I’ve heard or read similar stories over and over again: Followers of Jesus tell how they came to a point in their life when they longed for a more intimate relationship with the Lord, for more meaningful worship, or for greater effectiveness in their service or evangelism. Then they found “something more.” What they found has many different forms.
Some find what they are looking for in what we might consider a cult. There they may discover strong leadership, a sense of community, a unique identity, and fresh “revelations” to supplement (or even overrule) the Bible.
Some find what they are looking for in what we might consider a cult. There they may discover strong leadership, a sense of community, a unique identity, and fresh “revelations” to supplement (or even overrule) the Bible.
Even within orthodox Christianity, the search for more has led people in different directions. One new denomination promotes traditional forms of worship they claim have been handled down from the early structured organization, predictable worship, and strong authority.
Still other believes desire to break free of tradition and allow greater spontaneity and individual expression. Among these people are those who seek dramatic experiences in which they mystically sense the Holy Spirit’s power at work.
This is a crucial topic that we need to understand. After all, how we relate to the Holy Spirit is the heart of the Christian life. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of the Spirit’s work in our lives. For example:
1. “It is the Spirit who gives life” (John 6:63).
2. ‘(The Father) will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth . . . He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17)
3. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8)
4. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
5. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His” (Romans 8:9).
6. “If you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of god, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:13-14).
7. “The spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the spirit Himself makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:26).
8. “We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Cor. 2:12)
9. “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor. 6:19).
10. “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Cor. 12:7).
11. “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3).
12. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).
13. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).
14. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25)
15. “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
16. “(Pray) in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18)
17. “We know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us” (1 John 3:24).
18. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)
As you can see, the Holy Spirit has a vital role in our lives. We need a greater appreciation of His power in us. We would be foolish not to be open and submissive to His work in us individually and as churches.
But how does the Spirit work? Do we sometimes expect too little from Him, or more than God has clearly promised He would do? By going to either extreme we may find ourselves actually hindering the Spirit we think we are honoring.
Still other believes desire to break free of tradition and allow greater spontaneity and individual expression. Among these people are those who seek dramatic experiences in which they mystically sense the Holy Spirit’s power at work.
This is a crucial topic that we need to understand. After all, how we relate to the Holy Spirit is the heart of the Christian life. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of the Spirit’s work in our lives. For example:
1. “It is the Spirit who gives life” (John 6:63).
2. ‘(The Father) will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth . . . He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17)
3. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8)
4. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
5. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His” (Romans 8:9).
6. “If you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of god, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:13-14).
7. “The spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the spirit Himself makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:26).
8. “We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Cor. 2:12)
9. “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor. 6:19).
10. “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Cor. 12:7).
11. “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3).
12. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).
13. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).
14. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25)
15. “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
16. “(Pray) in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18)
17. “We know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us” (1 John 3:24).
18. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)
As you can see, the Holy Spirit has a vital role in our lives. We need a greater appreciation of His power in us. We would be foolish not to be open and submissive to His work in us individually and as churches.
But how does the Spirit work? Do we sometimes expect too little from Him, or more than God has clearly promised He would do? By going to either extreme we may find ourselves actually hindering the Spirit we think we are honoring.
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