John 14:26
But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
In a few days it will officially be spring, and spring presents many significant changes for us. We feel the need to start ‘spring cleaning’...washing, painting and rearranging. That’s external preparation. And then there’s exercising...push-ups, sit-ups, biking, and hiking. That’s personal preparation. In addition, there’s internal needs and concerns that have to be addressed. Spring reminds us of the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need to function properly. And with that comes the all too popular need for detoxing. Yes I said it. Detoxing. Anyone remember grandma’s spring caster oil concoction? Yuck?
But there’s one last facet of our being that desperately needs attention: our souls. I would venture to say that after all we’ve endured these last 12 months, all of us need spiritual detoxification. There’s no telling what fears, doubts, anxieties, hurts and pains are looming, waiting to infect our souls. So, today, let’s protect ourselves. Today let’s take a dose of the Holy Ghost. I guarantee that’ll do it.
Prior to the death of Christ, Jesus informed his disciples that his departure was at hand. But not only was it imminent, it was also totally necessary. Jesus is quoted as saying (John 16:7), Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Now think about the significance of that statement. Jesus the Christ said it was better for us that we experience the fellowship of the Comforter than for him to stay a while longer. We all know that the work the man Jesus did was central to our salvation, but I maintain the work the Comforter is doing rivals everything Christ did during his life. You weren’t ready for that were you?
Let me explain. Jesus had a miraculous birth, supernatural life and transformational death and resurrection. He set the stage for redemption, salvation, justification and glorification. But central to the plan of God to salvage us from death and destruction is the maintenance of a personal, private relationship with each and every believer. The physiology of the human Christ doesn’t afford him the opportunity to accomplish that. But the Comforter can. And that’s the crux of our lesson this morning.
For example, (at the risk of being vulnerable) let me share an event that happened to me recently. After an unprecedented week of activities and events, I started watching an old Sylvester Stallone movie that I’ve seen dozens of times, Rambo. There a scene where he talks about the death of his friends in combat, and out of nowhere I started crying. Now, anyone that knows me, knows I don’t take movies seriously at all. I can’t even emote on the most dramatic, frightening or sad. But this day I did.
It was at that moment I realized it wasn’t the movie at all. It was all the things that had recently transpired...the deaths, funerals, grief, pain, sickness and tears. And I was all alone. My wife wasn’t available. I couldn’t call any of you. And even if I did, what could anyone do? But as I began to process all the pertinent facts and all the relevant information, I remembered the promise of Jesus Christ. He promised to send us a Comforter. And armed with that information all I could do was cry out with a loud voice, “Help me Holy Ghost”. And he did!
The evidence of the spiritual must be confirmed in the physical for it to be fully realized. If the power of Christ is real, it must be able to transform the heart, mind and flesh of an actual person or it’s just hyperbole or fiction. What God is in theology, and Jesus in Christology, the Holy Ghost is in physiology. The Holy Ghost will move in you and your situation at your time of need, affirming the power of Jesus, and confirming the proof of God, with victory over that which would normally defeat us.
People of the Most High, we have real situations and real circumstances. Things have gotten progressively more stressful and anxious. But as real as your situation may be, guess what? God is real. God is realer!! He’s more tangible than your worst problem. He’s more concrete than all your bills. He’s more present than your worst pain. And he’s more accessible than any person, pastor, family or friend. All you need to do is call. Help me, Holy Ghost.
Be blessed
