Presence of the Holy Spirit
Are you aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit? In the Bible we can read that the early Christians experienced God's living presence intensely. But what about the presence of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives today? Do we feel the Spirit dwelling within us? If so, in what form? If not, how can we achieve this spiritual connection?
In his book "God's Empowering Presence," Gordon D. Fee quotes a student reflecting on the Holy Spirit: "God the Father is clear to me, and the Son is also understandable, but the Holy Spirit seems vague, as if shrouded in a gray veil. This invisible and dynamic force of a personal and powerful God should not seem this way. The Holy Spirit is difficult to perceive because He is Spirit. Jesus said He is like the wind: invisible. One Christian scholar observed: 'The Holy Spirit leaves no footprints in the sand.' Because of His invisibility to our senses, He is often overlooked or misunderstood. In contrast, our knowledge of Jesus Christ is on solid ground. As a human being, He lived among us and gave God the Father a face: 'If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.'" (Joh 14,7).
Both the Father and the Son are present in believers today through the Holy Spirit. It is therefore important to better understand the Holy Spirit and experience him personally. Through the Spirit, believers experience God's closeness and are enabled to live out his love in everyday life.
Our comforter
For the apostles, especially John, the Holy Spirit is the counselor and comforter whom one calls upon in times of need or when required. The Spirit supports us in our weakness: "For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Röm 8,26).
Paul explained that those led by the Holy Spirit are God's people. They are sons and daughters of God and should call on him as Father. Filled with the Spirit, these people live in spiritual freedom. They are no longer imprisoned by their sinful nature but lead a new life of inspiration and unity with God. This radical transformation is brought about by the Holy Spirit at conversion. Their desires and thoughts turn from the world to God. Paul describes this transformation: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy, through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3,5).
The presence, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is the decisive reality of conversion. Without the Spirit, there is no conversion, no spiritual rebirth. That is why Paul said: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, because the Spirit of God lives in you. And whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ.” (Röm 8,9).
Since God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ is simply another way of referring to the Holy Spirit. When a person is truly converted, Christ lives in him through the Holy Spirit. Such people belong to God because He has made them His own through His Spirit.
Spirit full life
Experiencing the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is the result of our response to God's call. This call involves accepting God's grace in Jesus Christ, letting go of old ways of thinking, preconceived notions, and false knowledge, and living according to the Spirit of God. Paul encouraged the Galatians, and we too should be encouraged, to live led by the Holy Spirit: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Gal 5,25)When we walk in this spirit, the following fruit of the Spirit is produced: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5,22-23).
These qualities are more than just great concepts or good thoughts. They reflect the true spiritual strength that the Holy Spirit gives believers. This strength is ready to be used in every situation and proves that the Holy Spirit is at work in us. To be strengthened by the Spirit, we should ask God for and be guided by the presence of the Spirit. As the Spirit guides God's people, He also strengthens the life of the church and its institutions. This is the only way the church as a structure can be effective—through individual believers who live by the Spirit. It is important that we be careful not to confuse aspects of church life—such as programs, ceremonies, or beliefs—with the dynamic activity of the Holy Spirit in people's lives.
The Spirit of Love
The most significant sign of the Holy Spirit's activity in believers is love. This quality reflects the nature of God and characterizes people who are led by the Spirit of God. Love was the focus of the apostles, including the apostle Paul and other teachers of the New Testament. They wanted to see whether the lives of individual Christians were strengthened and changed by the love of the Holy Spirit.
Although spiritual gifts, ministry, and inspired teaching play important roles in the church, for Paul the powerful effect of the Holy Spirit's love in believers was of far greater significance. Paul describes the characteristics of love as follows: “Love is patient, love is kind; it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, it does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1. Kor. 13,4-7). After Paul has so vividly described the outstanding importance and perfection of love, he also highlights its constancy: “Love never fails” (verse 8).
Essential for believers
The living presence of the Holy Spirit and our subsequent response are of great importance to believers. Paul emphasizes that true Christians are those who have been renewed, reborn, and transformed to reflect God's love in their lives. This transformation can only happen through a life guided by the love of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. The Holy Spirit is the personal presence of God in our hearts and minds.
by Paul Kroll
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