The Holy Spirit’s Presence
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
Are we aware that the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God lives in us? I cannot count the number of times I prayed that I would be aware of the Holy Spirit, as much as I was aware of my flesh. If the spirit of God is living in us, shouldn’t we notice; like we notice when we put on a coat? My lack of understanding of the Holy Spirit drove me to scripture to determine the purpose of the Holy Spirit. Now fourteen years later I am aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence; and I will explain the spiritual path to being one with the Holy Spirit.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to change us to conform to the likeness of the Son, to mold us to have the mind of Christ. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, (Romans 8:29). The Holy Spirit enables us to understand God, his Word, his love for us, and his divine plan. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11) The Holy Spirit opens our mind and heart to understand the Word, because the Spirit makes the Word alive. The Word is spiritually discerned, and the Spirit speaks only what he hears. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:14) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)
The Holy Spirit reveals an understanding of God to us through the Bible by making it alive to us. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, (Hebrews 4:11) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8: verse 14). The Spirit changes us to Godly thinking by opening the Word, and he changes is to a Godly heart when we he leads us to minister personally to lost souls.
We continue our spiritual receiving and giving, and God’s love fills our heart until we see people as God sees people. When this begins to happen we will know and feel our connection to God through the Spirit. The closer we are to the Lord the more we seek to know him, and the more we are aware of the Spirit. Our number one goal in our Christian life, is to know God, seeking to understand his thoughts and his heart. Everything the Holy Spirit leads us to do in this world, ministry to others, meditation on the Word, prayer, and fellowship: leads us to a better understanding of God.
The ability to be still and have deep concentration on God and his Word, is essential to experience his presence. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13). Are you seeking the Lord with all your heart? He says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10) Find time to be alone, just you and God, seek him with all your heart, and seek desperately to know God. God will reveal his presence and he will direct the Spirit to fill your heart.
Today seek to be close to the Lord, pray intently when ministering to others. Schedule time today to be alone with God without any interruptions or worldly influences, for this is a time for the world to disappear. Invite the Lord into your life by communing with him throughout the day.
Prayer Lord, fill me with Holy Spirit and enable me to know the Spirit is with me and guiding me to point lost souls to Christ. Thank you Lord for giving me the Holy Spirit, who is my deposit on eternal life, and for changing my mind and heart to be Christ-like. Lord, keep changing me to be your Christ-like servant. In Jesus name, Amen