Week 40 (28 Sept - 4 Oct): The Guardian who is Given

Last Saturday, Robbie shared the first of the three-part series on the Holy Spirit. He began by bringing us back to the concept of the Triune God, and reminded us that the Holy Spirit is not merely a force or a power but God himself. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit have the same divine nature - uncreated, eternal, and Spirit.

Holy Spirit is given to us to be with us, guide us, protect us, empower us and walk with us. He is our Guardian, someone who is always present. There is a process of growth and maturity when we depend on the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. Without him, our life is merely attending to circumstances and following what the world dictates rather than being led by God.

From the book of Acts, we can see clearly the power of Holy Spirit on display, especially through Paul’s long and challenging missionary journeys. While Paul was facing intense trials, the Holy Spirit gave Paul supernatural boldness, endurance and wisdom. The fruit of the spirit produced in Paul - love, peace, joy, faithfulness - was also evident in his life. I remember wondering how Paul could continue to praise and worship God even when he was imprisoned, and how he could become the source of hope when everyone lost the will to live during the shipwreck. Paul’s life is a beautiful picture of what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit.

One thing that stood out to me in Robbie's sharing was the misconceptions surrounding the Holy Spirit. These can stem from either ignorance of who the Holy Spirit is or overemphasis on the work of Holy Spirit. Both undermine the true function of the Holy Spirit and may lead to unhealthy practices and beliefs. This is not just an issue in the early church but can still happen in the church today. Robbie highlighted how a lack of true understanding of the Holy Spirit can become a source of separation and division within the church. This reminds us that unity is not build based on individual preferences and experiences but by knowing God correctly and submitting to His truth.

This message also challenges us to examine how we relate to the Holy Spirit. We may ask God for His power, guidance, help, blessings, but forget that the Holy Spirit is a Person whom we are called to know, listen to and obey. Sometimes we get the sequence wrong; we come before God with our plan in hand and praying for God to be in line with our will. Robbie reiterated that the Holy Spirit empowers us, He does not obey us. We obey God, not the other way round.

As we learn the true meaning of the Holy Spirit according to the word of God, my prayer is that we can become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit each day, to recognise His voice, obey His prompting, and trust His guidance. I end this with thankful heart for this wonderful gift - the Holy Spirit, that God has given us to help us live a life worthy of His calling.

Blessings

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