Biblical Success - Running Our Race With a Personal TrainerSample

Before we begin to dive into the roles and functions of the Holy Spirit, we need to gain a clear understanding of Who He is. He is not an “IT!” He is a Person! He is a co-equal part of our triune (three-part) Godhead; The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. He plays specific roles at different times but is always God. Just as Father at one time was creating as Creator but is always far more than that, Jesus, for thirty-three years walked on earth as a man but was always much more than that, The Holy Spirit lives in us as Helper and Guide but is always more than that, much more than that.

Man cannot define or adequately describe God. God is a Spirit and He lives in us as believers and Christ-followers. He, along with His Word, is the prime resource given to us for our sanctification or the process of learning and living God’s plan for our lives and purpose on earth.

The Word calls Him a “gift.” In the first sermon preached to the first gathering of inquirers, when they asked what to do to be saved Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38)

We are those who were far off and have now been called by our Lord. And, as it is true that we receive our salvation by faith as a free gift, in the same way, by faith, we receive the Holy Spirit.

Our salvation was and is a gift. But with the gift, we are also given a sacred responsibility. We are NOT saved just to spend the rest of our life struggling against sin just to fall into heaven exhausted by our efforts, and then to float around on a cloud strumming a harp for eternity. As a disciple of Christ our responsibility is to recognize that we are saved by grace alone through Christ alone not by works but for works; “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

We are not accidentally here on the planet at this time and place we are intentionally here right now as unique parts of God’s supernatural eternal plan to create a sinless heavenly family to live in peace with Him and one another eternally. We are and have always been a part of God’s Great Plan. Wow! That’s a mouthful! How in the world can we ever figure all that out?

We can’t. That’s the point. In our natural self, we can’t figure out life and life’s ultimate purpose. But our Helper can because He knows the will of the Father! “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26,27)

Stay tuned the best is yet to come!