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"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
(Galatians 5:16)
I listened yesterday to a good podcast called "Think Biblically" from the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. The title of this episode was "Encountering the Holy Spirit". This week, we have been learning more about the Holy Spirit, who He is, and what He does. I hope you have been blessed and have learned more about the third Person of the Godhead. Today, with Dr. Charles Stanley's insights in mind, we will look in more detail at the work the Holy Spirit does.
- He teaches us the truth. John 16:13 says, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
- He never talks about Himself, always about Jesus. John 16:14 states, "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."
- The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin. John 16:8 says, "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."
- He indwells every believer. Romans 8:11 says, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
- The Holy Spirit gives assurance of salvation. Romans 8:14-15 states, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"
- He gives spiritual gifts. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." (1 Corinthians 12:7)
- He gives spiritual fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law."
- He gives power to witness. Acts 1:8 states, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Don't ignore the Holy Spirit; rather, acknowledge, worship, and rely on Him for courage, motivation, and power. It is impossible for us to do what He wants us to do unless we are relying on Him. Dr. Stanley said he had only been in seminary one year, and while he was in his small apartment, he felt the Lord spoke to him that whatever you accomplish in life will have to be on your knees, in total dependence on the Holy Spirit. That sounds like something the Spirit would say!
Tomorrow, we will look at some practical ways that we can walk and live in the Spirit. It really is the blessed life! God desires for us to know Him intimately and be filled with His Spirit moment by moment. As we live our lives being filled with the Spirit, we become powerful men and women of God, able to do everything the Lord asks us to do. You know what is so cool about this? This "more than a conqueror" lifestyle is not for super-elite-status saints. No, all of us who are born again by the Holy Spirit can live amazing lives where we accomplish powerful things in the name of the Lord.
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