Benefits to Having the Holy SpiritSample

He Is Equal and Essential

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to the dynamic and thriving life of the Christian. Our lack of attention to and affection for all that He is designed to do in our lives leaves us powerless to live “life to the fullest,” as Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).

What are some signs that we’ve neglected or forgotten the essentiality of the Spirit?

When our faith feels dry or stagnant. When we find ourselves stuck in behaviors and patterns from which we’ve been set free. When toxic thoughts take up residence in our minds. When we put ourselves on the throne, seeking praise and glory that isn’t ours.

But beyond that, to neglect Him and treat Him as the inferior part of God is insulting to the Trinity and inconsistent with Scripture. Understanding the essentiality and beauty of the Spirit will profoundly enhance our lives and our walks with Jesus. We need Him!

We see the significance of the Spirit’s work throughout all of Scripture, starting in Genesis 1:1–2! Both the Old and New Testaments attest to the Holy Spirit being an equal member of the Trinity. 

One prime example from the Old Testament is found in Deuteronomy 6:4, which is the central verse of Israel’s faith (called the Shema). We read, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.” Meaning, one God in three divine and equal persons.

In the New Testament, we see evidence of them working together in many passages but one of the most significant places where we see the equality of the Three-In-One is in Matthew 28:18–20. Jesus taught His disciples to baptize in the threefold name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

If we are trying to be a witness for Christ and grow in the likeness of Christ without the power of Christ—the Holy Spirit—we will remain frustrated and discouraged. We only get so far without the Spirit’s help. No matter how hard we strive, human effort cannot produce supernatural results.

We can determine to be more patient, but without the Spirit, our ability to remain calm when dealing with a difficult situation or person will run dry. We can determine to be more loving, but our capacity to love the unlovable will not reflect the kind of love Jesus modeled. We can determine to be more disciplined, but our power over temptation will only take us so far. We don’t need more willpower. We need more Spirit-power.

This is why it’s not enough to acknowledge His existence yet avoid Him as part of the Christian experience. We rob ourselves from experiencing the power of God when we neglect the significance of the Holy Spirit’s work. Our faith will flourish to the extent that we are filled with the Spirit.

We adapted this plan from another resource. Learn more at http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/don-t-miss-out/406610.