"...that He may abide with you forever..." John 14:16 KJV
I could still recall the words Kathryn Kuhlman told the congregation, including the then new convert, Benny Hinn: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit; He's all I've got." The first statement was not new to me, but the second one was completely strange. Is the Holy Spirit the only Person you'll ever need here on earth? It was not a rhetorical question at that time. I wanted to know the reason.
I put down Benny Hinn's book to attend to my daily chores. One day I received an SMS from an old college friend, inviting me for a weekend getaway. Of course, my instant answer is "no," because I have more serious priorities than going somewhere else. God has entrusted me with His ministry, and He has enlarged my territory more than what I had imagined. serving Him could be "restless" in worldly terms, but deep within me is peace and comfort which surpasses all understanding.
So I did not respond to my friend's message. Though the decision was quick, I was not vulnerable to reminiscing my younger days. I could go wherever I wish, I could be with anyone I want. I had friends that stuck with me, and I thought they are the truest friends I could ever have. But since God has set me apart, He completely separated me from other things, even things inside my heart. He taught me how to live and stand up for His standards. He gave me strength to resist temptations and other forms of compromise. Little by little, He changed me. He changed my heart.
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." Philippians 3:8 NIV
Setting aside other desires was an understatement. He took it all away, and put His Kingdom my one and only goal. Yes, I have lost friends along the way, but I could not help but say that I have not lost anything at all, because above everything else, I have gained Christ, and with Him, I could not ask for more.
So after allowing myself to look back on those times and how my life has changed, I heard God's Spirit whispered to me:
I am your Bestfriend.
Indeed, He is all I could ever have. He is the way to my Saviour. He is my guide in this narrow way. He is my assurance that one day, I am going to face my Maker, and I could finally see His face and all of His glory. He assures me that even if I lose all my friends, He will remain, because that is my Saviour's promise, and my Saviour is forever faithful. And now that I am truly in Christ, I know that the Holy Spirit will abide in me forever.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
2. I am Higher than your Dreams
Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us? Matthew 19:27 NIV
It was Friday. I was asking the Holy Spirit for more of Him. I want to gain first-hand experiences of Him. I want to witness with Him.
Then, scenes of my life came flashing as in a movie. He reminded me of how my life started to be lived according to the Father's plans, and how my life started to fall apart when I decided to follow my own. He reminded me of how I was saved just in time. He reminded me of how He mightily conquered me.
He reminded me of His power during my job interview. His wisdom overwhelming me. He showed me how He guided me on my first job. It's been tough, but He saw me through. He reminded me of my dreams.
A bigger salary. A new house. A new car. An expanded business. Success in career. Favor of the world.
But the Holy Spirit said to me,
I am higher than you dreams.
Indeed. Back in September 2010, pressure started to fill me up. It wouldn't stay in the workplace; It creeps as nightmares that wakes me up in the middle of the night. Sometimes, sleep won't come. The heaviness would surround me, and I would just cry in despair.
I could have left my company right then and there. But the voice inside me told me not to. It is not yet time to leave.
Three months later, I left my job. I left without remorse, without fear, without doubt, without pressure. Your see, after all the unpleasant emotions subside, after you have overcome the desert of your life, God will reveal to you His next plan. It will never be based on your circumstances. It will never be based on whether you feel good or not. It will always be based on His good and perfect will.
I left my job. I left my plans. I left my dreams...
Because Somebody greater took their place in my heart.
It was Friday. I was asking the Holy Spirit for more of Him. I want to gain first-hand experiences of Him. I want to witness with Him.
Then, scenes of my life came flashing as in a movie. He reminded me of how my life started to be lived according to the Father's plans, and how my life started to fall apart when I decided to follow my own. He reminded me of how I was saved just in time. He reminded me of how He mightily conquered me.
He reminded me of His power during my job interview. His wisdom overwhelming me. He showed me how He guided me on my first job. It's been tough, but He saw me through. He reminded me of my dreams.
A bigger salary. A new house. A new car. An expanded business. Success in career. Favor of the world.
But the Holy Spirit said to me,
I am higher than you dreams.
Indeed. Back in September 2010, pressure started to fill me up. It wouldn't stay in the workplace; It creeps as nightmares that wakes me up in the middle of the night. Sometimes, sleep won't come. The heaviness would surround me, and I would just cry in despair.
I could have left my company right then and there. But the voice inside me told me not to. It is not yet time to leave.
Three months later, I left my job. I left without remorse, without fear, without doubt, without pressure. Your see, after all the unpleasant emotions subside, after you have overcome the desert of your life, God will reveal to you His next plan. It will never be based on your circumstances. It will never be based on whether you feel good or not. It will always be based on His good and perfect will.
I left my job. I left my plans. I left my dreams...
Because Somebody greater took their place in my heart.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
1. I Am the Power that Changed Your Life
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
He spoke to me as clear as daylight. I was in the middle of worshiping Him. I was praying in the spirit.
Reveal Yourself to me. Tell me who You really are.
The song could never be more appropriate. It tells the greatness of His grace. It tells the power of His love.
I never expected that He would answer me soon. Right at that very moment. When I heard His voice, I could not help but cry. Because I almost forgot. I have been too busy with what I do, I forgot a simple yet so powerful thing in my life.
I am the Power that changed your life.
He spoke to me like the wind. Cool, gentle, peaceful. An experience worth the wait. God the Father loved me so much. The Son came down to save me. The Holy Spirit rested on me, and changed me. Simple, yet the moment He told me this, my defenses fell and I broke into tears of thanksgiving. Without the Holy Spirit, I could have turned away again. Small troubles would make me self-centered again. Petty pain would make me run in circles again. I was bound to absolute harm, without the Holy Spirit. Yes, I was a Christian already back then, but the lukewarm spirit of me just grieved Him. I rejected God's Power.
One day, I gave up. I gave up my own strength and invited Him, and the rest is history.
Wonderful Holy Spirit, thank You for changing me.
He spoke to me as clear as daylight. I was in the middle of worshiping Him. I was praying in the spirit.
Reveal Yourself to me. Tell me who You really are.
The song could never be more appropriate. It tells the greatness of His grace. It tells the power of His love.
I never expected that He would answer me soon. Right at that very moment. When I heard His voice, I could not help but cry. Because I almost forgot. I have been too busy with what I do, I forgot a simple yet so powerful thing in my life.
I am the Power that changed your life.
He spoke to me like the wind. Cool, gentle, peaceful. An experience worth the wait. God the Father loved me so much. The Son came down to save me. The Holy Spirit rested on me, and changed me. Simple, yet the moment He told me this, my defenses fell and I broke into tears of thanksgiving. Without the Holy Spirit, I could have turned away again. Small troubles would make me self-centered again. Petty pain would make me run in circles again. I was bound to absolute harm, without the Holy Spirit. Yes, I was a Christian already back then, but the lukewarm spirit of me just grieved Him. I rejected God's Power.
One day, I gave up. I gave up my own strength and invited Him, and the rest is history.
Wonderful Holy Spirit, thank You for changing me.
How it Started
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13 NIV
I've been reading Benny Hinn. I've been reading his testimony, and I couldn't help but get amazed by his passion to know the Holy Spirit. He started to desire fellowship with the third Person of the Trinity when he attended Kathryn Kuhlman's preaching, where he felt an absolute communion with the Holy Spirit. That experience changed his life. That experience started it all.
Then he began to seek the Holy Spirit. By regularly communing with Him, the wonders of the Scripture was being unfolded in front of him. The Holy Spirit was the One who guided him "in all truth." His questions were answered. The mystery of the triune God was revealed to Him. And he came to know the Power of God.
The Holy Spirit. It is the power of God. It is:
"... the one who gave Stephen the power to endure suffering...
He was the one who gave Moses the power to be the deliverer of the children of Israel.
He was the power in the life of Joshua.
He was the force behind the wind that divided the Red Sea.
He was the mighty power that smashed the walls of Jericho.
He was the energy behind David's rock when Goliath fell.
The Holy Spirit. He was the force in the life of Samuel, in Elijah--- and in Christ the Lord."
Benny Hinn, Good Morning Holy Spirit
And just like Benny Hinn when he witnessed the same power working in Kuhlman, I cried out to the Third Person of the Trinity:
I want to know You!
And in this blog, I would like to take into account this higher level of worship: Worshiping the Holy Spirit. We have been so focused on God the Father and God the Son, that most of the time we neglect and underestimate the power of the Third Person. For fact's sake, the Holy Spirit is the one who is with us now. God the Father is in His throne. God the Son is beside Him. Since the day of the Pentecost when Peter and our brothers were baptized by the Holy Spirit, it has always been His time. In my prayer, I asked for Him to reveal Himself to me. I want to know the Force behind this new creation. I want to commune with Him. I want Him to pray with me. I want Him to guide me "in all truth." I want, and I long, for His fellowship.
Be filled with the Spirit... Ephesians 5:18b NIV
I pray that this verse would be fulfilled in my life. I pray that as I long to draw near to God's Spirit, I, with an unveiled face, "beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
There is nothing more I desire today and forever, than to know the God who loved me and died for me, through the Spirit He gave to guide me.
I've been reading Benny Hinn. I've been reading his testimony, and I couldn't help but get amazed by his passion to know the Holy Spirit. He started to desire fellowship with the third Person of the Trinity when he attended Kathryn Kuhlman's preaching, where he felt an absolute communion with the Holy Spirit. That experience changed his life. That experience started it all.
Then he began to seek the Holy Spirit. By regularly communing with Him, the wonders of the Scripture was being unfolded in front of him. The Holy Spirit was the One who guided him "in all truth." His questions were answered. The mystery of the triune God was revealed to Him. And he came to know the Power of God.
The Holy Spirit. It is the power of God. It is:
"... the one who gave Stephen the power to endure suffering...
He was the one who gave Moses the power to be the deliverer of the children of Israel.
He was the power in the life of Joshua.
He was the force behind the wind that divided the Red Sea.
He was the mighty power that smashed the walls of Jericho.
He was the energy behind David's rock when Goliath fell.
The Holy Spirit. He was the force in the life of Samuel, in Elijah--- and in Christ the Lord."
Benny Hinn, Good Morning Holy Spirit
And just like Benny Hinn when he witnessed the same power working in Kuhlman, I cried out to the Third Person of the Trinity:
I want to know You!
And in this blog, I would like to take into account this higher level of worship: Worshiping the Holy Spirit. We have been so focused on God the Father and God the Son, that most of the time we neglect and underestimate the power of the Third Person. For fact's sake, the Holy Spirit is the one who is with us now. God the Father is in His throne. God the Son is beside Him. Since the day of the Pentecost when Peter and our brothers were baptized by the Holy Spirit, it has always been His time. In my prayer, I asked for Him to reveal Himself to me. I want to know the Force behind this new creation. I want to commune with Him. I want Him to pray with me. I want Him to guide me "in all truth." I want, and I long, for His fellowship.
Be filled with the Spirit... Ephesians 5:18b NIV
I pray that this verse would be fulfilled in my life. I pray that as I long to draw near to God's Spirit, I, with an unveiled face, "beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
There is nothing more I desire today and forever, than to know the God who loved me and died for me, through the Spirit He gave to guide me.
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