The Holy Spirit

Am I allowing Him to work?
Or am I hindering Him?

Do you believe that the Holy Spirit speaks through us? Throughout the Scriptures we hear that God speaks to His people. In the book “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby, it states that “God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.” If we’re being obedient to where the Spirit is leading us, we must be able to stand up in His name.

“...do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At the time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19,20)

Let me tell you about a situation one lady faced in Sunday School. In the class, they were watching a video of a charismatic pastor, preaching to his church of about 4000. There was much truth in the video and things were referenced by Scripture. As mentioned in the video, “we do serve a loving God. We can turn to him when satan is on the attack. God’s Word is the armor of God.”

She knew that the Holy Spirit was working and speaking. She knew that she needed to tell the class was that “what the speaker wasn’t saying is that we needed to be obedient to God. We need to seek forgiveness and repent. Jesus will do His part, yet we need to do ours.” To the teacher and the class she said, “we also need to be aware that God wants us to be obed...” and she was cut off. The Sunday School teacher told her “it’s not important here and if people need to know more, it’s in the Word.” Others in the class had been allowed to share.

The Sunday School teacher didn’t want to hear what she had to say and her comment was dimissed before a class of 25.

Scripture says “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction.”
(2 Timothy 4:1,2)

What do you think God would feel? What do you sense His reaction would be, especially if this were Holy Spirit led? I believe that He would call for repentence. We are all accountable for our actions, especially those in teaching and leadership positions. “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1)

Don’t let this hinder you, though from teaching or taking a leadership position. If God is asking you to do so, you must be obedient to Him. To deny Him would be to sin against Him. I am only saying that we all need to be aware and alert to the Holy Spirit and how He is working in the lives around you. You need to ‘let’ Him work

The lady in Sunday School, should she feel anger or rejection? No, because she was being obedient to where the Spirit was leading her. I know that she felt remorseful, because people were rejecting the message that God was putting before them. She was sad at the rejection of the Holy Spirit and His works.

Look for God and where He is working. For where you find Him, you shall also find His Spirit!

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.’ - but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him. In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgement: ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

Dear Heavenly Father:

I praise You for Your glory. For the many ways that You are working in our lives. I praise You for the life experiences, no matter how painful they may seem at the time, for as the lady in Sunday School, her experiences have given opportunity for many, to learn of You, Your Spirit and Your ways. Thank You for Your Spirit, who shows me the ways of You. Who shows me Your will and provides Your guidance and love. Who lifts prayers to You on my behalf, when I know not what to pray. Who brings revival and clean hearts and souls. He who is One in You.

Dear God, forgive me where I have failed You. Please forgive me where I have ever hampered Your Spirit working. Forgive me for turning my back on the person who is sharing Your message.

Please open my heart, dear Father, so that I may always seek You. Please open my eyes, so that I may alway see You. Open my ears so that I may hear what You are saying. I come in repentence, my God! Let me teach only things of You. Your Spirit is One of revival. Let revival begin with me. Prepare my heart, oh Spirit so I may receive You.

Amen