“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:21)
In my column two months ago, we discussed the biblical revelation that the Holy Spirit is God – the third person in the triune Godhead we call the Trinity.
For me, this is part of the most incredible truth disclosed in scripture. I was made in the image and likeness of God, loved by God, but separated from God by sin. When I placed my faith in Jesus as the Son of God who died for my sins, God forgave me, and I was reconciled to God in the most amazing way possible. My eternal, all-powerful, all-loving God came to live within me in the person of the Holy Spirit and made me His child forever. Wow!
My “wow” is, unfortunately, not yet a “wow” for most Christians. What the great pastor A.W. Tozer wrote over sixty years ago is still true:
“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everyone would know the difference.”
Recent Barna Group polls report how most American Christians, including 62 percent of people who identify as “born again”, believe the Holy Spirit is just a symbol for the presence or power of God, and not even a living person. They are not reading their bibles, and it also seems clear they are not hearing biblical teaching on the Holy Spirit from the pulpit.
All I can do here is briefly summarize the many ministries of the Holy Spirit and hope we will embrace all of them as part of this monumental gift from our Father. (Luke 11:13)
First, the Father uses the Holy Spirit to draw us to Jesus and salvation (John 6:44). The Holy Spirit will, by the written or preached Word of God, pierce our hearts with conviction of sin so we repent and believe. (John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 10:14; Hebrews 4:12)
Second, the gift of the Holy Spirit brings about our spiritual rebirth. It is in receiving the Holy Spirit that we are “born again”, “born of the spirit”, and “born of God”. (John 1:12-13, 3:3-8) The Spirit is life, and you do not belong to Jesus or have eternal life until you receive the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:9-11, 16-17) As our theme verse of Galatians 5:21 states, … we live by the Spirit ….
Third, the gift of the Holy Spirit anoints and empowers us for life and ministry. (Acts 1:4-8; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 2:20, 27-29, 3:24; Zechariah 4:6) This empowerment includes the wonderful spiritual gifts described in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, but we must also honor the greater gifts of faith, hope, and agape love described in 1 Corinthians 13. The Holy Spirit pours agape love into our hearts. (Romans 5:5) It is the Holy Spirit within us who is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Many relate this divine empowerment to the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit or being filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 3:16; Acts 1:4-5, 2:1-4; Ephesians 5:18) And while some debate this topic, I would point you to the differences between what the disciples received in John 20:22 and what they received in Acts 2:1-4. (See also Acts 8:5-13 versus Acts 8:14-19 and Acts 19:1-7) Rebirth and empowerment are both essential. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
The fourth ministry of the Holy Spirit is sanctification – the transformation of our reborn lives so we become more like Jesus. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) This happens in two ways. We are transformed by the renewal of our minds as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. (Romans 12:2; John 16:13-15) And our character is transformed into the character of Christ by the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-24)
The fifth ministry of the Holy Spirit is daily intimacy with Jesus. Through Holy Spirit, our human spirit becomes one spirit with Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:17) Christ abides in us and we can learn to abide in Him. (John 15:1-11)
Finally, the sixth ministry of the Holy Spirit is divine leadership. Creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the sons (huios) of God – mature sons and daughters who follow Jesus and embrace their Kingdom responsibilities. (Luke 9:23; Romans 8:19; Ephesians 4:11-16) And Romans 8:14 says this: All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
God is seeking those who … walk by the Spirit… and abide in Christ because they are Spirit-born, Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered, Spirit-taught, Spirit-transformed, and Spirit-led. (John 4:23-24)
God bless you, and God bless our community.