I’ve always enjoyed the story about the man who hurt his thumb while at work. It was bothering him so he told his boss. His boss then told him to go to the clinic down the street where he would get help.
He found the clinic and went in the front door, discovering one room with a desk and a chair, and two doors, but no one in the room. Above one door was the sign “Illness” and above the other door was the sign “Injury.” The man thought for a minute and realized he wasn’t ill but was injured and so proceeded through that door.
He found himself in another room with a desk and a chair, but no one was there. However there were two more doors with signs. One said, “Internal” and the other said, “External.” The man thought for a minute and recognized his hurt finger was an external situation and walked through that door.
To the man’s frustration, he found himself in another unoccupied room with a desk, a chair and two doors. Above one door the sign said, “Surgery” and above the other door the sign said “Therapy.” The man didn’t think he needed therapy but perhaps at most minor surgery and went through the door.
Again he found a similar room with the same furniture. This time, the signs above one door read “Major” and above the other “Minor.” He said to himself, “I have only hurt my thumb and I guess compared to what could have happened, it’s minor.”
He went through the door marked “Minor” and found himself outside the office building on the street. He was frustrated and walked back to work.
Later in the day, his boss asked him about his visit to the clinic. He told his boss, “I’m not sure how much good they did, but they sure are efficient!”
That sounds like some churches. They can be efficient but may not be doing much good. They do and say all the right things but lack the energizing power of the Holy Spirit working through the congregation. The church has become a humanistic endeavor with sophisticated programs rather than a divine enterprise.
The Holy Spirit is absolutely critical for the life and ministry of the church. The Spirit is not an option we add on to the life of the church; the Holy Spirit is what gives the church its life.
The coming of the Spirit on the Jewish festival of Pentecost following Jesus’ resurrection gave birth to the church. Christians cannot bypass the Holy Spirit.
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The Holy Spirit is God. The Spirit is one of the persons of the divine trinity, coexisting with the Father and Jesus, the Son. The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit always existed.
The Holy Spirit is a divine person. The Holy Spirit is not a thing to be referred to as “it,” the Holy Spirit is a person and is always referred to as “he” in the Bible. The Spirit has emotions, an intellect and a will, the ability to choose to do what he wants.
The Holy Spirit has several names in the Bible. He is called, “The Spirit of truth” (John 14:17), “The Spirit of holiness” (Romans 1:14), “The Spirit of life” (Romans 8:2), “The Spirit of adoption” (Romans 8:15), “The Spirit of glory” (1 Peter 4:14) and many other names.
The Holy Spirit was present and active throughout the Old Testament era, starting with creation, working in the world in a variety of ways. During that time, he came upon certain people, empowering them for special work. Since the Day of Pentecost described in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit has been a continuing presence available to work in all people.
The Holy Spirit is active in the world and in the church today. Everything God the Father wants accomplished in the world today, is accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit administers the purposes of God in the church and in the world.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS TO HELP YOU!
The Holy Spirit is not some abstract force unrelated to your life. He wants to work in you and through you, making you a better and more effective person. He wants to do many things for you and in you.
Let him bring you to Jesus
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5).
The Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to be born again. He attracts us to Jesus, convicts us of sin, reveals the love of God, creates faith in our hearts and places us in the body of Christ through spiritual conversion.
We may not be aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence when he does all this, but without his work we would never be saved.
When we are born again, a conversation begins with our spirits and the Holy Spirit talking with each other. They confirm to each other that we are saved and forgiven. They both call out, “Abba Father.” This inner witness gives us the assurance that we are saved.
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15).
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6).
Let him make you like Jesus
The Spirit enables us to become the kind of people God wants us to be. Self-improvement courses and personal determination will only take us so far. The Holy Spirit comes to change our character traits. He both motivates us to change and enables us to change.
Living a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit, frees us from the character qualities that are negative and destructive to ourselves and to our relationships. Jesus loves us just the way we are and accepts us as his children; he loves us so much that he doesn’t want to leave us the way we are. He wants to conform us to be like Jesus. He has given us the Holy Spirit to make this a reality.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self‑control. (Galatians 5:22‑23).
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:16).
Let him help you understand the Bible
The Holy Spirit was the one who caused the Scriptures to be written. He inspired the writers. The Holy Spirit understands the Bible better than anyone else. The Holy Spirit helps us understand what he caused to be written.
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21).
When you read your Bible, ask the Spirit to help you understand what it says, to inspire faith in your life, and to transform your character and personality to be like Christ’s.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. (John 16:12‑13).
Let him direct your life
How do we know where we are to go and what we are to do? How do we make life-affecting decisions? The Holy Spirit wants to guide us through all of life.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1).
… those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14).
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” (Acts 8:29).
I have never heard an audible voice from God telling me what to do but I believe in “leadings” from the Lord. Leadings are nudgings from God impressing us to do something or go somewhere.
Let him enable you to share your faith
The Holy Spirit works in our lives in a variety of ways. All are important, but of special significance is the power he gives us to share our faith with those who do not know Jesus.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… (Acts 1:8).
How does the Spirit empower us to witness? He guides us to the people who are ready to respond. This is what the Spirit did with Philip when Philip was directed to the Ethiopian eunuch. The Spirit gives us courage to speak for Jesus. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31).
The Spirit gives us the words to say and helps us answer the questions of those to whom we witness.
Let him help you pray and praise
It’s hard to think of the work of the Holy Spirit apart from the ministry of praise and worship. People of the Spirit love to praise. People of the Spirit are enabled to worship not just with their minds but from the depths of their own spirits and with their lives.
For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (Acts 10:46).
Let him fill you with joy and encouragement
The Holy Spirit is the joy-bringer. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52).
The Holy Spirit is the divine encourager. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. (1 Corinthians 14:4).
The presence of the Spirit elevates the soul and gladdens the heart.
HOW CAN YOU INVOLVE THE SPIRIT MORE IN YOUR LIFE?
Ask.
If you are born again, the Holy Spirit is present in your life now. Pray that the Spirit will be actively at work in your life. Have other believers join you in prayer for the Spirit to come in a fresh, fuller way.
Receive.
Ask the Father to release his presence in your life. That’s a prayer that he will most certainly answer. Your responsibility is to ask and his responsibility is to come. Be open to how he will work in you.
Rely.
Step out in faith and obedience, following the Spirit’s promptings in your life. Consciously admit your need of the Spirit’s presence, power and assistance. The Spirit’s presence in your life will give you a holy boldness and courage, helping you to overcome your fears.
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