As I was beginning to reflect on the gifts and nature of the Holy Spirit this came to my mind through feeling and hearing the Spirit is that these emotions seem to get ignored when discussing the Holy Spirit, perhaps because they are not directly mentioned as the others. Since the Holy Spirit is also a part of both God and Jesus. The revelation came to me made me cry, not just tears but the type of crying that overtakes your whole being to the point of uncontrollable crying. It was the Holy Spirit crying in me and like two very close friends we were crying together over a loss of a loved one. We were crying with a parent, wife, or girlfriend who lost their son, husband or boyfriend in combat. We also cried over the loved ones who died due to a violent death. I knew in an instance how people often blame God, but they never realize just how much it hurts God to see his children murdered or dying in such violence. As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it. (Luke 19:41) When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. (John 11:33) The Lord also mourned over the loss. Is your spirit moved to sympathy for those suffering? “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36 NIV)
Then the emotion changed to wrath we often hear of the words of love, grace, and comfort from the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is a part of God the Father as well. The emotion of wrath and anger was upon me. His anger was for many reasons. The verse of Matthew 25:40 and 45 came to me. “What you have done to the least of my brothers you have done to me. Also what you have not done to the least of my brother you have done to me.” God was angry at the way we treat each other and He was increasingly angry with lukewarm Christians who stand back and do nothing when they see or hear injustice, crimes, and immoral behavior. 80% of all abortions are done by women who claim to be Christians. More than 52% of Christians vote and support those who support abortions. How many Christians step in and stop a fight or prevent a crime.
Holy Spirit spoke where is my strength, courage, and steadfastness among Christians who claim Jesus. God’s eternal purposes in Christ is to stand against the enemy of righteousness, not to run like cowards. Christians have become soft namby-pamby individuals. Do we actually believe that this type of characteristic free us? “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1 NIV) No so! “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” (2 Peter 2:21 KJV) In order words, you are worse off than before you knew Christ.
Here is how Jesus reacted when he saw injustice. “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves.” (Matthew 21:12 NIV) Today many use the idea of love and kindness as the cowards way out of defending the faith. Yes, we are to pray for our enemy and turn our cheek to a minor offense but that is no excuse to not step in and stop injustice. If you permit it to happen you assist in the action and therefore you have done it to Jesus. You turned your back on Christ and in doing so you become as Judas Iscariot the betrayer.
The Spirit revealed that God’s personal presence in Christ is to be strong and brave for God is Almighty. The Holy Spirit revealed that we need to be encouraged and mighty and ready to do battle against the forces of evil and to protect the old, young and innocent. We are to be wearing the armor of God and to be ready to defend His Kingdom. The spirit revealed that we receive from Him, the Holy Spirit, the strength to serve the Kingdom as brave and mighty soldiers of God. Jesus showed us how to be a mighty warrior in the passions of Christ as he was wiped and crucified we never read he said ouch or cried out to stop the torture. Finally, the Lord revealed pray for your enemies but we are not to stand by and do nothing that permits evil to continue. We are to be strong in the Almighty power of the Holy Spirit. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13 NIV) That is an indirect order from the King of kings. Courage is also a gift of the Spirit.
Dr. Anthony Raimondo 