The Power of the Holy Ghost

As a Christian, I have the Holy Ghost within me. Unfortunately, there are times when my fleshly desires prevail. From childhood, my parents instilled in me the belief that Halloween, with its dark demonic theme, is not a celebration to partake in. I held onto this conviction until my twenties when I found myself dating someone with whom I was unequally yoked. Despite knowing better, I succumbed to my flesh and agreed to accompany him to Halloween Horror Nights. A few weeks later, he invited me to a Halloween-themed party, but by then, the Holy Ghost had convicted me. I stood my ground, declining the invitation, and this decision ultimately led to the end of the relationship. He expressed uncertainty about marriage and lacked a strong Christian foundation. In retrospect, I realized Christ was protecting my heart and revealing that he was not the man I was meant to marry.

The Holy Spirit is God in us, a precious gift bestowed upon us after Jesus’s resurrection. Luke 24:49 reads, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” The Holy Spirit is Christ in us, guiding us in everyday life, providing wisdom, peace, and comfort as we draw closer to Christ and obey Him.

However, ignoring the Holy Spirit can lead to consequences. Throughout the Word, God emphasizes obedience over sacrifice. In 1 Samuel 13-15, Saul failed to fully obey God’s command to kill sinners and took matters into his own hands, offering burnt sacrifices. Samuel reminded Saul that obedience is greater than sacrifice and how disobedience led to him losing his position as king. When we allow our fleshy desires to take over and disregard the Holy Spirit, it grieves God, and in turn, grieves us. Psalm 81:11-12 reads, “But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So, I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.” God is ready to fill His faithful people, but we must be obedient.

It’s crucial to remember that the Holy Spirit will abundantly provide when we listen and obey. Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us helps us conquer the war against our flesh. It serves as our moral compass, convicting us to do right not just by the law but by God. Granting the Holy Spirit control over the driver’s seat manifests the rewards of God’s gift to us, as written in Galatians 5:22, “but the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.”