Empty or Effective?  The Holy Spirit Makes All the Difference

          Have you been wondering why your salvation doesn’t seem to be as life-changing as other people you know?  You go to church regularly, sign up for every bible study, take notes, fast, and pray.  Yet-your insides are empty and sluggish and you can’t help but feel like something must be wrong with you. 

          You are saved and you still struggle with sin, giving in to temptations even though you promised yourself you wouldn’t.  Most Sundays after church you are inspired to do better, to be better because the power packed sermon your pastor just preached seemed to be just for you.  Yet—Monday comes and there you are again—tired, frustrated, empty.  There you are—giving into temptation and doing the very sin you never thought you would do again.  Have you ever asked yourself, what’s wrong with me?  Why can’t I be a better Christian?

          Jesus knew we would struggle just like this.  He warned us in John 16:33, that I have told you these things, so that in me you have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But be of good cheer (take heart).  I have overcome the world.  Our Savior overcame the world with his death and resurrection. Before he died, he promised to leave us the power to be overcomers; to equip us to do all that is required in Scripture. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—John 14:15 (Amplified)

             Jesus gave us the ability to go from emptiness to effectiveness in our walk with him. This ability hinges on our decision to demonstrate true love for Jesus by obedience and complete submission. Our empty souls can be filled to an overflowing vastness of love and strength when we actively invite the presence of the Holy Spirit to live inside of us.

           Jesus tells us how in John 14:16 (The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.  If we know the Holy Spirit, who is God and recognize his power, we can embrace his presence within us and it is that presence that will make us effective as Christians. Yet—we must ASK him to dwell within us and yield to his presence with submission and faith. We cannot walk passively, holding on to the prayer of salvation we breathed when we “first believed”  We must go further and pray to be filled with the Holly Spirit, to be immersed in his power and might and covered in his comfort and love.  It is for this reason the resurrected Jesus told the disciples to wait before leaving Jerusalem to share the good news. He told them to wait for the promise—which was the Holy Spirit.  When the Holy Spirit came, they were filled and had evidence with new tongues and a fresh boldness to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

          Do you want to stay empty or do you want the power of an effective believer, walking in the purpose of God? Invite the Holy Spirit to come into your soul, welcome his presence and declare emptiness and ineffectiveness no more.  Now get busy and walk boldly in power and in strength.

--Pastor Debra Garner, A Closer Walk Christian Ministries

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