BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing English E-magazine Aug 2019 | Page 5

that the Holy Spirit is not at work if the harvest is poor
or delayed. Not all soils are alike. We must be faithful in
sowing and watering but leave the fruit bearing into
the hands of God. The Bible emphatically states,
"Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters,
but God who gives the increase" (1 Cor 3:7). Having
done all, we must wait on the Lord till He rains on our
fields (Hos 10:12). He will not disappoint us. He will
cause the former rain and the latter rain to come down
for us (Joel 2:23). Stay positive and expectant (v 21).
Our labour will not go in vain (1 Cor 15:58). "In due
season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Gal 6:9b).
6. He causes congregations to GROW
Just like Abraham sent Eliezer to find a
bride for his son Isaac, the Father God has sent the
Holy Spirit to get the bride ready for His Son. The Holy
Spirit is now preparing the Church to be married to the
Lamb of God. Until Christ returns the Holy Spirit works
zealously for the Church for her health and growth.
About the early Church congregations we read that
they walked in the "comfort of the Holy Spirit" and
were multiplied (Acts 9:31).
It is the Holy Spirit who ordains overseers
to shepherd the Church of God (Acts 20:28). He equips
them with His gifts of wisdom, knowledge and
discernment and guides them in leadership. As the
Spirit of Truth, He leads the Church into all truth (Jn
16:13). He reminds the Bride of the words of the
Bridegroom so her walk may be pleasing to Him (Jn
14:26). When doctrinal disputes come up, the Holy
Spirit sheds new light on the Scripture for better
understanding. See how wonderfully He helped the
leaders in Jerusalem council to sort out the
circumcision issue! Their conclusion was what
"seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to them" (Acts. 15-
28).
The Church grows healthily when "every
organ" and "every joint" function effectively (Eph
4:16). A Church with a silent majority is not a New
Testament Church. When the Holy Spirit has His sway
He energises and enthuses every member to function
to his fullest God-given potential. There's no "non-
spiritual" work in the Church. Whether it is artwork or
administration, the Holy Spirit is the Enabler (Ex 31:1-
5; Acts 6:3)
7. He strengthens us to SUFFER
Missionary work without suffering is
unheard of. The Lord Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit
as "another Comforter." As a Comforter, even before
the missionaries face persecution, He strengthens
their hearts for what lies ahead. Missionary Paul
declared, "The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying
that chains and tribulations await me" (Acts 20:23).
In His commissioning address to the
twelve disciples, Jesus encouraged them saying, "You
will be brought before governors and Kings for My
sake... But when they deliver you up, do not worry
about how or what you should speak... for it is not you
who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in
you" (Mt 10:18-20). We see this magnificently fulfilled
in the case of Stephen. He was not primarily a preacher
or a teacher of the Scriptures but only a deacon
appointed to look after business matters in the Church
(Acts 6:2-5). But his opposers "were not able to resist
the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke" (v 10). He
died a martyr's death "being full of the Holy Spirit"
(Acts 7:55). It is frequently observed in pioneer
mission fields that the answers given but uneducated
by Spirit filled workers in defence of the gospel would
baffle the best of theological minds!
Suffering is suffering. Pain is pain. But the
Holy Spirit fills the persecuted with inexplainable joy
(Acts 13:50-52). This is something which neither the
persecuted nor the persecutors can understand. The
stories of martyrs right through the Church history
attest this fact. Of the seven Churches of Revelation 2
& 3, the only two Churches which were not rebuked
were missionary minded. The Smyrna Christians were
promised "crown of life" and the Philadelphians the
position of a "pillar in the temple." What more do we
need?
He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the Churches about the
unchurched!
August 2019| www.bymonline.org | page 05