I am convinced that the reason that many children’s ministry leaders and workers fail to flow with the Holy Spirit is due to the fact that they don’t truly know Him. They have heard about Him, perhaps read about Him, mentioned His name in the Apostles’ Creed, and even taught about Him. But, few really, really, really know Him.
How can this be? I believe that this lack of relationship is a result of the Holy Spirit being identified knowingly or unknowingly as a mystical, indescribable mass or force. Our children’s ministry leaders are suffering from a horrible case of the “It Syndrome”. Knowing that we can’t identify with an “it”, Jesus sought to destroy this mentality as He informed His disciples in John 14 – 16 that this invisible part of the Godhead is so desirous of being in a relationship with us that He has taken upon Himself the attributes of human personality. Jesus made it possible for us to understand this in the fact that He refers to the Holy Spirit with the pronouns “He”, “Him”, and “Himself” nineteen times in these chapters.
The Holy Spirit wants to be KNOWable (while “knowable” isn’t a word, it is the ONLY word that is applicable). We see that the Holy Spirit wants to be PERSONALable. HE (a Person) wants to know us and for us to know Him. Now, we can walk with Him, talk with Him, listen to His voice, sense His joys and frustrations, etc. This KNOWable Holy Spirit is able and willing to become CONNECTable to us each and every day!
Are you infected with the “It Syndrome”? If so, allow me to introduce you to my friend, the Holy Spirit. Take a second and be courteous. Introduce yourself and then apologize for having not known Him as you should up to this point. Begin to include Him (the Person) in your daily walk. Talk to Him throughout your day. Make appointments in your schedule to allow quiet, intimate times for the two of you to dialogue. You’ll be glad that you did!!!
