The Spirit of Boldness (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
I’ve heard some say: I’ve the Holy Spirit, but not conscious of his presence. Others say: my sins have quieted the Spirit of God in me. While others ask: how do I know if I have the Holy Spirit?
For me, the Holy Spirit is not a passive Being. He cannot and never had He been inactive. The Holy Spirit right from the beginning of Creation has always been Vibrant, Active, and Productive.
In the beginning we were told that even when the world was voidless, formless, inactive and in total darkness, the Spirit hovered around the face of the universe. He was active. When God out of love decided to fashion a specie of His own image and likeness from dust, the Spirit gave life. He was active.
Check all through the Scriptures, all those chosen by God, commissioned and sent, when the Spirit came upon them, there was a vibrant surge to indicate His presence in their lives and missions. From Moses, to the seventy elders who received Moses’ spirit, to Saul, to David and all the prophets. Name them! The presence of the Spirit was seen and felt even when they wanted to hide it.
Now coming to the new era, when God was to be incarnated, the Spirit came upon a virgin (Mama Maria) and Elizabeth confirm his presence in Mary: the moment your greetings reached my hears the child in my womb leapt for joy. (Luke 1:41-45) Remember, the Scriptures said Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Also, Simeon, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel filled with the same Spirit testified. The Spirit was active.
John the Baptist told us that the Father said of the Messiah: the one on whom you see my spirit rest on. And later he said “I saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven and rested on him.” (John 1:32). John did not only bore witness, he testified. The Spirit was active.
After the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, the Apostles waited for the Spirit in the upper room in Jerusalem. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came in form of a rushing wind and in tongues of fire fully vibrant and active. The Apostles led by Peter testified. And over three thousand people were converted in one day. The Spirit was active.
In Acts 10:34-48 when He came upon the household of Cornelius, the Spirit was actively present. Peter confirmed this to the rest disciples in Jerusalem and testified and praise God saying: He has granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles as well. (Acts 11:18). The Spirit was active
In all these, what is my point? My point is simple: “the spirit confer on us is not a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of strength, love and good judgment” (2 Tim. 1:7). Again Paul will remind in Romans 8:15 “fear no more! You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but a spirit of sonship, and by the Spirit’s power we cry out to God, ” Abba, Father! ”
Consequently, the Spirit’s presence helps the Christian to pray even he lacks words: the Spirit comes to help us in our weakness, for we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs that words cannot express. And he who searches the hearts knows the desires of the Spirit praying for the holy ones, for he prays according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).
The Holy Spirit in the life of a real Christian cannot not be hidden. He testifies and bears witness. He is fully vibrant and ACTIVE. He becomes ‘light the house built on the hilltop that cannot be hidden’. Is the Spirit ACTIVE in your life?
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