Oh, how I love the Holy Spirit! He makes Jesus real. He makes the Father enjoyable.
I roll out the red carpet to this precious dove of God every day. I say, “Holy Spirit, You are welcome here!” In these days, we want to welcome the baptism of the holy and fire. Send Your fire, Lord!
The Holy Spirit is the one who connects us to heaven. Without Him, not even Jesus could have known what the Father wanted Him to say or to do. (See, for example, John 5:19.) If you want to know God, you absolutely must get to know the Holy Spirit, who works tirelessly to connect heaven and earth.
The Holy Spirit Is Our Helper
This Holy Spirit is described in the Scriptures as the “Spirit of knowledge,” which means that He is the Spirit of knowing and of being known. In other words, the Spirit has been given to us to make God known and to make Him knowable. Father God is approachable, but without the Holy Spirit’s help, we tend to be afraid of Him. We are afraid because of our sin. But we can approach God without trepidation when we are in Christ (see Heb. 4:15–16), having the Holy Spirit as our Helper, because the Spirit is our Comforter, or paraclete (from the Greek paráklētos, “close beside,” and “make a call,” like a legal advocate who makes the right judgment call, being close to the situation). The Spirit is our advocate and encourager.
Isaiah noted that He would be filled with the Spirit of God, and the prophet expanded on what kind of Spirit this would be: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2).
The Holy Spirit had an intimate relationship with the Messiah, Yeshua, during His ministry on earth. Jesus humbled Himself, becoming entirely dependent upon the Holy Spirit to do and say only those things that would please the Father. Just think about His life. Jesus was conceived and born of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led Him. The Spirit anointed Him for His ministry at His baptism.
Everything Jesus did, from resisting temptation in the wilderness to raising the dead, He did by the guidance and power of the Spirit. He offered Himself as a sacrifice by the Spirit. He was raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit. And so His followers could truly follow in His footsteps, Jesus was faithful to send His Spirit to them on the day of Pentecost (and to everyone since that time who has believed in Him, stepping into faith and becoming a child of God).
Because Jesus has bestowed the Holy Spirit on those who believe, we can have the Spirit of knowledge, the Comforter, the advocate as close to us as our next breath, and He will help us to know God daily (see, for example, John 15:27).
It’s All About a Relationship
Nobody will ever force you into a relationship with God, not even God Himself, although the Holy Spirit is the One who brings God’s righteousness to bear on people. His methods, while persuasive and effective, are never coercive. He is the Helper and Caretaker, not a tyrant or a patrol cop. Most of His endeavors can be characterized by action verbs. He indwells, He fills, He frees, He equips, He transforms, He convicts, He assures, He inspires, He guides and directs, He regenerates—and He resurrects. That’s a lot!
You don’t have to wait until something happens spiritually before responding to the Holy Spirit. It is OK to seek Him out in order to instigate action. He likes it when you pursue Him. (Think of the way Jesus responded to the centurion in Luke 7:1–10.) God loves passionate pursuers!
Give the Holy Spirit the freedom and liberty to give you freedom and liberty. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]” (2 Cor. 3:17, AMP).
More of the Dynamic Holy Spirit
This dynamic Holy Spirit is not passive but active. He is the explosive power that Jesus promised to the church before Pentecost. He executes the purposes and plans of the godhead. As the one who carries out God’s purposes—His creativity, inspiration, conviction, regeneration, generosity, enlightenment, sanctification and much more—He is always working (see John 5:17).
But let’s lift a cry to our Father, that in the name of Jesus, He will descend upon us with a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. We have not because we ask not. So, we ask, “Send Your Spirit now, more powerfully, for Jesus Christ’s sake.” It is time for a fresh historic Pentecost to come to the global body of Christ to empower us for the great harvest that is right in front of us.
Father, we ask that You come and visit your church once again. Send the wind and the fire of God! Send an unprecedented empowerment of the Holy Spirit in a global manner upon Your sons and Your daughters. Holy Spirit, You are welcome here! Amen and Amen! {eoa}
Dr. James W. Goll is the founder of God Encounters Ministries. He is an international bestselling author, a certified Life Language Coach, an adviser to leaders and ministries and a recording artist. James has traveled around the world, ministering in more than 50 nations, sharing the love of Jesus, imparting the power of intercession, prophetic ministry and life in the Spirit. He has recorded numerous classes with corresponding curriculum kits and is the author of more than 50 books, including The Seer, The Prophet, The Discerner, The Lost Art of Intercession and Praying with God’s Heart. James is also the founder of GOLL Ideation LLC, where creativity, consulting and leadership training come together. James was married to Michal Ann for 32 years before her graduation to heaven in the fall of 2008. He has four adult married children and a growing number of grandchildren. His goal is to “win for the Lamb the rewards of His suffering.” James continues to make his home in Franklin, Tennessee.
For the original article, visit godencounters.com.
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