06/19/2019
Regardless of our church, whether Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal, or one of the other Protestant denominations, we all speak of the Holy Spirit, and acknowledge His presence, but we seem to be afraid of what we might find if He were to come in fullness upon us. We sing songs regarding the Holy Spirit, invite Him into our services, and pray prayers inviting Him to pour Himself out on us, but is this nothing more than lip service? Have we limited our understanding of Him to the point that we are crippled? Some limping on the right leg, some on the left?
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:4 ESV
This particular scripture regarding tongues, during the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit, thrills the Pentecostals, and brings fear and question to others. The Pentecostals say speaking in tongues is the only true evidence of the Spirit today while others say this and other signs ended long ago, or that only certain of the gifts and signs remain today, and not others. Yet Peter preached the following words immediately after the outpouring and said this of Him...
“"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”
Acts 2:17-21 ESV
In this sermon Peter gives us a list of signs, and following these signs of the Spirit he talks of some happenings which will occur in the end times. I ask you a simple question... when did the Holy Spirit either abandon us, or scripturally become limited in the Church? Have we done this to ourselves due to a lack of faith? Is it fear of what He might teach us, that life as we know it might end, or that He might reveal a shortcoming in us; something we are lacking that we are reluctant to address?
Charles Spurgeon, an influential English Particular Baptist, who preached for 38 years in the mid to late 1800s, spoke extensively of the Holy Spirit, and said this of Him:
“If all of us were filled with the Holy Spirit, this would be a day of rich blessing. It would be impossible to overestimate the importance of this sacred filling of souls. Life, comfort, light, purity, power, peace, and many other precious blessings are products the Spirit’s beneficial presence.” - Charles Spurgeon
Then, as if to remove doubt that the Holy Spirit is still with us today he went on to say:
“As the wind, the Spirit brings the breath of life to humans - blowing where He pleases, He performs the life-giving operation by which the spiritual creation is animated and sustained. May God grant us to feel His Spirit’s presence today and every day.” - Charles Spurgeon
So what frightens so many of us regarding the presence of the Holy Spirit; is it the mention of the end days... is this what frightens us? Are we so afraid of the end of days that we attempt to lessen the Holy Spirit in hopes of fending it off? This begs a further question: “How is it that we can say “Come quickly Lord Jesus”, and yet not want Him to come right this minute?”
Or perhaps our fear stems from a loss of control, shortcomings we see in our life, or of making a commitment to leave everything behind and following after Jesus... just as He once told the wealthy man...
“Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Matthew 19:21-22 ESV
Scripture records the words of Jesus regarding the coming Holy Spirit as He was about to ascend into heaven. He said these words to His apostles...
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
John 14:16-17 ESV
There is no verse in the Bible that likewise says the Holy Spirit will go, and as a matter of fact Jesus says in this passage that the Spirit will be with us forever. There is no limiting scripture regarding the sign that we have accepted the Holy Spirit. There is certainly evidence of a changed life by an increased understanding of Jesus, and the Word of God.
“"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
John 16:12-14 ESV
So the Spirit remains with us, and will not been handcuffed by us, or limited in any way. Prophecy, dreams, understanding, wisdom, tongues, and more are all flowing from Him as they are needed by us as we follow Jesus, and to do God’s will in our life. Are you ready to open yourself to His presence today?
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, and the comforter, your Holy Spirit, that Jesus asked you to send us. Open our eyes Holy Father that we might see your Spirit working in our lives in all of His power and fullness. Let every sign, and every gift be made available to us as we seek to do your will. Teach us through your Holy Spirit to love you more, to deliver the gospel with power, and to understand your Word more completely than we ever thought possible. Let your Holy Spirit pour into us Father. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who never leaves us, and whose Holy Spirit abides within us. Great is your mercy, that you would shower yourself upon us. Glorious are you whose grace abounds through Jesus Christ, and is made clear to us by your Spirit. Praised be your name always Father, even in those times when our prayers are unspeakable and delivered by your Spirit in our muteness. All Glory is yours Father... as it has been, is, and is to come.
“The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
Revelation 22:17 ESV
Rich Forbes