John 16: 7-15 (ESV) “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 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. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore, I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.”
These words of Christ should tell us just how much the Trinity acts as one. There is no division in Their purpose and never a disagreement because They are perfect!
Acts 2:1-4 (ESV) “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each of them. And they were all filled with The Holy Spirit…”
So, let me ask you, Where’s the Father? Where’s the Son? Who is here with us? You are correct if you said the Father is on the throne. The Son is next to Him. And the Holy Spirit is here to make Their abode within us. John 14: 23. Any other answer is incorrect.
Do you think He left earth after the day of Pentecost to join back up with the Father and the Son? No, He is here searching the hearts of men and women to find those who will honor the Father and the Son.
So, let’s get the tough stuff out of the way: Do you think four or five songs on a Sunday morning honors the Father and the Son? We get together with our coffees and visit. Does that honor the Father and the Son? At present, our services are quite without His presence. That is because we have set ourselves up as the leaders of the Church and neglect Who is most important, the Holy Spirit! Without His presence, there are no miracles, no healings, and no changed lives. Everything revolves around Him. We really cannot count what we do as spiritual fellowship. This makes me extremely sad.
I have tried to influence the Church for years about submitting Herself to the leading and guiding of the Spirit. Yet, She is too ingrained in Her ways and will not budge. At best the Church wants the Spirit’s presents instead of His presence. Let me give an example; I know of a woman who asked the Holy Spirit to help her bowl a 300 game and she did. Was that an answer to prayer? We ask for a better job, a better home, a better car but hardly ever for His presence in our lives. We are asking amiss! He is not Santa Claus and He is not a genie in a bottle. He is Lord almighty! Do we really want riches instead of restoration? Profit and status instead of peace through humility? That was all tough to say, but sadly the truth.
That being said, I do believe there are those individuals who truly wish for more than what man can dream up. Do you wonder, is this all there is? Do you thirst for Him? Let me speak to the hungry soul. For the seeker, there is abundant hope!
First, read your bible with an open mind and heart. Then listen for the whisper. We must show our desire to learn His ways and we do that by straining the ears of our spirit towards Him. He never shouts. It is not up to Him to prove Himself to us. It is up to us to find Him. And only the thirsty will find Him.
We must be anxious for the truth. We will be convicted and corrected. But we must welcome His discipline and welcome it with open hearts and minds. We must submit our wills to His way. Is He not attempting to develop Christlikeness in us? This we should desire with all our being! The Spirit does not hang out with the casual believer. He searches the whole world to find the few that will “die to self”. That is how we get His full attention, through our willingness to obey whatever He says. Consider it an honor when He speaks to you and be fearful when He is silent. The challenge the thirsty have is that there aren’t many to help in your decision to live a fully obedient life. Most will think you are too heavenly minded. Yet are we not supposed to “set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth?” Colossians 3:2.
How personal is personal? People talk of a personal relationship with Christ. That is only possible with the Holy Spirit living in you. That is how They communicate. True life is found in the ways of the Spirit for He brings the words of the Father and the Son straight to our spirits. He wants to develop spiritual fruit in us. He wants us to learn how to forgive, how to love, how to encourage, and how to find holiness by following the ways of the Son. Only with the Spirit are we able to honor the Father and the Son. That is the abundant life, His presence residing in us with His full power and strength and joy. It is foolish to try to walk a Christian life when missing one third of the Trinity. Will you seek Him with all that you have?
For those who want this, Holy Spirit I ask that You answer their prayer as only You can!
Amen?
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