The Holy Spirit and You

I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ (born again), because of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit drew me to God - and I listened. The songwriter makes it clear:

“I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice
“And it told thy love to me.
“But I long to rise in the arms of faith
“And be closer drawn to thee.
“Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
“To the cross where thou hast died.
“Draw, me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
“To thy precious bleeding side.”

I am a follower of Christ because the Spirit called my name, and I answered. In the United Methodist Church, we call that prevenient Grace. It is the grace or Spirit that God puts in each of us at birth to help us recognize that we need him. Without prevenient grace, none of us could make the step towards God that saves our lives. In John 6:44, Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me…”

For me to reach my full potential, it will also take the power of the Holy Spirit working in me and with me. In the United Methodist Church, we call that sanctification. In today’s terms, it is called growing spiritually. In the process of sanctification—or growing spiritually—I am actively involved with the Holy Spirit in my spiritual growth by

• submitting myself to God’s will,
• attending Bible Study,
• attending Sunday School, and
• attending worship and any other spiritual growth opportunity.

So, I need the Holy Spirit to move me towards God so that I can be saved, and I need Him to help me to grow spiritually. The former portion of the Spirit is freely given to me at birth but, to obtain the latter portion, there is something that I must do.

A woman was sipping on a glass of wine, while sitting on the patio with her husband, and she said, "I love you so much; I don't know how I could ever live without you." Her husband asked, "Is that you or the wine talking?" She replied, "It's me .............. talking to the wine”.

We need the Holy Spirit because dealing with life, and struggles, and people can be too much for us to handle alone. And, when life becomes too much, many of us turn to drugs; we drink ourselves under the table; we become hard to deal with. We can’t stand ourselves, and nobody else can, either. Life is gigantic, and it is too much for us to grapple with by ourselves.

John 14:26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you”.

Jesus says the Holy Spirit will teach us about the truth of God. No person by scholarship, or research, or human reason, or brainpower alone can comprehend what God says. We need the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us. He is our Spiritual Educator. He shows us what truth is. He explains life to us, and how to deal with life’s complexities.

He teaches us how to have a new beginning and how to make a new ending to our lives. Blossoming to our fullest potential will come from the Holy Spirit equipping and training us. He shows us how to accomplish the plans that God has for us—how to make those plans a reality. The Holy Spirit is our teacher. Well, how do we let the Holy Spirit do his teaching work in us…?

Luke 11:13 says, “if you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Jesus says, in this text, that He will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Although it is not said, believing has something to do with receiving the Holy Spirit as well. Believing that the Holy Spirit can do his work in you comes before asking him to do it. If you want the Holy Spirit to do his teaching work in you so that you grow spiritually, you have to believe that God will give him to you. You have to believe that the Holy Spirit can do in your life what God intends for him to do.

John Wesley said this in his Journal on January 1, 1739: "… Mr. Hall, Kinchin, Ingham, Whitefield, Lane, with about sixty of our brethren. About three in the morning, as we were continuing in instant prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe and amazement at the presence of his Majesty, we broke out with one voice, ‘We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord’."

Wesley wrote in his journal that he and his colleagues sought the Holy Spirit and the power of God showed up in their lives in a powerful way. Wesley said the Holy Spirit was so powerful that, after he touched them, they had to recover because they were so overwhelmed with joy.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him”. Those who believe in the Holy Spirit and ask for his presence will receive the Holy Spirit’s presence. In other words, whenever you ask with faith for the power of the Holy Spirit, you will be rewarded. The Holy Spirit will manifest himself to you. He will not conceal himself. He will not camouflage himself. He will reveal himself to you. He makes himself known to you.

After he reveals himself to you, ask him to do his work in you. Constantly ask the Holy Spirit to help you to become what God intends for you to be. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to do what God wants you to do. The Holy Spirit is available to all who believe and ask. Do you believe this? Have you asked?

If you believe and ask, he will show up. If you believe and ask, he will come. As we wait for the Holy Spirit to come and guide us so that we can reach our full potential—grow spiritually, become what God intends—let us say together in the words of Daniel Iverson:

“Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;
“Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
“Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
“Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”

Payback

The Holy Spirit will not lead you to do what is contrary to the Word of God, but it will lead you to do what is contrary to what people have taught you.

People will say one thing, but God will say another. People will say go this way, but God will say “Uh, Uh, go this way.”

You don’t believe me. Let me prove it to you: Matthew 5:38-42 says "You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you."

Let me explain what this Scripture means in contemporary terms: People say when someone wrongs you, get even, but Jesus says do good to those who wrong you. He says do not keep score, but love and forgive. Instead of planning vengeance, pray for those who hurt you.

Payback and evening the score belongs God. So, you pray for those who have hurt you, and let God handle the rest—and he will. God is not blind; he sees everything. And whatever you plant (good or bad), you will receive, eventually.