It’s often said that the only things about which we can be certain are death and taxes. While those are absolutely sure bets, I take issue with the use of the word only in that idiom. In my years of walking with the Lord and ministering His gospel around the world, I’ve seen one truth played out over and over again: God is faithful, and when His people wait on Him with expectancy, He will send His Holy Spirit to move mightily.
As you read this, I am in Paris, perhaps my favorite city in the world. This weekend I experienced a Holy Spirit revival that shook the crowd, shook the room, and will shake the city. We expected the Spirit of God to show up, and as expected, He came and moved powerfully. In just a few days I will be traveling to Perm, Russia, for the National Pastor’s Conference. Once again, hundreds of pastors and their families will be traveling from all over the country for a time of renewing, refreshing and revival. And once again, just as sure as I am that Jesus Christ saved my soul, I am sure that we can count on the Holy Spirit coming to this meeting and shaking the lives of the pastors, shaking the Russian churches and shaking the nation of Russia with the love of God.
If you aren’t counting on the Holy Spirit daily to empower your relationship with God and your ministry, you are missing out. You can be saved without knowing the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and you can help get other people come to Christ without the fullness of the Holy Spirit. It is possible to live a great life and be a great Christian without the Holy Spirit, but I believe God wants us to trust Him for more—both for our sake as individuals and for the sake of the congregations over which we have been made stewards and shepherds.
Life without the Holy Spirit is like trying to twist a screw into a thick board or wall with a regular screwdriver. It is possible to get the task done, but it is so much harder. When you trade your screwdriver for a power drill, suddenly everything gets easier. In the same way, when you trade your regular Christian experience for a salvation experience with the power of God’s Holy Spirit on your side, your calling in life gets a whole lot easier—and way more fun!
With the Holy Spirit we receive a constant counselor, adviser, comforter and guide in the will of God. With the Holy Spirit we receive the ability to minister to others on a whole new level, just as Jesus Himself did while on earth. And every gift given by the Holy Spirit is vital to the body of Christ and completing the Great Commission.
There are various gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. There are various operations, but it is the same God who operates all of them in all people.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for the common good. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But that one and very same Spirit works all these, dividing to each one individually as He will (1 Cor. 12:4-11).
Just as we have to accept the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, we must accept the gift of the Holy Spirit into our lives and ministry in order to experience the dunamis, the power, that He intended for us to walk in as children of God and co-heirs with Christ. The Holy Spirit is a gift to us from Father God, and He is as faithful as He is just and good. The promises in His Word are sure, and it is His will for us to count on Him and to expectantly, excitedly anticipate His work in our lives and in our midst when we fellowship together. Where the world’s best business advice is to “underpromise and overdeliver,” God’s faithfulness in sending His Spirit always promises an abundance of His presence, and when He shows up, it transforms us—and our circumstances—beyond our imaginings.
Instead of taking on life alone, I encourage you to let the Holy Spirit be your partner in winning souls for Christ, navigating the trials of life and helping others live the best lives possible here on earth before the glorious return of our Lord and Savior. When you do, your life and ministry will never be the same.
If you have any questions at all about the Holy Spirit or how to let Him help you in your ministry, please email me at [email protected].
You’re beautiful. I see Jesus in you!
Have a great week! {eoa}
Mikel French has challenged spiritual awakening all across America, where many celebrations extended into multiple weeks, and has conducted celebrations in France, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Germany, South Africa, Malawi, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Haiti, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand. He conducted an outreach celebration in Manila, Philippines, reaching 200,000 teenagers with the Book of Hope. Through the generous support of partners, he has presented the message of Jesus Christ to millions of people in the nation of Russia through televised citywide soul-winning celebrations. Mikel considers it an honor to assist in conducting the annual pastor’s conference, where thousands of pastors from Russia’s 11 time zones come for training, teaching and equipping. Mikel and his wife, Marsha, reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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