While on the Millennium Falcon, Obi-Wan was teaching Luke about the nature of the Force. He mentions how the Force can be manipulated or controlled by a Jedi.
We see Obi-Wan manipulate the Force numerous times. He used it in Mos Eisley when the stormtroopers were asking about the droids. While trying to disable the power to the tractor beam, he gestures with his hand toward the stormtroopers to make them hear something in the other hallway. Using that Force manipulation, Obi-Wan deftly slips past them to escape.
Unfortunately, some believe the Holy Spirit can be manipulated or controlled by believers if they “name it and claim it.” They also try and barter with God, promising that if God does or does not do a certain thing, the person would then do or not do something.
We read in Acts 8:18-20 that even early believers thought the Holy Spirit’s power could be bought or manipulated.
“Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!'”
The Holy Spirit is given to all believers, and we are filled with the Spirit. There is no need to beg or plead with God for more of the Spirit. What we do need to do is be more like John the Baptist, who, upon seeing Jesus, said that Jesus must increase and that he, John, needed to decrease.
If we want the Holy Spirit to move more in our lives, would it not make sense to give Him more room to work?
How can we provide more room for God in our lives?
