Storyline Description
God loves us very much. He sent Jesus to save us, and Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to help His followers. The Holy Spirit helps us learn about God, make good choices, pray, and become more like Jesus.
People Disobeyed God
In the beginning, Adam and Eve disobeyed God.
Sin entered the world, but God did not stop loving people.
God already had a plan to bring people back to Him.
From the Fall to Redemption
The story begins with humanity's disobedience.
Adam and Eve sinned against God, and sin entered the human story. Yet God's response was not to abandon humanity.
God's plan pointed toward redemption.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…”
— John 3:16, KJV
Jesus came.
He lived among humanity.
He died and rose again.
And through Christ, reconciliation with God became possible.
This tells us something important about God's character:
Humanity fell, but God continued reaching toward humanity.
God Sent Jesus
Because God loves us, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Bible says:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…”
— John 3:16, KJV
Jesus came to show us God's love and make a way for us to be reconciled to God.
Jesus Promised the Holy Spirit
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples not to begin their mission by human ability alone.
They needed something—or more accurately, Someone.
He told them that he would send them a Helper—the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told them:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…”
— Acts 1:8, KJV
The disciples were given a promise.
“You will not be alone.”
They were told to wait.
Then came Acts 2.
The Promise Was Fulfilled
On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were together when something extraordinary happened:
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…”
— Acts 2:4, KJV
The promise of Acts 1 became the experience of Acts 2.
Jesus promised.
The disciples waited.
The Holy Spirit came.
And the mission moved forward.
The same disciples who had experienced fear were empowered to become witnesses for Christ.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Historic Christian teaching understands the Holy Spirit as the third Person of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Christians believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not simply a feeling or some mysterious power.
The Bible describes the Holy Spirit personally and shows Him helping God's people.
Scripture describes Him through personal actions and characteristics.
The Holy Spirit Understands
The Holy Spirit knows the things of God and helps us understand God's truth.
1. The Holy Spirit Has a Mind
Romans 8:27 speaks about:
“…the mind of the Spirit…”
The Holy Spirit is associated with thought, knowledge, and understanding.
2. The Holy Spirit Searches
“For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:10, KJV
3. The Holy Spirit Has a Will
When Paul discusses spiritual gifts, he says that the Spirit distributes them:
“…dividing to every man severally as he will.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:11, KJV
The Spirit acts according to His will.
4. The Holy Spirit Directs
Acts 16:6–7 describes Paul and his companions being prevented by the Holy Spirit from going into particular regions at that time.
Then Acts 16:10 describes their conclusion that God was calling them toward Macedonia.
Sometimes God's guidance means:
Go.
Sometimes it means:
Wait.
And sometimes:
Not this direction.
Discernment means remaining sensitive to God's leading rather than assuming that every opportunity is necessarily our assignment.
The Holy Spirit Speaks
In Acts 8:29, the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and told him where to go
To Philip:
“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near…”
— Acts 8:29, KJV
To Peter:
“…the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.”
— Acts 10:19, KJV
To the church leaders at Antioch:
“The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
— Acts 13:2, KJV
And Revelation repeatedly says:
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…”
— Revelation 2:7, KJV
This gives us a powerful prayer:
“Holy Spirit, help me hear what You are teaching me.”
The Holy Spirit Teaches
Jesus said:
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
— John 14:26, KJV
When we learn God's Word, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand and remember what Jesus taught.
The Holy Spirit does not draw attention away from Jesus.
He reminds believers of Jesus and His teaching.
The Holy Spirit Can Be Grieved
Paul writes:
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God…”
— Ephesians 4:30, KJV
This is significant.
In the surrounding passage, Paul discusses lying, uncontrolled anger, corrupt speech, bitterness, wrath, malice, kindness, and forgiveness.
So our relationship with the Holy Spirit is connected to how we actually live.
Christian spirituality is not merely what happens during prayer.
It should influence our character.
The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray
Sometimes we're sad or confused and don't even know what to say to God.
Romans 8:26 says:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought…”
God understands us even when finding the right words is difficult.
Sometimes you may have no eloquent words.
You may simply have:
Pain.
Confusion.
Tears.
Questions.
Romans 8:26 teaches that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
What difference does the Holy Spirit make in my life?
If He teaches, am I teachable?
If He guides, am I willing to follow?
If He corrects, am I willing to change?
If He reminds me of Christ's words, am I willing to obey them?
If He produces spiritual fruit, is that fruit becoming visible in me?
The Holy Spirit Helps Us Become Like Jesus
When we follow the Holy Spirit, He helps good things grow in our lives.
Galatians 5:22–23 describes:
Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Longsuffering.
Gentleness.
Goodness.
Faith.
Meekness.
Temperance.
These are not simply words to memorize.
The Bible calls these the fruit of the Spirit
Think about a fruit tree.
You know an apple tree because eventually you see apples growing on it.
In the same way, as we grow with God, people should increasingly see love, kindness, patience, self-control, and other Christlike qualities growing in us.
Give Me a Christlike Mind
“Holy Spirit, transform me so that my life increasingly reflects Jesus.”
Guide my mind.
Guide my eyes.
Guide my ears.
Guide my words.
Guide my decisions.
Guide my relationships.
Guide my time.
Correct me when I am wrong.
Teach me when I do not understand.
Strengthen me when I am weak.
And continually point me toward Christ.
How Can I Follow the Holy Spirit?
You can begin with simple things every day:
Read God's Word.
Pray to God.
Listen carefully.
Tell the truth.
Be kind to others.
Forgive people.
Make good choices.
Tell others about Jesus.
And when you don't know what to do, you can pray:
A Prayer for the Holy Spirit's Guidance
Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ for our redemption. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your promise of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, teach me, guide me, correct me, strengthen me, and help me in my weakness. Give me discernment to recognize Your leading and humility to obey God's Word. Produce Your fruit within me and develop in me a mind and character that increasingly reflect Jesus Christ. Amen.
Remember
God loves us, and we should remember His promise to us.
Jesus came and saved us.
Jesus promised the Comforter.
The Holy Spirit came and is always here to help us.
Just as we belong to God, we should remember our Body is the temple of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
And the Spirit continues His transforming work in believers 2 Corinthians 3:18.
The promise was not given merely so that we could experience power.
It was given so that we could witness for Christ, walk with God, and increasingly live like Jesus.
Disclaimer - The Promise Fulfilled: Living by the Holy Spirit
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