Come, Holy Spirit

“Come, Holy Spirit” by John R. Rice is a revival hymn centered on the believer’s dependence on the Spirit of God for both personal holiness and effective evangelism. The first stanza opens with the earnest declaration of the power that Jesus promised from on high, the very power that enables believers to win souls and bring them to salvation. This theme draws from Acts 1:8, emphasizing that true Christian work can only be accomplished by the enabling of the Holy Spirit. The opening plea, “O Thou Breath of God, come upon the hearts that cry,” immediately sets the tone for the hymn as a prayer for Spirit-filled boldness in witnessing to the lost.

The hymn’s progression follows the biblical pattern of Pentecost, recalling the day when the Holy Ghost was given and the early church was empowered, resulting in multitudes being saved and forgiven. Rice draws a parallel to the present, reminding believers that the same infilling is available and necessary today. The verses speak candidly about the need for spiritual power to overcome Satan’s blinding influence over sinners, to convict hearts, and to shatter unseen forces of darkness that hold people captive. This message captures the urgency of revival and the necessity of prayerful dependence on God’s Spirit for true spiritual results.

“Come, Holy Spirit” becomes a united cry for God’s anointing upon His people. The hymn calls attention to the spiritual thirst within the church and the white harvest fields awaiting laborers filled with divine power. Rice’s words portray the desperate need for the Spirit to crumble Satan’s strongholds, empower fruitless Christians, and ignite a fresh zeal for soul-winning. It is both a personal and corporate plea, urging the church to wait upon the Lord until He clothes them with power from on high, enabling them to sow the seed of the Word with