by BreAnne Brue
The impact of the constant presence of the Holy Spirit throughout my life is so great it is hard to even imagine at this point not having Him as a constant within me. Truthfully, I would not have made it this far.
When I was a young girl, I was playing at a friend’s house while my parents were leading a meeting at church. Suddenly, my mom felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit and hit my dad on the arm and said, “Go get BreAnne now!” Although what they were doing was important, my parents’ experiences with the promptings of the Spirit kept them from ignoring what my mom felt that day. My dad drove to get me and as he pulled up, he had to slam on the brakes to prevent hitting me with the car. You see, I was lying on a skateboard in the middle of the road. My friends and I had been riding the skateboard down the driveway of the corner house next door into the road. It was super fun, and it had gotten dark without us even noticing. My dad was on guard and looking for me, but another car would not have been so cautious.
As I grew older the Holy Spirit led me directly, providing guidance and protection not only for myself but my children too. I also have His supernatural comfort and peace help me in times of grief and in forgiveness.
Guidance, comfort and peace are just a portion of the ways that Jesus said the Holy Spirit would help us. When Jesus told the disciples of His departure, they were distraught to lose him. I can imagine they had so many questions they wanted to continue to ask and knowledge they wanted to glean by being in his presence. Jesus assured them it would be to their advantage that he was gone so He could send the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:6-7
Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise of the Messiah and restored the way to a relationship with the Lord. Jesus created the path to the Father, also opening a flow of the Holy Spirit connecting to the human spirit. This relationship was not just for the twelve disciples, but for every believer.
When you confess and believe on Jesus as your Lord and Savior you also receive the Holy Spirit. What about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues?
I heard Oral Roberts say, “A great thing about the Holy Spirit is that He meets you where you are.”
The Holy Spirit wants to meet you where you are.
When I was a tiny child and asked the Lord to come into my heart, I didn't understand that I could ask for a prayer language also. However, at five years old I knew I wanted my prayer language for myself. I asked my parents, pretty indignantly, “How come I can’t do that?” As I sat in our van, my parents explained how to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I don’t really remember what they said, but I sure remember that I asked and received. With the fully expectant heart of a child, I spoke out and began to pray in tongues.
Now, I can imagine if I had been older the nervousness to start speaking would have been quite a bit more to overcome. However, it does take asking for it and activating the voice. It is a combination of choice and faith—the same as receiving salvation is believing and speaking.
As you read the Word of God and attune to the Holy Spirit, it becomes apparent that there is even more to the Holy Spirit’s power. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul shares about various gifts of the spirit such as the word of knowledge, prophecy, faith, and working of miracles. There is a reason to specify these as being something more than the power imparted into us initially. But why are they different and who can access them? It seems confusing that faith is different than the gift of faith. The revelation comes with knowing these gifts are meant to flow through to other people. The love and charity taught in 1 Corinthians 13 directly correlates to using the gifts of the spirit.
You must grow in your personal relationship with the Lord and develop a sensitivity first, before you can be a conduit to gifts of the spirit. Strongly desire these gifts, they are not only given to special ordained persons. Instead, individuals who are sensitive to listen and obey the spirit and have a heart of love towards others become conductive to the gifts.
I see the flow of the Holy Spirit like water running through a tree—from its source (God the Father), through the trunk and vines (Jesus), to the branches and leaves(us). I also see it as creative energy flowing through an instrument.
Imagine watching a master craftsman in their workshop, with thousands of hours dedicated to creating musical instruments. If you could quietly sit and observe the love and artistry poured into every detail. Consider the craftsman’s joy watching one of his instruments at different stages—in expectation waiting for its use, privately practiced upon, being played with a nervous tension for the ears of a loved one, picked up during an impromptu jam-session with other musicians, used during a performance impacting an audience, being lovingly played to comfort someone in need.
I imagine God the Father as the master craftsman and each of us as one of His instruments. He has carved each of us out with intricate detail and unique traits. He is eager to see us all perform our purpose.
We should not be nervous to receive and act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit because God has poured His love into and through us and wants it to broadcast out beyond to others.
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor 12:9