The Spirit is a live album and Single of the same name by British melodic rock band Magnum, released in 1991 by Polydor. Recorded during the Goodnight L.A. tour, the selection of recordings was made according to the band's live set. The band selected the recording that they were most happy with. Although it was originally intended to be a double CD covering Magnum's full set at the time, it was changed to a single disc to cut costs. Polydor reluctantly promoted the album and the tour, following the disappointing sales of Goodnight L.A.. Considering Polydor's decision to market Magnum towards an American market, the band were unhappy with the promotion of both Goodnight L.A. and The Spirit. After the tour to promote The Spirit, the band decided to leave Polydor, agreeing to pay to end their contract with their own money.
The Spirit is a song about Trust, Guidance, and being led by the Spirit within. The lyrics talk of navigating through life, not trusting some things and giving yourself to the spirit who dwells within. You could call this "Being led by the spirit" There are a number of ways in which this is evident "The spirit inside you will always be true" "The spirit implores you to tread where you dare" "And it will be your helper when loyalties divide" The song is a pointer to the human spirit that is each of us and that the human spirit can be a guide to us through life. It's a bit like saying "Listen to your heart" or "Go with what you heart tells you to do" Not to sound to negative, but I tried that and have ended up in a lot of difficulties by simply being guided by my feelings and emotions. There could be more that is read into this song. The lyrics could refer to something more sinister The "Spirit" referred to could be an "Evil spirit". Being led by evil forces - but the lyrics do say "The spirit inside you will always be true" the alternative would be "The Holy Spirit"
Don't place your trust in foolish promises sworn
Nor cryptic message scrawled upon every wall
Street corner justice beware
The spirit will find you always be fair
The shallow verse once read means nothing at all
Nor fearful gestures made for instant recall
In lies your heart will not share
The spirit inside used without care
The spirit that guides you follow it through
To the spirit inside you always be true
You know you'll despair
If the spirit inside is used without care
The battlefield of glory pales into rust
The river flows much thicker fed by each thrust
No beast alive does compare
The spirit beside you everywhere
Let not your head be turned by tainted reward
And dreams of fortune won forever to hoard
Your conscience could not repair
The spirit inside used without care
'Cause it will be your shelter, help you how to decide
And it will be your helper should your loyalties divide
The ash of pages swept before the cruel wind
The loss of choices praises no-one will sing
No clues to how you will fare
The spirit implores you tread where you dare
The dust lies thick on casket rich or quite poor
Distinction disappears the worm both deplore
The candle burns out once more
But the spirit inside you won't be ignored
Jesus has been the constant guide and leader for the disciples. In a 3 year period Jesus has filled their lives with excitement and adventure. they had seen things that their minds and heart had branded as being impossible. The had also seen the way in which the religious institution had reacted towards Jesus and wanted him dead. so when he announced that he was going away. They were more than worried. Jesus spoke to them about how they would be led in the future. How they would know what to do. How they would continue to do the work that he had called them to and how they would be discipled in the truth.
John 14: 15 - 21 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Jesus tells them that they will not be guided in the same way again. His guidance appealed to their emotions and their understanding but the Spirit would live in them and point the way. The Spirit that is called the advocate (The Helper, The Counsellor, The Guide) Jesus also goes on to explain some further truths concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit his role and the kind of work that "HE" - The Spirit will accomplish. The Holy spirit comes - says Jesus to do a specific work that will be a world wide ministry.
John 16:7-11 "Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."
Jesus goes on and tells the disciples that if he does not go away then the "Spirit" the advocate will not come. Jesus also tells them what the Spirits role will be to and in them. He will guide, He will speak, He will tell you what is to come, He will glorify me, he will receive and give. He will make things known. Jesus is clear on the work, the role and the ministry of the Spirit. The Holy spirit that only ministers the things of Jesus.
John 16:12 - 15 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”In Lukes Gospel we find Jesus speaking again with his disciples about the work of the spirit. In Luke's gospel.
Luke 24:45-48 "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus speaks about the disciples waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. The promise of the father in the words of the prophets in the Old Testament - Describing the work of the Holy Spirit. "Clothed with Power" is a way of describing the gifting, skills, talents, supernatural abilities that will be needed to preach Jesus in all the world. Luke speaks of this again in chapter one of the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 1:7-8 "He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Again Jesus uses the word power and uses it in the context of witnessing to the whole world. The Spirit will enable the Good News to be preached throughout the earth. Starting in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria and then to the ends of the earth. Good news for Jew and Gentile. The "Sprit" will see to it that this is done. this will be his ministry in and with the disciples of the early church. So the disciples go to Jerusalem and wait for the "Spirit" Acts tell us what happened in Acts 2:
Acts 2:1-12 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
The disciples - (Men and Women) gather in the upper room in a constancy of prayer and the power comes...........wind, breath of God, fire like tongues, a presence that will the whole place. they were not left in any doubt that heaven had come down and the promise of God had come fulfilled.
Jesus attributes the work of transformation in the heart, in the world to the work of the Spirit. He "The Spirit" speaks of Jesus - the scripture is clear "He will not speak on his own" The spirit is given to all disciples everywhere to accomplish the will and plan of God.
Jesus told the disciples that he was going to leave them and that they had work to do. they know that could not do that work on their own. He promises the power, strength, ability to do what he was inviting them to do. The same is true today - In the Magnum track "The Spirit" we hear that it is the strength of the spirit that leads and guides. Jesus invites each of us to engage in his world transforming work...... but we cannot hope to do any of it in our own strength....... but we can begin to work and serve Jesus in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Ask God about this and I'm sure he will speak to you. May you like the disciples discover heaven come down and glory filling your souls. Without the Spirit we can do nothing but with God's Spirit we will do the impossible.
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