Who is the Holy Spirit to us?

courtesy of amandajulca.com

The Holy Spirit has always been very mysterious to me. Like something pulled straight out of a Harry Potter book. Because think about it…

The Father is in heaven.

Jesus lived on earth, and now is seated next to the Father in heaven.

But, the Holy Spirit is here with us and in us NOW.

What?

I think it’s one of the most fascinating things about God – He is with us and in us in this very moment.

Side note: This makes the Holy Spirit one of those parts of Christianity that you can’t talk about to random people and sound normal. I feel like people look at you like you might start speaking in tongues at any moment. Which is funny, because in a lot of ways it’s the most tangible way we experience God. Maybe we’re just not giving the Holy Spirit enough credit.

The Holy Spirit is introduced immediately in the Bible. Out of 31,103 verses (thanks Google) the Holy Spirit enters the scene in verse 2.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2)

Hovering. What do you think of when you hear hovering?

Hovercrafts. 

Hovering over my husbands shoulder (“Ashley, stop hovering.”)

But, mostly, I think anticipation. If someone is hovering, something is about to happen. There is a move about to be made.

So, the Holy Spirit was there, at creation…hovering. He was waiting and anticipating because the most creative act in the history of the world was about to happen.

Awesome.

But what else? What is the Holy Spirit like? What is He responsible for in our lives?

Here’s what I found…

2 Corinthians 1:22

He is a deposit guaranteeing the joys of what is ahead in heaven – a glimpse of what is to come.

Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:4

He gives us power to share Christ with others.

1 Corinthians 12:28, 12:8-10, Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Peter 4:11

He gives each of us unique spiritual gifts.

Romans 8:26

He helps us with our prayers and translates our deepest desires to God.

Matthew 12:28

He defeats Satan in our lives. He helps us overcome our personal darkness.

John 16:8-11

When we sin, He is the one who convicts us.

Galatians 5:22

He is the source of all: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Romans 8:12-16

On the days we doubt that we are God’s children, when we think we’re out of the family, He talks with us and reassures us that we are always loved.

Mark 1:12, Acts 8:29, Acts 20:22

He guides us, tells us that to do, where to go, and who to talk to along the way…even when we don’t know why.

Romans 5:5

He is how we feel God’s love poured out on our hearts.

John 14:26

He teaches us ALL things spiritual. There is no limit to what He can teach us.

He counsels us.

He reminds us of all Jesus has said to us in the past

Psalm 104:30

He gives life, new life.

Luke 12:12

When we’re in a bind, He tells us what to say.

2 Corinthians 13:14

He brings us together as believers.

Revelation 22:17

He calls us all who are spiritually thirsty to come and drink the water of life freely through God’s grace. 

Even Jesus said it was better that He leave and go to heaven so that the Holy Spirit could come to us. (John 16:7) After reading all that, I can see why!

I’ll take a little extra peace and patience today, Holy Spirit. And a side of counseling. Thank you.

Unnecessary Burdens

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

I often find myself carrying many burdens that I was never meant to carry.

One huge burden I tote around is the weight of producing a miracle. I want my non-believing friend to know Christ, I want the girls that I lead in Bible study to grow spiritually and understand truth, I want lives around me to be transformed.  And then I want to be the one that stands up and yells, “TA-DA!” Preferably as confetti flies through the air.

These are not bad things, in fact, I think they very much align with the heart of God. But, where things start to go awry is when I think that it is my weight to shoulder alone. I start to believe that I’m a Lone Ranger out here gunning it in the Wild West by myself. (I have included a picture of myself above with my trusty steed.)

Not to state the obvious, but being the Lone Ranger is well….lonely. Not to mention totally exhausting and defeating. I feel like I’m working so hard, but not much is happening.  

2 Corinthians 6:10 says:

We have nothing, yet we possess everything.

I love this. Let's read it again.

We have nothing, yet we possess everything.

We have nothing to offer apart from God, but WITH him we have everything to offer.

He is with us, behind us, before us, in us…and we are not able, nor have we been asked to do it without him.

We are responsible for taking the step of faith, but he’s responsible for the miraculous part. His specialty is miracles, and ours is just doing what he tells us. Not a bad gig for us, considering we get the best seat in the house to witness the miracle.

In other words, we get to plant the seed, but God makes it grow. (1 Cor. 3:7) 

This is why on my good days I am asking the Spirit to move constantly. Please give me the words, Lord. Please show up tonight, Lord. Please give me eyes to see what you’re doing here, Lord.

And then he gets to say “TA-DA!” 

When I Am Weak, I Am Strong

I used to never cry. In high school I would go through break ups, fail test, (insert high school drama here) and never cry.

Then I started walking with the Lord and I became a totally basket case. Now I cry a minimum of three times a week. Crying for me can be brought on by a range of things from the über-serious to, I don’t know, let’s say, The Biggest Loser or a credit card commercial. And don’t even get me started on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

But, the fascinating thing is that even now, people who don’t know me very well are surprised to find out that I am a “crier”. Micah was certainly shocked when we got married. Sure he’d seen a few very feminine tears glisten down my face during dating and engagement. But, he was not prepared for the Niagara Falls of ugly crying he would experience in marriage.

So, why is that? Why do I default to this pulled together front even though I am actually very emotional? I think it’s because I value strength. I like being strong. I like other people thinking I’m strong and powerful. Unshakeable. It makes me feel important and in control. People can’t have power over me and know my soft spots. I don’t have to be vulnerable.

And to make matters worse, somewhere along the way I decided that being strong is Christ-like and the only way to reach people. I started teaching people that “I’m strong, and you can be strong too!”

Which is….ridiculous. And definitely not the gospel. In fact, God loves our weakness.

Paul says this:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

-2 Corinthians 12:8-10

When I am weak, then I am strong.

In our weakness He is strong. He is our power and our security.

The fact is that strength and perfection IS very God-like, but it’s not very me-like. The strength in me is God. So, why am I teaching that it is me? People don’t want to hear that. And frankly, it’s not a very good sell. I don’t think anyone’s testimony is going to be: “Well, I saw that Ashley was perfect, and I wanted to be perfect too, so I became a Christian.” Ha!

People want to hear the truth. That I am broken and a certified wreck. But, God is my hero and he came in my life and put the pieces all together. He made me whole. 

So, like Paul, I want to live a life of integrity but still boast in my weaknesses. I want to show my imperfections and not be scared others will think less of me and run from the Lord.

Because the true gospel and my story is...

 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. – Romans 5:6