Fruitful Living
Holy Spirit, you are welcome here
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what He will make known to you.” – John 16:13-15
INTRODUCTION
The Holy spirit is a person, not an atmosphere. He creates an atmosphere, and He fills an atmosphere, but He is not simply an atmosphere. He is one person of a triune God. The Holy Spirit is always speaking and working on our behalf. He comes in power, and He works through the fruit of the Spirit in each of our lives. He operates with not just a big bang kind of power, but He gives us the power to walk like Jesus walked — in the ways of love and forgiveness so that we can take the golden thread of God’s love and mercy, the nature of His grace we have received in our own lives, and weave it into the lives of those around us. The Holy Spirit graces us with His power to live out His fruit:
1.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. — Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
In His prophetic nature, the Holy Spirit also prepares our hearts for what is to come. He is in fact preparing us all the time for what we are about to face. I find this fact about our Helper so comforting! I have seen this side of the Holy Spirit revealed in my own life in countless ways. One example is when I wrote the song “In Jesus’ Name.” I actually wrote it for a woman in our church who was battling cancer. Little did I know that the Holy Spirit was preparing my own heart for a battle that was soon to come. He gave me a song to sing over my own situation before I even knew about it.
In everything that He is and that He does, the Holy Spirit continues to reveal the incomparable love of the Father for His children on the earth.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. — Romans 5:5 NIV
2.THE LOVE OF GOD IS WHAT THE GOLDEN THREAD IS ALL ABOUT.
Love is the very heart of the universe — and it has been since the time of its creation by its loving Creator.
Love has always been and will always be — between the Father and the Son, between the Son and the Spirit, between the Spirit and the Father. Our triune God forms within Himself an unbreakable cord of Holy — all filled with the love of God. And this is the wonder of the saving grace of God that dwells within us — the holiness of grace that weaves its way throughout creation and through our world today by the power of the Spirit working within our lives.
One of the great fathers of the church, Saint Augustine, wrote the following words:
3.THE WORD OF GOD
Love, therefore, which is of God and is God, is specially the Holy Spirit, by whom the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by which love the whole Trinity dwells in us. And therefore most rightly is the Holy Spirit, although He is God, called also the gift of God. And by that gift what else can properly be understood except love, which brings to God, and without which any other gift of God whatsoever does not bring to God?
The Holy Spirit is the One who opens our eyes and causes our awareness to increase — like wind and fire in our bones. The Hebrew word ruach means “blow” or “breath,” and it refers to the wind of the Spirit blowing through our lives. The power of the Spirit ignites our lives with day-by-day, minute-by-minute, authentic lived-out worship of our amazing God, until we experience the growing and all-consuming flame of God’s love being birthed in our spirits.
Another task of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to bring the Word of God to life in our circumstances and in our spirits. John 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit makes the Bible come alive for us. He gives us understanding into what the Scriptures speak into our situations — how we need to change, what steps we should take, how the Word needs to become real for us in our day-to-day lives.
To live in the fullness of God’s sweet presence is His promise to us continually. But we need the Holy Spirit and the outworking of God’s presence in our lives to see this come to fruition. To have the Holy Spirit as our advocate is to have God Himself indwelling us as believers. So, why in the world would we ever resist the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives? A man-made understanding of the Spirit and His outworkings in our lives has probably put more people off the Holy Spirit than anything else our enemy could throw at them. We can resist the Holy Spirit by refusing to tune our ears and our hearts to His voice, especially if our hearts grow cold to the things of God due to hurts, disappointments, and bitterness. These things may start off small, cropping up in our relationships because of differences of opinion or for many other reasons, but they will result in a devastating root of bitterness taking hold in our lives. After I had encountered the Holy Spirit in my life, I felt Him start to disassemble the walls that I had built up around my heart.
Uncomfortable? Very Vital? Very.
4.HOLY SPIRIT, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
Maybe you’ve never been taught about the person of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God before. But if you start digging into the Word and looking back throughout your life, you will find that He’s been walking with you and leading you all along. To put time aside to linger and wait to hear God’s still, small voice is probably one of the hardest things for most of us to do. He can speak in the quiet; He can speak also in the chaos. I have learned that what I cultivate in the secret place is what I hear loud and clear as I go about life in the day to day.
When we trust in our own common sense or wisdom rather than in what the Holy Spirit is whispering to our hearts, then we can find ourselves resisting Him and His wisdom. And resisting Him can have devastating consequences for our lives and hearts and for the lives and hearts of the people on the earth today who need the presence of the Spirit to penetrate their world.
5.HOW DO WE RESIST HIM?
We resist Him when the comfort of our flesh, or the pull of the status quo, trumps the conviction of following God with our entire being. We resist Him when condemnation, shame, and guilt block our ears to what the Holy Spirit is revealing to our hearts.
Don’t allow this to happen in your life and in your heart!
6.YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Every morning wake up and yield your life over and over, anew each and every day. When you get out of bed, let the first thing you say each morning be: “You are welcome here, Holy Spirit! Interrupt my day with Your voice!”
When He is invited into our lives, the Holy Spirit will take on the role of Guide and Counsellor, leading us in the way we should go and revealing God’s truth to us — both through His Word and in the everyday situations we encounter.
The Holy Spirit, in and through it all, will fill us continually with power to live and move and have our being in Christ Jesus. This is the purpose of His power in our lives and His speaking into our hearts. He speaks to us to make us more Christlike in every part of our lives, to sanctify us by His power, and He is speaking all the time! The problem is never whether He is speaking. The question is always, Are we listening?
To Ponder
- How often do we think about the Holy Spirit?
- How often do we stop and listen for His still, small voice?
- We need His ruach daily! Let’s ask Him to walk with us so we can be more Christlike every day!
Stay Blessed!
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By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
AS the blessed month of Ramadan gradually draws to a close, Muslims across the world enter what is widely regarded as the most sacred and spiritually rewarding period of the entire month—the last 10 days of Ramadan. For believers, these final days represent not merely the conclusion of fasting but the climax of a profound spiritual journey.
Throughout Ramadan, Muslims engage in fasting, prayer, charity, and self-discipline in order to cultivate righteousness and strengthen their relationship with Allah. Yet the final 10 days are particularly unique because they contain extraordinary opportunities for forgiveness, spiritual renewal, and divine mercy. It is during this period that Muslims are encouraged to intensify their devotion, increase acts of worship, and seek closeness to their Creator.
The Qur’an highlights the significance of Ramadan itself, reminding believers that it was during this month that divine revelation began. Allah states that Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for humanity and as clear proof distinguishing truth from falsehood (Qur’an 2:185). However, the greatest spiritual treasures of Ramadan are believed to lie hidden within its final nights.
Laylatul Qadr: The night greater than a lifetime
The most important event expected during the last ten days is Laylatul Qadr, commonly translated as the Night of Power or the Night of Decree. The Qur’an describes this night as one that is better than a thousand months of worship (Qur’an 97:1–5). In practical terms, this means that a single night of sincere devotion may carry rewards greater than more than eighty-three years of continuous worship.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasised the extraordinary blessings attached to this night. He taught that whoever stands in prayer on Laylatul Qadr with sincere faith and hope in Allah’s reward will have all their past sins forgiven (Sahih al-Bukhari 1901; Sahih Muslim 760).
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) further taught us the most auspicious supplication on that night:
“Oh Allah, you are the forgiver, you love to forgive, so forgive me.”
Because the precise date of Laylatul Qadr is not known, Muslims are encouraged to seek it during the odd-numbered nights within the last ten days of Ramadan (Sahih al-Bukhari 2017). This encourages believers to maintain devotion throughout the entire period rather than focusing on a single night.
I‘tikāf: A retreat for the soul
Another important spiritual practice associated with the last ten days of Ramadan is I‘tikāf, a form of spiritual retreat in the mosque devoted entirely to worship and reflection.
During I‘tikāf, a believer withdraws temporarily from daily distractions and focuses exclusively on strengthening their relationship with Allah. The wife of the Prophet Muhammad, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), reported that the Prophet regularly observed I‘tikāf during the last ten days of Ramadan until his passing (Sahih al-Bukhari 2026; Sahih Muslim 1172).
Those who observe I‘tikāf dedicate their time to reciting and studying the Qur’an, performing voluntary prayers, remembering Allah through dhikr, seeking forgiveness, and making sincere supplications. The Qur’an itself acknowledges those who remain in retreat in the mosques as part of their devotion (Qur’an 2:187).
Zakatul Fitr: Ensuring no one is left behind
At its conclusion, Muslims are required to give Zakatul Fitr, a charitable donation distributed to the poor before the Eid prayer.
The Prophet Muhammad made this charity obligatory upon every Muslim, young or old, male or female (Sahih al-Bukhari 1503; Sahih Muslim 984). The wisdom behind this obligation is both spiritual and social.
Zakatul Fitr serves to purify the fasting person from any mistakes or shortcomings that may have occurred during Ramadan. At the same time, it provides food and support to the poor so that they too can celebrate the festival of Eid with dignity and happiness (Sunan Abu Dawud 1609).
Following the Prophetic example
The Prophet Muhammad treated the last 10 days of Ramadan with exceptional seriousness and devotion. According to Aisha, when these nights began, he intensified his worship, spent the nights in prayer, and encouraged his family members to do the same (Sahih al-Bukhari 2024; Sahih Muslim 1174).
This prophetic example offers important lessons for Muslims today. Believers are encouraged to use these final days to increase night prayers, recite and reflect upon the Qur’an, make abundant supplications, remember Allah frequently, and give charity generously.
A rare opportunity that must not be wasted
One of the most powerful lessons of Ramadan is that spiritual opportunities do not last forever. Many believers begin Ramadan with enthusiasm but gradually lose momentum as the month progresses.
However, the true success of Ramadan lies in finishing the month stronger than it began. The Prophet warned that a person is truly unfortunate if Ramadan passes and their sins are not forgiven (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3545).
For this reason, Muslims are encouraged during these final days to sincerely repent to Allah, repair broken relationships, forgive others, increase acts of kindness, and renew their commitment to righteous living.
The final stretch of the spiritual journey
The last 10 days of Ramadan represent one of the greatest opportunities for spiritual transformation in the life of a believer. Within these nights lies Laylatul Qadr—a night whose blessings exceed decades of worship.
These days also remind Muslims of the importance of reflection, charity, discipline, and devotion. They provide a chance to correct past mistakes, seek forgiveness, and renew one’s relationship with Allah.
Those who seize these final days with sincerity and determination may leave Ramadan not only forgiven but spiritually renewed and strengthened for the journey ahead.
Author’s profile
Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai is the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Chief Imam, a Governance Expert, and a Certified Counsellor. He regularly contributes to national discourse on religion, social development, governance, and moral leadership, and participates in media discussions on family life, ethics, and community development.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, Kpone Katamanso Municipal Chief Imam | Governance Expert | Certified Counsellor
Satan tempts Jesus with the offer of rulership over all the kingdoms of the world, a proposal that Jesus rejects. This could be viewed as an appeal for material wealth, possessions and power.
Jesus’ kingdom in this age is not a worldly kingdom. Throughout His ministry, Jesus would refuse to seek a kingdom for Himself by the worldly methods of compromise, earthly power, political maneuvering, external violence or personal popularity.
Jesus’ kingdom is a spiritual one, established in the hearts of His people, who have also refused to follow the ungodly ways of the world. As a heavenly kingdom,
- It is gained through suffering, self – denial, humility and meekness – the opposite of how worldly people pursue power;
- It requires surrendering ourselves as living and holy sacrifices completely devoted and obedient to God and His purposes; Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
- It involves a battle against Satan, sin, temptation and evil using spiritual weapons. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:10-20.
- It means resisting conformity to the beliefs, behaviours and lifestyles that are common in the world. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. – 1 John 2:15-17
Satan’s appeal to worship Him was an attempt to get Jesus to take a quick route to a world domination – to avoid the humility and sufferings that would lead to Jesus’ death on the cross. This is to say, the devil was trying to get Jesus to lay aside His entire purpose for coming to earth. Christ’s willingness to face all the difficulties that lay ahead is an example to all believers. He taught us that there are no shortcuts to fulfilling God’s perfect purposes for our lives, no matter how tempting the options may seem.
Stay Blessed!
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
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