The Holy Spirit and You

Chuckle: Jimmy: “Teacher, would you be mad at me for something I didn’t do?” Teacher: “No, of course not.” Jimmy: “Good. I didn’t do my homework.”

Quote: “No generation can claim to have plumbed to the depths of the unfathomable riches of Christ. The Holy Spirit has promised to lead us step by step into the fullness of truth.” --Cardinal Suenens

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9 NIV).

While teaching His disciples, Jesus promised that when He had ascended to His Father, the Holy Spirit would come to be His presence in the hearts lives of His followers. That includes you and me. He is in us to encourage us, comfort us, teach us, convict us of sin, and be our constant companion. The significance of this passage cannot be over stated. There are several divine truths in this verse, and related Scriptures, that should govern the way we live in relationship with the Holy spirit of God.

1. You cannot be a Christian without God’s Spirit residing in you. When we repent of our sins and pray to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we receive the gift the Holy Spirit who “lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17 NIV).

2. The Holy Spirit becomes our Companion, Counselor, and Teacher. Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26 NIV).

3. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18 NIV). To be “filled” means we have turned complete control of our lives over to the Holy Spirit.

4. The Holy Spirit not only resides in us but marks us with an eternal seal as belonging to Christ. “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13b-14 NIV).

5. We sin when we try to add credibility to our sinful thoughts and actions by claiming the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I heard about a man who informed his pastor that the Holy Spirit was leading him to divorce his wife and marry another woman. What’s wrong with this picture? The Holy Spirit will never lead us to do something contrary to God’s Word.

Countless books have been written about the Holy Spirit in an attempt to describe the unfathomable depths of His impact on individual Christians and the world. This brief outline of the Holy Spirit and You only reminds us of God’s amazing grace and perfect plan for His Holy Spirit in your life and mine to help us accomplish His purpose. The Holy Spirit is not with us to do our bidding, but to empower us to be obedient to God’s Word and will.

 

Love, Jerry & Dotse