The Spirit initiates, creates, and give birth to new things.(2 Cor. 3:6)
"It is He who has qualified us making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant (of salvation through Christ) not ministers of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code of the Law kills, but the Holy Spirit makes alive."
Illustration: Sometime back the Associated Press carried this dispatch: "Glasgow, Ky.--Leslie Puckett, after struggling to start his car, lifted the hood and discovered that someone had stolen the motor." Trying to start anything without the Spirit of God is an exercise in futility. We are reliant on the Holy Spirit for the power to start up each new day, each new project and each new relationship.
Associated Press.
Why are so many people hesitant to start something new? Many people are afraid of failing. With the Holy Spirit of God in charge we can be assured that He will give birth to new ideas, new fellowships and new projects that will take a life of their own because He is in them.
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
Without hope of improvement, few people are motivated to progress. We need the Spirit of God to initiate, to innovate and to inspire us to move on to higher levels of Christ-likeness or our efforts are in vain.
1. Jesus, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, is the author and perfecter of hope and faith. The writer of Hebrews wrote, "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Heb. 12:2) Allow the Lord to author new ideas in your life so you do not grow stale, bored or lack creativity.
2. The Spirit gave birth to the first century church where thousands experienced a new life in Christ. We read in Acts 2:38, 39 Peter wrote:
"Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized. every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your children and for all that are far away and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself." (Acts 2:38,39)
The reason that many miss out on the new work of the Spirit is that they are not willing to change their views and invite Him to do a new work in and through them.
It is amazing that the vast majority of new people who are brought in to the church are invited by new believers who are fresh with the excitement of the new birth. Older Christians tend to lose their freshness, excitement and enthusiasm as the years go by.
3. Wherever the Spirit of God is active, you will always find creation of fellowships, converts, and fruits. In Acts 2:41-47 we see the fruit of the initiating enabling power of the Spirit of God to begin new church fellowships:
"Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized and there were added that day about 3000 souls. And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread (including the Lord’s supper) and prayers. And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles....The partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts. Constantly praising God and being in favor and good will with all the people and the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved from spiritual death." (Acts 2:41-47)
It is the Spirit of God that gives effectiveness to church planting, church growth and church health.
4. As the Spirit baptizes us into Christ, we gain a whole new set of values, gifts, and Christlike qualities. He gives every believer hundreds of benefits that will endure for all eternity.
5. The Spirit of God initiates growth, improvement, and progress continually. If you have stopped growing, you have quenched the Spirit. If you hesitate to begin something new, ask the Spirit of innovation.
6. The Spirit of God has ways of forming relationships that seek to renew, remake, and renovate broken things. Without hope there is no hope of progress. Without the Spirit there is no hope of life.
7. The Spirit of God revives as He renews individuals. Paul wrote, "Put off the old self and be renewed in your minds." (Eph. 4:22,23) Put away anger, jealousy, wrath, slander, clamor and put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bearing with one another, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven you." (Eph. 4:28-32)
Song: I’m trading my sorrow; I’m trading my shame; I’m trading it all for the joy of the Lord."
Replace evil with His goodness; sadness with His joy; anxiety with His peace; emptiness with His fulfillment; despair with HIs purposes; persecution with His overcoming enablement; frustation with His meaning; tragedy with His triumphs; and insufficiency with His all sufficient grace. (2 Cor. 12;9,10)
Illustration: D.L Moody said, "I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."
J. Kuhatschek, Taking The Guesswork Out of Applying The Bible, IVP, p. 153ff.
8. The Spirit’s hope cheers the fainting heart. he buoys our spirit with His encouragement in Christ, fellowship of the Spirit, consolation of love, affection and compassion. Oh how we need a fresh anointing of the Spirit’s endowments moment by moment.
9. No one can have a love for the future without the Spirit’s hope. Remember you are the temple of the Spirit. He is seeking to make all things new. It is all right to be cautious. Yet, remember that even a turtle makes no progress unless he sticks his head out.
Question - What are the ways that we can be more creative in the Spirit?
Prayer - Lord, help us to increase our ministries of making all things new according to your plan.
Concluding Illustration: Author Jamie Buckingham once visited a dam on the Columbia River. He’d always thought that the water spilling over the top provided the power, not realizing that it was just froth, that deep within turbines and generators transformed the power of tons and tons of water to electricity--quietly, without notice, not like the flashy froth on top.
Let the Spirit of God empower you to create new energy, new light and new enlightment for the Lord’s greater glory and purposes.
Source Unknown.
The Characteristics of God, the Holy Spirit Whose Life Energizes, Enables and Equips us to Do His Will:
1. Equipper & Enough for Everything Pertaining to Life & Godliness
2. Energizer
3. Edifier
4. Enthusiasm Giver
5. Effective One
6. Evaluator
7. Essential Giver
8. Enveloper
9. Example
10. Excellent One
11. Exorciser of Evil
12. Expresser of Righteousness, Godliness and Truth
13. Enlightener
14. Enabler
15. Exalted One
16. Eternal One
17. Eternal Perspective Giver
18. Entitlement Giver
19. Endurance Giver
20. Encourager
21. Enables us to Find Truth
22. Eagle
23. Endues Us With Love, Power, and Privileges
24. Establishes Growth, Unity and Love
25. Exposer
26. Extolled One
27. Eye Opener
28. Expresses Righteousness, Wrath and Judgment
29. Everlasting Father
30. Eternal Life
31. Eternal King and Master
32. Endowment Giver & Enormous
33. Enables Us to Live a Life Worthy of His calling
34. Enricher & Enterpriser
35. Enquirer
36. Ensnares the proud and sinful
37. Entangles the disobedient
38. Enslaves the wicked
39. Envisions the obedient
40. Envelopes us With His Love
41. Entrusts us With Good Things
42. Entire Source of Good Things
43. Enwraps us In His Love
44. Enumerates His Plan
45. Epistle Inspirer
46. Episode Determiner
47. Equalizer & Enforcer
48. Escape Provider
49. Erector of the His church
50. Erudite One
51. Ethic Originator
52. Establisher of the Good & Faithful
53. Esteem Giver
54. Estate Agent
55. Euphoria Giver
56. Evangelist
57. Evangelism Master
58. Evidence Giver
59. Exacter
60. Everything That is Needed
61. Evoke Memories, Response
62. Exclusive King & Sovereign
63. Exalted King, Lord & Omnipotent One
64. Excellency & Enshrouder
65. Executive Above All
66. Extemporizer of Truth
67. Extensive One
68. Extraordinary One
69. Eager One
70. Earnest One
71. Earth Maker and Controller
72. Educator
73. Economy Controller
74. Efficient One
75. Elevator or Demoter
76. Elect Determiner
77. Enforcer
78. Engineer & Empire Builder
79. Eminent One
80. Embracer & Ennobler
81. End Determiner
82. Employer
83. Encompasser
84. Empower
85. Enfolder
