Come Holy Spirit Series

Come Holy Spirit.

Come Holy Spirit — Gift of the Most High

Introduction

Each week, we continue our journey of encountering the Holy Spirit through a specific name or title. These are not merely poetic labels, but windows into the mystery of the Spirit's presence and work within us. Today, we meditate on the name: Gift of the Most High.

1. What Does This Title Mean?

The title Gift of the Most High captures a profound truth: the Holy Spirit is not something we earn, manufacture, or control. The Spirit is a gift — freely given by God the Father, the “Most High.”

This name is rooted in the ancient understanding of God as transcendent, majestic, and holy — the One above all creation. And from that place of majesty, God stoops down in love and bestows upon us the supreme gift: His own Spirit.

Jesus echoes this in Luke 11:13:

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

The Holy Spirit is not a tool or a feeling, but the very life of God — poured out generously, lavishly, and lovingly into our hearts.

 

2. Why Is the Holy Spirit Called a Gift?

A gift implies generosity, grace, and the goodness of the giver. When something is a gift:

• It is not earned.
• It is not possessed.
• It is not forced.
• It is received in love.

The Holy Spirit is the Gift of gifts — a divine person given to us so that we may be united to God, transformed from within, and empowered to live as sons and daughters of the Kingdom. This gift is not a one-time event but a continual outpouring. Every moment we open our hearts anew, the Spirit is given again.

The Church speaks of the Spirit as “the first gift of the Resurrection.” At Pentecost, that promise was fulfilled. And in every generation, that gift continues — not because we are worthy, but because God delights to give of Himself.

 

3. Scriptural Foundations

This name is echoed throughout Scripture, even if not always in these exact words. Here are some key verses that support the understanding of the Spirit as a gift:

Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 5:5 – “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
1 Corinthians 2:12 – “We have received… the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”
John 14:16 – “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.”
4. How Do We Respond to This Gift?

The proper response to a gift is gratitude — not just a polite thank you, but a life lived in joyful response.

To receive the Holy Spirit fully, we must cultivate:

Openness: A willingness to be surprised, stretched, and transformed.
Humility: A recognition that we are not the source of our own sanctity.
Obedience: A readiness to follow where the Spirit leads, even when it challenges our comfort.
Love: A desire to live not for ourselves, but for the One who gave us this precious gift.

Let us never forget: the Gift of the Most High is not a thing to be used, but a Person to be loved.

5. For Prayer and Reflection

• Do I approach the Holy Spirit as a true gift, or do I sometimes treat the Spirit like a spiritual power to be used?
• How might I make more room in my heart to receive this Gift more deeply?
• In what ways can I live today with a spirit of gratitude for the Gift of the Most High?

You might like to pray:

Come Holy Spirit, Gift of the Most High.
Open my heart to receive You more fully.
Help me to live in constant gratitude and surrender,
that my life may become a gift back to You. Amen.