Holy Spirit Reliance

Belkis Lehmann

Everyone who dwells in this mortal body daily battles the struggle between their desire to live a life of reliance on the Holy Spirit and the flesh’s seemingly black hole attraction to rely on themselves.  Below are five encouragements I share with you, as I walk on this journey with you.  This list is by no means exhaustive but meant more to stimulate thought, and more importantly prayer.  Please take a moment and add your own thoughts and ideas by commenting on this article at the new Great Lakes Staff Facebook group   Let’s start a conversation to help and encourage each other.

1.       Live in the security of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life.  It does not matter the quality of building materials used, if the foundation is faulty.  The Holy Spirit is the restored presence of God for the people of God.  HE HAS COME.  He is here.  He dwells in you.  He works through you.  This is TRUE.   Embrace it and make it your foundation.

2.       Practice listening.  Listening is a large part of hearing.  We must listen to the Spirit’s voice in order to know what He desires.  His direction may be terrifying, but we can carry it out with confidence when we know it is His.  Practice is required for improvement. If you’d like to hear the Spirit’s voice clearer during a counseling session, an evangelistic opportunity, or a staff meeting, practice listening regularly every day.  The more you listen, the more you will hear.

3.       Embrace the cross.  In order to rely on the Holy Spirit, we must cease to rely on ourselves.  This is like trying to get away from yourself.  Everywhere you go, there you are.  Only the cross of Christ is able to accomplish this impossible task.  It is not ascetic self-denial, per say. It is the moment by moment decision to live out Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Practically it means choosing others over ourselves, taking faith risks (we don’t need to rely on the Holy Spirit for that which is easy for us), and living by faith that God’s presence is with us.

4.       Fellowship with spiritual people.  The Biblical word spiritual means “of the Spirit” nothing more, nothing less.  This is how I use it here.  Spend time with people of the Spirit, people who challenge you, encourage you, and perhaps, even at times, rebuke you.  Most importantly those who cause you to desire a greater fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

5.       Cry. This may sound odd, but bear with me.  As I grow older I realize more and more God’s heart for humanity is one of compassion, kindness, love, and grace.  When that heart looks at this world, I think it weeps.  So crying for me (not for my own needs but for those of the world) has become a great way to fellowship with the Spirit, who laments in a way only an infinite, omnipotent, omniscient God can. 

What about you? How do you rely on the Holy Spirit? Continue the conversation here. 

Breathe

Take breath in. Now let it out. This is the most basic of life functions: breathing. Yet, while, it is also the most essential of life functions, it is, for the most part, involuntary. You don’t have to think about breathing. You do it whether you are asleep or awake, whether resting or working, whether crying or laughing. The moment you cease to breath, you cease to live.

Breathing is the physical manifestation of a spiritual reality. Just as breath is essential to physical life, the “breath of God” is essential to spiritual life. We are not alive until it is breathed into us for the first time. The Bible calls this “being born again”. How clear an analogy of the absolutely indispensable quality of this breath!

Like the physical we need this breath for all of life, the vital and the mundane. There is no part excluded from our need of breath. Jesus expressed this truth when he said, “without me you can do nothing,” for he came to give “life and life more abundant.” How easy it is for Christians to deceive themselves into thinking their need for God’s sustenance is only for those spiritual or religious acts such as praying, worshiping, or doing ministry. What is prayer but spiritual communion with God which we are commanded to do “without ceasing?” What is worship but a life submitted to His Sovereign Lordship? What is ministry but service to God and man? Is there a time we are not praying, worshipping or serving in some way? Is there anything we can do without the breath of God?

Unlike the physical though, this breath is not completed involuntary. Yes, God breaths into us, as he did into Adam and as Christ did unto his disciples when he said, “receive the Holy Spirit.” We too are given this Spirit whose name literally means “breath,” but unlike the physical we must participate in our breathing. It is not completely involuntary, nor is it completely voluntary. It is a beautiful dynamic of the Father’s provision, through the Son, of the Spirit! Life in the Spirit IS the life of God, breathing in, breathing out. 100% me, 100% God. So go ahead. Breathe.