Many years ago, I heard Charles Capps say, “The Gospel is so simple that we need a lot of help to misunderstand it.” He went on to say, “And believe me, we’ve had all of the help that we need to misunderstand the Word.” Ain’t that the truth!
For example, over the years, I have been amazed at how preachers and teachers complicate the ministry of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. It’s as though they want to specialize the deepenizing (I know that isn’t a real word, but it really, really does describe what is happening) of what should be so obvious and simple to comprehend, accept, and receive.
Fortunately for you, Mister Simple (that’s me) is here to simplify this whole subject. Consider this statement from Jesus. (Go ahead and open your Bible to ensure that I’m not pulling what I call a “sneaky Pete” on you. These are Jesus’ exact words.) In God’s Word we read…
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit
to them that ask him?”
Luke 11:13
(Stop. Be forewarned. If you are looking for deep, scratch-your-head-with-ponderables, go no further. Remember, I’m Mister Simple.) The revelation found in these 30 words spoken by Jesus is, to me, simple to the max. Read the verse one more time, and you will see that Jesus wanted His followers (this includes both you and me) to know that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is…
- A gift.
- A good gift.
- A good gift from heaven.
- A good gift from heaven for Christians.
- A good gift from heaven for Christians that the Father is excited to give.
- A good gift from heaven for Christians that the Father is excited to give to all who ask.
To use a term that Vickie uses from time to time, to me, this is so “easy peasy” to understand. No deepenizing is needed or wanted! In the humble opinion of Mister Simple (again, that’s me), it can’t get any simpler. Jesus made a promise to each and every Christian (again, this includes both you and me) that if they will just ask, the Father will pour out His Spirit upon them. It’s a case of He said, we ask, and then He does.
Want to receive this gift from the Father? Want to receive all of the power needed to impact both you personally and your world? (Acts 17:6). Let me ask you to read again the six bullet points previously shared and then simply ask the Father for the gift that was promised in Luke 11:13. I’m encouraging you to go ahead and ask the Father today, right now, this very minute, and then you will experience what can be read about in His Word in Acts 2, 10, and 19, a life that will never, never, never, ever, ever, ever be the same again.
No more needs to be shared. So, Mister Simple is checking out. Be blessed!
