Living 4 Him

He reached out his hand and touched the man. . .  “Be clean!” Mark 1:41

Jesus could heal with a word or a thought, but the majority of healings occurred by touch.  Leprosy, deformed limbs, fevers, or internal distress all faded with one divine touch. 

We do not have Jesus, the man, with us to physically touch us, but his Spirit lives in all places and with his Spirit he is able to touch us, heal us, change us, hold us, and keep us close to him.  The Holy Spirit is God’s way of connecting with his children, caring for all, bringing his kingdom to the world, and ensuring his will is carried out.  As we consider the active energy from God’s hand, let’s look closely at some important truths about the Spirit.

The Spirit is a gift from God.  When Jesus redeemed our souls with his sweeping sacrifice, a bonus we all received was the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 (NLT)

Gifts are meant to be opened and used.  God wants us to accept his gift and embrace its power.  We can rely on the Spirit to guide us, to keep us on the right paths, to touch us in the places where we need the most help. 

The Spirit works for good.  God is good and his Spirit is equally as good.  Whatever way the Spirit might be working in our lives, we know that the result will benefit us.  Because our human views are limited, some circumstances may not seem positive at the time, but we can trust that when the Spirit is involved, good will come forth. 

The Spirit knows all and sees all.  The Spirit has eyes that see beyond what our clouded vision sees.  The Spirit knows far more than we can ever comprehend.  Trying to learn EVERYTHING there is to know is futile.  A better choice is to trust that the knowledge we need will be given by the Spirit when the time is right.  The Spirits knows what we need and when we need it. 

The Spirit is power!  When Jesus described the Spirit to his disciples he used the words “power from on high” or “power from heaven.”  (Luke 24:49)  Power is defined as having the ability to be able to do something or act in a particular manner to bring about a certain course of events.   The Spirit equips us to do what we cannot do on our own.  “Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The answer is yes–all the time! It must be that way, for God’s glory and kingdom. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory. He wants to reveal Himself to a watching world.” (Henry Blackaby, Experiencing the Power of Pentecost Every Day)

Not long ago, on a windy spring day, I saw a park filled with kites flying high above the grassy area.  I realized that kites by themselves really do nothing, but when the power of the wind lifts them, it gives them a life of movement and beauty, of power and purpose.  The Spirit influences our lives in the same way. 

The Spirit lifts.  The Spirit brings out beauty. 

The Spirit empowers and equips us.  The Spirit fulfills our purpose. 

I have often heard Bible teacher and speaker Joyce Meyer say, “Without God, I am nothing.  With God, I am everything.” 

Trust the Spirit’s touch.  The Spirit is your greatest gift, guiding your soul in a prosperous direction, empowering you with wisdom, peace and healing for eternity.

Reaching in (allowing God’s word to work in your soul):  Read Romans 8: 14-17, 26-27 to grasp a better sense of the Spirit’s touch upon your life.

Reaching out (taking God’s word into the world):  Father Jacques Philippe says, “The Holy Spirit is the secret teacher of the soul.” Listen to your teacher.  Follow your teacher.  Allow your teacher to work in your soul.