“The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
(Genesis 1:2)
Reflection:
The Holy Spirit is involved in every work of God. He was there in the beginning hovering over the waters. Into His presence God spoke His will and Word and it happened just as God intended.
When the Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary and told her that God wished her to bear a child she asked him “how will this be?” In response he told her,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)
At the beginning of Jesus public ministry the Holy Spirit came upon Him at his baptism (Luke 3:22). “Full of the Holy Spirit” Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert where he was tempted. Afterwards, He “returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit” and began His ministry of teaching and healing.
The Holy Spirit empowered the life and ministry of what would become the Christian Church. Having been given a worldwide commission by Jesus before He ascended the disciples had been told to wait in the city until they were clothed with power from on high. This happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit entered into them and transformed their lives.
The Holy Spirit is very much involved also in the ‘new birth’ that takes place in the lives of believers. As Jesus told Nicodemus,
“I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5)
And it is the Holy Spirit who gives us specific gifts and guides and leads us in ministry as a part of the ongoing life and blessing of the Body of Christ. He is not a special gift to a select few, but on the contrary,
• “to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)
• “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
Nothing of eternal significance happens without the Holy Spirit. And He is at work both within and around us even today – taking the expressed will of God and working to bring it to completion.
Response:
The Holy Spirit is a part of my life
Prayer:
Thank You Heavenly Father for the wonderful and life-changing gift of Your Holy Spirit. Please keep pouring Him into my life and help me to open myself to Him until I am truly filled with the Spirit at all times. Amen
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The Soaring Eagle 