God is Relationship
The Spirit
The Holy Spirit is present in our lives through both hiddenness and manifestation
The Spirit of Christ (cf. Romans 8:9) is the very Presence of God that makes all our spiritual exercises meaningful. Without the Helper, we are helpless. Like a master shipbuilder, we can craft masts and sails but our vessel will not move unless the Wind of God blows on it. The Holy Spirit is the agent behind our transformation, conviction, discovery of truth, empowerment for miracles, and intimacy with God.
Depending on your background, you may think of the Holy Spirit as a shadowy, mysterious, distant aspect of the Triune God. Or you might think that He only moves where there is music, flags, miracles, tears, and laughter. Depending on your theological convictions, you may think He is only present in the spontaneous or in the crowd. Wherever we come from, we must cultivate a better understanding of the Spirit of God to grow in intimacy with Him.
The Holy Spirit is found in both hiddenness and in manifestation.
Are you comfortable with both hiddenness and manifestation?
Manifestation brings break though, but hiddenness cultivates perseverance. Most of us tend to gravitate toward one or the other. As you consider your relationship with Christ, reflect honestly on how you lean. Do you struggle to pray or rest with Him when you are behind closed doors? Or are you fine in that sense but feel uncomfortable asking for God’s immediate action in prayer like healing or deliverance? If you are neglecting one side or another, there may be layers of depth that you have not yet experienced waiting to be uncovered.
Consider the following response:
Rather than look at a passage through the Discover, Share, Obey approach, following this lesson spend some time in stillness. Seek the Holy Spirit in God’s hiddenness. Encounter Him in the secret place. See what comes up when you adore Him in solitude and silence with the same zeal you might seek him in a packed and vibrant worship service.
Test Yourself
Answer
There are many doctrinal differences, but one of the most important and impactful differences in the Christian life is the presence of God, the Holy Spirit.