The Moving of the Holy Spirit

THE MOVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (PART 1).

I am writing this for young preachers. It would be presumptuous and arrogant of me to address older preachers, as I presume that the older men of God know more than I do and do not need any advice from me …..

Young preachers, many today have a totally wrong understanding of what the moving of the Holy Spirit in their church would mean. I have heard pastors say absurd things like “Well we have the Holy Spirit moving in our church; I mean the Holy Spirit is present in my office when I prepare my sermons. He is present when our production team is putting the service together; so we do have the Holy Spirit moving in our services…”.

Also, when I mean “The Holy Spirit moving” in your church I am not speaking of people running around doing crazy things not found in the Scriptures, things that you should be careful about and should keep out of your church.

By “the moving of the Holy Spirit” I am talking here about genuine conviction by the Holy Spirit in people’s lives leading to repentance, people being gripped by God, genuine conversions and life-changes, signs, wonders and miracles; healings, deliverances and Baptisms of the Holy Spirit, Gifts of the Holy Spirit in full flow….

This is the Biblical pattern.

So young preachers if you want the Holy Spirit to move in and to revive your church, it is not enough just to “WISH” that it happens, but there are certain things that you must DO ….

1. FIRST ASK GOD. This is done through prayer. History shows us that every revival has been preceded by strong and continuous individual AND corporate prayer.

Many years ago I asked a friend of mine in Argentina with a very large and growing church that was in revival, “Brother Ricardo, what is the secret to Revival?”

I saw his eyes moisten and teardrops roll down his cheeks. He rolled up his trouser legs and pointed to his knees. He said “Brother Christopher, it is two things: The cry of the people, and then the Hand of God!”

When God’s people cry out to Him, that is when He sends down His power!

At times we have to first start by bringing our congregation to a place of hunger through prayer and by what we preach…..

2. PREACH CHRIST. Preach the Word of God. Whatever subject you teach or preach on, always build it around JESUS, His cross and His blood. Make redemption your central theme. Make much of and exalt Jesus, His cross and His blood.

In the Bible the fire never fell on dry altars, and always on blood-soaked altars!

3. PREPARE ROOM FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT.
   One of my closest friends who pastors a large church in the Netherlands has it written in large letters on the wall of his church sanctuary “Geef de heilige geest ruimte” or “Make room for the Holy Ghost”.

The Holy Spirit is GOD, not our servant standing in the sidelines to do our bidding, or to bless our plans and agendas. Give Him the Lordship. Make your plans, but let Him take over and do His thing if He wants to …… even if you have time constraints and feel compelled to do multiple 60-minute in-and-out services, always give the Holy Ghost the Lordship. If need be, bow and step aside, and let Him do what He wants to do. Believe me you’ll be blessed!

4. TEACH YOUR PEOPLE ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
   Teach your congregation about the Spiritual Gifts, what they are and how to operate in them. Encourage them to flow in them. Be prepared to correct and to coach them if they need to be.

Doing church out of a written programme or game plan is one thing, but letting the Holy Spirit come in and do His will takes faith on our part. It keeps us in prayer and keeps us at a place where we are always dependent upon God.

THAT, my friends, is the best place to be in!

Revd Christopher Alam