Article: Greenhouse Effect

(Written by Rudi Swanepoel)

In Genesis 1:1 -2 we are introduced to God at creation. A Creator that is simply marvelous. The text says: “In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.” When we look at the ministry of the Holy Spirit we find Him busy during creation. He was active long before the book of Acts was penned! In this study we continue to look at His work in us, specifically from a Spirit-zone perspective I call ‘The Greenhouse Effect’.

The Holy Spirit activates, promotes and completes the word of God in our lives. Only when the Holy Spirit was moving over the face of the waters did God speak. He created with His words, but also in the atmosphere where His Spirit was moving. The word of God is very powerful, but only when activated, promoted and completed by the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at 5 principles that will bless you greatly:

1. Brooding

The Hebrew word for move in Genesis 2:1 means “to be soft, to relax, to move, to brood over”. This word is used three times in the Bible including here in Genesis. In Deut. 32:11 it is used of an eagle that flutters over her young after she stirred up their nest. When the Holy Spirit moves in your life, He broods over you. He covers you inside out. He broods over your life, your destiny and the areas of desolation, lack and need. In doing so He creates an atmosphere in which the word of God can be activated and released over that area of your life.

It reminds me of Exodus 12:13 -23. In this passage we read of the first Passover. God was preparing His people for a tremendous breakthrough. He was about to release them from the bondage of Pharaoh. He was sending the Destroyer to wreak havoc throughout Egypt. This Destroyer would take the lives of all the firstborn in Egypt. God had a plan for His people to be safe during this onslaught. He commanded His people to slaughter a lam and apply its blood on the doorposts of their houses. He said: “The blood shall be a token or sign to you upon the doorposts of the houses where you are, that when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt.” (verse 13) and “the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to slay you.” (verse 23) The beauty of Passover is that the Lord, when He sees the blood of the Lamb in your life will pass over you. He will cover you, protect you and brood over you as an impenetrable shield that will keep the destroyer out of your life! Can you see the power of the blood of Jesus and the ministry of the Holy Spirit here? He works to provide a barrier to keep the bad out and the good in, almost like a greenhouse that allows plants to grow inside optimal conditions. Listen, God is always ahead of the destroyers of life. He is always ready to shield you from the brunt of the enemy’s attack, but you must apply the precious blood of Jesus in your life. You must accept His sacrifice on the cross by faith as payment and price for your eternal salvation.

2. Changed Atmosphere

The brooding of the Holy Spirit also ensures a changed atmosphere in your life. Science tells us that everything is in a state of vibration. Every particle and molecule is constantly moving or vibrating. Even the most rigid slab of concrete moves on a molecular level. That makes me think of all the things we consider so secure in life. No matter how you plan or postures, your life can instantly become scattered, broken and chaotic. Your stable marriage can crumble under the attack of the enemy. Your healthy body can suffer at the hand of disease and sickness. Your abundant finances evaporate under a weak economy and influence of a spirit of lack. “Outside interferences” can mess with your spiritual growth. You need the covering of the Holy Spirit! Did you know that it is His ministry to move you towards Jesus? Since your molecules are always moving, allow the Spirit of God to move them toward Jesus! We read in John 16:13 “He will guide you into all the Truth” and in John 16:14 “He will glorify Jesus” and in John 16:8 “He convicts of sin, righteousness and justice.” The word “convict” means “to bring to light”. The Holy Spirit will bring a divine order into your life. The word of God declares “all things work together for good for those who love Jesus”. Allow all the areas of your life to move with the Holy Spirit, to march closer to the Lord with every passing moment.

3. Polarity Change

Did you know that God is attracted to your needs? When you look at magnets, you’ll soon discover that negatives are attracted to positives. The Big Positive is Jesus and all your negatives naturally are drawn to Him. Allow your negative mind to attach to His positive “nothing-is-ever-impossible” mind. Let your criticism be transformed by the positivity of His promises over your life. Let faith rise up in the midst of despair and hope amid hopelessness. In the greenhouse of the Holy Spirit light is allowed in but evaporation of life giving moisture is not allowed. Temperatures are kept at optimal levels and the Holy Spirit specializes in creating maximized conditions for miracles to happen.

4. Accelerated growth

The ministry of the Holy Spirit creates perfect conditions in an imperfect world. He works to plant the perfect seed of the word of God. He gives it perfect exposure to faith, boldness and enables a quick release of obedience. This chain reaction brings forth a perfect growth pattern that ensures an abundant harvest in your life. When you allow the Holy Spirit to minister in your life, you’ll soon experience an accelerated harvest in your life. Things that would normally take years to come to pass will happen in months and the things you would normally anticipate in months, will appear in weeks. Your cycles of harvest will be short and in close succession. In fact, you will never be without a harvest. The Bible says that the righteous person bears fruit in due season. Because of the greenhouse effect of the Holy Spirit you will be shielded from the effects of a drought or flood. You’ll have blessings to share when others ran out long ago.

5. Abundant Fruit

The Holy Spirit brings a nine fold benefit into your life that is simply amazing. The results of His work in you is referred to as ”fruit” in the Bible. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22) When you allow the Holy Spirit to brood over you and establish in your life His greenhouse effect, you’ll soon see an abundance of His fruit. You’ll have more love flowing out of your heart towards other. You’ll experience His joy and peace in extreme ways. You’ll be patient, even in situations you could not stand before. You’ll be gentle and not abrasive, faithful and not unfaithful, good and not bad.