As a pastor, I often talk about having a relationship with Jesus. We pray to God the Father. But how much do we focus on getting to know the third person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit?
In our recent sermon series at 242 Community Church, I’ve been exploring the importance of developing a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit. I want to emphasize that it’s not about gaining more head knowledge, but about truly experiencing the presence and power of the Spirit in our daily lives.
The Promise of the Spirit
To understand why this matters so much, we need to look at what Jesus himself said about the Holy Spirit. Shortly before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples:
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)
At first glance, this seems shocking. How could it possibly be better for Jesus to leave? Wouldn’t having the physical presence of the Son of God be the ultimate spiritual experience?
Yet Jesus insists that having the indwelling Holy Spirit is even more advantageous for believers. He goes on to explain some of what the Spirit will do:
“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment… he will guide you into all the truth… He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” (John 16:8,13-14)
The Holy Spirit would convict the world, guide believers in truth, and continue to glorify Christ. Jesus saw the coming of the Spirit as the fulfillment of God’s promises and the empowering of his people.
Power and Presence Throughout Scripture
This wasn’t a new concept. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the Spirit of God (in Hebrew, “Ruach”) as the powerful, creative force of God at work in the world and in people’s lives. The Spirit hovered over the waters at creation. He empowered judges, prophets and kings. He spoke through the prophets and guided God’s people.
But there was also a promise of something greater to come. The prophet Joel declared:
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29)
This promise was dramatically fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the early church. Peter stood up and proclaimed that this was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. He went on to say:
“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 promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
The Same Power In Us
This is the astounding truth that we often overlook – the very same Holy Spirit who was active in creation, who empowered the heroes of the Old Testament, who descended on Jesus at his baptism, now lives inside every believer!
Paul emphasizes this incredible reality in his letter to the Galatians. He reminds them that they received the Spirit not by following religious laws, but by putting their faith in Christ. And the purpose was clear:
“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:14)
According to Paul, a key reason Jesus came was so that we could receive the promised Holy Spirit. The same power that raised Christ from the dead now lives in us!
So Why Don’t We Experience It?
If we have this incredible power living inside us as believers, why do so many of us feel spiritually stagnant? Why do we often rely on our own strength instead of experiencing the Spirit’s power?
In my sermons, I’ve highlighted three common barriers that can keep us from truly knowing and experiencing the Holy Spirit in our lives:
- Our lives are too loud
In our busy, distracted world, it’s easy to crowd out the gentle whisper of the Spirit. We fill every moment with noise, activity and stimulation. To overcome this, we need to intentionally create quiet space to listen and commune with God. This may mean getting up early, taking a quiet walk, or finding other ways to step away from the noise.
- Our lives are too much
We live in a culture of endless consumption and accumulation. Jesus warned about the danger of greed and taught that “life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). When we’re focused on getting more stuff, we miss out on the riches of knowing God deeply. The antidote is to practice gratitude, generosity and simplicity.
- Our lives are too safe
Perhaps the biggest barrier is that we’ve settled into comfortable routines where we don’t really need to rely on God’s power. We can manage life on our own strength and wisdom. But the Spirit often shows up most powerfully when we step out of our comfort zones to follow God’s leading. We need to be willing to take risks and do things that scare us a little.
Unleashing the Spirit’s Power
So how do we move past these barriers to experience more of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives? Here are a few key steps I’ve been encouraging our church to take:
- Create space for quiet communion with God. Set aside regular time to simply be still in God’s presence, listening for the Spirit’s voice. This could be through prayer, meditation on Scripture, or silent reflection.
- Simplify your life and practice generosity. Look for ways to declutter your space, schedule and priorities. Then be intentional about giving generously of your time, talents and resources. This opens up room for God to work.
- Step out of your comfort zone. Ask God to show you where He’s inviting you to take a step of faith. Maybe it’s serving in a new way, sharing your faith with a neighbor, or making a career change to follow God’s leading.
- Discover and use your spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit has given each believer unique gifts and abilities to serve others and build up the church. Take time to explore how God has wired you and look for ways to put those gifts into action.
- Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. As we abide in Christ, the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). Focus on nurturing these qualities.
- Practice being led by the Spirit. In your daily life, try to be more attuned to the Spirit’s promptings and guidance. Ask for wisdom and direction, then step out in faith when you sense God leading.
- Expect God to work powerfully. Approach each day with expectancy, looking for how the Spirit might want to move in and through your life. Be open to surprises!
A Story of Stepping Out
I want to share an encouraging example from our own church of someone who overcame the barrier of playing it safe. A woman named Kice initially volunteered at the church in a behind-the-scenes role where she could “hide out.” But through the encouragement of leaders and the nudging of the Holy Spirit, she felt challenged to step into a more visible greeting role.
This was way outside her comfort zone at first. But as she took that step of faith, she began to experience the Spirit working powerfully in and through her. Her warm smile and vibrant personality now bless everyone who enters the church. By being willing to do something a little scary, she unleashed more of the Spirit’s work in her life.
Your Next Step
What might be your next step in getting to know the Holy Spirit more intimately? Perhaps it’s carving out more quiet time with God. Maybe it’s simplifying your life in some way. Or it could be stepping out to serve in a new capacity that stretches you.
At our church, we offer a “Discover Your Purpose” process to help people explore how God has uniquely gifted them to serve. This can be a great way to identify your next step of faith.
Of course, the most important first step is to make sure you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we put our faith in Christ for salvation, we receive the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit living inside us. If you’ve never made that decision, that’s the place to start.
Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is not a power to be wielded, but a Person to be known. He is God himself, living inside believers. May we never take that astounding reality for granted! Let’s pursue deeper intimacy with the Spirit, allowing Him to transform us and work powerfully through us.
As we do, we’ll discover that Jesus was right – having the indwelling Holy Spirit really is better than having Jesus physically present beside us. Because now, the power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us, ready to be unleashed for God’s glory and the good of the world.
I’m excited to continue this journey with our church of getting to know the Holy Spirit more deeply. I hope you’ll join me in seeking to experience more of His presence and power in your daily life. Let’s unleash the power within and see what God will do through us!
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