Neglecting the Spirit

If you read the New Testament, it seems as if the role of the Holy Spirit is critical for the daily life of the believers.  Why then do we neglect His presence to our detriment?

John 16:5-15

But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Why We Neglect the Spirit

  • Don’t let your theology be dictated by exaggerated reactions to unhealthy practices.
  • One of the greatest ways we can abuse the Spirit is by neglecting Him.
  • It is alarming to me how many believe that the power promised to keep the Church on mission partially retired once the Bible was complete.

What Jesus Taught About the Spirit

  • Having God inside us is a greater advantage than having God beside us.
  • The Spirit works in our lives in order to align our beliefs with our behaviors.
  • The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Holy Bible.
  • If we depended on the Spirit to provide new truth, that implies that the old truth is insufficient.
  • The Spirit guides us regarding how to apply biblical truth to a particular situation.

How to Know If the Spirit Is Leading

  • If you think you are being led by the Spirit and yet the path contradicts the Scriptures, you are hearing the voice of the demonic.
  • The Spirit will not lead you to act in any way that glorifies you over Jesus.
  • If your spirituality causes distractions for others, you better check your motives and your practices.
  • Flippantly blaming the Spirit for your decisions is the sin of taking God’s name in vain.
  • You can oftentimes discern the leading of the Spirit by His saying “no” to what your flesh desires.
  • We desire to fill our churches with people, but Jesus desires to fill the people with His Spirit.
  • You don’t lead the Holy Spirit – the Holy Spirit leads you.
  • If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25).
  • The Bible tells us what to do; the Spirit guides us when and how to do it.