Prayer-Soldier Newbie
Joined: Apr 18, 2009 Posts: 1001
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:55 am Post subject: Breath of the Holy Spirit |
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And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak with different tongues, according as the Holy Spirit gave them to speak.
Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And when this was communicated abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these, that speak, Galileans? And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:1-11)
As God confused the tongues of men when they sought works to appease their own pride, He gave the power of tongues to those who praise His name and spread His Word. The way of the Lord is clear, but some fail to see it due to the deceptions of the world. Blessed are those who seek His way and blessed are those who speak His name in glory and praise.
Because God loves all His children, He sent His only begotten Son so that all might be saved from the sins of the world. He sent His Son so that all might see and all might hear the blessings of the Word of the Lord. As Jesus gathered together His Apostles and taught them the ways of the Word of God, He also sent them to extend the good news of the Word through them. On the cross He conquered sin, on the third day, He rose and conquered death; all was done so that the children of God might be forgiven their sins and have hope of everlasting life in the kingdom of their Creator. Though He departed this world to ascend to heaven and sit beside the Father, He left with us the Holy Spirit so that we may not be orphaned in this time.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, He breathes life into our souls and gives us strength in the face of evil. Through the Holy Spirit, His Apostles and disciples spread the gospel despite all manners of persecution. From town to town the word was passed through every barrier of language so that all might hear, so that all might believe. Like one candle used to ignite another, the light of the Lord is spread from one heart to the next. The spirit of faith is breathed upon us through the tongues of truth, but where it truly flourishes is in the hearts of the faithful, nourished through prayer and the blessings we share with one another. Blessed are those who seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, for they seek to be filled with the love of the Lord. As we come to know the love of God in our hearts, we bring a piece of heaven to this world and prepare ourselves for the next.
Just as devout men spread the Word of the Lord in past days, so too may we do so in this day. We do not need to preach from every street corner, but simply live the Word as we greet those about us in our lives and provide for those in need. Let us try, then, each day, to live in honor of His glory and thanks for His mercy and grace. As we bring the Holy Spirit into our hearts, we make all well with our soul as it becomes nourished with the love of God. As He made all things great around us, if we seek Him, He will make things great within us.
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, can speak in opposition to Jesus. And no man can say the Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Spirit. Now there are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit; And there are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord; And there are diversities of operations, but the same God, who works all in all. And the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for some benefit.
For as the body is one, and has many members; and all the members of the body, whereas they are many, yet are one body, so also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free; and in one Spirit we have all been made to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13)
God invites all His children to His table, it is but our choice to come to His banquet. To each of us He grants gifts to which we can fulfill a part of the great works done through the body of Christ. He has left the choice to us as to how we use His gifts, but He invites us to use the collection of our gifts in fulfillment of the commandments of love.
As we receive the Holy Spirit, we will be guided. If we do not know our gifts, the Holy Spirit will reveal them to us. The question we must ask ourselves, “To what purpose will we put our gifts?” Through prayer we may ask to be guided to His will. Blessed are those who find His gifts and use them in selfless service of others. As Christ stooped to wash the feet of those to sought to learn from Him, He provided the example of what we must do for one another. Let us, then, find grace through service of the children of His creation.
In each of our lives, there is an opportunity. In each of our lives, there is a calling to a special work. In each of our lives, there is a time where the gifts we are granted may be put to service to the will of God. Our sins are not always in what we do, but many times in what we fail to do to serve our Lord and to serve one another, for Jesus told us, what we do for the least of these, we also do for Him; what we fail to do for the least of these, we also fail to do for Him. We cannot love God if we do not love one another.
We, by ourselves, cannot solve the problems of the world, but, we can listen for the call of God and put ourselves to His purpose. We give purpose to our lives as we seek to serve God and the children of His creation. What we give from our gifts will generate many rewards; some now, but more importantly, in heaven; but first, we must give.
Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive you the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (John 20:19-23)
And so it came to past that hearts would be filled with fear and dread, but quickly the fear would pass to great joy and gladness as death was conquered and their Lord and ours appeared before them. In those moments what had been set in motion by the sending of the Son of God as the Savior of the world was extended through those He gathered together for such a brief time. As God sent the Son, now the Son sent His Apostles and disciples so that the good news could be spread to all, both Jew and Gentile.
Blessed are we that those filled with the Holy Spirit have walked and traveled far and wide to spread the Word so that we might all believe and we might all be saved. The Holy Spirit He breathed into His Apostles and disciples has spread across the land and across generations. As it was given to them and passed to others, now, it is our turn, for what we do in this generation will set the foundation for the next. It is up to us whether our children will be placed in the arms of the Lord or abandoned to the world. Let us pray, then, that as the Holy Spirit has been passed to us, we fulfill our responsibility to breath it into the hearts of our children.
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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