Nougat 4

Last time we noted some key attributes of God’s Spirit which could be just cause to desire God’s Spirit actively working in our lives. I noted that there was cause to look more at asking for God’s Spirit. Please receive today’s Holy Nougat

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”” Luke‬ ‭11:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This statement is part of Jesus’ teaching on prayer (the disciples’ request and Jesus’ model prayer precedes it); and is situated in Matthew 7 within the Sermon on the Mount. (The Sermon didn’t override the Ten Commandments, but offered a somewhat fresh perspective on how one lives the Commandments practically.) Luke opted against the Sermon on the Plain, but gives it its own perspective and connects God’s Good Gift to the Holy Spirit.

This is noteworthy, as Luke features the active presence of God’s Spirit from the onset. Thus, Luke 1:35 sets the tone for the work and witness of God’s Spirit in human actions and interactions. The book of Acts, presumed (and accepted) to be the continuation of Luke’s testimony of Jesus and the Jesus movement, continues the reflection of the work of the Third person in the Godhead. In Acts, the different manifestations of God’s Spirit are less about someone’s request; but depicts God’s decision to intervene in human lives.

Further, Acts 1:8 asserts that the Spirit of God is the power of God that empowered the Apostles (formerly Jesus’ Disciples) to Bear Witness of the Truth about Jesus. As witnesses, the Truth/Testimony was to be shared across the entire world. This does Not indicate that the Apostles-Disciples requested God’s Spirit; although it confirms that God’s Spirit is a gift. So we are left with the mystery behind ‘asking’ for God’s Spirit.

For me, this is better understood in light of two texts: Acts 13:6-13; and Acts 19:11-20. Both chronicle the efforts to appropriate the manifestation of God’s Spirit, the thwarting of those efforts and the subsequent testimony that ensued. The sons of Sceva were ready and raring to cast demons out, until the demons retorted and they ran for their lives, naked and ashamed. Likewise, Bar-Jesus or Elymas sought to discredit the work of God’s Spirit and found himself blinded for a season. This suggests that God’s Spirit is not to be trifled with. And, although a gift from God, God’s Spirit does not manifest randomly at human’s will or arbitrary action.

Asking for the Good Gift of God’s Spirit may be about the passionate desire to bear witness to God’s Truth manifested in Jesus. This would align to Luke 12:31 where Jesus teaches that we Seek God’s Kingdom And Righteousness; before seeking anything else. And, bearing in mind that Luke refers to Jesus’ profound ASK (Ask Seek Knock) Principle immediately before encouraging the disciples to ask for God’s Spirit; I think it is about the depth and integrity of our desire.

Asking for God’s Spirit is like prayer – God already knows what we need; prayer is us formalizing the request. We have access to God’s Spirit once we confess Jesus as Lord of our lives; the manifestation of the Gift of God’s Spirit May be requested as part of our active witness.

So – have we asked … desired … sought God’s Spirit to be in Full Control? Are we seeking God’s Spirit above all else? May the glory and the testimony in our lives be God’s.

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May all we seek be found in Christ