The Holy Spirit: God’s Presence in Us Every Day
Theme: The Holy Spirit is God Himself, living in and empowering believers to experience and reflect His presence daily.
Key Verse: John 14:16-17 – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”
Introduction
Today, we’re diving into a topic that is both profound and deeply practical: Who is the Holy Spirit, and how can we experience Him in our daily lives?
Many of us might feel that the Holy Spirit is the least understood person of the Trinity. We know about God the Father and God the Son, but God the Holy Spirit can seem mysterious. Yet, the Holy Spirit is vital to our daily walk with God. He is our Advocate, Comforter, and Guide.
In this sermon, we’ll answer two key questions:
Who is the Holy Spirit?
How can we experience Him in our daily lives?
1. Who is the Holy Spirit?
Let’s begin with Jesus’ promise in John 14:16-17: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognise him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” (NLT)
This passage is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse, where He promises the disciples that the Holy Spirit will come after His departure. The word Advocate (Greek: parakletos) means one who comes alongside to help, encourage, and intercede.
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but a person, fully God, co-equal with the Father and the Son.
He is eternal and omnipresent, dwelling within every believer to lead them into all truth.
Genesis 1:2 – The Spirit was present at creation: “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” The Holy Spirit is the Creator God who gives life and order.
Acts 5:3-4 – In Peter’s confrontation with Ananias, lying to the Holy Spirit is equated with lying to God, affirming His deity.
Recognise the Holy Spirit as God. Honour Him as the active presence of God in your life.
Develop a relationship with Him through prayer and listening to His guidance.
Think of a GPS in your car. It guides you, recalibrates when you stray, and helps you reach your destination. The Holy Spirit is God’s divine guidance system, leading us in truth and helping us stay on course.
Francis Chan calls the Holy Spirit “the forgotten God,” saying, “If it’s true that the Spirit of God dwells in us and that our bodies are the Holy Spirit’s temple, then shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person who has the Spirit of God living inside of him or her and the person who does not?”
2. How Can We Experience the Holy Spirit in Our Daily Lives?
Jesus tells His disciples in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NLT)
The Holy Spirit empowers believers for service and witness. The word power (Greek: dunamis) refers to miraculous strength and ability. This isn’t human effort; it’s divine enablement.
Ways to Experience the Holy Spirit
Through His Guidance
John 16:13: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
The Holy Spirit helps us discern God’s will in our decisions and illuminates Scripture to our hearts.
Through His Comfort and Presence
Romans 8:26: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.”
He intercedes for us in prayer, especially when we don’t know what to pray.
Through His Fruit in Our Lives
Galatians 5:22-23: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
These qualities reflect the character of Jesus and grow in us as we walk with the Spirit.
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you daily. Invite Him to guide your thoughts, words, and actions.
Stay connected through Scripture, prayer, and worship, where His presence is most tangible.
Imagine a lamp that won’t light up until it’s plugged into the power source. The Holy Spirit is the power source for our spiritual lives, enabling us to shine brightly in a dark world.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire; we are useless.”
Conclusion and Call to Action:
Who is the Holy Spirit?
He is God, the third person of the Trinity, living in and working through us.
How can we experience Him?
By seeking His guidance, receiving His comfort, and bearing His fruit in our lives.
Encouragement and Application
If you’ve been neglecting the Holy Spirit, today is the day to invite Him to take centre stage in your life.
Surrender your plans, your struggles, and your heart to His leading.
Invitation to Faith:
Perhaps you’re hearing about the Holy Spirit for the first time. It all begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. In John 3:5, Jesus said, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” (NLT)
Jesus gave His life so that you could be forgiven, restored, and filled with the Spirit of God. Will you accept Him today? Let’s pray.
