What Hinders the Flow of the Spirit

      

Nona Freeman had a vision God gave her in 1952 while the Freemans were serving as missionaries in Africa. The Freemans had been on an extended fast and were seeking God for revival. One morning during this season of prayer and fasting Nona was awakened by a presence in her room. As she recovered from the initial shock of this experience she said she observed a being clothed with a long flowing robe from which emanated streams of light.  

        

This presence approached her and said, “Don’t be afraid, I have come to give you the secret to revival.” The angelic visitor then unrolled a scroll containing the words of John 7:38—“He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” The word flow was emphasized in a way that called her attention to that specific word.

The messenger told her that God’s people were using too much human energy, that there was too much scheming and planning, and that human knowledge is a hindrance to revival. She was further told that revival would come when the Spirit flows through the church.

Nona asked, “What hinders the flowing of the Spirit?”

God’s messenger listed fourteen things that keep the Spirit from flowing. Nona recorded them in her Bible. 

 She said she was told that the Spirit would be made visible to her eyes. What she saw was a rainbow-colored light with the consistency of flowing water. As she beheld this she was taken into a service in one of our churches. The preacher was preaching the truth and the people were saying, “Amen.” But as she watched this scene the angel asked her, “Do you feel the deadness and formality?” She acknowledged the deadness and she saw the Spirit carried her into another Pentecostal service. The preacher was preaching the same sermon the first preacher had been preaching. But there was a difference. Light was pouring into the top of his head and flowing out of his hands as he ministered God’s Word. She observed that this congregation was somewhat subdued in their response, but the Light was pouring into them and then flowing out of them.    

      

Into this setting walked a man with a sneer that seemed to say, “You won't get me.” He sat in the back of the room by a smiling older couple that made room for him. As the Spirit of God flowed out of the couple it encircled the sneering man who cried out, “My God, I'm lost.” He fell to the floor full length and was shortly filled with the Holy Ghost.

Sister Freeman said saw that the Spirit flowing in every direction from the church and that a woman outside the church was encircled by the Spirit and filled with the Holy Ghost.  

       

As I recall that story that I first heard many years ago I long for the Spirit to flow through me and through the people to whom I minister! And I am reminded of the Scripture that says, “It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6).     

   

We must not scheme or resort to human knowledge. If we have the courage to remove resentment, bitterness, criticism, judgmentalism, lust, complaining, rebellion, jealousy, ambition, and the desire to have a name of spirituality we will have revival.     

     

Are you willing for God to cleanse your life of anything that hinders the flow of His Spirit? As you pray, ask God to reveal to you anything in your life that hinders revival in the church you attend. When God shows you something be ready to faithfully and courageously deal with it. Allow God’s Spirit to flow through you to the lost.     

By Simeon Young Sr.  
Pentecostal Herald 

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” (John 7:37.39.)