A Gift Refused

John 14:16-17
King James Version (KJV)
 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I read a very sad article which stated that the Holy Spirit was only for the early church to keep them strong as they struggled in those difficult times without the guidance of the bible. I think this belief is held by many modern Christians who view the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as something only believed by those of the Pentecostal or Fundamentalist Churches.

As I look at some of the purposes of the Holy Spirit as stated in scripture I know that I would never return this wonderful gift unopened and unappreciated.

But why would we need the Holy Spirit in these modern times?
1 Corinthians 6:11

New International Version (NIV)
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Will we convict ourselves when we stray outside the will of God? Will we deny ourselves the power of the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf and justify us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?

John 14:26
King James Version (KJV)
 26But the Comforter, which 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.

Are we willing to give up a Holy Teacher who is willing to assist us when we pray for discernment in the Word and in our daily lives?

Romans 8:24-27
New International Version (NIV)
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Are we so willing to give up an Advocate with a direct line to the Father? How wonderful it is to know that in times of trouble we can call on the Holy Spirit to pray with us and for us when we are so stressed that we don't have the words!

Acts 2:16-17 ESV
But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

Before you give back this freely given gift of the Father, take the time to learn of Him; take the time to invite Him into your heart.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!