A young pastor was about to begin a ministry in a church. His predecessor told him, 'They're fanatical charismatics they're about to split the church with their craziness!' A wiser, older pastor had other advice: 'People filled with the Holy Spirit?' he asked. 'You're lucky then. It's much easier to put out a fire than raise the dead!'
The Holy Spirit as 'Comforter' sounds nice. But have you heard of the Bayeux Tapestry in France? There's a scene in which a column of Norman soldiers is riding, and the Bishop of Bayeux rides behind them, prodding the last man with his stout stick. The caption below this scene reads: 'Bishop Odo comforts the soldiers.'
Holy Spirit, I'm open to that sort of comforting: please fill my life again, renew my faith, empower me to serve you well, cleanse me of any sin. For the glory of Jesus. Amen.
It is to your advantage that I go away... If I go, I will send [the Advocate, Helper, Comforter] to you. John 16:7.
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