Pentecost got me thinking about the Holy Spirit. The moment that we receive Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts. Our body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit helps us live the Christian life. There is not a person anywhere who can be a Christian without the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not an "it". The Bible says He is someone not something. There are three persons in the Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that God is everywhere. No matter where we go He is with us. The Holy Spirit can be in both your heart and my heart, even though we may live a thousand miles apart. As a mom I have great comfort in knowing that He is in me and 3000 miles away He also resides in my daughter.
The Holy Spirit is our teacher and takes us into a deeper and deeper relationship with God. (1 Corinthians 2:10) As we go along in our Christian life the Holy Spirit helps us grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
The Holy Spirit knows everything that goes on in our hearts and sees everything we do. Because He is God we cannot hide and we have no secrets. The Holy Spirit helps make us holy. Everyday we should become more holy. Every day we should be more Christ like and the Holy Spirit helps us with this growing process.
The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. He will use a tragedy, a past sermon, a mother's prayers or some other experience to convict us of sin. It is like He is pointing to us saying, "you are a sinner and you need to repent." Even though we don't like that, that is the role of the Holy Spirit. Being convicted is being found guilty. If we did not have conviction then we would never repent. If we never repented we would never have our sins forgiven. Then we would never go to Heaven.
The Holy Spirit dwells in us. God says, I will put my Spirit in you. I will come to live in you. Your body becomes the temple where God dwells by His Holy Spirit. This is why we should take care of our bodies and not put anything unclean in it. We should not give into fleshly lusts.
The Holy Spirit gives you the power to serve Christ. Acts 1: 8, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me." I could not do this blog without the power of the Holy Spirit. He lays messages on my heart and I communicate them. I believe this is one of my gifts that He gave me.
The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) There are people who we find it difficult to love. But the Holy Spirit can give us the power to love them. Love is the greatest evidence that you know Christ. Ouch! I am stepping on my own toes!!
Joy comes from the Holy Spirit ...even on hard days we still have joy. Remember, it is an all knowing not a fleeting emotion. The peace that passes all understanding comes from the Holy Spirit.
As Billy Graham said, "Whatever the circumstances, I have peace in my heart. I know where I am going, I know where I have been. And I know why I am here–by the Holy Spirit."
One of my favorite songs is Spirit Song by Maranatha! Music. You can use two of its verses as your prayer.
Oh, let the Son of God enfold you
with his Spirit and his love;
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.
Oh, let him have the things that hold you,
and his Spirit, like a dove,
Will descend upon your life and make you whole.
Oh, come and sing the song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy. Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name. Oh, give him all your tears and sadness, give him all your years of pain, And you'll enter into life in Jesus' name.
Christ died for our sins, He rose again, He is coming back again and He is ready to come into your heart by the Holy Spirit and make you a new person. Do you accept this free gift? Have you thanked Him for the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit?