Holy Spirit

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” [Luke 11.13]

This passage could be a little confusing. The "gifts" Jesus had just mentioned prior to saying this were:

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! [Luke 11.11-12]

I want to make a connection here between physical sustenance and the Holy Spirit. The reason I wish to do this is because it is exactly what Jesus did! Jesus did not differentiate between what we see as "miraculous" (healing, walking on water, multiplying food, producing money from a fish's mouth, etc.), and the work of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus, early in His ministry, proclaimed the following:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.18-19]

The Holy Spirit is responsible for every good gift we enjoy from the Father including our salvation. The reason for this is because the Holy Spirit enables forgiveness.

Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.22-23]

If was forgiveness in operation in Jesus that performed every miracle. In one instance, Jesus was very clear to explain this important fact:

So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” [Matthew 9.6]

The Holy Spirit was proof that God sent Jesus. The Holy Spirit is proof that Jesus sent us! Let's back up from John 20.22-23 quoted above and see what Jesus said right before saying that:

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” [John 20.21]

The Holy Spirit is essential in the life of a Christ follower. And yet, the Holy Spirit is rarely manifest in most. How can I say that? Because, again, Luke 4.18-19 above defines clearly what the Holy Spirit does and we just don't see much of that really going on (at least not in our Western culture). We did in Jesus though! And, Jesus sent us they same way He had been sent... so what's up?

Again, the works of the Holy Spirit are all the result of forgiveness (John 20.22-23). The work of forgiveness sums up the life and ministry of Jesus. If we are truly "sent" by Jesus as He was sent, then our lives, by forgiveness, will manifest the powerful works of the Holy Spirit. If not... well, if not, then we are not truly followers of Jesus, are we?

I know this is hard. It smacks me right between the eyes. But do we simply say "that's hard" and do nothing, or do we make changes in our lives?

Change in our lives is what is needed. That change is the full submission of our lives to Christ so that He is in us and we are in Him. The Holy Spirit simply will not dwell where Christ is not!

If we are "short" on the Holy Spirit, could it be we are "short" on Christ? This is a hard question, but we need to ask it!

Father, help us to ask ourselves the hard questions regarding our lives being in Christ and therefore indwelled by Your Holy Spirit. May we not be found complacent and lethargic in our devotion. May we be found passionate in our pursuit of Jesus!