Sometimes, when someone says they’ve got me a special gift I feel a bit anxious. Suppose I don’t like it? What if it cost them a lot of money but it’s something I’ll never use? That’s sad and rather embarrassing! It’s certainly true that some gifts just don’t fit ‘who I am’ and maybe show that the giver didn’t really know me that well. Other gifts though have proved their knowledge of what makes me, Me. Those gifts start to be used (or worn) immediately and I feel a great joy in owning what I’ve received.
That’s why I feel amazed and deeply grateful as I think about the greatest gift ever given to humans, the promised Holy Spirit! Nothing God could have given would fit us better and bring more wonder and joy into our lives than the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus described as the helper, comforter, advocate, intercessor, counsellor, strengthener and standby. (John 16.7 Amplified) Jesus said He was giving the Holy Spirit to be in ‘close fellowship’ with us in all these ways. We may wear a gift or enjoy eating it or smelling its fragrance, but only God gives us a gift that transforms us because of the wonderful help He brings to the very core of our lives. I love to hear His whisper. At a recent event we were leading I felt very tired and spiritually flat on the second day and however much I prayed I couldn’t get a feel of what to do with the evening meeting. How could I teach the group when I was empty?I said to the Lord, ‘I feel a failure Lord, please help me.’ He whispered in my heart, ‘Relax and trust me and I will do it.’ Right up to the start of the meeting I still felt totally empty, but suddenly, during the worship I began to get a deep sense of things the Father wanted to touch and heal in peoples lives. I simply invited the Holy Spirit to come and encouraged everyone to reach out to Him as I shared the words He gave me. I didn’t need to teach a sermon, I just needed to listen and follow His lead. It was very powerful as the He moved amongst us gently touching areas of need. One lady received an amazing release from satanic oppression, even though no one laid hands on her, and another stepped out of depression into joy and peace.There was such a sense of God’s love flowing from person to person. But what made my heart sing was that He’d spoken to me as my Helper and Strengthener beforehand telling me to relax and to trust in what He would do. I’d been seeing myself as a failure but He changed my thoughts so that I too could receive and be transformed into someone who willingly leans on His help rather than needing to have it all perfect myself.
Whatever you need, Jesus has given you the promised Holy Spirit to be in close fellowship with you forever. If you are lonely or struggling with family issues, He is there as your comforter and your advocate. He is your Standby. My sister has planted a baby plum tree, tying it to a strong stake so as to protect and help it grow. That is the Holy Spirit, our Standby. We can lean on Him when we feel weak and He helps us grow straight and strong. He empowers us and enables us and transforms our understanding as we listen to Him.
As we celebrate Pentecost I pray that you will receive the Holy Spirit, that most wonderful of gifts, into every part of your being and know the joy of that close fellowship and help that Jesus promised you.
Come Holy Spirit, come!
