Such a gift as the Holy Spirit

June 21, 2022

From Pastor Eileen

In one of my more recent Bible study journaling experiences, I chose the topic of the Holy Spirit. I began by reading every verse in the Bible where the Holy Spirit or Spirit of God is mentioned. I quickly realized that my journaling would take me on various different tangents. One tangent began with journaling all the different roles the Holy Spirit takes in our lives. He provides us with power and plants the fruits of love, joy, patience, etc in our hearts. He lives in us and gives us self-discipline. I was overwhelmed with how much the Spirit would do in and through us IF we would only allow Him in.

I found myself pausing in the midst of this study to shake my head in awe of how good our God is to provide such a gift as the Holy Spirit. I was reminded of the verse in Luke 11:13 “If you, being 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.” So why don’t we ask?

During that study over the Holy Spirit I memorized a passage from Ephesians (3:14-21) Let me share just a couple of those verses with you. Ephesians 3:16, 17 says,

(16) I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. (17) Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

If there was ever a time in our lifetime that we need our roots to grow down deep into God’s love and keep us strong it is now. Many of you may be facing financial insecurity, physical insecurity, emotional insecurity, and for some even spiritual insecurity. You may be wondering how God is going to come through for you.

Did anyone else hone in on the word ‘then” at the beginning of verse 17? This sounds like a promise to me, however what are the conditions to this promise? For us to trust in Christ and even allow Him to make His home in our hearts (and totally transform us) we need the Spirit to come in and empower us.

As we enter the Sabbath hours here soon, will you join me in asking for God’s Holy Spirit to come in and THEN allow Him to do His work in us, whatever that may be?

Keep the faith!

Eileen States