As we wrap up the series on the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we consider more closely how positive the role of the Holy Spirit is in the life of a believer. It is important to understand that He did not come to condemn and punish the child of God, He is instead, the greatest gift that God has given us. There is often this fear among men of being alone and having no one, but we should find comfort, because Jesus told us that ‘…I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you’ (John 14:18) – He was talking about the Holy Spirit, who came to remain in and with us. He is not a concept, an idea or a force – He is the third person of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, He does not come and go. The Bible tells us, ‘Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us…’ (Romans 5:5), wherein the term ‘poured out’ refers to a gushing out and spill over of the Love of God into our spirit. This is one of His key ministries, to make known and alive the love of God in the heart of the believer. Jesus said that all who believe Him shall flow rivers of living water out of their belly (John 7:38), and the Apostle John further justified this statement, saying, ‘But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (v.39). It is therefore not possible to comprehend the love of God without the help of the Holy Spirit.
However, when we look closer, we see that believers today are not flowing rivers of God’s love within their heart, they only experience droplets at best. Believers need to allow the Holy Spirit to overwhelm their heart with the love and goodness of God, that on the day of battle, they are strong in the conviction. Apostle Paul taught that faith works through love (Galatians 5:6), making it hard to walk in perfect faith without an understanding of the love the God. Additionally, it is also difficult to love others without the revelation of the love of God, it becomes easy to pick offences and harbour unforgiveness. This happens when we misunderstand God, thinking He is always looking for our wrongs and waiting at the corner to punish us. When God created light, darkness was still there, but His focus was only on the light – yet we think His focus is always on what is wrong with His children and not what is good. God knows all things, why should our weaknesses shock Him? This fallen world has continued to feed this mindset, where everything in this life is conditional, making it hard for the believer to understand the unconditional nature of God’s love.
The Holy spirit came to fulfil many duties, but children of God today treat Him cheaply, and fail to place a demand on His services. He is called a comforter, a counsellor, but when sorrowed and distressed, how many of us allow Him to minister to us in our times of need? How many times do we truly allow Him to play His role, fellowshipping with Him intimately and making the most of all He has to offer? He is the strength we need for all the persecution we face in the world; He is the answer – but we seek what only He can offer from mere men who are as limited as we are. We should place that demand on the Holy Spirit, and we will cease from trying to feed and fulfil our spirit with soulish pleasures. These pleasures we think can replace the ministry of the Spirit cater to the flesh and are temporary, which leads to people always chasing for the next fix and relief. The Holy Spirit is the answer we seek, and He will keep you in the love of God – where you draw your strength and activate faith for your circumstances. When you pray in the Holy Spirit, you stir up the resident virtues of Christ within you. Prophet Isaiah said, ‘For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” and, “This is the refreshing”; yet they would not hear’ (Isaiah 28:11-12). This is what happens in an atmosphere of the move of the Spirit, you will find people laughing uncontrollably in joy, experiencing peace unexplainable, and much more.
The Holy Spirit also came to give believers direction. But unfortunately, children of God today still insist on hearing audible voices or seeing burning bushes – but the Spirit lives within you and is one with your own spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17), so that is where He will primarily communicate from. Your spirit is joined atom for atom, synonymous in all aspects with the Spirit of God – you are literally one third [God]. Therefore, everything that the Spirit has (Galatians 5:22), we also have! So why would the Holy Spirit need to come out of you to speak to you? He will make an impression, and it will come across to your soulish realm as if you yourself made it up because it has not learnt to discern between your spirit and the Holy Spirit – as you are one and inseparable. Yes, He can use external means to convey a message, but this is not His primary mode of operation. He will use your spirit, what is most often referred to in the church as an inner witness or impression. These impressions of the Holy Spirit are always within the confines of God’s word, and will lead you into peace and not distress. Stop missing out, child of God! Begin to place a demand on the ministry of the Holy Spirit today!
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, whom You have sent to dwell in and with us until the return of our Lord. We thank You for ensuring we are not left as orphans, and for providing a standby who has capacity to see to our every need. Father, we receive the grace to enable us to fully accept Him and to allow Him to work to His fullest in our lives, we reject a life without Your very best for us! In the name of Jesus, Amen!
