The Person of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Triune God. He is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus and He is the Lord. (Is 61:1-3, Phil 1:19). “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Cor 3:17. He executes God’s work. He brings glory to Jesus. He effects the new birth and lives in us. "…unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God…” (John 3:5, Titus 3:5). “…your bodies are temples of the
Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God…” 1 Cor 6:19 With the Holy Spirit in us, we are connected! We are connected with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Leading of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit leads us mostly through the Scriptures. (2 Tim 3:16-17) He can also speak to us “directly”. He can drop a word in our hearts; put His word on our lips or His plans in our minds. (2 Sam 23:2, I Chr 28:12). We need to be familiar with His voice, to be clearer of what is from Him and what is not. “…they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to…” Acts 16:7 He can speak to us as we are seeking God. “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts13:2-4. He also leads through others. His leading is always in line with the Word of God. God has given us His Spirit to guide us into all truth. (Jn 16: 13-15).
The Empowering of the Holy Spirit.
If we are to continue being transformed and if we are to accomplish anything for God, it will be by His Spirit. Therefore we need to:
- Keep in step with the Spirit
Do we have any sense that we are moving from one degree of glory to another? How would we
know if we were? One big litmus test is whether our lives are characterized by freedom! Is the
fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives? Are we more loving, more joyful? (2 Cor 3:17-18, Gal
5:22-26).
2. Keep being filled
“…keep on being filled with the Spirit.” (Eph 5:18-19). Asking to be filled, thanks giving and worship are key aspects in this. Owning our core identity as His beloved, standing on grace alone, righteous in Him, exulting in Him and keeping this ground. (Rom 5:1-2, 17, 9:25, Ps 89:16). We need to worship in our hearts, by our lips and in all, we do through the day. (Ps 89:15, Rom 12:1-2. We also need to not quench the Spirit.
3. Have the anointing for the mission as needed
“..Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.” (Zech 4:6-7). The only way we will see the advance of the Gospel is through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This is how Jesus fulfilled His mission. “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38).
God’s intention is to “pour” His Spirit on us! (Acts 2:17-18). Let’s ask Him for this!
By Esther Waruiru
