Every Christian can and should be filled with the Holy Spirit. Once you are filled, you can live by the Spirit. But this is not an automatic change – we have to develop our relationship with the Holy Spirit to grow and strengthen it. The Holy Spirit is a person and we need to consciously seek and build that relationship – just as we would with a friend or spouse. In this message, let’s look at some practical points to grow and develop our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Key Points: 1. You need to spend time with the Holy Spirit (Rev. 2:2-4); 2. You need to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:29-31, 1 Thess. 5:19); 3. You need to depend on the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:26, Luke 12:11-12); 4. You need to move in response to the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25)
Apply The Word:
How much time do you spend with the Holy Spirit? How much do you focus on your relationship with Him? We need to set aside time to pray. This is what the disciples did both before and after the day of Pentecost. Prayer and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit are totally connected. Focus on your daily and continual prayer.
Do you remember your first encounter with Jesus? What was the day, month, year? Where were you? What changed in your life after this encounter? If we want to know Jesus and experience His reality through the Holy Spirit, we need to return to our first love (Revelation 2:2-4) where we walk joyfully and wholly by the Spirit.
What is your experience of walking with the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is a person who knows what is good and what is not good. When you are close to the Holy Spirit you will become more aware of God and others. You will develop a greater sensitivity to the Holy presence of God and also what is unholy, to both avoid what is bad and pursue what is good in our thoughts, words, and actions. If we want to walk with Him, we need to literally follow His steps (Galatians 5:25).
