The Spirit of God

In his book Forgotten God, Francis Chan writes about the Holy Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity. Chan is accurate when he says we often talk about the Father and the Son, but we rarely speak or teach about the Holy Spirit. In the opening verses of Acts 19, we find a group of about 12 men who trusted Jesus Christ as the Promised Messiah who came to redeem humanity from sin. As a result, we find that they were baptized with water and baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians in his first letter that all who believe in Jesus Christ receive the Holy Spirit. It is true that outside of the Book of Acts there is no gap between trusting Jesus Christ and receiving the Spirit of God. Yet it still remains that many fail to understand the work and role of the Holy Spirit.

What follows is not an exhaustive look at the Spirit of God's work in our lives or the world. But I pray it lays a foundation for our study of Him and our growth in knowledge of His work.

The Spirit of God Convicts – Jesus stated that the Spirit of God would come after His departure to convict the world of sin. (John 16:8)

The Spirit of God Helps – Jesus called the Spirit of God a helper. In fact, Jesus said when He departed He would ask the Father who would send another helper. Jesus came to help the world by delivering us from sin. The Spirit too has come to help the world in many of the ways we are listing here. (John 14)

The Spirit of God Comforts – Jesus forewarned that believers would face trouble in this world. How amazing that He promised to send the Spirit whom He also called a Comforter. He comforts us in trouble. He comforts us in sadness and difficulty. The God of all Comfort (2 Corinthians 1) has sent the Spirit of comfort to be, live and go with us.

The Spirit of God Guides – Jesus stated that the Spirit of God guides us into all Truth. Everything the believer needs is in the Scriptures. However, God also desires that we know how to walk in greater obedience and walk in His ways perfectly. To do so, we need guidance. We are not always sure. The path is not always clear. His Word will give light as the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to guide us into all truth and obedience. (John 14)

The Spirit of God Empowers – We know from Acts 1:8 that Jesus declared how the Spirit of God would come and empower Jesus’ followers to obey His Word and faithfully proclaim His message. The Spirit of God is our strength and power to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

The Spirit of God Prays – Yes! The Spirit of God prays, but not for Himself. He prays for us. Paul writes in Romans 8:26 that he Spirit of God prays on our behalf to the Father with groanings that are too deep that they cannot be expressed with words. So even when we don’t know what to pray, but we go before our Father in heaven with elated or broken hearts, the Spirit prays for us.

The Spirit of God Gives – Paul told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12) that the Spirit of God provides a variety of gifts. While there are a variety of gifts, there is but One Spirit who provides those gifts.

The Spirit of God Seals – Redemption begins when we trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sin. However, redemption will be final at the moment in which we are glorified in the presence of Christ in heaven. Until then, we have been sealed for salvation. Ephesians 1:13 states that the Spirit of God has been given to believers as a promise of the ultimate and final redemption.

The Spirit of God Renews – We are the broken but loved creatures of God, created by Him and for Him in His image. Salvation is the means of cleansing and renewing. In Titus 3:5, the Spirit of God is said to renew us having washed us by regeneration and renewing us by the Spirit.

The Spirit of God Testifies – The Spirit testifies to God or Himself. But even more, He testifies to us. The Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are His children. The Spirit testifies to our spirit the truth of God. (Hebrews 10:15)

Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and thereby receiving the Holy Spirit cannot be overstated in its importance. The only way to receive the baptism of the Spirit is through genuine faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sin.

The Spirit of God dwells and works within us to will and to do His good pleasure. May we allow the Spirit of God to dwell in us richly and work in us freely for the glory of God and the blessing of His people.

Thrive

Jesus Christ came to provide life that thrives, not just survives. He declared that He came to give abundant life. He did not come to merely help us exist.

I have been evaluating my own life over the last few months. Where have I been? Where am I going? What should be the focus?

In part, the answer has been just what I wrote last time. I want to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, making a priority what He prioritizes, valuing what He values, serving as He serves, loving as He loves, giving as He gives. To know and grow in Jesus Christ, I must know and grow in the knowledge of God's written word to me. Therefore, I pledged to use a one-year Bible reading plan that will guide me through all the Scriptures in the next 52 weeks.

As I have been reading, my life is overflowing with the goodness of God's Word. He is teaching me. He is opening my eyes. He has reminded me once again that I was meant to live a life that thrives.

When this week I was reading in Genesis 5, I noted something I hadn't seen before in the list of genealogies. From the beginning down through verse 20, the pattern is the same. A man lived for a number of years, had a son, lived a number of years after that, having more sons and daughters. He then died. The pattern is repeated no less than five times. He lived, he had a son, he lived while having more sons and daughters, and then he died.

But in verse 21 the pattern noticeable changes. Enoch lived 65 years and had a son named Methuselah. Bam! The Scriptures do not then say that Enoch lived. It says he "walked with God" after having Methuselah. And in that moment of reading this remarkable contrast, God reminded me again: There is a great difference between just living and walking with God.

Walking with God goes to the very heart of why we were created. Not to just live. Not to just exist. But to thrive in a personal relationship with God in which we every day walk and live in Him.

I want to know Him more in 2012. I want to grow in Him in 2012. I want to walk with Him every step of the way so that my life thrives instead of just survives.

That I May Grow

New Year's Resolutions! We make them, we break them. Yet what I have observed in my own life is that I often think of resolutions for a new year that center on my physical body or earthly pursuits.

This year I take inventory of my life. I observe who I am, whose I am, and who God redeemed me to be. In the self-evaluation of my life in the light of God's Word, I recognize there remains much growth that needs to occur.

Peter wrote to believers saying, "but grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..." (2 Peter 3:18).

This stands as my New Year Resolution and my New Year Prayer. Lord, help me to grow.

Notice that Peter encouraged believers to grow in the grace (riches I don't deserve or earn) and knowledge (your thoughts are too deep O Lord) of Jesus Christ. Too often our study of the Scriptures is self-centered. I want to know the Scriptures. I want to be well-versed in the Bible. I want others to admire my knowledge. However, Peter challenges Christians to grow in the grace and knowledge not of God's written Word, but the One of whom the written Word reveals. That I may grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

His word reveals Him. I must know His Word to know and grow in Him. But may my pursuit and study of His word not be for the sake of having more knowledge or parading myself before others. But rather to know more the One by whom and for whom all things were made--including me!

That I may grow...