In The Hands of The Holy One

Scriptures: “because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” (I Thessalonians 1:5)

Many years ago, when I was still a student in Dallas, I went to the school gymnasium to play basketball one day. It was an afternoon and there weren’t many people in the gym. I was all by myself shooting some hoops on one end of the court. On the other end of the court were a father and a son playing.

The son was a little boy, about 3 or, at most, 4 years old. He could barely hold the ball. His Mother and a few friends were chatting on the sideline. His Father looked really like a basketball player. He was probably about 6 ft. 8 to 10 inches tall. He was really tall! At first, he was just shooting some hoops, like me, while the little boy was running around.

Then, this father decided to have some fun with his child. So, he summoned his son and gave the ball to his son who grabbed the ball and held it in his arms. Then, this father lifted up his boy and pushed him toward the rim, really close to the rim, and the boy raised his arms and threw the ball into the basket. When the boy threw the ball into the basket, he was so excited. He kept shouting, “I did it! I did it!” And all his Mother and friends on the sideline were all screaming, cheering, whistling, and applauding. It was really a beautiful picture of a happy family, a picture still vividly in my mind to this day!

Now, we all know that this little boy couldn’t possibly score on that basketball court at that age. It was his father who made it all possible. It took two things for this beautiful picture to become a reality. One is the father’s willingness and ability to make this happen. The other was the boy’s willingness to score and to be lifted up by his father.

I think, in many ways, if not all, our spiritual walk with our Lord is exactly like that. Before ascending to heaven, Lord Jesus specifically told us that Holy Spirit would come and empower us to do His will. He also said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

In the scriptures for today’s sharing, Paul also told us that he preached the gospel of Lord Jesus with the Holy Spirit. It seems obvious to me that the fruitfulness and the effectiveness of our spiritual walk depends heavily, if not entirely, on our willingness to the leading and instructions of the Holy Spirit.

Yet, it’s unfortunate to see so many Christians, for one reason or another, see Holy Spirit, our Comforter, as mysterious, foreign, or even mythical. If we care to survey the scriptures, not only will we find Holy Spirit to be personable, loving, and powerful, we will also find Him to be everything we expect from God, all the attributes we expect from our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus!

We have been commissioned to testify for our Lord Jesus and Jesus told us that Holy Spirit comes to us for exactly the same reason, to testify for Jesus. So, at a minimum, He is our co-worker in testifying for Jesus. The reality is, He is much more than that. Jesus also told us that the Holy Spirit is the One who is going to teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus has said to us. He is the One who actually helps us to know God and enables us to walk in His wills. I am convinced that’s why Paul said “…gospel came to you…with the Holy Spirit…” (I Thessalonians 1:5)

I think it’s high time we recognize the important role the Holy Spirit plays in our everyday spiritual walk and learn from that little boy to be willing to submit ourselves to His teaching, leading and anointing so as to bear much fruit for our Lord Jesus to give glory to our Father in Heaven!

Prayer Requests:
For those seeking ministry effectiveness

Prayer:
Precious Lord, thank You for the gift of salvation and for the gift of the Holy Spirit who will lead us deeper into Your riches and glory! Please help us to know our Comforter better and to be more submissive and sensitive to His leading in serving You because we desire to testify and glorify Your name in our everyday lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!