Misunderstanding The Holy Spirit…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee ☕

Hebrews 3:12-13

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Do we recognize the Holy Spirit when He reveals Himself?

One of my favorite accounts of the Presence of the LORD is found in the story of the prophet Samuel.  Samuel was instrumental in the coronation of David and played a pivotal role in carrying out God’s will for Israel.  But his story begins much earlier, with his mother, Hannah, and the corruption in the Temple of God.

Hannah was barren and cried out to the LORD for a child.  Her prayer was answered, and as she vowed, she dedicated Samuel to the Lord’s service.  At the time, the Temple was led by the priest Eli, but his sons were corrupt, stealing from the sacrifices meant for God.  It was in this environment of corruption and disobedience that Samuel first encountered the Presence of the LORD.

Scripture tells us that in those days, the Word of the LORD was rare, and there was no widespread revelation.

Does that sound familiar?

1 Samuel 3:1-6

“Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli.  And the Word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.  And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel.  And he answered, ‘Here I am.’  So he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’  And he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’  And he went and lay down.  Then the LORD called yet again, ‘Samuel!’  So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am for you called me.’  He answered, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’”

Samuel misunderstood the revelation of the Holy Spirit.  The LORD spoke to him, but Samuel assumed it was Eli, his teacher.  Samuel was a child, and this was the first time the LORD had revealed Himself to him.  But this passage reveals a truth we should not overlook: It is possible for us to misunderstand the Presence of God.

And the reason for this misunderstanding is revealed in the next verse.

1 Samuel 3:7

“(Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the Word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)”

Why did Samuel misunderstand?

Samuel’s lack of knowledge of the Word of the LORD directly contributed to his misunderstanding.

This passage teaches us a few things.  God can reveal Himself by speaking to us.  It is possible to misunderstand His Presence if we are not familiar with His Word.  John warns us to test every spirit to see if it is from God.

So I ask again:

Do we recognize the Holy Spirit when He reveals Himself to us?

Going back to our first text, here is what exhort means…

Exhort (Verb):

- To incite by argument or advice: urge strongly.

- To give warnings or advice: make urgent appeals.

Which brings us to our text of the day.

Psalm 19:1-4

“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.  Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.  Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.”

God Speaks through creation.  1 Samuel tells us that God can reveal Himself by speaking to us.  David tells us that reality itself speaks to us about God.  The heavens declare the Glory of God.  If we want to see, if we want to understand,  if we want to learn and think about the Glory of God— we can look to the stars.  The vastness, beauty, and mystery of the universe speak of the Glory, Majesty, and Power of God.  For those whom God has revealed Himself to, His Omnipotence is plainly discernible.

David isn’t speaking of metaphor or mysticism—

he is talking about literal reality.

God’s handiwork is everywhere.

There is God’s work within us and there is God’s Work in the world around us.

God’s Work within us is meant to overflow into the world around us.

So.

Are we working with Jesus?

Are we studying the Word?

Are we studying how The Word works in reality?

Are we studying how we work with the Word in reality?

Ephesians 6:10-20

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His Might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

As we go about our day seeking the Presence of God,  Paul reminds us to remember His Power and Might.  We can look to the stars, as David did.

We can look at the world around us.  But Hebrews warns us—

we must guard our hearts against unbelief.  Sin hardens us, making it harder for us to have faith.

So let’s review some things we are to do with this armor:

Use truth.

Do righteous things.

Let the Gospel guide us.

Know our salvation.

Doesn’t it make sense, then, that we should:

Learn how to use truth?

Learn how to do righteous things?

Gain knowledge of the Gospel so we can deliver it?

Understand our salvation?

Hebrews 4: 1-13

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.  For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:  ‘So I sware in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,’ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all his works’, and again in this place: ‘They shall not enter My rest.’  Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today,’ after such a long time, as it has been said: ‘Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’  For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.  There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.  For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

If you have not invited Jesus into your life, I invite you to.

Today is the day of salvation!

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of a virgin through the Power of the Holy Spirit, lived a perfect and sinless life and was made ransom for the sins of all mankind as He was crucified on the cross.  All one has to do is believe.  That same Jesus is risen three days later from the dead and is with us now!

The question is—are we looking for Him?