Galatians 5:5, 16-18
"But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us...So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses."
Acts 2:17
‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams."
[emphasis mine]
I read a book several years ago by John Bevere called "Holy Spirit" [not a paid advertisement or affiliation] that revolutionized the way I think about, relate to and commune with the Holy Spirit. The Bible notwithstanding of course, here I had in my hand a clear, simple and organized modern writing on the Person of the Holy Spirit who for many years for me had been amorphous [i.e., not clearly defined or structured], seemingly out of reach and unpredictable. Welp, I was wrong! The moment I began to look at the Holy Spirit as a person, the way I looked at God the Father and God the Son, Jesus, each as a Person, everything became clear. By everything, I don't mean I morphed into an all-knowing perfect version of myself; because that would make me God and I am certainly NOT God! I mean that I allowed myself the opportunity to revel in the presence of God that indwelled me, to fully submit and let Him lead me. He became my celebrated personal gift, who is a constant reminder that I am not alone. In fact, just as the Apostle Paul is telling the Galatians in our target verse, I and all Believers have a built in multi-functional Advisor, Guide, Confidante, Comforter, Intercessor and mighty Protector whose sole purpose is to make our pathway straight and our way smooth as He leads us down the paths of righteousness in a way that brings glory to God and goodness to us. Many over complicate and downright falsify Who the Holy Spirit is. He is not a spooky ghost ready to pounce on us when we make a mistake, nor the God who angrily imposes His Will upon us. He is a gentleman that wants us to live by His Spirit, but He won't force us. He only points to and speaks of Jesus. The same Jesus that died so we could live. And, masterpieces, true living only comes through living by His Holy Spirit.
Last week, we revisited Jesus' providing the gift of His Holy Spirit upon Believers after His death, resurrection and ascension. This third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is the power and very presence of God indwelling Believers and the study of Him is called Pneumatology, pronounced “noo·muh·taa·luh·jee”. Today let us continue to examine how the Holy Spirit works in the lives of Christians.
I remember my first week in college as an 18-year-old studying architecture. Other than annual summer visits to my grandparents, I had never been away from home, let alone essentially living on my own out of state [albeit on a secure campus]. Though mature, smart and independent, I was also sheltered and spoiled. So, after getting settled and waving goodbye to my family, I walked back to my dorm room crying uncontrollably, feeling alone, lonely and terrified. Suddenly I was reminded that I wasn't alone and without help. How? Did God thunder from my newly organized closet or from under my little twin bed? No, He simply sent me a new friend [who would become one of my best college friends that semester] to knock on my door, invite me to hang out for dinner and carpool ["school shuttle" pool] to class the next day. See? Simple.
That was one of the many times that I felt the Holy Spirit comfort me both directly and indirectly by His leading; that time by leading me away from self-pity and into friendship and community. And other times, there was His gentle direction when I got lost in the city's downtown searching for a critical but hard-to-find textbook; His fierce protection while hastening away from what appeared to be dangerous predators near campus; His insight and funding for a tricky class project and His check of my spirit not to join certain groups and on and on and on. I learned and am still learning to hear, listen to and swiftly obey His voice and leading. Not to mention when I would have my weekly call with my parents and be informed that my ever-praying momma had unknowingly been led to pray for me at those precise moments and the Holy Spirit had acted as the Intercessor He is and stepped in. In short, not only does the Holy Spirit remind me that God's presence is with me, but He also encourages me [and us] to be led by the Spirit and not by the flesh, while simultaneously reminding Christians we are alive and free in Christ because:
1. He infills us: “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:9-11 [NASB]
2. He gives us His Glory to carry: Made in His image and vessels of His gifts, as we walk as the salt of the earth and the light of the world, Believers are a breeding ground for miracles and breakthrough; as He sweeps into every space, nook, cranny and hiding place. This power and authority are given to us through the Name of Jesus.
3. He testifies of the Truth of Jesus through our spirit so we can speak the truth of Jesus out of our mouths.
4. He reminds us of who we are in Christ: A masterpiece walking in freedom and forgiveness.
5. He convicts, not condemns, us of sin [through nudges, promptings in our spirits and hearts] to turn from sin and turn to God.
6. He guides us: Our steps are ordered.
7. He advises us: Imparts wisdom and discernment to navigate through life.
8. He protects us: No weapon formed against us shall prosper.
9. He comforts us: Peace and joy are two more gifts that are readily available.
10. He heals us: And reminds us that Jesus paid the price for our total and complete healing, especially our hearts and souls.
11. He bears witness that we are saved: His very indwelling factually testifies that we are saved.
12. He assures us of our adoption by God: His very presence factually assures us that we are God's children.
13. He seals us as a child of God: “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, Who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 [NASB]
[emphasis mine]
14. He preserves us until the day of redemption: As a new creation with His indwelling Holy Spirit, we have His help to walk out our righteousness as we await Jesus’ return.
So, I invite you to fully realize the treasure that indwells us as Christ followers, temples of His Holy Spirit and therefore powerful agents of change for the Kingdom of God. Holy Spirit, You are welcome here.
Takeaways for you to remember:
#1. Trinity/Godhead/Triune God – 3 in 1 equal yet distinct existence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
#2. Pneumatology - Study of the person, work, Biblical doctrine and characteristics of the Holy Spirit.
#3. Unwrap the gift of the Holy Spirit daily as He leads, intercedes, protects and seals Christians, always as the Gentleman.
Yours in Christ!
Dr. Quahana
Want to enjoy some of the Scriptures inspiring this entry? [NLT version unless otherwise noted.]
References:
1) Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Moody Press. Chicago. 1989.
2) Erickson, Millard. Who’s Tampering with the Trinity? An Assessment of the Subordination Debate. Kregel. Grand Rapids, MI. 2009.
3) Hawthorne, Gerald. The Presence and the Power: The Significance of the Holy Spirit in the Life and Ministry of Jesus. Word. Dallas. 1991.
4) Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2003.
5) Packer, J.I. Knowing God. Intervarsity Press IVP Books. Downers Grove, IL. 1973.
6) Strong, J. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Abingdon Press. 1890.
7) Thayer, J. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon. Hendrickson Publishers. 1995.
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