Luke 11:13 “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

It is interesting to the point of being bizarre how we don’t trust God to give us what we need. Probably that comes at least somewhat from our awareness that many of our “needs” are no more than wants. However, God delights to give good things to His children, and He is certainly not stingy. That, of course, applies in spiritual things as well as material. I have been bemused to see people afraid to ask to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, thinking they might get an evil spirit instead. There is a danger in seeking manifestations ahead of seeking the Spirit Himself, but if we are desiring and asking to be baptized and filled with the Spirit of God so that we may serve Him better, then we are certainly not going to get anything less. Jesus was very clear on that point, and we should be no less certain.

In my own experience, seeking a specific manifestation greatly got in the way of my being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Once I stopped insisting on how it was going to happen, God was more than true to His promise. A couple of months later, the manifestation that I had been seeking was given to me as well, and over time I have experienced all of the gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, but all of that came after opening myself to God in the Person of His Holy Spirit. I need to encourage the believers to trust God to be true to His Word and pour His Spirit out on them, receiving whatever gifts He desires to give them without insisting on particular gifts as proof that He has done what He said He would do. Likewise, I need to obey the admonition in Ephesians 5:18, which according to the tense of the Greek verb tells us to “Keep on being filled with the Spirit.” When I am in the position of pouring out, I need constant refilling! I use the analogy often, but I’ve got to remember that I’m a pipe, not a pot. “Fill my cup, Lord,” just doesn’t cut it. I need a continuous flow of the Holy Spirit so that I may refresh those around me. Thankfully, Jesus promised exactly that, for those who fully believe in, that is, trust, Him. (John 7:37-39) I need to press in for more of God so that those with whom I interact may receive more of God.

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for yesterday, for speaking through me and for how well that was received. Thank You for all You are doing in this body of believers, transforming us into the likeness of Your Son. Help us all press in for more of You, so that we may demonstrate Christ to the world around us, drawing more and more into Your family, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!