Category: Holy Spirit

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make him twice the son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15)

Jesus plainly reveals here that not all conversion is good. A person who thinks he is doing God’s will, but does not really know Him, can do more harm than good. Saul was zealous to do God’s work but was totally off track until he met Jesus. As a changed man, Paul became a great evangelist.

God’s ultimate will is for a lost person to find Him… and Jesus is the way to the Father. After Christ set a demon-possessed man free from his tormentors, the man wanted to join the disciples. But Jesus gave him another assignment:

“‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” (Mark 5:19-20)

After Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well, she went home as a witness. The townspeople asked Jesus to stay with them… “and He stayed two days. And because of His words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man is really the Savior of the world.’” (John 3:40-42)

I need the Holy Spirit to help me be an effective witness! He is the One who convicts the world of sin, but He calls us to spread the Word. The Holy Spirit will surely first give us the proper motivation. We have experienced the love of God, so we now share that love. “We love because He first loved us.” An evangelist without love is “like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Holy Spirit, baptize us with the Father’s love.

The Holy Spirit will also show us how to share our Lord. Jesus shared His Father in different ways. Each situation was unique and He allowed the Spirit to lead Him. The Holy Spirit wants every person to know Jesus, and He knows what is needed in each case. Even though we may be hesitant or unclear, we must remember God is with us. Holy Spirit, lead us to live and share the Gospel. Please give us wisdom and discernment for each situation.

Finally, the Holy Spirit will give us courage. Paul requested this: “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.” (Ephesians 6:19) Paul knew from experience that Jesus is often rejected, but he also knew he needed to continue to share the hope of the world. Holy Spirit, as God’s children, make us fearless ambassadors for Christ.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16

Jesus’ encounter with a thirsty woman illustrates human tendency. This story also shows how Jesus has the ability to cut through our shallow comments and thinking to focus on what really matters. (see John 4)

When we want to make things about race or gender or societal correctness, Jesus makes the conversation personal.

Woman – “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?”
Jesus – “If you knew the Gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would ask Him and He would give you Living Water.”

When we want to interpret things literally, Jesus uses symbols.

Jesus – “Whoever drinks the Water I will give him will never thirst again. Indeed, the Water I will give him will become in him a spring of Water welling up to eternal life.”
Woman – “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

When we want to change the subject… and remain elusive with the parts of our lives we’d like to keep hidden, He makes us face the truth.

Jesus – “Go, call your husband and come back.”
Woman – “I have no husband.”
Jesus – “You are right… The fact is you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is quite true.”

When we try to shift the conversation to religion, forms of worship, or other differences between groups, Jesus points to His Father… who is above all.

Woman – “I can see you are a prophet. Our fathers worship on this mountain, but you Jews claim that where we should worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus – “A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.”

When we try to keep things nebulous or symbolic or in the category of knowledge no one clearly understands, Jesus makes Truth literal… “I am.”

Woman – “I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes He will explain everything to us.”
Jesus – “I who speak to you am He.”

Jesus loves the thirsty… and He has the answer for our thirst! He wants us to come to Him, stay with Him, believe in Him, talk to Him, walk with Him, and receive from Him. “Thank You, Lord, for Your Living Water. Please flow through us every day.”

“’If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of Living Water will flow from within him.’ By this He meant the Spirit, who those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39

Emma sent me this picture with the caption: ‘Anxiously awaiting a fish.’ I replied: ‘Like father, like son.’

As sons and daughters of God, we are invited to participate in the Father’s great purposes. As friends of Jesus, we have the privilege of adopting His priorities and entering His life and work.

Sometimes this may mean waiting with our Father… or watching with our Friend. Jesus asked his three closest friends to pray with Him as He entered His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Three times the disciples fell asleep. “Could you not keep watch one hour?” (see Mark 14:37-38)

Peter, James, and John wanted to be loyal friends, but they could not endure that night. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” Jesus said. Having perhaps set a record for sleeping in church in my younger years, I know their feeling, but what about now?

The disciples matured to a far stronger place after Jesus ascended and they would agree the Holy Spirit gave them the power. We have been given the Holy Spirit, but do we ask what our Friend is thinking?

The Holy Spirit wants us to have ‘the mind of Christ.’ Is His top priority a national election? Or a championship baseball game? Or an important financial decision? Perhaps our Father is concentrating on a ‘fish’ who is about to enter His Kingdom. Perhaps our Friend’s pressing concern is a group of believers suffering for His Name. Will not the ‘mind of Christ’ produce a radically different outlook than the thinking of the world?

Several years ago, an American lady named Kimberly entered an effort to rescue children in South Sudan, the newest nation on earth. This past summer, civil war broke out and thousands of precious children have been in the danger zone.

Romano is a Sudanese brother who has committed to do all he can to house, feed, and educate 300 orphans in one of the most dangerous locations. A few days ago, an armed segment of one of the warring factions threatened Romano, accusing him of being a spy. Appealing for food the ministry had already purchased, Romano was told: “If you say any more, then we will not be held responsible for any deaths which may occur at an attack upon your place. It will be your fault.”

Romano sent a message through his American friend Kimberly: “Will you ask all who know about us to pray through the weekend?” Such pleas lead to opportunities for friends of Jesus to participate with our Savior. “Holy Spirit, let us be attuned.”

“These are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us… The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”
I Corinthians 2: 10-16

When we first become Christians we feel that we have finally come to ‘know’ God, and so we have. But as we progress in faith we go through times when we are less and less certain that we really know Him at all, and yet more certain than ever that He knows us.

It is not our opinion that makes the difference; rather it is the judgment of the King. “Depart from me; I never knew you,” is the horrifying message Jesus predicts He will say to many who thought they were in good standing. “But Lord, we did this and this and this…,” but these attempts at justification fall short of what is needed. (see Matthew 7:21-23)

The Holy Spirit brings the reality of sonship into our lives. When Susan and I first entered our Jewish friends’ home in Israel, we only heard one word from two small children, a boy and a girl. Their father, Steve, led us into his house and was immediately swarmed by the little ones shouting, “Abba, Abba… Abba, Abba!” ‘Daddy’ was home and he scooped up his children with hugs and kisses.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:15-16)

The good father knows his children. The perfect Father knows us. We know this by faith… the Holy Spirit impresses the truth in our hearts and we long to hear our Father’s words: “I love you with an unfailing love.” “I have chosen you.” “Do not be afraid, My child.” “I will complete what I have started in you.” “Accept My discipline… a sign of love for those I love.” “With Me, all things are possible.” “Do not worry.” “Heaven is beyond anything you can imagine.” “Ask and you shall receive.” “Be ready; Jesus is coming soon.”

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead. Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:11-13

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” I John 3:1

Quote from ‘The Gospel According to Job’ by Mark Mason; ©1994 Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL; p 48

I imagine we would have asked the same questions and made the same errors the disciples did in their pursuit of knowing God. “’Show us the Father and that will be enough for us,’ Philip said. ‘Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me?’” (John 14:8-10) Even in His presence, the apostles fell short of really knowing the Lord.

Peter might have called himself a failure in trust, love, and obedience. He sank after a few steps on the Sea of Galilee; he denied he even knew Jesus on the night of His arrest; and he disobeyed his Master three times by falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane. With our lack of understanding and human weakness, how can any of us succeed?

God knew we could not save ourselves and He knows we cannot follow Jesus without divine help. Though they did not comprehend, the disciples were told that a Helper would come. “I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7)

I need help! I need help to trust; I need help to love; and I need help to obey. God answers: “You are right… so I give you My Spirit. Do not even try to live through your own efforts… depend on Me. Accept My help and learn to live in Me and you will experience the abundant life I have promised.”

“If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you – 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 obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” John 14:15-21

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:25-27