The Holy Spirit – our unknown gift

Have you ever been given a gift but you didn’t know you had it? I have. Gifts are meant to be received and shared. In doing so, we experience more unknown gifts, like joy. That is how the Holy Spirit works. By receiving the Spirit of God, the Spirit gives us more gifts. But if we never discover the original gift, all those other little gifts go unrecognized.

Last week, I was given an unknown gift, but I almost missed it. Dr. James Howell, senior pastor of Myers Park UMC referenced  my  book The Me Disease in his blog entitled Collective Joy. (You can CLICK here to read it.) When I found it, I was filled with so much joy, I couldn’t wait to share it with my husband, my sister, my mother and all my readers. Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit and is meant to be shared.

Galatians 5:22 NLT reads;

“…the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

I want all these gifts in my life. But I have to accept the first gift, the gift of Holy Spirit, in order to receive all the other gifts.

As we continue reading in Acts Chapter 2, we are given the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. But, many still don’t understand it. So, Peter has to explain what is happening. (Acts 2:14-40) When he finishes, “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” 

When was the last time you witnessed 3000 folks giving their lives to Christ?   

Last year, I attended Spiritual Emphasis week at my son’s school. Throughout the week, hundreds of kids, teachers and parents, listened to story after story of God changing people’s lives. On the last day of the event, the pastor asked the kids to reflect on everything they had heard. Then, he asked them to come forward in response, committing or re-committing their lives to Christ.

In the silence of that auditorium, no one moved. I prayed for just one child to be brave enough to step forward. The Presence of God was so heavy. From the corner my eye, I saw a kid stand and make her way to the front. Tears formed in my eyes, as another one stood, and another, and another, until I couldn’t count the number of kids going forward. Overwhelmed with joy, the tears streamed down my face. That is the power of heaven! That is the Holy Spirit at work, sharing gifts and giving life! 

Acts 2:42-47 NLT reads;

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. ⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. ⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity ⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

We, as believers, have been given this gift of the Holy Spirit. As we embrace it, we experience awe, wonder, and all sorts of miraculous things. The Spirit may cause you to joyfully share what you have with someone else. Or sell your possessions and give to the poor. Maybe even share a meal with someone you normally would not. That same Spirit keeps on giving more gifts; generosity, goodwill, gentleness, patience. And yet there are still more; wisdom and understanding. But most importantly, the Holy Spirit gives us life.

Gifts are meant to be given, received and shared. What gifts from the Holy Spirit have you experienced lately? What gift could the Spirit be giving you that you may not even be aware of? Thank God for the gift of His Spirit that lives, breathes, and moves within us all. In Jesus’ name, Amen. -M

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