Walking with Jesus

The Holy Spirit

THE Holy Spirit is the tangible, life-changing and life-giving presence and power of God. But this is not just an energy source, like a mobile phone power pack.

The Spirit is represented by different symbols in the Bible – sometimes as a peace-bringing dove, sometimes as wind, sometimes as fire. All these symbols highlight the free, wild and transformative nature of the Spirit. We often perceive the presence of the Spirit by the effect on things we can see, in a similar way as we perceive the wind as it blows through leaves on the trees.

It was the Spirit landing on Jesus’ disciples like a fireball that ignited the worldwide movement we now call Church. This fire turned scared, timid people into world-changing warriors. This supernatural energy does not come from within us.

We receive the Spirit when we surrender to Christ and accept that we are no longer running the show.

Relying on the Holy Spirit is like jumping into a river and letting the current direct us. We can listen to what the Spirit is saying to us in dreams, in our thoughts, through the Bible and through other people. We need to keep our spiritual ears open for the wisdom that comes directly from the Spirit. The more we listen, the more we recognise the Spirit’s voice.

Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen

The Spirit is also all about bringing peace and reconciliation. This is the symbol of the dove again. People often think in terms of us and them, in or out, right or wrong. The Spirit cannot be pinned down by anyone’s version of right or wrong. The Spirit is always moving between and through us, creating communities rooted in God’s love, reconciliation and peace. Address