What is a Christian - Week 5 - Who is the Holy Spirit?

Understanding the Holy Spirit: His Role and Purpose in Our Lives

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in completing God's work both in individual believers and in the world. While Jesus began the work of salvation through His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit continues and completes this work in powerful ways.

Who is the Holy Spirit and What Does He Do?

The Holy Spirit was present at creation, hovering over the waters before anything existed. He is the first member of the Trinity specifically named in Scripture. His primary roles include:

1. Giving spiritual life to believers

2. Sealing believers as God's possession

3. Acting as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance

4. Teaching truth and convicting of sin

5. Leading believers into deeper relationship with God

6. Empowering believers to be witnesses

How Does the Holy Spirit Work in Believers' Lives?

The Spirit works in several key ways:

1. Helps put to death sinful deeds

2. Leads believers to see themselves as God's children

3. Enables crying out to God as "Abba Father"

4. Testifies that we belong to God

5. Intercedes in prayer when we don't know how to pray

6. Provides power for ministry and witness

Why is the Holy Spirit Often Forgotten?

Despite the Spirit's vital role, He is sometimes the "forgotten God" in churches today. This may be because:

1. We focus primarily on Jesus and the Father

2. The Spirit's work is often invisible/internal

3. We don't actively seek or expect the Spirit's presence

4. We rely too much on our physical senses rather than spiritual awareness

Life Application

To experience more of the Holy Spirit's work in your life:

1. Actively seek the Spirit's presence through prayer and Scripture

2. Learn to recognize His voice of conviction versus condemnation

3. Expect Him to work in and through you

4. Trust His power rather than your own abilities

Questions to Consider:

1. Do you see evidence of the Spirit working in your life?

2. Are you actively seeking His presence and guidance?

3. What areas do you need to surrender to His transforming work?

4. How might God want to use you as His witness if you fully relied on the Spirit's power?

The Holy Spirit wants to complete God's work in you and through you. Will you let Him?

You Asked For It: Can (or Should) We Speak With The Dead?

What Does the Bible Say About Mediums and Consulting the Dead?

The desire to communicate with loved ones who have passed away is deeply human. Many of us would give anything for one more conversation with someone we've lost. But what does the Bible say about attempting to communicate with the dead through mediums or other spiritual practices?

God's Clear Stance on Consulting Mediums

Scripture is unambiguous about God's position on consulting mediums and spiritists. In Deuteronomy 18:9-14, these practices are called "detestable" to the Lord. God specifically forbids His people from engaging in divination, sorcery, interpreting omens, witchcraft, casting spells, or consulting the dead.

Why Does God Prohibit These Practices?

According to Leviticus 19:31, consulting mediums and spiritists defiles us. These practices represent spiritual shortcuts that bypass God's intended way of communication with Him. Like most sins, they are attempts to get what we want outside of God's will and timing.

The Reality of the Spiritual World

While there is indeed a spiritual realm "thinly veiled" from our physical world, God has established proper channels for spiritual communication. The enemy can use signs and wonders to deceive people, as warned in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 and Mark 13:22.

The Example of King Saul

1 Samuel 28 provides a sobering example of what happens when we desperately seek spiritual answers outside of God's established ways. After the prophet Samuel's death, King Saul found himself terrified and facing a massive Philistine army. When God wouldn't answer him through proper channels, Saul made the tragic choice to consult a medium at Endor – the very practice he had previously banned from Israel.

This decision reveals several warning signs:

• Desperation leading to compromise

• Choosing fear over faith

• Attempting to bypass God's silence

• Returning to sins we once rejected

The outcome was disastrous. Instead of finding comfort, Saul received news of his impending defeat and death. His story serves as a powerful reminder that disobeying God's clear commands about mediums, even in desperate circumstances, leads to darkness rather than light.

How Should We Hear from God?

Instead of seeking shortcuts through mediums or other practices, God wants us to:

1. Read and study His Word consistently

2. Develop a disciplined prayer life

3. Engage in Christian community

4. Listen for His "whisper" through these spiritual disciplines

Life Application

This week, consider these questions and challenges:

1. What spiritual shortcuts am I tempted to take instead of pursuing God's way?

2. Am I developing the spiritual disciplines needed to hear God's voice?

3. How can I be a conduit of God's truth to others seeking spiritual connection?

Challenge: Commit to spending 15 minutes each day this week in quiet Bible reading and prayer, eliminating distractions to better hear God's whisper.

Remember, while the desire to connect with loved ones who have passed is natural, God has given us His Spirit and His Word as our primary means of spiritual guidance and comfort.