The Holy Spirit

The Spirit is the unique difference that enables us to live the Christian life here on earth. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with us, teach us and empower us.

The Holy Spirit’s role

The giving of the Spirit after the resurrection of Jesus is considered to be the birth of the Church and is the key that makes the church what it is. Acts 2.

John 14:16-17

¹⁶I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,¹⁷ even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

It is amazing that we believers have the living God dwelling within us by His Spirit and should appreciate the difference this makes in our lives.  If you need encouragement, then you need His Spirit. If you need guidance, then you need His Spirit. If you need to overcome, then you need His Spirit.

The enabling power of the Holy Spirit

1. The Spirit is our Helper/Counselor/Comforter. John 14:16
2. The Spirit is our Teacher/Helps us to understand the scriptures. John 14:26
3. Convicts us of sin and of what is righteous. John 16:8
4. The Spirit of Truth who will guide us to find and understand truth. John 16:13
5. Confirms to us that we are children of God. Romans 8:16
6. Helps us to pray. Romans 8:26
7. Spirit helps us not to sin. Galatians 5:16
8. We bear fruit through the Spirit – Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-24
9. Gives us gifts to enable us to serve. 1 Corinthians 12

Holy Spirit led

How can you tell if you are being led by the Spirit and not by one’s own thoughts and desires?

1. Being led by the Spirit is primarily about right living/living our lives for God and this should be the context. Galatians 17-25; Romans 8:13-14
2. Is there any self-interest involved?
3. Is it scriptural and in the context of all of scripture (rather than some isolated verse)?  Matthew 4:4  The Holy Spirit will never prompt something contrary to scripture.
4. Does it glorify Jesus?  John 16:14

It is worth noting that if you read through the book of Acts, that most occurrences of God speaking through the Spirit (or via other means) are related to communicating the Gospel. The key thing is to ask for wisdom. James 1:5

Note that both the New Testament and Old Testament include warnings about false prophecies.

Ezekiel 13:2-3.

² “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination:‘Hear the word of the Lord! ³ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish^[a] prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!

Be Filled with the Spirit

There are many instances in the book of Acts where it records that the disciples were “Filled with the Spirit”.  As a believer, you always have the Spirit of God within you, but it is good to regularly ask God to fill you with His Spirit for His glory and His purposes. It is more often a matter of choosing to submit to the Spirit in your life because we really need His enabling power to be effective Christians.

Acts 13:52

⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy And with the Holy Spirit.

Next steps

Pray for the leading of the Spirit

Ask the Lord to

• Fill you with His Spirit
• Give you an understanding of His Word.
• Guide you and give you wisdom.
• Give you strength to live the Christian life, to express His love and to have self-control when it counts.
• Lead you in opportunities to use the gifts He has given you.

It is better not to look to other people to speak a “Word from the Lord” into your life when He wants to have a direct relationship with you and for you to learn to hear His direction for yourself. His direction will primarily come through the scriptures.

Zechariah 4:6

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

For further information on this topic watch this video below from the awesome people at The Bible Project.