Luke 11:1-13
Tuesday, 17 May 2022
“…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”– Luke 11:13
The request of the disciples of Jesus to Him was to teach them to pray. As the LORD gave them a model of prayer, he concluded with the need of asking our Heavenly Father for the good gift of the Holy Spirit- a good thought to meditate on today!
A person who has trusted Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord, has the third Person of the Godhead- the Holy Spirit residing in him. Jesus describes to Nicodemus to be “born of the Spirit” (John 3:6)- to be born again into God’s Kingdom, which is when the Holy Spirit comes into a saved person. Then the question arises to a believer, why then should we ask the Father again for Holy Spirit?
Romans 8: 14 says: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” It is one thing to have the Spirit of God in you and another to be led by Him. To be led by the Spirit, one has to give the rein of his heart to be bridled by Him. It is to be called into a life of total surrender to be led by the Holy Spirit, daily. We can only achieve that when we are:
Baptized in the Holy Spirit-(John 1:33)- The first disciples experienced it on the Day of Pentecost when they were filled with power to be Christ’s witness. Jesus spoke of this in John 7:37&38: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Being baptized in the Spirit empowers a Christian (Acts 1:8) to be Christ’s witness, being emboldened to work for the Lord.
Filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph.5:18)- An infilling is a continual process for which a thirst for it is desired. The first disciples experienced it many times-Acts 13:52: “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” The life-giving Spirit energizes the Christian day to day!
Renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5)- He is the Spirit of Truth who guides us into all truth (John 16:13)-the truths of God’s Word are revealed to us by the Holy Spirit so that our minds are renewed. This enables us to live according to the Spirit and not according to our fleshly desires that constantly war against our soul. God’s Word comes alive in us so that its double-edge cuts off the cancer of sin that tries to deaden our walk with the Lord. Thus, a continual renewal equips the Christian for transformed living!
One more important role the Holy Spirit plays in the life of a believer: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26,27). What a privilege! He help us pray according to God’s will!
Shouldn’t we desire more of the Holy Spirit as we understand how essential His role is for a victorious Christian living? Shall we desire to be led by Him continually so that we will be called the sons of God?
To Act on: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” -Galatians 5:16 [NLT]