“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John14:18).
It is quite normal in many households when the head is about to depart on a certain long journey to leave behind specific instructions. Likewise, when Jesus was about to depart he left one specific instruction. “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” ( Luke 24:29, NLT).
Fortunately, the disciples obeyed. Finally, the day of Pentecost came and “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” ( Acts 2: 4). Subsequently, they began to spread out preaching the Gospel, fulfilling the command in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
The Holy spirit has many roles in the lives of believers, which made it a prerequisite for the disciples departure. One important role that has been noted is that: “The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins and points them to Jesus’ atoning death.” If people come to faith and accept God’s offer of forgiveness, the Spirit testifies that they have received eternal life and are children of God (Romans 8:16). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit leads to conviction wherever believers fall astray and helps them become more holy as they grow in faith. Further, through the Holy Spirit, believers bear fruit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Any vehicle needs to be powered to move out. Likewise the lives of believers need to be powered by the Holy Spirit to proceed wherever. More than that, the Holy spirit is a comforter we cannot do without, bringing cheer to us in difficult moments, just as he also convicts and helps us fall back in line, if we fall astray. “But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you” ( John 14:26, ASV).
Today, as you move out, there is one instruction you must hear from the Master, which is pray to receive the Holy Spirit to guide you in all your steps.
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that as I start the day you may fill me with your Holy Spirit to lead me into truth and guide me in all my steps, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
