I have often heard this phrase usedā¦ Come Holy Spiritā¦ as if it would turbocharge your āspiritualā powers. As if you called yourself a Christian, then you could invoke this prayer, for when you really needed God. Like perhaps the majority of the time youāre good on your own.
I donāt think thatās how it works. š¤·āāļø But bear with me, while I try to work this out.
Dear Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, and Lord Jesus ā You are God. You draw us near and give us Your Spirit to understand Your wisdom. Help us today to understand how this works. We ask this in the name of our Lord, Jesus. ā Amen.
Consider the following:
- We just finished reviewing three of the Gospels and Acts. The disciples were often portrayed as followers that did not always understand their teacher. [Luke 8:9] The religious rulers would not entertain the truth of what Jesus said. [Matthew 22:29] No one could understand what Jesus was telling them, even those who were drawn to Him. [John 3:4] And then came Pentecost. In Acts 2:4 the apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter delivers a Spirit-led sermon and The Church is born. (3000 followers were added that day. Acts 2:41) It is important to note that Peter didnāt save them, God did. [Acts 2:47]
- This is a point in history that will not be repeated. The next significant point in time is the end of time when Christ returns. We live in the in-between.
There are many Old Testament prophecies about Godās plan to redeem humanity. In Isaiah 64:1-4, we read:
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil,
come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Paul, trained as a Pharisee, didnāt make a connection until after his conversion. Then in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 he writes:
9 However, as it is written:
āWhat no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceivedāā
the things God has prepared for those who love himā
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a personās thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Read that last verse again. Paul is writing to believers. If we are Christians, and by that I meanā¦ if we believe that Jesus is the virgin-born Son of God who came and died for us on the crossā¦ taking the punishment for our sinsā¦ He was then raised from death and ascended into Heaven to begin His Kingdom reignā¦ and He will return againā¦ then, Paul is also talking to us.
That last verse tells us that we have already received The Spiritā¦ and it is not the spirit of the world. We have the Spirit of God! We have the Holy Spirit to help us understand what previously, no eye had seenā¦ no ear had heardā¦ and no human mind could conceive.
We know that no one can make themselves a Christian ā only God can change our hearts.Ā It is by His grace that we are saved – a gift that He freely gave us! š We also know that we are sinful, selfish, prideful, and rebellious creatures, when left on our own.Ā But when He stirs our hearts and we cry out to Him, He will NOT reject us. [Joel 2:32, Romans 10:9,13]
Perhaps it has been a while since your conversion. Perhaps itās been years and you were told that salvation was a one-and-done event. Perhaps youāre just rusty. But now you have no peace and you wonder what went wrong.
Thereās a line in the song, Say I Wonāt by Mercy Me, that saysā¦ While Iāve been waiting to live, my life has been waiting for meā¦. it speaks to the deep disconnect many Christians sense.
I would suggest, if this is you, listen to that songā¦ then read again what the Holy Spirit does. Pray before you read your bible that the Holy Spirit enlighten you and reveal to you these deep things of God. Christianity is a growth process ā you are born again, but you are not meant to stay a baby. You are meant to mature in order to help othersā¦ save othersā¦ lead others to Jesus. There will be a day when we will account for what weāve done with the talents Heās given usā¦ hiding them, doesnāt end well.
If this scares you a little, because you thinkā¦ āI canāt do this!ā Youāre right! [Proverbs 9:10] And now is the time to call on the Holy Spirit for strength and wisdom. Quit trying to do this on your ownā¦ submit to Him. [Proverbs 3:5-6] And when you have questions, find a Christian who has walked a few more steps than you have and ask them for help – that’s what they are there for! They will be delighted to share the things of God with another believer. [Proverbs 27:17]
Godspeed fellow sojourner – Praying for days filled with His blessings and peace.
Such an enlightening message. One of my favorite moments in church is lifting my hands in worship singing those words, “Holy Spirit Come…” by Hillsong. Also, I absolutely loved praying your opening prayer and reading your last line of this message. Thank you