Posted on 09/05/2018 9:19:45 PM PDT by metmom
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth (John 16-13).
The Holy Spirit has to come alongside believers because they cant minister by their own strength.
As a Christian, you can be orthodox and correct about every detail of theology. You might even show a certain willingness and ability to minister. But unless and until you rely on the Holy Spirit for all you do, your efforts will be ineffective. Think of a new car that has the most polished exterior and the finest of accessories but no engine. It will look great, but it certainly wont run.
Unfortunately, that illustration applies all too often to contemporary believers. They tend to overlook or minimize the Holy Spirits roleeither by overreacting to charismatic extravagances or by focusing most of their attention on man-centered ministry techniques and innovative approaches. But the Lord impressed upon the disciples hearts and minds on more than one occasion their need for the Holy Spirits power and resourcesfrom routine daily tasks like fishing (Luke 5:4-9) to more imposing ministry challenges like casting an evil spirit out of a mans son (Mark 9:14-29).
Because God has purposefully promised and sent the Spirit within the larger panorama of His sovereignty, we should have the same conviction about the need for the promised Helper as the disciples did shortly after Christ ascended. In conclusion, notice Peters confidence in Gods plan, as set forth in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost: This Man [Jesus Christ], delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. And God raised Him up again. . . . Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear (Acts 2:23, 33).
Suggestions for Prayer
Confess any attitudes and actions that may have kept you from seeing the need to rely on the Holy Spirit. Pray that you would walk in greater dependence on Him this week.
For Further Study
Acts 1 marked a time of preparation for the coming of the promised Spirit. Read the chapter, and jot down ways in which the disciples prepared and previewed their faith in the promise.
Studying God’s Word ping
As always - God Bless for your uplifting posts.
I like the analogy of the car with no engine! :-)
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