When we decide to fully yield our lives to the Lord, one essential step is surrendering control of everything to the Holy Spirit, who is probably the most overlooked member of the Trinity. And this is because the doctrine of the Trinity, or trying to explain the triune nature of God, is one of the most confusing teachings in Scripture. After all, we are finite beings who think in finite, logical, cause-and-effect, terms. Yet God is infinite, off the scales, and His nature is beyond what we can explain or logically process in our finite minds.
But let’s try. The doctrine of the Trinity is defined as God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.¹
Or, to make it easier to digest:
1. God is three persons (Father, Son, and Spirit).
2. Each person is fully God.
3. There is one God.
But, even though they are all equally God, they have different and unique functions, especially regarding salvation and sanctification. For example, Scripture reveals God the Father is right now seated on His throne in heaven. Jesus is currently at His right hand interceding for us (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25). And where is the Holy Spirit? He is the one who now lives in us and empowers us with His gifts, guidance, and transforming power. The Spirit is not a force that emanates from the Father to do His will, like in Star Wars, but is God Himself— co-equal, co-eternal, of the same essence as the Father and the Son. Yet, even though the Spirit is as much God as Jesus and the Father, sadly, we must admit He is the one Person we spend the least amount of time with and the one we know the least about.
If you look at just a few things the Holy Spirit has been tasked with, you will quickly notice these have to do with securing our salvation and enhancing our sanctification. It seems, of the three Persons in the Godhead, it is the Spirit who works the closest with us, and yet He is the one we tend to keep at arm’s length, distant and aloof.
Here are some key roles the Holy Spirit plays in our lives while residing in us:
• The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s word and apply it to our lives – John 14:26.
• The Spirit guides us into truth and helps us discern right from wrong – John 16:13.
• The Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit in our lives like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – Galatians 5:22-23.
• The Spirit empowers and equips us with spiritual gifts for ministry – 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
• The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us in prayer – Romans 8:26-27.
• The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, giving us an assurance of our salvation – Romans 8:16.
• The Holy Spirit seals believers for the day of redemption – Ephesians 1:13-14.
• The Holy Spirit comforts believers in times of need – Acts 9:31.
• The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment – John 16:8.
• The Holy Spirit fills believers for service by empowering them to speak the word of God with boldness – Acts 4:31.
• The Holy Spirit reveals the deep things of God to believers – 1 Corinthians 2:10.
And the list goes on. Notice, these are not things the Father or the Son does in us, but the Spirit. And it is a shame that we know so little of the Spirit compared to what we know about...
