Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sabbath, February 13, 2016
This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “The Holy Spirit.”
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13).
What is your impression of God? Do you believe He has, at all times, your best interest at heart? Do you believe that if you ask anything according to His will, He hears your prayer? Do you believe that He loves you so much that He gave you His perfect Son to take the punishment you deserve, so you can have the righteous reward He deserves? Do you believe that He rejoices over you when you repent? Do you believe He is preparing a place for you in heaven and is planning to give you the re-created earth as your inheritance? What is your impression of God?
My five-year-old son is very interesting to me. Whenever he has a sincere need or frivolous desire, he has no problem asking me (or commanding) for what he wants. Although he has had many experiences with me saying no to the frivolous requests, he seldom doubts that he will get what he needs. What impression am I giving him of God?
Among many of the prayers God would love to answer in the affirmative if we would simply persist in asking is the gift of the Holy Spirit. As we have underscored multiple ways this week, the Spirit is essential to our very existence. Without Him we are powerless. Without Him we are breathless. Without Him we are without hope! In fact, Jesus said as much as His earthly ministry was coming to a close. He said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7). Although Jesus really enjoyed being with His people in person, He knew that in order for them to have the richest experience possible, He needed to make way for the Spirit to come.
If I know how to give good things to my little boy, and I am a faulty human being, does not God know how to satisfy our needs? If God spoke so much about how essential to our lives the Spirit is, would He shroud His reception into our lives in weird and complex requirements and manifestations? If Jesus was so interested in giving us the perfect Gift that He was willing to go away for a while to make way for the Spirit’s fulness, how important is the Spirit’s presence in our lives?
We are living in the final stages of the last days as we demonstrated in our series on the book of Revelation. The only way we will survive all the strife, both physical and spiritual, that will come upon the earth shortly, is if we have the fulness of God’s Spirit (full-stop). Ask Him. Ask God for His precious Holy Spirit. Ask Him to so fill your life that you will be more than a conqueror over sin and selfishness. Ask Him to so illuminate your mind that you will stop at nothing to bring others to a winning relationship with God. He promised to give you His Spirit. Do you trust Him?
