The Holy Spirit
One of the most misunderstood and most underutilized gifts Jesus promised us is the Holy Spirit. Many churches have split over this misunderstanding. If anything will be argued about it will be this one aspect of Christianity. I’ve wondered why, why all of the arguments and strife over this one thing? I believe there is a significant reason.
The Trinity is a tuff concept to grasp I’ll give you that. But it is a biblical fact nonetheless. God is three distinct persons in one. Brain cramp…! I’ve heard it explained like this: Water has three ways it can be displayed, liquid, solid (ice) and vapor (steam). It’s all water but in different forms. That is just a small way to help us understand it.
The Holy Spirit is mentioned by John the Baptist in Matthew 3:16. When Jesus came to him to be baptized he states, “ I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Jesus mentions him in Luke 24:49 after his resurrection and before leaving to heaven when he says, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Don’t leave without him!
Before Jesus was betrayed he began to speak to his disciples about leaving them. They were not excited about that prospect but he explains to them in John 16:7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” In John 14:16-17a he explains it better. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive…
The word “another” means “one besides, another of the same kind, similar but with diversities of operations and ministries, one besides me in addition to me but one just like me. He will do in my absence what I would do if I were physically present with you. So Jesus is assuring them that even though he is leaving physically “another” will come who will be just like him to be with them forever.
In John 14:26 Jesus goes into more detail of the Spirits ministry to them. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” He is our teacher. In him is all of the knowledge of the Godhead. Anything we need to know or understand he can reveal to us. John 16:13 says, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
So lets summarize the Holy Spirits role:
1. He was so important to their lives and ministries Jesus instructs them not to leave Jerusalem until they are filled.
2. It is to our advantage to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. He will teach us all things, and bring to our remembrance all things that Jesus taught us.
4. Maybe most importantly, he will show us things to come.
At salvation he comes to abide in us like a well, John 4:14, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst (salvation) but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
But after salvation when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit he is in us like a river. John 7:38-39a states, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive (baptism in the Holy Spirit) for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” There is more power in a river than in a well. Flowing water has momentum and power. Wells of water simply provide thirst quenching. You can be saved but lack power without the second experience of the Holy Spirits baptism.
The Holy Spirit is that voice you hear in your heart, that conviction you feel when you are about to make a bad choice and that knowing you have when you could not have know something otherwise. He is ever present to instruct us. It is no wonder that the enemy has fought to divide believers on this topic since the beginning. He fights to divide and conquer, to keep us from the power the Holy Spirit provides. The Holy Spirit is so precious to me. I’m pretty sure I would not have made it through most of the things I have gone through without him.
It is important to commune with the Holy Spirit daily. Turn inward to him when you need comfort and answers. He is there is instruct you, to guide you and to fill you with the power you need to conquer what you are facing. Trust him to be what you need. He will not disappoint.