Spirit-o-Phobia (Greater Works Series)

At age fifteen, I had no choice. If I wanted to learn how to drive a vehicle and take the test to get my license, I had to learn to drive a “stick shift.” That extra pedal on the left and thing between the seats caused me more fear than the act of driving or the objects on the asphalt in front of me. Could I get the timing right? Could I get the shifter in the right gear? Would I put it into reverse at 35 m.p.h. instead of fourth? Most important, could I drive this truck to school and make the left hand turn into the parking lot filled with my peers without stalling? Fears of the unknown flooded my mind. But my Dad was patient. He took the time to help me understand the equipment and took me to practice on a remote backroad on many occasions.

Many Christians have a fear of the third person of God. The archaic language of the King James Version calls Him the Holy Ghost, and many seem to act like they have seen one when He is mentioned. Yet in the Bible, we have a clear explanation of who He is and what He is doing. His work is absolutely essential. And, He has been working in you all along (even if you did not recognize it).

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God. The benediction at the end of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians shows clear evidence for this doctrine by stating, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Corinthians 13:13, HCSB). The Bible continually describes His deity, even though few self-described Christians believe He exists. According to a 2009 Barna Research Group survey, only one-third of the poll participants agreed that the Holy Spirit is a living entity. The Bible, however, affirms that He was present in creation, because He hovered over the surface of the water on the first day (Genesis 1:2). He is called God when Peter rebuked Ananias for lying to the Spirit (Acts 5:3) He is described many times in the Bible as possessing the attributes of God. He is omnipresent: “Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7) He is omniscient: “Now God has revealed them to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10) The work of the Spirit is not separate from that of the Father and the Son, but is complementary and cooperative. Henry Blackaby explains, “Apart from the active work of the Spirit in our lives, we would neither know God nor have the ability to respond to Him.” One role of the Holy Spirit is to produce a supernatural work in the people of God.

Those who lead volunteers need to comprehend this truth. We want people to serve, but not just because we have tasks to be done. We want people to serve, so that the Holy Spirit can do miraculous and supernatural works through His people. Ministry service become more than doing; it become a walk of faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the One who leads us into and equips us for Christ-honoring ministry service.

How can we help believers understand that the Holy Spirit wants to work within them? How has the Holy Spirit equipped you for ministry? Many people are reading this blog. Would someone be willing to share a story in the comment section below?

I praise God for you who are leading people to ministry service that is empowered by the Spirit of God. You are a blessing.

Follow One, Lead Others

Tomorrow- How the Holy Spirit guides us. Be sure to subscribe the blog (link on the sidebar) so you get this by email or RSS.

Link to Previous Posts in the “Greater Works Series:”

The Greatest Thing You Could Ever Do

Someone Who Can Do Something Greater Than Jesus

Two Necessities for Doing “Greater Things”