Understanding what the Holy Spirit is and why it matters can be a tricky thing to contemplate, especially as a new believer or someone wanting to step into the mission field. When I came to my YWAM Discipleship Training School, I arrived with a lot of questions and confusion. One of the things I’ve always wanted to understand more is the Holy Spirit. Being at DTS brought me so much clarity through doctrine and through many experiences. Being in a community like YWAM Asheville has opened so many doors to help better understand and walk alongside the Holy Spirit. Learning more about the Holy Spirit has helped me to understand my worth, potential and calling for what God has planned.
The Holy Spirit has been mentioned since page one of the Bible. Genesis 1:2 describes the Holy Spirit as ‘the Spirit of God’ hovering over the surface of the waters. Many people think of the Holy Spirit as a spiritual force of nature of some sort, typically viewed as something similar to the wind. This mindset is influenced by the Holy Spirit’s works rather than what the Holy Spirit actually is, a person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit is a “who” not a “what”.
The Bible clearly addresses the Holy Spirit as a person. In John 14 when Jesus told His disciples about the Holy Spirit, He said “I will ask the Father and He will send an Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”
We can see that the Holy Spirit isn’t just a person, but an advocate for Jesus Christ and a leader, or a guide, towards truth.
The Holy Spirit is one of three parts of the trinity, the Father (God), Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Though He is His own person, He is also one with the Father and the Son. They work together in perfect unity. The Holy Spirit is God’s spirit on earth, dwelling within His people. Through Him, we are able to receive insight from God, direction, and understanding.
The same Holy Spirit that lives in Jesus now lives in His people. God’s spirit provides authority, power, peace, wisdom, joy, the ability to forgive, resurrection, and more. His toolbox is eternally diverse, and the role He plays in the Christian life is limitless.
In Romans 8:11 it says “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this
same Spirit living within you.” The Holy Spirit resurrects our bodies that were once dead to sin. When we die spiritually, He’s the one who brings us back to life. But He doesn’t just wake us up, He stays with us.
The Holy Spirit is our comforter, teacher and friend. He gives us the strength to heal, whether that’s from trauma physically, mentally or spiritually. He empathizes with us, but He also gives us the wisdom to be able to live a holy life by convicting us when we are headed towards sin. He helps us to best understand God’s character and never does anything that is in contrast to the character of God.
The Holy Spirit is simply the hands of God. He is here to help us navigate and live a holy, Godly life. His job is to do what it takes to bring glory to God and the best way to do that is through His children. The Holy Spirit is a person who moves through power and force but is not a thing, power or force. He is not an aspect of our own conscience who whispers in our ear telling us what is right and what is wrong. He is God within us. Working through us. Our counsellor and an advocate.
Christians are meant to reflect Christ. Without the Holy Spirit, that’s just plain impossible. We are empowered to be like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself said that it was better that He left so that the Holy Spirit could come. Jesus, God in human form, could not be everywhere at once, nor could His spirit dwell within us while on earth. The spirit of God dwelling in every believer at all times makes demonstrating the beauty of the gospel possible. It is Trinity’s genius solution to our sin habit. Jesus with all of us, within us, always.
Like I said before, I have been on a journey of learning and experiencing the Holy Spirit that I never would have dreamed possible. The Discipleship Training School curriculum offers incredible teaching on the Trinity, the person of the Holy Spirit, and opportunities to experience relationships with God in new ways. DTS students practice hearing God’s voice through the Holy Spirit, follow His leading during ministry and evangelism, and depend upon Him while learning. Doing a DTS is one of the best ways I can think of to get a greater understanding of the Holy Spirit and why He matters. I am so excited to staff the next DTS and would love to invite you to join us! You can apply in just 3 minutes, and it will seriously change your life.
Author
2021 DTS Graduate