesis 41)

2. Bezalel - This artist (whose name means "in the shadow of God") was "filled with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of skills" to craft the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3)

3. Micah - This prophet described his calling: "As for me, I am filled with power, with the ruach of Yahweh, and with justice and might" (Micah 3:8)

4. David - Reflecting on his poetry, he said, "The ruach of Yahweh spoke through me, his word was on my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2)

What's striking is that these were all deeply flawed humans (David, for example, committed adultery and arranged a murder), yet in specific moments, they became vehicles through which heaven and earth aligned.

What I'm Learning About This Prayer

After hearing Tim's talk, I'm seeing at least three layers of meaning when we pray "Come Holy Spirit":

1. We're Asking for Awareness

   We're not asking the Spirit to come from somewhere else; we're asking to "come to our senses" and perceive the reality that's already surrounding us.

2. We're Asking for Partnership

   Like Joseph, Bezalel, Micah, and David, we want our words and actions today to be vehicles for God's presence. We're asking that what we say and do today would contribute to bringing heaven's reality into our earthly situations.

3. We're Asking for Transformation

   At the deepest level, we're asking to become more like Jesus - the human who was perfectly filled with God's Spirit. We're saying, "Holy Spirit, please create me as the Jesus version of me."

Jesus showed us what a fully Spirit-filled human looks like from conception to ascension. Every step was guided by and filled with the Spirit's presence.

How This Enhances My Approach to Tov Leadership

This perspective is shifting how I pray, live, and lead. It should be obvious, but worth calling out, the world doesn't need a version of us driven by fear, self-preservation, and ego. What our families, workplaces, communities, and churches need - what yours needs - is the most Jesus-like version of us.

Tim suggested that the most real version of you already exists, hidden in God. It's not just a possibility - it's your truest self, waiting to be actualized through partnership with the Spirit. All Creation was Tov! Good, not perfect. Dynamic, evolving, moving, living and breathing. You and I were created and were very good. "Tov Meod" (טוֹב מְאֹד). Very good, but as humans, not perfect.

As I consider what this means for Tov Leadership, I see several key implications:

1. Leadership as Partnership with the Spirit - Rather than seeing leadership as something we do through our own power or wisdom, Tov Leadership recognizes that our best contribution comes when we're vessels for the Spirit's presence, just like Bezalel, Joseph, and others. Leadership development must be deeply integrated with Spiritual formation.

2. Leading from Awareness - Leaders who cultivate awareness of God's presence in all things approach decisions, conflicts, and opportunities differently. We lead from a place of seeing what's already happening, what God is already doing, rather than trying to force our own way and agenda. A key that will help us understand that only God controls and owns the outcomes.

3. Developing Others' True Selves - Perhaps our greatest leadership contribution is helping those around us discover and become their most Jesus-like versions. Instead of molding people into what we want them to be, we help them uncover who they truly are in Christ. We realize that the fruit of our leadership now grows on others’ trees.

4. Embracing Our Imperfections - Like David, we can be deeply flawed and still be vehicles for God's spirit in specific moments. This gives us grace for ourselves and others in leadership journeys. As Brené Brown powerfully states, "Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome." When we embrace this as leaders, we create spaces where others can be their authentic selves. True Spirit-led leadership requires this kind of courage—acknowledging our humanity while allowing God's ruach to work through our imperfections.

5. Leading Through Ordinary Moments - The Spirit's creative work happens in ordinary breaths and everyday moments. Tov Leadership recognizes the sacred potential in seemingly mundane interactions and decisions.

Next time we gather and pray those familiar words, "Come Holy Spirit," I'll remember what we're really asking for:

• To see what's already here, with the Psalm-shaped vision Jesus had

• For my words and actions to reveal God's presence

• To become my truest, most Jesus-like self

• To lead in a way that helps others discover their true selves

I am so grateful and thankful for talks like this, and being exposed to conferences like this that continue to grow and expand my thinking and understanding of Jesus. We must continue to expand our hearts, minds and spirit and never stop growing. Being with Jesus. Becoming Like Jesus. And doing what Jesus did. This has been one of those paradigm-shifting insights that continues to work its way through my thinking, daily life, and leadership approach. I'd love to hear if it impacts you the same way.

Until next time,

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Holy Spirit Conference Writings:

• Small Working Models of New Creation, Session 1

• Beyond 'Going to Heaven': Finding Paradise in God's Presence, Session 2

"You must arrange your days so that you are experiencing total contentment, joy, and confidence in your everyday life with God — that and that alone is what makes a soul healthy." - Dallas Willard