It is said of a well-known Christian lady that she would pray until she felt the Holy Spirit had come to her. And then everything was fine. She would simply say, “He’s here.”
Now I know that in truth the Holy Spirit, as God on earth, is in fact always here. He is never absent from the earth in which he represents both the Father and the Son who created it.
From that perspective, it seems a bit strange to invite the Holy Spirit into our services as if he is somehow waiting in the foyer trying to gain admission.
And yet…
I have found that in those many times where I find myself desperate, tired, stressed, anxious and fearful, there is one antidote. I go somewhere and cry out to the Holy Spirit until he comes to me.
This morning, I simply gave all the burdens I am carrying up to God, abandoning myself and all my situations to him. And as I cried out to God, he came.
When the Holy Spirit comes to you, or at least when you open the door of your heart and your spirit to him, it changes everything.
You receive strength and comfort and power. Your attitude changes from fear to faith, from desperation to satisfaction, from hopelessness to joy.
Today (as I write this) is a Sunday morning. I am speaking three times in two churches. I have people to meet and people to pray for. And there is one thing I know for certain: without him I am nothing. Yet with him I can do anything.
The power of the Holy Spirit takes us into the place where we can do whatever God has placed before us to do.
No matter what is in front of you today, with him you can do it. It may be to preach a sermon, it may be to teach in a classroom, it may be to build a house, it may be to look after your kids. It doesn’t really matter what it is, you need the Holy Spirit to do it.
Yes the Holy Spirit is here. But have you opened the door to him? He won’t break it down. You need to invite him in.
But when that happens, everything becomes possible.
Most of us spend far too much time trying to live out of our own strength. Why not try living out of his strength instead?
“Come, Holy Spirit” is an ancient prayer of God’s people. You can find it in medieval Latin as much as modern English.
That prayer is still valid today. Why don’t you try it and see what happens.