TURN ON THE FAUCET! 1
Good morning! It’s a Friday, as I write this reflection, and there is something joyful about Fridays! The weekend, with all our plans, is ahead of us and we are ready to have some FUN!
So, let’s have some fun in these next two reflections as we hear and discuss the incredible GIFT from God—the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit!
QUESTION: How do I know IF the Holy Spirit is indwelling within me?
IF you genuinely accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then the anointing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit is indeed within and upon you!
Why? Because God so put it into motion that our salvation experience can ONLY occur by the power of the Holy Spirit within us!
For anyone to become convinced of Christ’s salvation, the Holy Spirit first exposes and convicts them of where they miss the mark with God (John 16:8–11). This sin-confronting ministry continues through the believer’s life, as the Spirit generates deeper conviction and sincere repentance (Rom. 6:22)
John 14:16–17: The Holy Spirit takes up residence in believers and unites them with Christ.
Then we have these powerful words below to Nicodemus in John 3! Simply none of us can enter Heaven without being born again!
“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:1-8 NKJV
QUESTION: So, how am I or how do I know if I have been born again?
At the moment of your salvation, the Holy Spirit came down as a gift from God upon you! It is this simple due to our Heavenly Father’s promise. Once one accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, God imparts to us the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit!
So, my brothers and sisters, we all have a CHOICE: are we willing to believe, to trust, in HIS Word, that I am born again because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit whom God graciously gave to me the moment I accepted Jesus? Are we willing to accept the gift of the Holy Spirit—as a gift to bring about my radical and transformational change of life?
This is the critical question for each of us! Do you believe in the power of the Holy Spirit within you? Are you aware that God put this gift in motion because that is how HE resides in you now? Do you realize that Jesus completed the gift of salvation, as God desired, and now resides on the right side of Heaven awaiting for our Heavenly Fathers orders for HIM to return, gather up HIS believers, and usher in what we call the end times. Read what I just said again. Jesus is on the right side of God’s waiting word…so who is present with us on earth? AH…maybe now you begin to appreciate and understand the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit, who is God in us, to all who believed and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior!
Here is a one simple expression about the Holy Spirit, based on the Word of God:
“The Holy Spirit is our Cleanser agent, our Comforter and our Guide—empowering and encouraging us to live righteously and deepening our relationship with God.” This reflects the biblical roles of the Holy Spirit as seen in verses like John 14:26, which describes Him as our Advocate, and Romans 8:26, which speaks to His help in our weaknesses.
NOW, here’s the funny story that I have used often as a way to encourage those who pursuing Heavenly and Spiritual growth—it is NOT possible without the anointing and indwelling of His Holy Spirit.
OK, Pastor Jerry, so the Holy Spirit is within me. It came as a gift the moment I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, however, how do I live daily by its presence?
I hope the following funny story may help you. As a coastal boy, you learn that when you get the boat home, you must get the salt water off of it. Salt water is not a friend to a boat on land! It’s pretty easy to clean and many of us use Dawn dish soap with water, except when you have no water coming out of the hose!
When that occurs, I check the hose and check the hose nozzle. The hose nozzle is old and probably needs replacing. So off to LOWE’s on a quick trip! Once there, I see a sale for a new fancy hose and new hose nozzle. I make the purchase and head home victorious. Change out the hose, new nozzle, climb in boat, squeeze new nozzle—still no water! Now I am so frustrated. What is going on?!?!?
Then it hits me. That gentle, mighty wind, brings clarity—Jerry, you forgot to turn on the water faucet at the house!!! Oh my gosh, it would have never worked without turning on the water faucet! Go ahead and laugh, just as well!
PAUSE: AND JUST LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE SMALL EXAMPLE AS TO HOW TO EXPERIENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT DAILY—TURN ON THE FAUCET!
