celebrating Jesus and the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams. Saint Augustine
In the book of Joshua God calls His chosen leader to be strong and courageous. This encouragement lets us know that to be strong and courageous is not inherently in us but a choice to be made.
When facing difficult circumstances it is easy to shrink back and compromise a decision when courage is required to move on and make progress.
In the story Joshua was also encouraged to be careful to obey all Gods commandments and then he would have great success against his enemies. And in establishing the new nation of Israel in the land God had promised to them.
Whatever we do in life we need to ask ourselves if it is the right thing to do. By following the ways of God we can be assured of doing the right thing, but sometimes the waters aren’t so clear. When we find ourselves in a situation where the bible doesn’t speak clearly on a matter we need to ask our guide and teacher, the Holy Spirit.
Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without the wind. We are useless. C.H.Spurgeon
Even Jesus needed to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. At His baptism by John in the river Jordan we see the fullness of God come together in one place. God the Father speaking from heaven, God the Son in the water and God the Holy Spirit alighting ( I do love an old fashioned word ) upon Jesus for the empowerment of the ministry and work He had to do over the next few years.
As Jesus walked the earth teaching, helping, loving people He would often refer to the Holy Spirit,
as its He that manifests the fellowship of God into our lives. Without the Holy Spirit god will never make sense to you.
The Holy Spirit is the bond by which Christ efficaciously unites us to himself. John Calvin.
Walking with Jesus and being empowered by the Spirit we have an advantage in life to make the best decisions that will enable us to become bigger, more gracious and more mature people. The aim isn’t to become all that we can be. Surely the aim is to become all that He says we can be.
Just as little children grow into the likeness of their parents, developing skills and gaining knowledge we are to grow into His likeness. His words are sure and His promises can be trusted so that when He says we can do all things, we can do all things.
E. Stanley Jones said “If the Holy Spirit can take over the subconscious with our consent and co-operation, then we have an almighty Power working at the basis of our lives, then we can do anything we ought to do, go anywhere we ought to go, and be anything we ought to be.
