As a young man, Oswald Chambers, whose writings became the devotional classic, ‘My Utmost for His Highest’, battled a persistent sense of barrenness in his Christian life. Here is his own account of what happened (contributed by A. Todd Coget).
“I was getting desperate. I knew no one who had what I wanted; in fact, I did not know what I did want. But I knew that if what I had was all the Christianity there was, the thing was a fraud.
“At a little meeting in Dunoon (Scotland), a well-known lady was asked to take the time after the meeting. She did not speak but set us to prayer, and then sang, “Touch me again, Lord.” I felt nothing, but I knew emphatically my time had come. I rose to my feet. Then and there I claimed the gift of the Holy Spirit based on Luke 11:13.
“I had no vision of heaven or of angels; I had nothing. I was as dry and empty as ever, no power or realization of God, no witness of the Holy Spirit.
“Then I was asked to speak to a meeting and forty souls came out to the front! I came to realize that God intended me, having asked, to simply take it by faith, and that power would be there. I might see it only by the backward look, but I was to reckon on the fact that God would be with me.
From that point on, Oswald Chambers ministered with extraordinary power. His words and writings touched people around the world, especially when he taught, as he frequently did, from his favorite verse, Luke 11:13, “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!”
When Chambers died in Egypt during World War I at the age of 43, an old Australian soldier whom he had led to Christ had a Bible carved in stone for his grave. Its pages were turned to Luke 11:13.
Friends, the gift of the Holy Spirit is for you! It is a gift from your Heavenly Father who always gives good gifts. He has given us life and health, provision and protection, grace and mercy, and much more.
Most of all, He has given us His precious Son to pay the penalty for our sin (John 3:16) and make a way for us to be part of His forever family (Ephesians 1:3-14; Galatians 4:3-7). And if that was not enough, He has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to bring us to Himself (John 6:44), to be the deposit of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14), and to clothe us with power from on high (Luke 24:49). The Spirit intercedes on our behalf, helping us to pray when we do not know how to pray (Romans 8:26-27). Where would we be without the person and work of the Holy Spirit?
When we think it can’t get any better, the Apostle John declares to us, “You have an anointing from the Holy Spirit” (1 John 2:20). Friends, you have an anointing from the Holy Spirit! In the Old Testament, three groups of people were anointed with oil: prophets, priests, and kings. Jesus is all three; in fact, He is the Anointed One (Heb: Messiah, Grk: Christ). And He passes that anointing on to us – to you and me. We have an anointing from the Holy Spirit as Christ’s prophets, priests, and kings! The priest brought the people to God. The prophet spoke on behalf of God to the people. The king served the people with godly wisdom &compassion. You have an anointing, so go & show it!
This Sunday, June 4, we will continue our focus on the Holy Spirit by asking the question, “Ready for More?”, from Ephesians 3:20. Please invite someone to join you at 10:35am either in the building or online for the Live broadcast on Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday morning at 10:35am to both locations. (The 9:30am Adult Bible Class will continue its study of the Book of Romans.)
Father’s Day is coming up on June 18. All men in attendance will receive a gift and prayer. Paul & Kristi Robinson, missionaries to Colombia, will be our special guests that day, both in the 9:30am Bible Class and the 10:35am service.
Aloha ke Akua!
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