The Holy Spirit in The Life of a Believer

The Holy Spirit is God. As a third person in Godhead He dwells in every believer upon conversion and enables the believer to live a holy life, witness in power, and work with the Lord Jesus. (Act 5:3-4, Mathew 28:19, Act 1:8).

Christianity was divided into denominations due to false doctrines that arise subsequent to fallacies and wrong interpretations of the Word. Some denominations believe that there is no place for the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer and others are way overboard in charisma.

There is a significant role that the Holy Spirit plays in the life of a Christian. He is supposed to be in the front seat of the life of a Christian.

Jesus promises a helper

The Holy Spirit is God because He belongs to the Trinity of the Godhead, which includes God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Jesus performed all His works by the power of the Holy Spirit (see John 14:10).

Jesus goes on to say that the disciples can do even greater works (verse 12). The disciples knew that they could not do without Christ. Simon and Andrew would have gone back to fishing, Matthew to tax collecting, and the others to their businesses.

Christ knew this too and that is why He promised another form of Himself ―The Holy Spirit. This way, they could be with Him forever (John 14:16). In the same way the disciples could not do without the master, the believers cannot do without the master.

Work out your salvation

In Philippians 2:12, Paul says that we work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Several people look at salvation as a smooth ride. Someone who has never been on a plane longs to fly until they get a chance to fly and experience turbulence.

Admittedly, Paul had a reason when he said that we should work out our salvation. It is because salvation is a roller-coaster; with ups and downs. These ups and downs can be so severe that no Christian would make it to the end. Hopefully, the author of Christianity knew this and He left a helper―The Holy Spirit (John 14:16).

He convicts us of our sins and dispenses life

Before salvation the Holy Spirit makes the conviction to salvation. After the confession and believing act has been made He performs the washing (cleansing of sin) and regeneration (giving life & making anew) and He indwells in the believer (Titus 3:5).

The difference between indwelling and infilling

Consequent to the regeneration and washing, the Holy Spirit makes the heart of the believer His home. That is the indwelling. The indwelling comes before the infilling.

And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

John 20:22 KJV

John 20:22 shows that Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into the disciples so that they could share the same power He had. This is when the disciples first received the Holy Spirit (indwelling).

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:4 KJV

After Jesus had ascended the Holy Spirit now filled the believers (infilling). The infilling is also known as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Upon being infilled, the Holy Spirit quickens your spirit and they combine. At this point you become connected to the spiritual realm and exit the physical.

Baptism is characterized by the soul, i.e the mind and emotions of the person completely being taken over by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:14). This is why people may begin to laugh hysterically, wail, groan, sing, babble words incoherently or speak in other tongues.

These are manifestations of the Spirit and believers should not be afraid or repress them. The Spirit should always be allowed to move. Teaching congregants to accept these ministrations is paramount in creating an atmosphere for the Spirit to move and perform wonders.

However, some Christians fake these and that is not acceptable. It is all from a point of desire (1 Corinthians 14:1). If you want to be filled you first desire for the infilling and then ask God to fill you (Luke 11:13).

Open your spirit by clearing thoughts and focusing on God and believe. This may take time when you are alone, but when you are with others, where an atmosphere of the Spirit is already set, the infilling may happen quicker.

Even so, it is not mandatory to ask for an infilling in the presence of other believers. You can still do it on your own.

When you will be filled, you will know it. There will be a particular change in you that will not go unfelt. Therefore, for a Christian to be filled, there has to be a desire. This explains why so many others are not filled.

Why He is here

The work of the Spirit is dynamic in the life of a believer. It is utterly impossible to exhaust the job He does or is supposed to do in the life of a believer.

Here are a few: to guide, to reveal the will of the Father (John 16:13), to connect the spirit of the believer to God, to strengthen the believer, to assist in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12), to produce the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), to combat the fleshly desires (Galatians 5:17), to teach and bring unto remembrance (John 14:26) among many others.

The Holy Spirit and the Great Commission

Above all, the Great Commission cannot be accomplished without the help of the Holy Ghost, and that is why Jesus Christ has to send Him to us. Taking a look at Acts 1:8, it is through this power that we are able to spread the Gospel.

Converting a non-believer to a believer is not the work of an evangelist. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, without whom salvation is a myth. Before the disciples began their mission they had to wait for the power, which enabled them to do the task as required.

It should be understood that the Holy Spirit is very real and His presence can be felt physically. A close relationship with the Holy Spirit is essential in the effectiveness of the will of God and the salvation of a believer.

This relationship is worked out like any other and the best way to work on it is by fellow-shipping with the Holy Ghost. The result will be spectacular and the effects will surely be felt.

Do you feel like He is so far away? He is right there with you. He is concerned with all the aspects of your life. Even those that you think He isn’t.

Have you been pushing Him away? Perhaps it’s time to invite Him. Pray this prayer and He will be right there listening and he will act. He is willing to work with you.

“Holy Spirit, I welcome you into my life and I surrender my life. I now know that you care for me and I want to experience your goodness. I want to walk with you beginning now. Fill my heart and my spirit. Amen. “

If you’ve prayed that prayer, He has heard you. You now need to yield to His instruction, His soft voice, and His guidance.

If you are not saved, it is important that you receive Christ so that the Spirit may find a home in your heart. Our page ‘Salvation is for everyone‘ shows you how you can do just that.