God’s Spirit is eternal. He hovered over the earth and created people in His likeness. He changes lives and has compelled people to lead and to speak and to record 333 prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming. Listen how Isaiah described Jesus: “And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2). What does being filled with God’s Spirit look like? “He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will never judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay. He will defend the poor and the exploited” (Isaiah 11:3,4). After describing how Jesus will destroy the wicked, those who attack and exploit the poor, Jesus is described as being “clothed with fairness and truth” (Isaiah 11:5).
If you take the plunge and decide to follow Jesus, I have some good news for you. Jesus told His followers that they’ll be better off when He ascends to the Father because He’ll send the Holy Spirit to live in the hearts of those who believe (John 14:23). Not only will the Holy Spirit convince the world of its sin, but He will also guide us into all truth (John 16:8, 13). The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead actually lives in the hearts of Jesus’ followers, empowering us to live for Him, to testify and give Him glory, and to love people with His endless love.
I love the Apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3. Why not pray this prayer over you and your loved ones: “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”
In my own short life, I’ve personally experienced the Spirit of God saving me and melting me with His healing love. I’ve experienced God healing my broken body. I’ve experienced God delivering me and healing me from hurts and addictions. I’ve experienced the power, truth, and love of God’s Spirit as I’ve watched God’s Spirit transform people around me and reform them into His likeness. Today, I stand boldly on God’s Truth, backed by my personal experiences, to testify that God’s Spirit provides us everything we need to live and to do life with and for Christ—overflowing with abundance.
Yesterday was a beautiful picture of God’s Spirit at work as I discovered children rolling in the joy of the Lord. Beautiful creative games flowing from God’s loving children. Christ-followers from around the world gathering here to set up and play table tennis and poly-pong and to share faith stories. My Spirit-filled friend came back from camp beaming with the joy of the Lord because he just baptized one of God’s sons who decided to follow Jesus.
If your life seems empty, dry, or consumed with “what’s wrong” narratives spinning in your head, maybe it’s time for you to take the plunge and go all-in to following Jesus. The Holy Spirit is waiting to fill you with wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He wants you to delight in obeying God and accepting others. The Spirit of God wants to clothe you with fairness and truth. God never designed His kids of all ages to walk in isolation, loneliness, anxiety, or despair. God’s Spirit is bringing His people together around the world to make disciples (Christ-followers).
Is the Holy Spirit inviting you to do something new?
Is the Holy Spirit calling you to give up something old and familiar?
Is the Holy Spirit calling you to be faithful in what you’re doing?
Is the Holy Spirit inviting you or leading you into or through the wilderness?