The gift of the Spirit

 I Corinthians 2:9--But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

     I remember the time a friend of mine mentioned that this was one of his favorite verses, and while I agree it is a wonderful verse the most beautiful part comes in the next verse.  Upon first reading of verse 9 you may assume that the writer is referring to heaven, or some future time, but once verse 10 is read in conjunction with verse 9 the picture becomes so much clearer and more wonderful.  Verse 10a reads, "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit."  Today, I would like to show you how marvelous a gift it is to have the Holy Spirit.

     The Revealer.  I Corinthians 2:12 says, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."  The Holy Spirit is indwelling in all true believers, but many do not fully understand what that means.  Enlightenment and understanding of Godly things can only come through the Holy Spirit.  His desire is to continually reveal to us God's awesome plans for us and His wonderful thoughts toward us.  As a believer, you cannot understand the great things God has prepared for you unless the Spirit of God reveals it to you.   Are you getting such revelation?

     The Helper.  John 14:16 says, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever."  The Greek word for Helper in this verse is "parakletos."  Para means with or side by side.  Christ desired to give us a Helper that would come beside us and work with us to comfort and guide us into the paths of righteousness.  This Helper, very similar in role to our wives, is not a dictator, lording us; nor a slave, following our every command, but a friend who desires to come besides us, put His arm around us and gently guide us.  What an aid this is.  Many sing the line, "and He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own," but never truly experience such a relationship.  Is that you?  Do you experience the intimate relationship that the Holy Spirit desires to offer?

     The Changer.  I Corinthians 2:16b says, "But we have the mind of Christ."  When we come to Christ our mind, nor our actions are God-centered.  It is only through the working of the Holy Spirit that our minds can become like the mind of Christ's, thinking and responding to all situations like He would.  As we diligently and expectantly read God's Word, the Spirit takes the Word and begins to renew our mind.  He begins to take what we used to see as right, and show us how wrong it truly was.  He molds us by continually reminding us of what God's desire is for us, and directing us in how to get there.  What a blessing this is.  We no longer have to think and act as the world does.  We can truly have the mind of Christ.  Do you have such a mind?  Are your thoughts and actions being renewed through His Word?  Are you being convicted of your sin and directed in how to overcome it?

     How can one have this gift of the Spirit?  Humble yourself, repent of your sins and cry out to God to fill you with His Spirit.  This filling is not just a one time occurrence, but is done on a continual basis.  As Ephesians 5:18b says, "be filled with the Spirit."  Once Christ gives us His Spirit, we must be sensitive to listen and obey His direction.  It is by practicing this that life will truly come.  May Christ richly bless you as the Spirit is in operation in your life.