GOD CAN USE THE ADVERSITIES OF OUR LIVES FOR HIS PURPOSES
Adversities are part of life. Joseph could have been forgiven, or at least understood, for being an angry, hurt, offended and depressed individual. He could have blamed himself or others and he could even have blamed God for his situation, but he had a different attitude.
GOD WILL BRING GOOD OUT OF EVIL
In the Old Testament is a remarkable story about a man named Joseph. He was born into a great family and He was the favoured son. He enjoyed a special relationship with God and the Lord showed him dreams and visions about the future. But everything seemed to go horribly wrong.
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – WE’RE EMPOWERED FOR SERVICE
It is interesting the effect that the Holy Spirit had on the lives of the men and women in the Bible and in particular the New Testament. They went from cowering, fearful and timid people, hidden in the upper room and overnight they became bold, fearless and filled with holy courage, speaking in loud voices on the streets and in public.
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR PRAYER LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!
So we can pray with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can pray under the leading or guidance of the Holy Spirit or we can pray as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. This can and will include praying in tongues from time to time. The great revivalist TB Barrett said the following: ‘Surely I have never prayed like that before! It was the Holy Spirit who prayed through me.’
THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR COMFORTER
What is a Comforter? – An advocate, intercessor, a consoler, comforter, helper. The Greek original is Paraklétos – pará, “from close-beside” and /kaléō, “make a call” – Example, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because they are close enough to the situation. It also means an advisor-helper. One called to one’s aid. It is a picture of one who comes alongside. In its most basic form it means helper. Help is something practical. If I am drowning and someone comes and helps me, they step into my situation and help me out of it.
LET THE HOLY SPIRIT COME!
The result of the touch of the Holy Spirit led to blessing. We see the blessing of concern for one another in the above point but there was more.
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AND WE CAN GRASP WHO GOD REALLY IS
This was a reverential fear and wonder for God. It was an understanding of just how great God was and is. When the Holy Spirit comes on us, we too will have a revelation of who God is. As a result we will not ‘play the fool’ with God. We will take Him seriously and give Him the glory and honour that is due to Him.
Notice it says that this effect touched everyone and every soul.
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AND BRINGS INFLUENCE
The influence they enjoyed was supernatural and profound. They had no sound system, lights and no camera’s. They did not even have a beautiful building facility where they could ‘create’ an ideal worship experience in which people could be moved. The Holy Spirit moved the people. The scripture tells us that as a result of the effect of the Holy Spirit that many gladly received the word and many were gladly baptized. It goes on to say that in one day 3000 people came to salvation in Christ.
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AND GIVES US THE GUIDANCE WE NEED
Just prior to this people had been cynical and accused the Apostles of being drunk and now they were changed. Gone was the joking and gone were the opinions. Suddenly they were asking the really important question: ‘What shall we do?’ When the Holy Spirit comes upon us and our hearts are touched, a shift takes place within us and we realise just how desperately we need God. The conversation suddenly shifts. Now they are serious.
THE WONDERFUL CHANGE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS
In response to the teaching about Christ, the Holy Spirit brings deep conviction on the people. It says that they were ‘cut to the heart’! In the original Greek it literally means ‘severely troubled and made sorrowful.’ It was as if their hearts were pierced. They were struck to their very core.