The Imperative of the Holy Spirit
Imperative: extremely urgent or important; essential1
If we hear someone yell, “Get out of the house NOW!” we will get out of the house because the message we heard was imperative. As a husband, if I hear my wife yell anything, I know it’s imperative. I know there is something extremely urgent, important, or essential to her. (Don’t tell her I wrote that 😉)
When Christians talk about the Holy Spirit, He is often called the quiet one. George Harrison of the Beatles was the quiet one; the Holy Spirit speaks in imperatives.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
We worship and serve one God. The most important verse in the Bible is “The Lord our God is one2,” yet from one essence, there are three persons. Jesus said, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.3” Three persons: one God.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him; he dwells with you and will be in you.4” Acts chapter two tells us when the Holy Spirit first came into believers5, and the Holy Spirit continues to live in every person who receives God’s free gift of salvation.
The Holy Spirit not only lives in believers in Jesus, He walks beside believers and speaks to believers.
Ok, but where’s the imperative?
The imperative of the Holy Spirit is that Christians must speak up and testify to the salvation purchased by Jesus, while the time we live in is still called “today.”
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” - Hebrews 3:7-8 ESV, Bible Gateway
As we have exchanged our lives for life in Jesus, we must adjust our priorities. Consistent church attendance, paying our tithes, reading our Bibles, and praying are not enough. We should not neglect these activities, but we must add to these by engaging with people who are lost or backslidden.
Be ready at all times.
The time is short. I’ve lived long enough to know that time passes like a roaring flood. We must truly be instant, in season and out. When we get that Holy Spirit nudge to speak to a co-worker, we must act on it. That opportunity will vanish in an instant.
A couple of years ago, I happened to connect with an old bandmate. I felt “the nudge” and planned to attend a gig he was playing, with the hope that afterward, I could witness to him. It was during winter, and the weather was lousy the night of his gig, so I didn't go. I thought I would have plenty of opportunities to talk with him. Nope. It never happened. I blew it.
“But when the Helper [Holy Spirit] comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
- John 15:26 ESV, Bible Gateway
The verse above tells us that we don’t have to figure out exactly what to say. The Holy Spirit is in us, and any value will come from the Holy Spirit. We should not trust in our own understanding. The imperative of the Holy Spirit is to speak when He says speak.
Footnotes
IMPERATIVE definition and meaning. (n.d.). Collinsdictionary.Com. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/imperative
Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Greatest Commandment. (n.d.). Bible Hub. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/6-4.htm
Matthew 28:16-20 - English Standard Version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028%3A16-20&version=ESV, 2 Corinthians 13:14 - Final Greetings and Blessing. (n.d.). Bible Hub. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/13-14.htm
John 14:15-17 - English Standard Version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014%3A15-17&version=ESV
Acts 2:38 - English Standard Version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202%3A38&version=ESV