Blessings of the Holy Spirit

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 1:19 pm Post subject: Blessings of the Holy Spirit

And Philip going down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord were attentive to those things which were said by Philip, hearing, and seeing the miracles which he did. For many of them who had unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, went out. And many, taken with the palsy, and that were lame, were healed. ....Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. Who, when they came, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Act 8:5-8, 14-17)

God comes to each of us in different ways. For some, we receive Him through an evolution of time. For others, we receive Him through a significant emotional event. For some, we receive Him through the witness of a miracle. For others, we receive Him through someone who reveals the Word of the Lord. For some, we receive Him as we pursue life, but come to know that something is missing in our hearts. No matter the means, blessed are we that He constantly calls and seeks to reach our souls.

There are some who go through the motions for that is what they believe is expected of them by family or peers. For others, those who invite and are filled with the Holy Spirit, there are no motions, there is only living the Word. Blessed are those who invite the Holy Spirit within their hearts for there they will know the joy of the love of God.

There are the chosen children of God, but God so loved all His children, He sent His only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him shall live forever in the kingdom of heaven. Just as the Word was preached to Samaria, so should it be given to all, even those who do not know the Holy Spirit, who do not know the sacrifice made for them, who do not know the love God has for each of His children. Though we are all different, though we have different gifts, though we talk in different tongues and live in different ways, God calls all to live within the unity of the Holy Spirit.

What, then, does this mean for the faithful? It means, that for us to fulfill the commandments of love, we must seek to carry the invitation of God which invites all to His table. It means prayer for those whose hearts may now be cold, but could warm with a sympathetic touch. It means reaching out to those who do not know their Creator, but may see Him through us. We cannot live for our brothers and sisters, but we can hold the gates open for them so that they are encouraged to enter and will feel welcomed into the community of faith and love to which God calls us all.

But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asks you a reason of that hope which is in you. But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better doing well (if such be the will of God) to suffer, than doing ill. Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit. ( 1 Peter 3:15-18 )

Through the Holy Spirit, with Christ in our hearts, we see a different world. Those who are filled with the world have other thoughts and do not see the blessings of the Word. In the clash of views, those who do not understand the Word speak in ignorance, some in fear, some in loathing for that which they do not understand; for if they knew the Word, they would know the Word is love; the covenant of God with His children.

Those who persecute the followers of the Word justify their logic through their understanding of the world tainted by the deceptions of the one who seeks to separate the children of God from their Creator. Through their logic, they fail to see the truth for they do not see through the deceptions set before them. They follow a path filled with traps and snares which drive divisions among the children of God. Blessed are those with Christ in their hearts for He will lead them past the deceptions of this world to the truth of the kingdom of heaven.

Those who do not know what they do shall persecute the followers of Christ, just as He was persecuted for the revelation of truth. The faithful should not fear such persecution, for what those in faith must endure for a short time in this world will not be near the suffering the persecutors will endure for eternity. The faithful must also guard against the temptation to strike back in the face of persecution, rather, those in faith should seek to cause the persecutors to question what is in their hearts through what they observe in the hearts of the faithful. Through prayer, we may ask for the words to explain what is in our heart and our joy and hope in the Lord. Blessed are those who are able to speak freely of their faith, for the love which others see in the faithful is a light unto the world; a beacon to guide lost souls to the Lord.

If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever. The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, nor knows him: but you shall know him; because he shall abide with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you. Yet a little while: and the world sees me no more. But you see me: because I live, and you shall live. In that day you shall know, that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He that has my commandments, and keeps them; he it is that loves me. And he that loves me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:15-21)

The commandments He has given us are so that we will not fall to division. The commandments He has given us are so that we will live in love and peace. The ways of the world, though, blind many to what God seeks to guide us. The deceptions of the world seek to corrupt us.

If we rely only upon ourselves, we are vulnerable to the world. If we seek to rely upon Him, what is of this world will not matter. He gave us the Holy Spirit so that we have a beacon to the truth. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to see through deceptions and will be guided to the truth. Through prayer, we may invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts. As the Holy Spirit is within us, so will be the Son. Through Him, we will be brought to the Father so that in the last day all sadness will pass away and the blessings of the Lord will be forever upon us.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier