You’ve probably encountered the term Holy Spirit many times as part of the scriptures you read, or prayers and songs you heard.
Most of the time, the ideas about the Holy Spirit are boxed in the image of a dove, smoke, or even of a ghost.
But who really is the Holy Spirit? What are the roles of the Holy Spirit in your life as a follower of Jesus Christ?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity with the coeternal Father and His son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is not another God or less than God. The Holy Spirit is God.
This truth is emphasized in the great commission when Jesus stressed the equal importance of the Trinity as the disciples proclaim the Good News of salvation among the people of the earth.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19 NIV)
But you may be wondering, who then is the person referred to as the Holy Ghost, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Christ, or Spirit in the Bible?
All these terms are interchangeable and still point to the Holy Spirit which can be observed in Romans 8:9, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in your life?
Knowing the Holy Spirit means understanding that the Lord is always with you and present in your life. The Holy Spirit acts as an ever-present representative of God within you in your walk with Him.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV)
Jesus emphasized before He ascended to heaven, that the Holy Spirit will be with you to help you do things according to the will of God.
But there’s more to that.
The Holy Spirit is giving you not only the ability to deny sin but also the gift to live holy lives.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)
The fruits of the Holy Spirit will guide you to have a life that mirrors the values of Jesus Christ.
How do you encounter the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit, indeed, offers to bear great fruits in you. But these fruits will never be possible if you have not personally encountered the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus said in John 3:5, “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”
On top of all the good things that the Holy Spirit has to give is the greatest gift you could ever receive – the baptism of the Holy Spirit which is the gift of salvation.
This is a promised gift to those who are willing to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14 NLT)
The power of the Holy Spirit will enable you to live as a new creation with a new identity, free from sin and shame, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the grace of God, the Father.
Do you want to encounter the Holy Spirit today?
As Acts 2:38 says, “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is always with you – guiding and leading you to the unending grace of God, displayed on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
May you commit your life to the guidance of the Holy Spirit not just today, but forever!
Do you want to live a life that is filled by the Holy Spirit? Don’t hesitate to call the CBN Asia Prayer Center at 8-737-0-700 and we would love to pray with you.
