What Do We Do With Him?

I remember a Christmas gift Wanna got one year. It was unusual, to say the least, and I can't describe it here because the person who gave it might read this blog. It was someone in South Georgia but they have the Internet there, too, you know.

Wanna looked at it and I looked at it and although it was obvious what it was, we weren't sure what we were supposed to do with it.

I've come to think that many Christians are like that when it comes to Holy Spirit. They know Who He is, they just don't know what to do with Him.

Jesus told His disciples in John's Gospel that Holy Spirit was a Helper, a Counselor, a Teacher and One Who would lead us into truth. I think we have this part down pretty well.

On the occasion of His ascension into heaven, Jesus told those assembled that they would receive power after Holy Spirit had come to them. I don't think we have the understanding God wants us to have about this power part.

Holy Spirit was given to us by God in a gracious act of kindness to equip us to be witnesses of great impact in the world. And we've obviously failed to utilize Him in this way. Far too many Christians had rather pay for others to do their witnessing and soul-winning for them than to allow Holy Spirit to equip and use them individually and personally.

Holy Spirit was also given to us to allow us to properly examine our lives and to take control of the sin nature within us and defeat it.

Why, Our Heavenly Father even teaches us in His Word that we are to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." II Cor. 10:5

Now that's a hard assignment but that's also why God gave us the power of Holy Spirit to dwell in us. So that we could take charge over all the sin nature within us and conquer it. By His power and to His glory.

That's what we are to do with Him. Work to become more and more Christ-like by using Holy Spirit power to drive sin out of our lives.

And lest you think that's something that God has to do for you, read Judges, Chapter 1 through Judges, Chapter 2 verse 4. God made it clear to the Israelites that they were going to be hindered, beset and have great difficulty dealing with the Canaanites (representing sin to us)
out of the land He had given them.

Remember this: There is no room in the life of a person washed in the blood of Jesus for continuous, deliberate sin. Just as the Israelites suffered much and often as God withdrew His blessings and protection for their continued sin of idol toleration and worship, so Christians today who practice continual, deliberate sin will suffer much.

God will not be mocked and we will not long take advantage of His mercy and grace by acting as if our salvation allows us no worries about such continual, deliberate sins.

God has equipped us to defeat these sins. Let use Holy Spirit as God intended and clean out the sins in our lives that we may be pure and holy and effective as witnesses to Him.

Pray. Always. Constantly. For revival. We need it. Oh, Heavenly Father, how we need it. Grant it, Oh Lord, we pray.

In His Love
Walter