Loneliness is one of the greatest social problems in the world. It affects all kinds and classes of people. Today with the pandemic even more people feel alone as they are unable to meet with friends and family. But you are not alone. You are not forgotten. You have a greater friend than you may imagine, and that friend is Jesus. He’s the best friend we could ever have, and we can experience him because of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus himself was filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus was able to have an amazing ministry to heal the sick and work many miracles because of what the Bible calls the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38 tells 'how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.' Jesus taught His disciples that they needed to experience the Holy Spirit to become the world changers He intended them to be. Everything changed for them when they lived in a new spiritual dimension and the church exploded in growth. You too will see your life totally changed when you are filled with the Holy Spirit. We see why all of us need the Holy Spirit in our lives:
1. We need the Holy Spirit to adopt us into the family of God (John 14:6, John 3:6, John 14:16-18, Romans 8:14-17)
2. We need the Holy Spirit to fulfil the deepest needs of our hearts (John 4:10-14, John 7:37-39)
3. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us (Acts 1:8, 2 Peter 1:3)
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Do you still doubt that you are part of God's family, that you are forgiven and loved unconditionally as a child of God? Do you need the Holy Spirit to make this new birth into the family of God real to you? Jesus said that He is the only way to know God the Father (John 14:6). But it is the Holy Spirit who makes us aware that we need Jesus to forgive us of our sins. And it is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we can be born again into God’s family. Before he ascended to heaven Jesus told the disciples that they would live in a new spiritual dimension when the Holy Spirit came to live in them (John 14:16-18). In other words when they experienced the Holy Spirit they would no longer feel alone and He would always help them. When you pray and ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins, it is the Holy Spirit who reassures you that God accepts you into His family: there is no need to doubt (Romans 8:14-17). When you give your life to Jesus, you don't just believe you have become a Christian, you can know that you have been born into a new spiritual family. You have a Father who will never leave you or stop loving you and you can feel the wonder of this every day when you pray. Today ask the Holy Spirit to bring you into God’s family if you haven't before. If you have been a Christian for a long time, ask for a fresh revelation of all that being part of God's family really means for your life.
Do you look to the Holy Spirit to fulfil the deepest needs of your heart or do you look elsewhere? Do you recognise your need of the Holy Spirit every day and in every area of life? People look for satisfaction and meaning, often believing these are found with money, power or different pleasures. But once they attain these things, they are still not satisfied and feel empty again. Real satisfaction and meaning in life can only be found in Christ: we cannot expect from material things what only God can do. Jesus explained that people need God’s living water to quench their thirsty souls (John 4:10-14). It’s only through Jesus that we can lose this feeling of emptiness and have real satisfaction. And it’s only the Holy Spirit who can make Jesus real to us (John 7:37-39). When we experience the Holy Spirit, it’s like we drink of fresh water and like we have this water flowing in us. Can you imagine rivers of life flowing in you; life in your body, finances, family, home, ministry, life in every area? It is impossible to know His Holy Spirit and feel empty. Take time to pray that the Holy Spirit will quench your thirsty soul with the rivers of living water Jesus promised you. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill every area of your life and to satisfy the deepest needs of your heart.
Do you live each day and face every circumstance empowered by the Holy Spirit, or do you try to live life in your own strength? Jesus knew his followers needed the help of the Holy Spirit and were not equipped in their own strength to face the challenges of this world. They needed help from heaven to give them new confidence, so he told them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Everything changed when they received that power. It was like they had a fire within them and from that moment they spread the fire of God’s love throughout the world. In the book of Acts we read of many miracles, healings, great joy and amazing growth: all of which happened because it says everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can empower you in every area of life (2 Peter 1:3) and God knows that you need His power for every situation. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you new strength every day. Ask Him to help you know the power of His love to comfort you. Decide today to not miss out on knowing the Holy Spirit. He Is the only one who can bring you into the family of God, who can satisfy you and give you the power to live a life of conquest. You are not alone. The Holy Spirit is right by you. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to come to you right now.
