Yesterday, Pastor Tim Smith went through the scriptures that inform our belief in the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit isn't just some abstract spiritual entity. Instead, for each of us who professes a faith in Christ, our daily lives are filled by the Holy Spirit. Here's what that looks like.

"All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that [the Spirit] will take what is mine and declare it to you." John 16:15

Jesus lived in utter dependence on the Spirit, and he not only calls us to do the same, but has sent the Spirit to us for just that purpose. John the Baptizer said that while he would baptize people with water, Jesus would baptize believers with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16).  Jesus said he would send a "Helper," the Spirit of Truth, to be with us forever.  He said God the Father would send the Spirit in his name teaching us all things, and bring into remembrance all that he said (John 14:15-27).  Jesus actually said it was to our advantage that he would no longer be with us in the flesh because of the surpassing work of the Spirit in our lives. He said the Spirit would convict the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment leading us into all truth (John 16:7-13). In possibly the greatest promise of the coming work of the Spirit, Jesus said the Spirit would take everything that is his and make it known to us (John 16:15). All these promises were fulfilled as the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers in Jesus Christ at Pentecost (Acts 2). When we become Christians, we are flooded with the Spirit of God, and that changes everything.

Life in the Spirit

The Spirit exists to glorify Jesus (John 16:14) and through him we can do the same.  As we behold the glory of Jesus, we are transformed to look more like him from one degree of glory to another through the power of the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).  Apart from the work of the Spirit, we could not even recognize the glory of God (2 Cor. 4:4).  It is only by the Spirit that we can even say, "Jesus is Lord." (1 Cor. 12:3)  The Holy Spirit does not just come alongside our efforts to please God and make us more effective. Through the Spirit, we live a new and different life.

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63

God is not into gradual change through our own efforts; He is into death and resurrection. We must be born again. We die to ourselves and our natural instincts are are reborn by the Spirit (John 3:5, 8).  It is only the Holy Spirit that gives life, and that life is in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:11-12). How do we know if the Holy Spirit is at work in someone’s life? The Bible says there are clear signs: Through the Spirit, we have a new mind and desires that are set on pleasing God and life and peace that come with that pursuit (Rom. 8:5-8). Where our life used to be characterized by the fruit of pride, selfishness, idolatry and sexual immorality, we begin to bear new fruit from the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). God also gives gifts through the Spirit that mark this new life such as words of wisdom, knowledge and prophecy; gifts of faith, healing, miracles and distinguishing between spirits; even speaking in other languages and the ability to interpret these languages (1 Cor. 12:8-11). Some desire to reduce these gifts to a mystical, personal experience but they are given by the Spirit for the common of good and mission of the church (1 Cor. 12:7). All of these gifts, blessings, signs and works of the Holy Spirit are God’s work in us, not a result of the work of our own efforts. They are made possibly only through the work of Jesus, his life, death, and resurrection, which alone make us holy and righteous before God. If these things are absent in anyone's life, all one has to do is ask the perfect, heavenly Father who longs to send the Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). Praise God for sending the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to lead us, teach us and make it possible for us to fulfill the end for which we were created: to worship Him forever. Tim Smith is the worship pastor at the Bellevue campus, and as of next year, will be campus pastor of the to-be-opened Portland one.