Jesus is easier to talk about than the Holy Spirit.
Think about it; we have the words, actions, and archaeological and historical data to prove that Jesus actually existed when the Bible says He did. We have scholars, atheists, agnostics, religious leaders, and pagan authorities all commenting on Jesus, including all sorts of rebuttals to who He claimed He was. In contrast, almost no one argues for the historical existence or has set out to prove or disprove the existence of the Holy Spirit. He's like a side character in the most important story of all time.
And yet, in today's world, there is a growing interest among Christians and those desiring a relationship with God in understanding the Holy Spirit despite having dramatically less information about Him than about Jesus.
Why? Because the mysteries of God hold a greater allure for most people than what He has already unveiled.
Jesus has given commands, modeled a life of holiness, taken our sins and given us new life, built the church, and has become our advocate to the Father. Jesus also gave us the Holy Spirit, who gives us spiritual gifts to use for God's glory, convicts us of sin, convinces us of Jesus' identity, and unites us as we seek to live in this world for His glory, among other things.
But the Spirit's role isn't as clear-cut and understandable in our lives as Jesus' role is. There's a fair amount of confusion, mystery, and even curiosity as we seek to live with God's Spirit.
Pursuing a life attuned to the Holy Spirit can be transformative for both seekers and believers. However, it can also be a bit perplexing, as there are various ways that the Spirit of God communicates with individuals, some of which may be misunderstood. In this exploration, we delve into practical steps grounded in Scripture to guide you on the path of embracing the Divine Advocate, or Holy Spirit, who was promised and bestowed upon us by Jesus.
Inspired, Illuminated, and Irreplaceable
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
This passage underscores the Holy Spirit's profound involvement in the inspiration of Scripture. The term 'breathed out by God' points to the divine origin of the Bible, where the Holy Spirit played a crucial role in guiding the authors to put into words God's infallible word with accuracy and authority.
Scripture reveals most of our knowledge about Jesus, while it also unravels the identity and purpose of the Holy Spirit. As an integral part, the Spirit inspired the Biblical authors to pen the very words of God. Although shaped by their culture and era, these writings carry timeless significance. Despite the vast temporal gap between their original composition and our present, the Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture, enabling our understanding and acceptance of the Bible. Simply put, Scripture cannot be fully understood and accepted without the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's impact on the reader of Scripture is irreplaceable.
Practical step: Being more open to the Holy Spirit means being more engaged and disciplined in reading Scripture. Just like every relationship requires time, intention, and focus, so does your relationship with the Holy Spirit. When you read the words of Jesus, the Spirit is there with you, confirming Scripture, convincing you of who Jesus is, illuminating your understanding, and adding the spiritual component of divine revelation you can't get anywhere else.
Not sure where to start? Read John 14-16 every day this week. It's just three chapters, will probably take you 15 minutes, and you'll see the connection between Jesus and the Spirit. Remember, the Spirit is there with you as you read!
If you need an additional resource, I wrote a small guide to understanding the Holy Spirit in the Bible and in your life called Wind & Fire: How God Shows He Is for the World, by Continuing His Work in the World. You can find that and three other of my books here.
Sanctuary: Silence and Solitude
In the Gospels, we see Jesus seeking solitude and silence, especially when faced with significant moments of decision or the weight of His ministry. You and I will never have the weight He did, but we will have pivotal moments of hardship, decision-making, and contemplation about what's next.
Mark 1:35 provides a potent example: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." This Scripture not only illustrates Jesus embracing silence and solitude, but also reflects the importance of these practices in maintaining a life open to God's Spirit. By following Christ's example, we can also create quiet spaces in our lives to hear from and be guided by the Holy Spirit.
There's also a massive implication here: In a world chattering with endless noise, aggressive marketing, constant ads, pernicious emails, and fractured attention, sitting alone to focus and be with God is nothing short of a radical act of faith.
John 16:12-15 illustrates how the Spirit of truth guides us into all truth, speaking what is heard from Jesus. This guidance often requires a quiet listening posture. Solitude in prayer offers a sacred space to be without distraction, give God intentional time, and possibly hear something from God Himself.
Practical step: Silence and solitude don't equal God saying something supernaturally through God's Spirit (how's that for some preacher alliteration?). It puts us in a place to focus on Him and push everything else away, even if only for a few moments. God gave you a brain, spiritual gifts, wisdom from Scripture, life experiences, and the ability to choose what to do in every moment. What you bring to the equation is the willpower and desire to invest intentional time in solitude and silence in order to bring all of these together. Imagine what you can "hear" from God with all He's given you if you just stop for even 20 minutes to use all He's given you for His glory. He may say something, He may not. But what will happen is you'll have the space to tune out everything but God to see how He'd like to communicate to you.
Collective Prayer: The Unity of Spirit
When we lift our voices together, the Holy Spirit moves amongst us, binding us in unity and purpose in Christ. Jesus Himself said: "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20) The discipline of collective prayer over time with fellow believers can amplify the ability to hear and be open to the Holy Spirit's movement. In fact, it may be one of the most readily available ways to not just be open to hearing what God has to say but to accurately respond to God's leading.
Subjectivity is one of the greatest challenges in being receptive to the Holy Spirit in your life. It begs the question: are the thoughts, emotions, discernments, or doubts you experience solely from within you? God's intention is not to enable our own desires; rather, He desires to guide us in recognizing, embracing, and acting upon His ways. Furthermore, God's work extends beyond the influence of just one person; His interests are not fragmented. His plans are cohesive, carried out through the collaboration of numerous individuals, rather than relying on any solitary figure — including you.
This means that collaborative prayer and seeking God's will with others is a powerful way to become more open to the Holy Spirit's influence in your life. Prayer is powerful, and the same prayers and seeking by multiple people to discover and discern God's will together are even more powerful.
Practical step: It's easy to pray alone. You can pray anywhere at any time without anyone else. But prayer with others is incredibly powerful. This week, try to pray more with people than by yourself. Ask your spouse, kids, boyfriend or girlfriend, parents, co-workers, or anyone near you to join you in prayer. People rarely say no to prayer, especially if you're praying for them!
Seeking Discernment: Testing Every Spirit
In the pursuit of truth and openness to the Holy Spirit, it's crucial to seek discernment in just what people teach regarding Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and theology in general. In 1 John 4:1-6, we are taught to "not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God..." This is not about demons or unclean spirits, but rather about false teachers who point people away from God with their teachings. There are a lot of teachings about God in the world, and a lot out there about the Holy Spirit specifically — but many teachings contradict one another and Scripture. We must learn to test what is from people and what is from God. In this testing, through prayer and reading of Scripture, we ensure our openness aligns with God's will.
Practical step: We must understand that truth comes from the Holy Spirit as He continually points us back to Jesus through Scripture. Anything that contradicts Scripture contradicts the Holy Spirit and Jesus. The first way to test is simply to ask: "Is this found in scripture somewhere?" Test everything against Scripture first, even if you think it's from God. Satan knows Scripture better than you and I, and he's used it before to confuse believers into moving away from God. Secondly, don't be too hasty to believe. A healthy amount of skepticism will keep you from believing the wrong things. Lastly, seek the wisdom and prayer of other believers you trust. The easiest way to open yourself up to the influence of Satan rather than the Holy Spirit is to go through most of your spiritual life alone. Silence and solitude are great, but they're not the only way we are to seek God. God made us for community, and a great Christian community will reinforce the truths of God and shield people from the lies and confusion of Satan.
The Eternal Dance of Spirit and Soul
As we embark upon our daily lives with these practices at the forefront of our interactions with the world, may we become increasingly attuned to the Holy Spirit's movement in our midst. May we never forget that our deepest desires are rooted in the Spirit's guiding and shaping of our soul to become more like Jesus Christ. May we always remember that this is an eternal dance, a continual surrender to the Spirit's leading as He draws us closer to the heart of God.
Let us purposefully internalize Scripture, embracing moments of solitude and silence. Let us come together in collective prayer with fellow believers, and let us be discerning in recognizing the voice of the Holy Spirit. God has spoken to us not just in occasional whispers but in numerous profound ways.
Related:
Come Holy Spirit—A Powerful Prayer to Welcome the Holy Spirit into Your Day
Kile Baker is a former Atheist who didn’t plan on becoming a Christian, let alone a Pastor, who now writes to try and make Christianity simple. Kile recently wrote a study guide to help people “look forward to and long for Heaven.” You can get one on Amazon here. He also writes at www.paperbacktheologian.com. Kile is the grateful husband to the incredibly talented Rachel, Dad to the energetic London and feisty Emma and Co-Lead Pastor at LifePoint Church in Northern Nevada. He single handedly keeps local coffee shops in business.