304 – The Holy Spirit is Within You

#faithbites #faithjourney #Halloween Spirit

Happy Halloween to those who celebrate. Hope you and yours had fun today. As I’ve said before, I get inspired for Faithbites from the strangest of things. I figured since it’s Halloween and the time of ghosts, goblins, and the supernatural, why not talk about the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as some say.

I have to admit, out of the Trinity, he is the one I didn’t get. Understanding the Father and the Son was easier for me. That was easy as we have that in everyday life. I could even get behind that God turned himself into flesh and became the Son. But this Holy Spirit idea was beyond me. Before I was baptized the closest thing I could equate it to was the force from Star Wars. Obi-Wan described the force as “It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.”. Maz Kanata described it as “Close your eyes. Feel it. The light…it’s always been there. It will guide you.”

It wasn’t until I went through my baptism that I realized that the Holy Spirit is God’s Messenger, creating faith, and filling you with his power.

Scripture

• But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
• But as for me, I am filled with power,
      with the Spirit of the Lord,
      and with justice and might,
  to declare to Jacob his transgression,
      to Israel his sin. – Micah 3:8-10
• For we were all baptized by^[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.- 1 Corinthians 12:!3

Reflection

Ok, so the Holy Spirit doesn’t seem like a Ghost that you see on Halloween. We also know that he is God and was there since the beginning. (Genesis 1:1-2). Now when I look at the three verses above, I can see why He reminded me of the force in Star Wars. You have power, justice and might, and through that Spirit, you are all one body (like Obi-Wan said).

I don’t mean any disrespect. We see Christ-like imagery in popular culture from Star Wars to Superman to Chronicles of Narnia and beyond. Understanding that he is God’s messenger, creating faith, giving us power through Christ, and binding us together in God’s kingdom. I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty powerful.

While I don’t get force lightning or mind control, I get eternal life and the power to connect to people through God’s word. He strengthens us through Christ so we can complete his plan here on earth.

Charge

Do you feel the Holy Spirit in your life? That feeling of right and wrong? That little angel on your shoulder. Maybe it’s when you don’t know what words to use but the words come and you connect with someone? Listen to that voice. Take time to hear the messenger of God in your daily life.

Lord, let me be your vessel. Allow the Holy Spirit to flow through me, connecting me to those around me. Help me to understand the messenger and share in your name.