Holy Spirit - Breath of GodSample

HOLINESS

“The Holy Spirit’s main ministry is not to give thrills but to create in us Christlike character.”— J. I. PACKER

In John 16, Jesus said, “When the Holy Spirit comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” While the Holy Spirit does perform miracles, the first thing he did after descending upon Jesus at His baptism was to immediately send Him into the desert to face temptation. At times, the Holy Spirit will lead us into the wilderness, into places we’d rather not go, to deepen our faith and dependence. The Spirit does this to make us aware of the desires of the flesh, the world, and the devil so that we can choose to walk in the Spirit.

Our desert experiences may be less dramatic than Jesus’s, but they will be equally real and challenging. In our moments of suffering, frustration, and temptation, the Holy Spirit is there to be our comforter, guiding us toward the truth of God’s Word and helping us become more like Christ.

A word of warning: The Holy Spirit is a holy God. In Acts 5, when Ananias and Sapphira lied to the apostles, Peter said, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. This story illustrates the consequences of unconfessed sin and lying to the Holy Spirit. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit but allow Him to form you into the likeness of Jesus.

THE ICEBERG EXERCISE

• INVITE: Find a quiet space. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this exercise.
• ASK: Give yourself time and space to answer these questions. Don’t rush them. Discuss them with the Holy Spirit. Name your feelings to tame them. What are you angry about? What are you upset about? What are you anxious about? What are you thankful for?
• WAIT: Allow the Holy Spirit space to work, heal, and strengthen you. Sit in silence.
• RECITE THE BIBLE: Like Jesus in the wilderness, remind yourself of Bible passages that speak into and against your anger, sadness, and worries. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you through His Word!