The Gift

To celebrate his wife’s forty-fourth birthday, an Indian businessman bought her a luxury jet worth more than fifty million dollars.

The man’s brother then bought a luxury yacht for his wife, spending more than eighty million dollars. As undoubtedly extravagant as they are, both gifts pale into insignificance when compared to the gift God offers, a gift far too few people choose to receive. The Holy Spirit brings the personal presence of Jesus into a life, granting access to the limitless power of God. Never has a greater gift been offered to the human family. It is the conviction brought by the Holy Spirit that softens hardened hearts and leads men and women to repentance. The Holy Spirit at work in earth’s final days will effect an ingathering of souls such as has never before been seen.

And anyone can have this gift. Jesus said that our heavenly Father wants to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit much more than any earthly father desires his children to have good gifts. The miraculous scenes witnessed at Pentecost spoke of a God who is willing to move heaven and earth to save the lost.

“The sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief.

Thousands were converted in a day.”* As Pentecost was the former rain, the latter rain will achieve larger, more comprehensive results.

None should be without the Holy Spirit in their daily life; neither should the church exist independent of the Spirit of the living God.

We have the assurance that as we make our request known to God, He will undoubtedly grant the Holy Spirit in rich measure. “The Spirit awaits our demand and reception.”† Heaven possesses sufficient power to enable every church member to live out his or her divine calling and to urge the church forward to complete its work. Only as we receive the Holy Spirit can the gospel commission be fulfilled.

Only as God’s Spirit takes possession of His children can they reflect the character of Jesus to the world.