| On Sunday I preached again on the role of the Holy Spirit. Using Ezekiel 36:25-27 I outlined a four-step process of how the Spirit wants to work in our lives. Read the text again:
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Cleansing-The Holy Spirit not only applies the blood of Jesus to our lives so that we can be cleansed of our sin, but the Holy Spirit also cleanses us from our impure way of life by removing our idols from us. Idols are things we turn to for escape, for comfort, for some kind of relief. They are things we put hope in, and things we tie our dreams to and are things we base our emotional satisfaction and stability on. The problem with earthly idols is that they only help for a minute and wind up hurting more than they help, and they mislead us when it comes to our future productivity, stability, joy, and peace. To get the most out of a love relationship with God, we have to have undivided hearts. We have to put our whole heart into experiencing Him and being faithful to Him. If we want to turn from idols, the Holy Spirit will cleanse us. Then we can put our hope in God alone and tie our dreams and identity to His plan and will for our lives. Removing-As the Spirit removes the idols in our lives, He also removes ourhearts of stone that are cold and indifferent to the things of God and gives us a heart of “flesh” that beats with the heartbeat of God! Depositing-As we surrender to the Holy Spirit, He makes a deposit in our hearts which results in an alteration of our identity, a shaping of our personality, a shifting of our mindset and priorities. We become who we are meant to become in Christ. This happens as we receive the new “heart” and new “spirit” He places inside of us. Governing-The Holy Spirit becomes that governing force in our lives that says, “No, don’t go there.” And it isn’t an experience where we sigh and reluctantly say, “Ok, have it your way,” but it becomes this supernatural desire, it becomes this holy urge it becomes our own will to want what the Spirit is suggesting because we are convinced it is right. We are convinced it will bring us life and blessing and put a smile on the heart of God! May God bless you in a mighty way this way as you allow Him to impact your life through the power of the Holy Spirit! Pastor Melissa |
