My wife leads a prayer room team in the afternoons that has a strong focus on the power of the indwelling Christ, and communion with the Holy Spirt. She wrote up a handout debunking some myths concerning the person of the Holy Spirit, and I must say it’s outstanding.

Here are a few of the myths and what you can do about them. (Keep in mind, she didn’t write a blog post, but an outline. I just copied and pasted, but the content is still outstanding.)

MYTH #1: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A POWER

TRUTH: The Holy Spirit is a person, not a power. He is equal with the Father and the Son in the trinity.

Many characteristics of personality are given the Holy Spirit. He speaks (Rev. 2:7), He searches (1 Cor 2:10), He prays (Romans 8:26), He instructs (John 16:12-14), He feels (Isaiah 58:10), etc.

As God, the Holy Spirit is worthy of worship and adoration. Thanksgiving and honor are due Him just as the Father and the Son. We owe our salvation to the workings of the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we would be bound to Hell (John 16:7-11).
The Holy Spirit has much power and loves to demonstrate His power in and through us for His glory (Acts 1:8, Acts 3:12).

It is not wrong or burdensome to ask God to give us the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7:7-11). In fact, it was the command of Jesus before His ascension that His disciples wait to be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). In relating to the Holy Spirit merely as a power to attain, we neglect a beautiful and vital relationship with God.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14)

MYTH #2: COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OCCURS EXTERNALLY

TRUTH: At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live in the believer.

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home in him” (John 14:23).

The issue is not me “getting more” of the Holy Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit having more of me.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25).

There is a war between the Spirit and the flesh (Galatians 5:17). In sowing to the Spirit (making righteous decisions), the Spirit gains more ground in the inner man. Holiness is only possible for a human being who has the person of God dwelling within.

Jesus calls us to perfection (Matthew 5:48), yet “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). His promise to us is that if we “walk in the Spirit… you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Paul speaks to the Colossians about the mystery of Christ dwelling within the believer (Colossians 1:27). He warns them of this reality knowing that they will be held responsible for maturing in holiness. “Him (Christ within) we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28).

We are not disconnected from God, crying out for the fruits of the Spirit to come upon us. We are intimately connected to God through His Spirit within. It is through abiding in the vine (John 15:4-5) that the fruit of the Spirit comes forth from within us.

MYTH #3: FELLOWSHIPPING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAPPENS ONLY IN STILLNESS AND SILENCE

TRUTH: Silence and solitude are imperative for connecting with Christ within, especially for someone new to life in the Spirit. They create an atmosphere in which the flesh is least likely to be stirred up.

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Beholding the Lord and being transformed into His likeness takes time and space (2 Corinthians 3:18). You cannot get the oil of intimacy “on the go”. Every moment of life must be lived through Christ within.

In each activity and moment we must actively choose to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5). Jesus rebukes the Jews for studying the scriptures without connecting with Him personally (John 5:39-40).

Especially in fervent intercession, we must be connecting with Christ within us. He is the great intercessor (Hebrews 7:25); we are ushered into His heart when we fellowship with Him.

“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Post Script by Shawn

The Lord has strongly pressed on me the need to fellowship with the Holy Spirit throughout my day. I used to view it as something extra I could do to help enhance my walk with God if I wanted, but just recently it has become clear to me that I do not have the right to pick and choose what “extra” activities I want to do under the grace of God.

As a child of God and a citizen of Heaven I am to give all of my heart, soul, mind and strength to God without reserve. Fortunately, the Lord knows it is a journey for each of us. So I don’t have to obtain it right away, but I do have to press towards maturity and friendship with Jesus.