A christian cannot pursue christian growth on his own – it is a lifelong process. The christian life is a dynamic path full of encounters, difficulties, and opportunities for spiritual development. A key component of a Christian’s development is the assistance of the Holy Spirit. As a christian requires assistance to embark on this spiritual journey, let us examine the role that the Holy Spirit plays.
What evidence does Scripture Offer for the Existence of the Trinity?
During Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit fell on him like a dove, and the Father spoke to him from heaven. Meanwhile, Jesus was submerged in the water. The three—the father, the son, and the holy spirit all present at that event. They all carry out the same tasks, including edifying, regeneration, and sanctification. Their goals are also the same and they possess the same divine qualities.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
Bible verse
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Luke 3:21-22
Also in Matthew 28: 18-19 we hear Jesus saying:
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Bible verse
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Who is the Holy Spirit?
In order to fulfill Jesus’ promise to send a new intercessor, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit is said to be a person, as he is referred to as
- an advocate, a teacher – John 14:26;
- He leads, and – Romans 8:14;
- He helps us in our weaknesses – Romans 8:26
Further, the Holy Spirit has human qualities and the following can affect him. He can be
- Insulted or blasphemed against – Matt 12:31-32
- resisted – Matt 12: 25-30
- grieved – Eph.4:30
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
In the new dispensation of Christ, the Holy Spirit remains just as active as it did in the Old Testament. The role of God’s Holy Spirit is evident from the Old Testament to the New Testament, as a part of God’s divine plan for humanity. Their methods in both eras differ, however. Our comprehension and interpretation of the Holy Spirit’s role in both dispensations will be enhanced if we are aware of these facts. We also wish to examine the ways in which the Spirit has impacted people’s lives historically, both on an individual and a collective level; additionally, how the prophets were empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.
- The Spirit was present at creation (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Isaiah 32:15).
- Humanity and other creatures are given life by the Spirit (Psalm 104:29, 30). I
- The Spirit gave extraordinary power to judges, warriors, and prophets, such as Saul (1 Samuel 10:9–10), Gideon (Judges 6:34), Samson (Judges 13:25–14:6), and Joshua (Numbers 27:18), to name a few
- The Spirit works with sinners (Genesis 6:3), in persuading individuals to repent of their sins (John 16:8–11).
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Bible refers to the “gifts” that the Holy Spirit bestows upon each believer. A spiritual gift is a supernatural capacity that the Holy Spirit sovereignly bestows on every Christian, empowering them to fulfill their divinely appointed role as members of Christ’s body, the Church (1 Cor. 12:4-12; Eph. 4:7-16). These gifts are well tailored to the circumstances of every believer’s life and, when used in the context of community, will support and edify the body. As a result, having gifts is essential to spiritual development.
Fruits of the Holy Spirit
In the New Testament the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. John 14:17 and Acts 2:3-4 Remember, the Holy Spirit fell on the christians as they prayed. His fruits include :
- love,
- joy,
- peace,
- patience,
- kindness,
- goodness,
- faithfulness,
- gentleness, and
- self-control
as found in Galatians 5:22-23. These are virtues that are seen in people living in harmony with the Holy Spirit. We can overcome spiritual emptiness by exhibiting these fruits of the Spirit.
How to be filled with the holy spirit
When you hear people talking now about showing kindness, love, knowing God’s people and loving church, etc. then it is the fruits of the spirit being shown forth in their lives, where it had been absent before. It also shows in joy which is spread to others.
The filling of the Holy Spirit can come in different ways:
- The day you are saved;
- The day you are baptised;
- When someone prays for you;
- When you pray and ask for it;
- It just comes with you asking;
How does one know if he is filled with the spirit?
Some of the following characteristics, which come from the Holy Spirit living within a person, become apparent in that person’s life the instant they accept Christ:
- Changes that just spring up without asking;
- Loving people in ways you found difficult before;
- Perfect or incredible peace despite circumstances;
- Speaking the truth i.e stop deceiving in certain situations;
- Stop swearing or negative talk;
- Helping others instead of being wasteful. On the whole becoming more responsible in a lot of ways
- Previous burdens are replaced with freedom of spirit, joy and peace;
- Changing unhealthy behaviours and things you know are no more good for you;
- Freedom from fear because you can look up to God;
- Gaining a better understanding of God;
- Understanding what the church is.
Can you lose the Holy Spirit?
We know from 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19–20 that the bodies of Christians are the Spirit’s temple.
Renewal and transformation – Much of this comes because we are renewing our minds by filling it with God’s word. We have to be humble and willing to make God’s word the standard for our lives. If not, we risk grieving him and become numb to his plodding when we need him most, as happened with Sampson. If you see that you’ve lost your spiritual fervour, you can ask him for refilling or to be revived afresh.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and gained new insights of the role of the Holy Spirit in the Growth of the Christ. Please leave me a comment and share.