THE FIRE WITHIN

Potter's Kiln, Seagrove NC

The Holy Spirit is Christ or God , a part of the holy trinity, dwelling within me. Our God who placed the sun, moon and stars in the sky also placed his Spirit within each one of us. This Spirit of God is not actually part of me, but influences me on my spiritual journey to develop my character as a response to life’s tests and trials and experiences.. The Holy Spirit mysteriously occupies the body like the soul, as both are spiritual entities, and help to shape the soul for its eternal destiny. Paul defined this Spirit the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16) and he writes that his Spirit guides and comforts us through this life to a wonderful and eternal life. (1 Cor. 2:9-10)

In John 14:16-17, Jesus promises, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

Adam Hamilton writes, “The Holy Spirit is God’s presence dwelling in our hearts. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be our counselor, our comforter, our guide. The Spirit would fill us with rivers of living water. The Spirit would convict us of sin, would give us power to be Christ’s witnesses, and would help us know that we are the children of God…We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in our lives at the time of our baptism…then it is up to us to accept it by inviting the Spirit to work in us.” God always allows us free will to choose our destiny.

In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul lists many gifts the Holy Spirit gives to us. In 1 Peter 4, Peter notes that we should use our gifts to serve others by speaking and serving to help them and glorify God. The Holy Spirit is like a prairie fire within us that illuminates our dark hours of the night (comforter) and helps to spread God’s word to others and follow in the paths of God’s mind and will (guide).

Paul writes in 1 Timothy 18-19, “I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.” God will speak through our conscience (counselor) to let us know what is right and what is wrong as we move through life. Ignoring reminders of wrong doing hardens our hearts, while trying to always do the right thing will enable us to maintain a clear conscience and a pure heart.