The Holy Spirit's Influence

Well, I had to chuckle at this--it was pointed out to me (thanks, Kathy R.!) that the last RST (on the Holy Spirit no less) was sent out this past Sunday which was...Pentecost! How funny is that?

For those who don't know, Pentecost refers to the day 10 days after Christ's ascension to heaven when the Holy Spirit came down "with the sound of a mighty rushing wind" empowering the (very) early Christians--who had been waiting and praying together for this event--with the ability to speak clearly and authoritatively in different languages (which they did not previously speak) so that the thousands of Jews from all over the known world that were in Jerusalem for the feasts were able to hear and understand the Gospel in their native tongues. You can read all about it in Acts 2--it's quite a story!

First thing that came to mind was "Ellis' Verse" (here you go, brother!) which is fondly remembered by many from the early days of our men's group--John 14:26--and captures the moment when Christ promised His disciples that they wouldn't be left alone once He ascended: "But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative--and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit--He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you."

And here's today's thought on the Holy Spirit's ministry and power in our lives--it's taken from an old devotional collection of thoughts written in various other devotional books by Ellen White--nice sentence, huh?--the book is actually called "Our Father Cares."

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God."
Romans 8:14

"The Spirit of God does not interfere with the freedom of the human agent. The Holy Spirit is given to be a Helper, so that man may cooperate with the Divine, and it is given to him to draw the soul [toward Christ] but never to force obedience. Christ is ready to impart all heavenly influences...and [He] presents before the mind the obligations that should be met and urges that common, earthly things shall not be permitted to be so absorbing that eternal things shall be lost out of the reckoning. The Lord has fullness of grace to bestow on everyone that will receive the Heavenly Gift. The Holy Spirit will bring the God-entrusted capabilities into Christ's service and will mold and fashion the human agent according to the Divine Pattern...and in proportion as they depend on the Holy Spirit's teaching, they will grow. The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul...it works in and through everyone who receives it. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith."

You've been prayed for today...