Receive the Holy Spirit

John 20:22

And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

It was the evening of the first day of the week.  The disciples, fearing the Jews after the crucifixion of their Master, were meeting behind locked doors.  With the appearance of Jesus, they were at once at peace.  But then a greater thing happened, Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit.  All that had been gathered in the room in fear suddenly began a supernatural life which is unique to Christians alone.  They were sent forth to continue the work that Jesus had been sent to do by His Father.

As the New Year begins, how many of us are sheltering ourselves away from the world?  How many of us are letting our fears hold us back from doing the work that Jesus was sent to do?  Do we not recognize that the same power that was given to the early disciples is also given to us?

Let us begin our new year under the guidance of Our Comforter, the Holy Spirit.  He has been given to us to instruct us and empower us to do the work of the Father.  He has been sent to supernaturally strengthen us.  He comes along side of us to provide the power and protection that we need to overcome the enemy, the world around us or even our own flesh that is trying to bring us down.

We can be sure that we will encounter some failure.  In all likelihood, our failures will come from the fact that we have turned once again to rely on our own strength.  We must be continously aware that our own strength will never be enough to meet the demands and challenges of this world.  Our strength must come from the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit that He gives us.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for providing Your Holy Spirit to come along side of us to be our counselor.  We praise the name of Jesus who defeated all evil when He died on the Cross so that we could defeat the evil that comes against us.  We pray that you will teach us to accept our utter failure without Christ.  Help us to realize our best will never be good enough until we are cleansed by the blood of Our Savior and receive His Holy Spirit into our lives.  Help us Father to build our lives on the Rock that is Jesus Christ.  May the Holy Spirit embolden and strengthen us to do the work of the Son.  We ask all these things in the name of Our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.