Читать книгу At the End of the Day - James W. Moore - Страница 19

The Holy Spirit can take a bad scene and convert it and use it for good. This truth is powerfully portrayed in the experience of Zan Holmes of Dallas. Dr. Holmes is one of the most distinguished preachers of America, and he tells of something that happened to him when he was a firstyear seminary student. His church was so proud of him and his call to the ministry. He had been asked by his pastor, Dr. I. B. Loud, to read the Scripture lesson one Sunday morning. Zan read the Scripture and then settled back to listen to the sermon.

But Dr. Loud did something most unusual that morning. He stepped into the pulpit and said how proud everybody was of Zan Holmes and his efforts to become a minister. And he announced that it would be a good idea if "Brother Zan came to the pulpit and delivered the sermon of the morning!" Young Zan Holmes said he nearly died right on the spot! He was terrified as he walked from his chair to the pulpit. He says there are still fingernail marks gouged into the wood of the pulpit where he clutched it for dear life, as he tried frantically to think of something— anything—to say.

Finally, he remembered a sermon that he had been working on for preaching class. His mind raced, and he began to preach that sermon. He says it was pretty good, all three-and-a-half minutes of it. But then he ran out of steam. He felt so alone, so empty, so vulnerable, so defeated as he stood before that anticipating congregation. It was an awful moment because he could not think of anything to say. And Zan Holmes began to cry.

Then he heard the voice of an older woman in the congregation, saying, "Help him, Lord Jesus." Then came the familiar voice of a man from the bass section of the choir. It boomed out, "Come, Holy Spirit." Zan Holmes said he then looked down on the front pew and saw two precious little girls who suddenly began to clap their hands in rhythm and sing the spiritual "Amen." Before long, the entire congregation was clapping and singing, and Zan Holmes said, "I just stood there and watched God work!" Zan learned a valuable lesson that morning: "It is the Holy Spirit who finishes the sermon!"

If we do the best we can, God will do the rest. That's what happened at Pentecost. Peter did his best and let God finish it. He did his best and then stood back and watched God work. God does not ask us to be successful; God only asks us to be faithful. If we give our all, if we do our best, if we genuinely try to do God's will, then God will bring it out right. The Spirit of God can take a weak voice and make it a trumpet. The Spirit can take a defeat and turn it into a victory.

The Holy Spirit can redeem situations! That's a very important thing to know. Now here is a second thought.