THAT'S THE SPIRIT TOO
Sometimes I wish Jesus could just be here with us like He was in the first century. But Jesus told His followers it would be better for them after He had left and had sent the Holy Spirit (John 16.7).
The Holy Spirit is working in our lives every day. The apostles, following Jesus’ explanation, don’t say how the Spirit does His work. They note its effects.
Those times when you feel a boldness to speak about Jesus or your faith or biblical truth to someone? That’s the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4.31).
Those times when you start to have doubts about your faith and maybe think about giving it up – and then you suddenly decide that there is no point in that, and your soul is bolstered with confidence and your faith rebounds? That’s the work of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12.3; 2 Timothy 1.14).
Those times that you feel strong in the faith and confident that you are beloved as one of God’s children? That’s the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8.15-16, 2 Corinthians 1.22, 5.5; Galatians 4.6).
Ever been in the midst of a difficult time where you suddenly feel a sense of comfort and composure? That’s the work of the Spirit (Acts 9.31).
Have you ever found yourself having an overwhelming sense of thanksgiving and joy and peace when the circumstances don’t necessarily dictate that response? That’s the work of the Spirit (Acts 13.52; Romans 14.17, 15.13; Ephesians 5.18-20; 1 Thessalonians 1.6).
Ever find yourself upset at someone and suddenly you know that anger isn’t the answer, and you shift gears and choose to love, and then you find that love increasing, and you have a sense of hope for a different and better end to be pursued? That’s the Holy Spirit (Romans 5.5, 15.30; Ephesians 4.3; Colossians 1.8; 2 Timothy 1.7).
Have you ever found yourself trying to dominate or control others and then it passes, and you shift into a more cooperative and submissive mode? That’s the Holy Spirit filling you (Ephesians 5.18,21).
Have you ever been caught up in a problem of this life, overwhelmed by it, and then find yourself gaining a heavenly perspective that brings peace? That’s the work of the Holy Spirit in you (Romans 8.5).
Have you ever gained a sudden insight that a certain thing that is happening, however troubling or painful, may be God’s hand working and you find yourself able to accept it? That’s the work of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2.14).
Have you ever struggled against a sin and suddenly found a power to stand against it and resist a temptation? That’s the work of the Spirit of God (Romans 8.13; Galatians 5.16-18; 1 Thessalonians 4.8).
Have you ever been praying about life’s pressures and found yourself suddenly longing for the day that you’ll be free from the things that weigh you down here and all wrongs will be made right? That’s the Spirit of God (Romans 8.23,26-27; Revelation 22.14).
Have you ever just been driven to a point where you see how ridiculous your own confidence is in yourself and instead you are driven to worship and just glory in the power of Christ and the fact that you belong to Him? That too is the Spirit (Philippians 3.3).
Have you ever been mocked or insulted as a Christian and you feel peace and an ease in bearing it – no sense of anger or need to fight back? That’s the Holy Spirit at work (1 Peter 4.14).
And here’s a strange one. Have you ever been in a situation where you want to say something in behalf of the Lord – and you suddenly know that you shouldn’t? That too can be the Spirit of God (Acts 16.6-7, 19.21 cf. 20.22 cst. 21.4,11)!
I could keep going as I haven’t exhausted the list. We overlook these things or often think of them as just originating in ourselves. But the apostles attributed these things to the Spirit’s working in them and in other believers. I find it encouraging to realize that there is more going on in my heart than I realize in the ordinary motions of my everyday life.
The Holy Spirit is working in our lives every day. The apostles, following Jesus’ explanation, don’t say how the Spirit does His work. They note its effects.
Those times when you feel a boldness to speak about Jesus or your faith or biblical truth to someone? That’s the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4.31).
Those times when you start to have doubts about your faith and maybe think about giving it up – and then you suddenly decide that there is no point in that, and your soul is bolstered with confidence and your faith rebounds? That’s the work of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12.3; 2 Timothy 1.14).
Those times that you feel strong in the faith and confident that you are beloved as one of God’s children? That’s the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8.15-16, 2 Corinthians 1.22, 5.5; Galatians 4.6).
Ever been in the midst of a difficult time where you suddenly feel a sense of comfort and composure? That’s the work of the Spirit (Acts 9.31).
Have you ever found yourself having an overwhelming sense of thanksgiving and joy and peace when the circumstances don’t necessarily dictate that response? That’s the work of the Spirit (Acts 13.52; Romans 14.17, 15.13; Ephesians 5.18-20; 1 Thessalonians 1.6).
Ever find yourself upset at someone and suddenly you know that anger isn’t the answer, and you shift gears and choose to love, and then you find that love increasing, and you have a sense of hope for a different and better end to be pursued? That’s the Holy Spirit (Romans 5.5, 15.30; Ephesians 4.3; Colossians 1.8; 2 Timothy 1.7).
Have you ever found yourself trying to dominate or control others and then it passes, and you shift into a more cooperative and submissive mode? That’s the Holy Spirit filling you (Ephesians 5.18,21).
Have you ever been caught up in a problem of this life, overwhelmed by it, and then find yourself gaining a heavenly perspective that brings peace? That’s the work of the Holy Spirit in you (Romans 8.5).
Have you ever gained a sudden insight that a certain thing that is happening, however troubling or painful, may be God’s hand working and you find yourself able to accept it? That’s the work of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2.14).
Have you ever struggled against a sin and suddenly found a power to stand against it and resist a temptation? That’s the work of the Spirit of God (Romans 8.13; Galatians 5.16-18; 1 Thessalonians 4.8).
Have you ever been praying about life’s pressures and found yourself suddenly longing for the day that you’ll be free from the things that weigh you down here and all wrongs will be made right? That’s the Spirit of God (Romans 8.23,26-27; Revelation 22.14).
Have you ever just been driven to a point where you see how ridiculous your own confidence is in yourself and instead you are driven to worship and just glory in the power of Christ and the fact that you belong to Him? That too is the Spirit (Philippians 3.3).
Have you ever been mocked or insulted as a Christian and you feel peace and an ease in bearing it – no sense of anger or need to fight back? That’s the Holy Spirit at work (1 Peter 4.14).
And here’s a strange one. Have you ever been in a situation where you want to say something in behalf of the Lord – and you suddenly know that you shouldn’t? That too can be the Spirit of God (Acts 16.6-7, 19.21 cf. 20.22 cst. 21.4,11)!
I could keep going as I haven’t exhausted the list. We overlook these things or often think of them as just originating in ourselves. But the apostles attributed these things to the Spirit’s working in them and in other believers. I find it encouraging to realize that there is more going on in my heart than I realize in the ordinary motions of my everyday life.