The nudge

"Once you start to utilize the gifts of the Holy Spirit, your life will never be the same. Trust me on that one - it is God's truth."    

A few years ago, my wife and I were Alpha Program leaders. For those who do not know what the Alpha Program is, it was founded by a former non-believer named Nicky Gumbel. Nicky, who became a strong believer in the Lord, felt it important to develop a course for agnostics, "baby" Christians, lost Christians, as well as seasoned Christians. It was to start with a lesson about who this Jesus was, and how did He really walk (proven many times) the Earth, 2,000 years ago.

My wife and I did six different classes of Alpha. The first as students, the next five as leaders. During that time, we had both men and women, young and old. What really made the class memorable for many however, was towards the end. We had the Holy Spirit weekend. Why spend an entire weekend learning about the Holy Spirit? Simple. Nicky knew that the Holy Spirit was a very important part of the Holy Trinity. However, most churches spent little time on teaching about the Holy Spirit, nor the gifts He has to offer.

As many of us know, after Jesus ascended into Heaven, God knew that it was important to stay connected in our lives. He therefore sent His Spirit to dwell within us. From then until this day, the Holy Spirit lives within each and every one of us, believer or non-believer. However, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are there for the believer. And the gifts are plentiful.

Now we get to "the nudge". Many of us have felt it. Many have looked back on their lives, and seen fortunate turns, life changing turns, they have taken. I know I have. Many times, I could have gone "off the rails" completely. But the Holy Spirit guided me. Most of the time, without me even realizing it. 

For those who are followers of Christ, you already know about the Holy Spirit. You have felt Him many times. You have used His gifts. How about the non-believers? Here is the good news. I mean, the really good news. With God, you are never really "around the bend". In other words, no matter how much you have messed up, no matter how many bad things you have done, God still loves you with a fierce, agape type of love. At any time, at any place, on any day, you can activate the Holy Spirit in your life. All you need do, is accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Period.

One of the keystone things we learn in Alpha prior to the Holy Spirit weekend, is about God's love. How strong it is for all of us. We learn there is nothing so good we can do in this life, where God will love us more. And - there is nothing we have done in this life which is so bad, God will love us less. That is how strong His love is for all of us.

However, there is a "but" in this. None of us, not the best of the best, nor the worst of the worst, are good enough to get into Heaven, and spend eternity with God. Unless, we accept Jesus as our savior, and repent of our sins. When that happens, the blood of Christ will wash away all our sins, and Heaven becomes our final home.

I am very thankful to God for sending us His Spirit. I will never know, this side of eternity, how many times "the nudge" has either saved me, or changed my circumstance. If you think you have never felt "the nudge", listen to your conscience. Who do you think controls that little voice in your head, guiding you between right and wrong?

Once you start to utilize the gifts of the Holy Spirit, your life will never be the same. Trust me on that one - it is God's truth.