Have you heard of a Being called the Holy Spirit? Do you believe such a Being exists? If yes, do you believe this Being is an Entity or just mere energy or force? Do you believe the Holy Spirit is actively involved in our affairs as humans? How believeth thou?
Growing up, I heard so much spoken about Jesus and God the Father and little said about the Holy Spirit. I heard Him mentioned in a few songs but basically that was it. I have spoken with fellow church folks who can relate to this as well. Over time, I have gotten to appreciate all that the Bible reveals about the Holy Spirit and I’ll be sharing with you what I have learned about the Holy Spirit and the roles He plays in our Christian experience. I would love to take you down through biblical lane to discover what has been revealed to us about the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit’s roles in our lives both as a Christian believer and an Unbeliever.
The Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Godhead and not a jolt of electricity. He has always been there “and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”(Gen. 1:2). The Spirit of God was active and present in our Creation “Let us make man in our own image after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26) and has been and still is, a medium through which God Communicates to his servant the prophet as well as normal people today, like you and me(Peter).
Conversion through the power of the Holy Spirit
Once upon a time I was a genuine unbeliever, in other words a fake Christian. Little did I know that the Holy Spirit was preparing my heart to make a radical decision for Christ. When I had recounted the events that took place before my decision, I undoubtedly knew something spiritual had occurred.
Do you know that through the power of the Holy Spirit unbelievers are converted to believers, believers are justified, sanctified and saved? Well this was one truth that greatly warmed my heart. The Holy Spirit works on the heart of unbelievers to draw them Christ (John 6:44). The revelations of the Spirit of God is something that cannot be understood by the carnal heart for the are foolishness to him/her, for spiritual things can only be spiritually discerned.
He, the Holy Spirit that knoweth the deep things of God, reveals to us God’s loving nature, His Character and His Law and helps us understand, for it is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing(John 6:63).
At the time of my conversion experience when I came face-to-face with the Gospel, I was convicted of my sins and the words expressed by the mixed throng became mine, “Men and Brethren what shall we do”?(Acts 2:37) Later, I knew it was the Holy Spirit convicting me of sin, of righteousness and of judgement (John 16:8). Then, the answer came repentance and faith in Jesus. This became my security.
After my conversion there was this easy yoke and a light burden(Matt. 11:28), but I seemed weak, reluctant and afraid to bear a lighter burden for fear of opposition, ridicule and scorn from my peers and family, but I had to press on because there was an unbearable fire in my heart to speak about the One who saved me. It was not all “Disney” as some of my weakness surfaced, but I was comforted by the Comforter(John 14:16) to “look to Jesus the author and Finisher of my faith” and “run the race that I may obtain the prize” because “He who has began the Good work in my life is able to finish it”. The Holy Spirit was always there even though somethings I grieved Him.
The Power of the Gospel
Preaching the Gospel taught me a valuable lesson, the absence of the Holy Spirit makes the Gospel powerless to touch any heart or win any soul to Christ, no matter how learned, talented or eloquent you think you are, the Holy Spirit is the only one that can do the converting and I believe in my short experience He has checked the power of the devil in my life “Oh Death! Where is thy sting? Oh Grave! Where is thy victory?” (1 Cor 15:55).
Victory over Sin, is slow but a progressive process, therefore we ought not to faint but “lift up holy hands”(1 Tim, 2:8) and “prayer unceasing”(1 Thess. 5:17) for the Spirit of God also intercedes for you “with groanings that cannot be uttered”(Rom. 8:26). When we continual surrender to God’s leading the Spirit of Truth will guide us into all truth(John 16:13), revealing secrets and even future events to us.
And finally, when we study God’s word the Spirit of God will direct us and bring to remembrance all that He has taught us during our times of need. It is important we surrender to the leadings of the Spirit of God that “we maybe transformed by the renewing of our minds”(Rom. 12:2) “throughly furnished unto all good works”(2 Tim. 3:17) and ultimately “sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise”(Eph. 1:13) for the Kingdom of heaven. The Holy Spirit is definitely active in our Christian experience. What are your thoughts on the roles of the Holy Spirit and how can you relate with it personally? You can leave your thoughts in the comment section below.