Be Strengthened by the Holy SpiritSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: It is absolutely necessary for the children of God to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Life on earth is full of tribulations for children of God. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, He will help you overcome them all. "The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, shall cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." (Hebrews 9:14)
The Eternal Spirit who made Lord Jesus to offer Himself as a living sacrifice, helps us to offer our lives as a living sacrifice to Christ Jesus. Christian life is not a bed of roses. It is not free from sorrows, sufferings, pain and peril. Jesus Himself passed the way of tribulations. He knows the ups and downs of life very well. He has said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). When we follow Jesus wholeheartedly, we will have to meet many conflicts and failures. Our prayers may seem to go unheard.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus wept bitterly, ""Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). He said to His beloved disciples Peter, James and John, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me" (Matthew 26:38). But they were found fast asleep.
It was at that crucial moment when Jesus was let down by everyone that the Eternal Spirit appeared to Him and reminded Him that He had volunteered to fulfill His Father's will to come down to earth, to offer His life for mankind as a sacrifice, thus preparing Him to yield Himself to death on the cross. That is why in the end He prayed, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done" (Matthew 26:42). It was through the Holy Spirit that Christ yielded Himself in perfect submission to death on the cross.
Dear friend, in times of distress, it is necessary for children of God to have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Have you received the Holy Spirit? If not, cry to the gracious Lord. He will fill you with His Spirit. When He comes, He will remind you the words in the Scriptures and comfort you. His presence will strengthen you. He will intercede for you in times of need. He will help you to offer yourself as a living sacrifice in the presence of God.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to offer myself as a living sacrifice and live my life as a testimony to Your goodness and glory. Help me to submit to Your will always. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |