Sunday: Steps in Finding the Holy Spirit
WEEK 51
SUNDAY
STEPS IN FINDING THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ephesians 1:11-14
We have been studying the masteries introduced into the individual and society by the coming of the Holy Spirit. These masteries have not been read into the account; they are inherently there and very much more besides. And they have not expended themselves; they are still at work leavening society.
Then the question arises: How does one receive the Holy Spirit?
This is the most important question that can be asked in religion. I am going to outline the steps as I see them. You take them as I outline them; and at the end you may be in possession of the Spirit, or better, the Spirit may be in possession of you.
First, the end purpose of God’s redemption is to give you the Holy Spirit. The end purpose is to give you Godself. All else is preparatory—the incarnation, the atonement, the resurrection—all are preparatory. Moving into the inside of us in intimate personal relations is the end view of the Divine Lover. Being Love, God could not stop this side of personal intimate contact with the loved one. All that happened without, in history, was in order that this might happen within, in experience. Everything converges upon this. If we fail to find the Holy Spirit, we fail to fulfill that for which we are made, and we fail to fulfill God’s intention.
Second, the Holy Spirit is primarily a believer’s gift. When the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they were believers. The account says, “Jesus said this concerning the Spirit. Those who believed in him would soon receive” (John 7:39). Note “those who believed in him would soon receive,” a believer’s gift. When we came to the Christ, in the first coming we wanted forgiveness, reconciliation. We knew little or nothing about asking for the Holy Spirit. But now that we are children of God and are sure of our standing in God, we want to enter our birthright, which is nothing less than the Holy Spirit. In the new birth we received a measure of the Spirit; now we want more, we want to receive the fullness of the Spirit. We want to possess the Spirit; or better, we want to be possessed by the Spirit. We want more of what we have.
O Spirit Divine, I am made for you. My spirit is made for you. When I find you, I find the end for which I was made. I want to fulfill my destiny. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I shall not annul the grace of God. What grace offers, I shall take with both hands.