The Holy Spirit Is Not For Sale Series

The trouble is that most believers are just the same way. Speaking in spiritual terms, how like boys thrilled to find a small seashell along the ocean’s edge are we, blissfully unaware of the vastness of an undiscovered ocean of mystery and bounty right in front us. How like blind men are we as we wade in the ankle high waters of self-empowered living while the depths of the ocean of the Holy Spirit empowered life lies only a few feet beyond?

Friends, I have no desire to speak of you in vague terms about an indistinct mist of a Holy Ghost somewhere, out there, in some kind of mysterious spiritual fog.

The Christian life which is lived devoid of intimate knowledge of the Holy Spirit is a vacuous Christian existence! While we do well not to over spiritualize every vas that falls in our house or every ill wind that blows, what a tragedy it is that most of only know of the distant story of another who is led by the Spirit, rather than knowing His leading ourselves.

(3) In John 15:26 we see that the Holy Spirit testifies of Christ. (4) In John 16:8 we see that He convicts the world of sin. (5) Further in Romans 8:11 we see that it is the Holy Spirit that raises us to new life; that is, the new birth that comes when our spirits are reborn to new life when we place our trust in Christ by faith.

The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus – to the world and to us! The Holy Spirit convicts of sin – to the world and to us! He raises us to new life when we are reborn by faith in Jesus Christ!

Christian, if you don’t know and have never known the intimacy of fellowship with the Holy Spirit, how can you know, I mean really know, that you are saved? How can you know when you are in grievous error and sin? How can we experience new life in Christ apart from intimacy with the Holy Spirit when it is the Holy Spirit that brings that new life and that new life is all about life in the Spirit?

I’m not implying or even suggesting that life is the Spirit, knowledge of salvation, or conviction of sin is a feeling. Never mistake the Holy Spirit’s presence for a feeling. Feelings, deep spiritual movements, moods, and sensitivities are among the ways that we learn to respond to the Holy Spirit in us.

We have often neglected to teach about the Holy Spirit in Evangelical Christian circles. Some have only defined our doctrines of the Holy Spirit by saying that we are not Pentecostals. That’s a sad reality because all Christians are in one sense Pentecostals. In Acts Chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended and empowered the Church.

We not interpret those events on Pentecost exactly the same as our denominationally Pentecostal brothers and sisters in Christ, but we are filled with the same Holy Spirit, empowered to the same degree; invited to the same feast.

(6) In Romans 8:26, under the inspiration of this same Holy Spirit who dwells within each one of us, the Apostle Paul says that the Spirit helps us pray.

Spiritual empowerment is the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence within us. No believer can successfully navigate the treacherous roads of this life apart from the presence of God residing, empowering, living, guiding, from within.