The Holy Spirit helps us Grow

Jesus wants to live in our hearts and minds. The desire we have for Him and the desire to grow comes from His Spirit. If you are moving towards God it’s because He’s moving towards you. God begins a process in us and pushes us towards growth and completion. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). The Holy Spirit is always going to be there, drawing you closer to God, and to even greater levels of growth. “Victory is not found in the ease of our circumstances nor in the strength of our own resources, but in the presence of the Lord who is in us.”   

The Holy Spirit gives us the security knowing that God is for us, not against us. After bringing us to a relationship with God, He seals the door behind us. Just as Noah sealed the door of the ark to save human existence from the flood, the Holy Spirit seals the door to our hearts, and the relationship with Jesus. “And you were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians   1:13). Growth begins in a secure relationship and that security comes from the work of the Holy Spirit.

One of the main ministries of the Holy Spirit is to lead us to truth. The Holy Spirit is our counselor, He “partners” with us. He comes along side us and helps us. He is always with us: “Where can I go from your Spirit?” (Psalm 139:7). He searches our hearts and shows us what to change: “And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” (Rom. 8:27). He gives us abilities, wisdom, and what to say: “for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11). He leads us and guides us: “But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13). He counsels us and helps us: “but the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). He will correct us and convict us: “All of us who are mature should take such a view of all things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you” (Phil. 3:15). He enables our God given talents and gifts: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1Cor. 12:7).

The Holy Spirit cannot be controlled. The Bible teaches us we are to do our part by faith and the Spirit will do His part by His power. Think about the Holy Spirit and growth as a moment-by-moment relationship of dependency on Him. Seek Him, ask for Him, and then follow Him. It is not with striving, willpower and strength of our own efforts that produces change. Instead, it is a life of summoning up faith that will be given to us. Each step of growth we take is a step of faith as we encounter a very real God who has given us His Spirit to help us in every situation and in every need.