Choice Christian greetings to you today and every day,
I have been meditating on the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, who is promised to each and every one of us. Over the years one of my favorite lifetime studies is God the Holy Spirit. I met Him before I was saved, for on several occasions He saved my life and even spoke to me in situations. I can honestly say that I knew Him as a person before I received Him into my life. Let me tell you how I knew Him.
I knew the Holy Spirit by observation of what happened in my family, when the Holy Spirit came into their lives. There was an immediate change in the atmosphere of our homes and the center of their conversations. The Bible became the centerpiece in their lives. It was as though they delighted in the Word of God. They could not wait until Sundays, mid-week service or revivals. I was there it was as simple as that; no questions ask. They never let up talking to me about God
and His will for my life. It was like they confronted me with their lifestyle and their character. They became a visible yardstick of right and wrong. There was never any profanity in the house I don’t even remember one curse word coming out of my father’s mouth as a child and he never became a Christian until after I was converted to Christ. Never onetime, did I have to take an empty beer can to the curb for garbage pickup. The atmosphere of my home was like going to
church, there was no difference in what I felt in our home and in God’s house. They got their prayers answered, in many wonderful ways and I observed this on a daily basis. I was taught the Word of God and knew that the Holy Spirit was promised to the believer:
Luke 24:29: “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Acts 1:5 “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
I heard of the Holy Spirit through the preachers and my family. They taught without reservation these things about power:
• His power was Divine, Luke 4:14, Luke 3:21,22
• His power was comforting, John 16:7
• He gave us power to witness, acts 1:8 (I heard this often)
• His power was for spiritual BOLDNESS, Acts 4:31
• He Anointed us with power to speak, Acts 2:1-4
I watched as people tarried for hours, literally for hours as they sought the Divine gift of the Holy Spirit. I saw people under the power, I heard prophecy and tongues and interpretation come from common people under the power. I saw manifestations of the Spirit and watched as people were healed under the power. I heard the great stories of missionaries who attributed everything that happened in their lives to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and His guidance in
their lives. I listened as my uncle’s taught and preached the Word of God and it spoke to me when one new it but me.
I heard the Holy Spirit preached and taught about not an It or an influence or even just a power but as God the Holy Ghost. I am not sure anyone knew I was listening, but I was. There was so much to be learned, so many verses to confirm what I heard in regard to where God was taking me on my life journey.
The Holy Spirit has led me into a promised inheritance. He has been to me sweet communion in difficult times and is with me 24/7 as I follow on, to know the Lord. What Joel prophesied to the prophets in the book of Numbers 12:6 I have personally experienced. I have been purged by the Spirit as Isaiah spoke of Isaiah 4:4. It was the Holy Spirit who taught me to take God at His word. One of the most important things I have learned as I walk with and live the Spirit Filled life is to ask. Check this out:
Jacob asked for a blessing, Solomon asked for understanding, Elisha asked for a ‘double portion’, David asked for a renewed spirit within him, to be thirsty is asking and God promised to pour out His Spirit on the thirsty, Paul asked that he might be strengthened by the Spirit in his inner man.
I love the FACTS and ACTS of the Holy Spirit.
• HE BROODS OVER US, (THE FIRST TIME WE SEE HIM HE IS BROODING OVER THE CHAOS) GENESIS 1:2
• HE FILLS AS AT PENTECOST, ACTS 2:1-4
• HE CONVICTS AND CONVINCES, JOHN 16:8-11
• HE REGENERATES, JOHN 3
• HE UNITES, GALATIANS 3:2
• HE DWELLS IN US, 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19
• HE SEALS, EPHESIANS 1:13
• HE OVERFLOWS WITH BLESSING, JOHN 7:37,39
• HE INSTRUCTS i.e.: THE ANOINTING, 1ST JOHN 1:27
• HE SETS FREE; BY LAW, ROMANS 8
• HE EQUIPS, 1 CORINTHIANS 12
I hope you are benefitting from these weekly letters, as much as I am. The conditions to be met for receiving is easy to discover, first and foremost is hunger of soul Matthew 5:6 and the second is surrender 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 12:1.