The Holy Spirit-The Plus Factor

Why would we describe the Holy Spirit as the plus factor? Three reasons:

(1) The Holy Spirit determines the gifts and skills you receive.

He is the one and only (Holy) Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

New Living Translation Chapter 12

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

( NLT)

New Living Translation Chapter 12

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

So if you feel like a square peg in a round hole, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what your gifts are. Then ask Him to open the door and give you favor with the right people. He’ll do it.

(2) The Holy Spirit knows where you belong. The Bible says, “They, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia” (). Where you are matters.

For example, if you’re a whale you were born to swim in the ocean. If you’re bird you were born to fly in the air. During a famine God sent Elijah to the brook Cherith, saying “I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there” (). If Elijah had decided he’ll rather stay where he was, he’d have missed his miracle. You do not have to do any thing to experience God’s love, but you must know his voice and follow directions to experience his blessing.

You do not have to do any thing to experience God’s love, but you must know his voice and follow directions to experience his blessing.

Repeat: The Holy Spirit knows where you belong. Where you are matters.

The Holy Spirit knows where you belong. Where you are matters.

Repeat: The Holy Spirit knows where you belong. Where you are matters.

(3) The Holy Spirit can be offended. “ Do not grieve the Holy Spirit” ( NIV). When a dove (which represents the Holy Spirit in Scripture) returns to its nest, it won’t land if the nest is out of order. So ask God to make you more conscious of the presence of His precious Holy Spirit, and make your heart a place where He always feels at home.

“(4-11 NLT)