2025-05-02
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, the Holy Spirit urged me to write about types of worship, and I see there are lots of them--more than could be discussed in one week. This week, I’m commanded to write about receiving the Holy Spirit. In general, the Holy Spirit will cause a person before he knows the cause for what is happening to be searching for real inner peace and, as always, happiness. RO 10: 17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Thankfully, we can have thoughts interrupted by the Holy Spirit, who is seeking after us, because we don’t normally know where to find this inner peace. It comes from faith before we realize He is looking for us to believe the truth. It might happen due to prior conditioning by parents rearing us to know Christ, or it might happen under stressful conditions (amidst being in active combat, for example), or it might happen because whatever our parents teach us isn’t reaching our souls. I can’t help but think about IS 46: 10 [God speaking], “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times to what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I do all that I please.’” We who believe in the Lord Jesus should never forget Christ’s words in, JN 15: 16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you, so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask for in My name the Father will give you.” Yes, He chose us first!
And Who is this Holy Spirit? Jesus explains beautifully in JN 14: 15-18, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be with you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” The proof of this is seen in how one’s ideation changes once he has received the Holy Spirit. Moreover, we have another proof of Christ’s promise keeping. When after He had risen and disappeared from the apostles, Mary Magdelene, Joanna, and His mother Mary [LK 24: 12], He appeared to Cleopas and his friend and asked, “What are you discussing together, as you walk along?” These two were on the walk to Emmaus [LK 24: 13-43]. The two friends rehearsed what had happened after Christ’s burial. Jesus replied that they should believe the prophecies about the Messiah, would have to go through all these things. The friends asked Jesus to stay with them and explain the meaning of the Last Supper. Once He did this, they two friends were hearing the truth. Jesus disappeared again not to be seen until His followers were in Jerusalem and told Simon Peter what had happened. Jesus appeared to comfort them and said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” In LK 24: 46-49, Christ summed up what He wanted them to know: “The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” It was not until Christ had ascended to heaven that He sent the Holy Spirit to His followers at the Pentecost [AC 2 : 1-4].
But let me return to the average person and how he receives the Holy Spirit. God is capable of supernatural things beyond and above what mankind can do. Just as he gave His apostles the power to heal people and the words to convince people they should believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, we can sometimes have wisdom that Christ gives us through the Holy Spirit’s influence to come to belief in the truth of His messages. COL 1: 26-27, “The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people (is the word of God in its fullness). To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The average person who seeks happiness and inner peace, which is authentic and lasting, can open his heart to the Spirit of God [Holy Spirit], and the Spirit is only too eager to penetrate it and lead that person to faith in Jesus Christ. That person can wait awhile after this happens and see from hindsight the promise is being kept! As these thoughts are laid out, we can see the truth of JN 14: 9, 11, “…I’m in the Father, and the Father is in Me.” Since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and Jesus is in God, then we can understand that these three -God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God)—are three personalities of the same Holy Being!
PRAYER: O Most Lord, we beseech You to help us understand this amazing capability that You have to bring faith to a seeker. Only You can do it through the Holy Spirit, Your Spirit who is both an Advocate and a Counselor for us. We already understand that writers (prophets) like Moses, Isaiah, and David from the OT were given this gift, even though they understood less of what this gift was than they knew how to use it, less than believers in the NT have. Objectors like Saul of Tarsus from the NT can be overcome, because the Father has chosen them for huge accomplishments in His name. Your will is always in mankind’s best eternal interests, and we are grateful that Your wisdom and willingness to share it are with us are available. The gift of the Holy Spirit, Your Son’s atoning sacrifice on the cross, and the hope of our own blissful eternity with You are all reasons You deserve our forever thanksgiving, loyalty, and praise. In the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Holy Spirit leads me to write about ways to worship the Trinity next week. Jesus tells us, in JN 14: 10, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather it is the Father living in Me, Who is doing His work.” It is the Father Who commanded Jesus to send the Holy Spirit to us, and He is our Advocate and Counselor. Three personalities in One amazing Being, a Being Who loves us more than any human can. Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace Be Wit You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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