Over the past few weeks, we have been examining the acts of the Holy Spirit during revivals in different times in the United States and other countries, trusting that God will move again in these days. Unfortunately, we won't see much of God's work among us unless we turn from our sins to the Lord. The Spirit of God needs to have control of our hearts so He can lead, empower, and use us for His glory. The Holy Spirit is our Helper or our Advocate. To illustrate how the Holy Spirit helps us, let's look at how He came alongside a man named Samson in the Book of Judges. Let me ask you something about Samson: Have you ever wondered how muscular He was? Do you think he had huge biceps to do what he accomplished? After all, how big do you think the gates of the city were that he carried up a hill?
But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron (Judges 16:3).
I used to think of Samson as a huge, hulking man; after all, how did he carry the city gates to the top of the hill? (Judges 16:3). How large and heavy would the gates and posts of a city be? I know this might surprise you, but I believe he was a small guy like me. Why do I think he was short and thin? When you read the Scriptures about him, you conclude that he must have had incredible strength, but if he were a giant muscleman, why did the Philistine rulers each pay Delilah eleven hundred shekels of silver to discover the secret of his strength? (Judges 16:5). If he had been big and strong, they wouldn’t have paid big money to find out where his strength came from. The Scriptures tell us three times that the source of his strength was the Holy Spirit, who would come upon him and give him supernatural power:
The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat (Judges 14:6).
Then the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle (Judges 14:19).
As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands (Judges 15:14; emphasis added).
Also in the Old Testament, Exodus 31:3-5, we read of the Spirit of God filling Bezalel with artistic talent and skills in metalwork to create and design things for the Tabernacle of the Lord. Can't the Lord do the same today for those who ask Him?
In Judges 6:15, we read about the Holy Spirit giving leadership gifts to Gideon, who acknowledged his spiritual bankruptcy. The Holy Spirit was kind to him, and in verse 34, rested on him, empowering him with leadership, courage, and direction to fight and win against an army of 135,000 with only 300 Israelites. I want to remind you that if you are a believer, you are not alone; you and the Holy Spirit form a powerful team, for God will work in you and through you.
As the Church, we must stop thinking of the Holy Spirit as some Jedi force (Star Wars imagery). He is a person who desires a close relationship with everyone who calls on the name of Christ. Notice the following Scriptures about the Holy Spirit being a person:
Ephesians 4:30. (He can be grieved)
1 Thessalonians 5:19. (The Spirit’s fire can be quenched)
Hebrews 10:29. (He can be insulted)
Acts 1:16. (He can speak. "The Holy Spirit spoke...”)
Acts 5:3. (He can be lied to)
Acts 7:51. (He can be resisted)
Acts 15:28. (It seemed good to the Holy Spirit...) (He thinks)
Romans 8:14. He leads us: "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God."
John 14:16. (He can counsel you and be with you.) “…He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” The Greek word used here is paracletos, which means "one called alongside"—a counselor, helper, and encourager.
If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit stays with you forever. You are not alone, even if you feel lonely. This One called alongside will comfort and counsel you with His presence and love. The Holy Spirit is not an "it," He is a "He." It is time to treat Him as God as much as we do the Father and the Lord Jesus. Keith Thomas