Father, Give Me the Holy Spirit! Luke 12:11-13
“11) Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12) Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 14) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”” Luke 11:11-13
This text troubles some people. They do not believe it is right to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit. But in this text Jesus speaks to the contrary.
If fact, in John 14:16, Jesus asks the Father to send the helper. How could anyone paint the Holy Spirit on a negative light. How could they doubt the good character of God? Jesus poses those questions in this text.
But it gets even better. In Acts 1:4, Jesus says the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. A few verses latter, It is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Numerous texts teach that Jesus is the one who actually does the baptizing with the Holy Spirit. (See Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:4, Luke 3:16, John 1:33)
As I studied these texts years ago, I asked Jesus to fill me to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. I confess, according to Ephesians 5:18, I seek to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. I believe. receive and am dependent on all the many ministries of the Holy Spirit revealed in the Word of God.
I am sealed, baptized, filled, anointed, empowered, gifted, instructed and overflowing with the Holy Spirit. God created my body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and I welcome Him to dwell in me in His exceeding abundant fulness. I refuse to grieve, quench or minimize the Holy Spirit.
Because the Bible is my guide book, I do not to let Satan blind me or deceive me related to the Holy Spirit. If the Bible says it, I believe it and receive it by faith! As you saturate yourself with the word of God, the confusion will evaporate.
I cannot imagine life without sweet communion with God continually through the Holy Spirit. I’m not a charismatic, Pentecostal or evangelical. I am a biblical, born-again and Spirit filled believer in relentless pursuit of God through His Word.
If you want to remove all confusion about the Holy Spirit, get an exhaustive concordance and look up every time the words “Spirit” or “Holy Spirit” or “Holy Ghost” are used in the entire Bible. Get ready to be stretched!
Then do three things. First, ask God for the grace to help you set aside your theological bias and believe His word. Second, ask the Father to give you the Holy Spirit according to the promises in His word. Third, persevere until your request is granted. Ask, seek and knock with a believing heart while trusting the character of God.
Be ready, your life is about to radically change. God is about to work in you and through you in new and glorious ways. Be patient, the journey will encompass the rest of your life.
Measure everything by Gods word. Make seeking and knowing Jesus Christ your ultimate pursuit. Be patient with others who are at a different place in their journey.
You will most likely be misunderstood. Conduct yourself with godly maturity. Always build up the bride of Christ and avoid a critical spirit and tearing others down.
Test every spirit, especially in your own heart. Your flesh and the devil can play games with you.
Biblical truth will set you free. Agape love is the first fruit of the Spirit. He never tears down or destroys. He always builds up and edifies.
Expect Him to expose sin in you as the process of sanctification unfolds in your life. Be obedient and responsive. Confess, repent and forsake.
When I encounter a critical, condescending or judgmental spirit in other so called “Spirit filled believers”, yellow lights begin to flash. These are not fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Be patient, wise, loving and discerning. Remember, it’s called “the walk in the Spirit” and not “the run in the Spirit.” God is not in a hurry. He has been at this for a very long time! He is constantly working in many places, in many people and in many ways. Jesus is faithfully building His church around the world.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“11) Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12) Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 14) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”” Luke 11:11-13
This text troubles some people. They do not believe it is right to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit. But in this text Jesus speaks to the contrary.
If fact, in John 14:16, Jesus asks the Father to send the helper. How could anyone paint the Holy Spirit on a negative light. How could they doubt the good character of God? Jesus poses those questions in this text.
But it gets even better. In Acts 1:4, Jesus says the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. A few verses latter, It is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Numerous texts teach that Jesus is the one who actually does the baptizing with the Holy Spirit. (See Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:4, Luke 3:16, John 1:33)
As I studied these texts years ago, I asked Jesus to fill me to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. I confess, according to Ephesians 5:18, I seek to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. I believe. receive and am dependent on all the many ministries of the Holy Spirit revealed in the Word of God.
I am sealed, baptized, filled, anointed, empowered, gifted, instructed and overflowing with the Holy Spirit. God created my body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and I welcome Him to dwell in me in His exceeding abundant fulness. I refuse to grieve, quench or minimize the Holy Spirit.
Because the Bible is my guide book, I do not to let Satan blind me or deceive me related to the Holy Spirit. If the Bible says it, I believe it and receive it by faith! As you saturate yourself with the word of God, the confusion will evaporate.
I cannot imagine life without sweet communion with God continually through the Holy Spirit. I’m not a charismatic, Pentecostal or evangelical. I am a biblical, born-again and Spirit filled believer in relentless pursuit of God through His Word.
If you want to remove all confusion about the Holy Spirit, get an exhaustive concordance and look up every time the words “Spirit” or “Holy Spirit” or “Holy Ghost” are used in the entire Bible. Get ready to be stretched!
Then do three things. First, ask God for the grace to help you set aside your theological bias and believe His word. Second, ask the Father to give you the Holy Spirit according to the promises in His word. Third, persevere until your request is granted. Ask, seek and knock with a believing heart while trusting the character of God.
Be ready, your life is about to radically change. God is about to work in you and through you in new and glorious ways. Be patient, the journey will encompass the rest of your life.
Measure everything by Gods word. Make seeking and knowing Jesus Christ your ultimate pursuit. Be patient with others who are at a different place in their journey.
You will most likely be misunderstood. Conduct yourself with godly maturity. Always build up the bride of Christ and avoid a critical spirit and tearing others down.
Test every spirit, especially in your own heart. Your flesh and the devil can play games with you.
Biblical truth will set you free. Agape love is the first fruit of the Spirit. He never tears down or destroys. He always builds up and edifies.
Expect Him to expose sin in you as the process of sanctification unfolds in your life. Be obedient and responsive. Confess, repent and forsake.
When I encounter a critical, condescending or judgmental spirit in other so called “Spirit filled believers”, yellow lights begin to flash. These are not fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Be patient, wise, loving and discerning. Remember, it’s called “the walk in the Spirit” and not “the run in the Spirit.” God is not in a hurry. He has been at this for a very long time! He is constantly working in many places, in many people and in many ways. Jesus is faithfully building His church around the world.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
