Experiencing The Holy Spirit

The premise is simple.

There has to be change in order for change to happen.

If things remain the same then change is denied.

The old must go in order to allow the new to enter in.

Many of us do not experience Jesus because, at the heart of it, we do not want to change. But when Jesus possesses, things change. He told us, as he told Nicodemus, that there must be a second birth, a moving from the state we are in to a new state. He calls us a new creation. But it can't be new if we are doing what we have always done, thinking as we have always thought, and valuing what we have always considered to have value.

Most of us want all the good stuff Jesus promised but we want to limit the cost. Some would say there is no cost as Jesus paid the cost but Jesus said it will cost us everything and we would be glad to pay that cost if we understood what we would possess, or what would possess us. If you know the Word then there are all kinds of verses that Jesus spoke that are just now flooding your thoughts via the Holy Spirit and what you have hidden in your heart.

Read:

"Because of the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the disciples were overflowing with happiness." (Acts 13:52)

This was penned concerning Paul and Barnabas as they were just ejected from a town. There was no confusion in them; no distractions; no philosophies pounding at them through movies, music, news, television. They had a mission and everything they did was focused on that mission and because they did not try to fit other things in, they had the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit, and that made them happy. Imagine that.

The one thing we all say we want to experience, the overwhelming presence of the Lord, is available to us, if only we would let go of the old. If only we would be absorbed by the new. If only we didn't try to live a dual life. If only we understood carnality and rejected it while understanding our mission. If only we could understand that Jesus did not rebirth us to live a life of duplicity.

But is it too late for us? Are we too far gone to understand? Is it possible to silence the other voices? Is it possible to experience the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit in this age? The Church seems to have multiple personalities on this subject but I know what Jesus said and I have decide to trust his words and his words alone as he declares to even this generation:

“It’s impossible for human beings. But all things are possible for God.” (Matthew 19:26)

If you really want to experience the presence of God, he will help you silence those voices. You will have to make some decisions to simplify your life but he will empower you to do it. After all, Father's great desire is fellowship with you. Be still and know that he is God.