05/17/2021
We pray, and as we do so we ask that the Holy Spirit guide us, but when we exit our prayer closet, or other place of prayer, do we leave him behind? Those who do so don’t understand him fully, and the impact he has on our daily lives. However, if we do know him better, and we feel him surrounding us all day long, do we think that he is just hovering about us as we do whatever it is that we do in the world? If so then we misunderstand our relationship with him; he is not meant to follow us about like a puppy, but we are to keep in step with him. Do we walk in the steps of the Spirit throughout our lives?
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25 ESV
Jesus said he would send us a comforter, but he goes on to tell us that the Holy Spirit will do so much more than just sooth us spiritually, we are not meant to simply sit back, and wait for the return of Jesus, but to continue on in our faith. Jesus prayed specifically that we not be removed from the world... listen to what He prays...
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
John 17:15-18 ESV
It is true that Jesus asked God to send us the Holy Spirit to comfort us, but also to do much more than that. He recognized, in the prayer we just read, that the “evil one” remained in the world, so if we were to remain in the world living, teaching, and preaching God’s Word, and the gospel of Jesus, then we were going to need help. We were certainly going to need help in praying, but much more than that, as temptation continued to swirl about us, and Satan came against us, we would need the Holy Spirit to teach us, and help us remember those things that we have already heard, and been taught. We would need daily assistance, and strengthening as we continued doing God’s will, and to be comforted as we rested, and renewed ourselves for each new day.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 14:26 ESV
So how do we see the Holy Spirit in our lives? Is he back there somewhere waiting for us in our prayer closet, or maybe wafting about in the church sanctuary? Perhaps we see him following us around waiting for us to say “Come Holy Spirit... Come into this place.” as we summon him into our presence? Well, if that is how we have been thinking about him, or this is the place we have relegated him to in our lives, then we have missed the reason that Jesus asked for him to be sent to us in the first place. Each believer has joined the royal priesthood, and if we accept this as our calling in Christ, then it is also our anointing. So listen to the words of Isaiah, and Jesus, and realize why the Holy Spirit has come upon us... upon you...
The words of Isaiah...
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”
Isaiah 61:1 ESV
And the words of Jesus...
““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.””
Luke 4:18-19 ESV
We too have been anointed. We have each been anointed by Jesus through the great commission to go into the world..
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
And then as he prepared to ascend into heaven he made another amazing declaration that places us on the plane of Isaiah, and even Himself. Listen as he anoints us, and breathes the Holy Spirit onto us..
“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.””
John 20:21-23 ESV
So today, if we haven’t done so already, we should acknowledge the true place that the Holy Spirit should occupy in our lives of faith. Are we ready to do so, and stop treating him like a Cinderella figure in our royal lives?
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for our anointing into the royal priesthood, and for your Holy Spirit that is upon us. Open our eyes Lord, so that we can accept him fully, and see him at work in our lives. Teach us to walk with him, and to follow in his steps, even as we follow in the steps of Jesus who breathed him upon us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose Holy Spirit is with us always, to comfort, and guide us in every aspect of our lives. Praised be your name for the prayers he voices for our spirit when we are at a loss for words, for allowing us to remember the words of Jesus, and to reach out to others with the gospel. Merciful are you Father, and full of grace is your Son Jesus who ushers us into your presence. Hear our prayers of contrition, and forgive us our sins. Know that we have been born again of water and the Spirit. Wash us in the blood of your Son Jesus, and see Him in us when we come before you in judgement. Find us worthy on that day, and let all heaven rejoice as we are seated at your table forevermore.
“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
John 3:5-7 ESV
Rich Forbes