November 25

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. — 1 Cor 4:5 BSB

Nothing will hinder the work of the Holy Spirit more than a spirit of criticism. After one meeting, a young minister came forward and told me of the great blessing he had received that afternoon. He had experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which set him free from years of bondage. He said it all began with a question someone asked during the meeting: “Will a critical spirit hinder the Holy Spirit from filling the heart?”

He explained that while sitting in the church, he had been criticizing much of what was happening—objecting to certain expressions, finding fault with the praises and testimonies, and feeling thoroughly unhappy. Then the Lord convicted him of his critical spirit, and he laid it down. When he began to see the good instead of the bad, blessing fell upon him, and his soul was filled with joy and praise. He realized that for years he had been trying to understand the truth with his head instead of with his heart.