"What if ...?"

We are currently in the Pentecost waiting period. Are you still waiting on the Holy Spirit? The Lord has led us to discuss a few stories that begin with various phrases—the first phrase being “What if…?” last night. The words “what if” give us an indication of something we want to assume as true, scenarios, and then we evaluate the other information on that basis. We talked about a few such questions, and I have included more below for you to work through and reflect on yourself.

We start with the question: What if the Holy Spirit was taken away from us today? I also came across this quote from A.W. Tozer this morning—Aiden Wilson Tozer was an American pastor in the early 1920s. He had no theological education and came to faith after hearing a street preacher who said, if you don’t know how to be saved, just cry out to the Lord and say: “Lord, be merciful to me, a poor sinner.” His words below are even more true today than they might have been when he first uttered them. “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference” A.W. Tozer (1897–1963)

1. What if we truly believed in the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives?

2. What if I fail, even with the help of the Holy Spirit?

3. What if we approached each day with expectation, anticipating the Spirit’s guidance and direction?

4. What if I don’t clearly hear what the Holy Spirit is saying?

5. What if we let go of our fears and uncertainties and stepped out in faith, trusting that the Spirit will empower us?

6. What if the Holy Spirit asks me to do something I cannot do?

7. What if we had the courage to dream big and pursue bold visions, knowing that nothing is impossible with God?

8. What if the path the Holy Spirit leads me on is difficult and full of challenges?

9. What if we see setbacks and failures not as obstacles but as opportunities for the Spirit to work redemption and restoration?

10. What if I misunderstand the Holy Spirit and make mistakes?

11. What if we embrace uncertainty, trusting that the Spirit’s guidance is sufficient for every step of the journey?

12. What if I’m not sure that it is the Holy Spirit speaking to me?

13. What if I cannot feel the Holy Spirit? What if I cannot hear or find the Holy Spirit?

14. What if the Holy Spirit is not interested in guiding me?