Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002
Subject: The Best Warranty Policy
Good Morning Ethan & Emily:
No doubt the most neglected personage of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit…which is a shame, as He abides with us…in us and around us…to empower us and to be our counselor and guide thru life after we acknowledge and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. (“…when you believed in Christ, He (God) identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago.” Eph. 1: 13).
In fact, we are told in Ephesians: “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us everything He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.” (Eph. 1: 14) How’s that for a “guarantee” or “warranty policy” ? Not even Sear’s has a better “guaranteed satisfaction” policy…on anything than that…and God’s “guarantee” lasts for eternity!!
For our welfare and success in living our Christian lives, we are reminded in the Scriptures to “…let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” (Eph. 5: 18) A joyful and praise worthy life follows as promised: “Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5: 19 – 20). Do you want to live an overcoming life of “joyful song” and “praise”? Then, let the Holy Spirit “fill and control you.”
Pastor Chuck, our church’s pastor emeritus, is one of the most Holy Spirit filled men I know, and I have heard him say: “The Holy Spirit is my best friend.” I have tried to do the same, and often as I drive to work (which is my time for “eyes open” focused prayer), I visibly reach out my hand and ask that the Holy Spirit not only fill me within…but also that He take my hand and lead me that day…and if I resist, I ask Him to gently put His arm around my shoulder and turn me in the right direction (if I attempt to stray out of God’s will!).
Other than your mother, I want the Holy Spirit to be my best friend here on Earth. Hanging in a prominent position in your Mother’s closet is the following quotation of Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. It is a prayer all of us would do well to make our own each day:
“Lord, create a desire in me to know you, to hunger after your Word and to turn my life over to the Holy Spirit daily. Now, as I begin this day, and as I continue throughout the day, I invite You (Holy Spirit) to walk around in my body, love with my heart, speak with my lips and think with my mind. I thank You that You promised to do greater things through me than You did when You were here on the earth. By faith, I acknowledge Your greatness, Your power, Your authority in my life, and I invite you to do anything You wish in and through me today.”
Amen…..
Truly, the Holy Spirit is the ultimate fulfillment of the “friend” identified in Proverbs 18:24: “…there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” May you have a close and wonderful relationship with the Holy Spirit, eternity’s “Guarantee,” as you make Him your very best friend!
All my love,
Dad