The Gift of the Holy Spirit – June 25, 2022

God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Do you ever feel timid or weak in your spiritual struggles?

Fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, God sent his Holy Spirit to his believers. Wouldn’t it be strange if the Holy Spirit made the disciples more timid? More fearful? More hesitant? Wouldn’t it be strange if it turned out that the Holy Spirit was a spineless, powerless, timid spirit? Wouldn’t it be strange if the Holy Spirit led us to cave in or give up in our spiritual struggles?

The Bible teaches us what kind of spirit the Holy Spirit is and what kind of spirit he produces inside us— “a spirit not of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”

A spirit of power. The power God used to make the universe. The power that God used to raise his Son from the dead after paying for our sins. That power is at work in us by his Holy Spirit.

A spirit of love. This power at work in us is not power over financial problems, health problems, or social problems. It’s power to resist the devil, to put off the sinful nature’s anger, hate, and envy. It’s power to love as Christ has loved us.

A spirit of self-discipline. Our sinful nature wants to run rampant. The devil tempts us to indulge self. But the Holy Spirit gives us power to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus.

When you feel weak in faith, helpless against the devil, or fearful in the face of life’s challenges, remember this, the Holy Spirit is not weak or timid. And your spirit, given by the Holy Spirit in you, is a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. As God gave you forgiveness of all your sins by Christ’s death, as God gave you eternal life in heaven by Christ’s resurrection from the dead, God also gives you the Holy Spirit. Trust him to help you and empower you in your spiritual struggles.

Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you for your love and forgiveness through Jesus. Empower me by your Spirit to be strong in faith in Jesus and to deny myself and follow Jesus. Amen.