Tag: HOLY SPIRIT

The Gift That Stays With Us

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DON HEBERT

People often struggle to understand why the world still feels heavy with pain, confusion, and injustice when Jesus accomplished so much. He lived among people, died for their sins, rose from the dead, and opened the way to salvation. So why do believers still face weakness and suffering? It can feel strange that after beginning such hope, Jesus then returned to the Father. Why didn’t he stay?

I think scripture gives a clear answer. Jesus said his departure was not a loss, but a benefit. He promised that when he left, the Holy Spirit would come. The Spirit’s presence is not small or secondary. It is the reason Christians today are able to hold on to hope.

The Spirit’s work is close and personal. Jesus walked beside people, but the Spirit lives within them. This means God is not only near but present in the deepest part of a believer’s life. Because of this, faith can grow even in hardship.

The Spirit is not limited by place or time. Jesus, in his human body, could be in only one place. The Spirit, however, is with believers across the world, at every moment. There is no waiting in line for God’s attention, no distance to travel, and no barrier of time. The Spirit strengthens, comforts, and prays for believers wherever they are.

God also had a larger plan in sending the Spirit. The Spirit filled the early followers of Jesus and empowered them to spread the good news far beyond the regions where Jesus walked. Today, millions believe because the Spirit continues this work. Through him, the message of Christ reached places and people it never could have if Jesus had stayed in one physical location on earth.

Holy Spirit, Truth divine,
dawn upon this soul of mine.
Voice of God, and inward Light,
wake my spirit, clear my sight.

One of the Spirit’s most important works is conviction. Without this, people would remain unaware of their need for grace. The Spirit shows the heart its sin, reveals the emptiness of self-made goodness, and exposes false ideas about judgment. Though conviction can feel uncomfortable, it is actually a gift. It opens the way to forgiveness, healing, and life with Christ. Every believer who has turned to Jesus has done so because the Spirit first stirred their heart.

The Spirit also guides believers into truth. This guidance is not about secret predictions or hidden knowledge. It is about understanding God, seeing Jesus more clearly, and recognizing what is true in a world full of confusion. The Spirit guided the first followers of Jesus as they wrote the New Testament, and he continues to guide believers today through those same scriptures. When the Spirit teaches, the goal is always the same: to lift the heart toward Christ. His work does not draw attention to himself but points people to the beauty and goodness of Jesus.

All that the Father has belongs to the Son, and the Spirit makes these riches known to believers. Through him, people learn what it means to belong to God, to be secure in Christ, and to live with a future filled with hope. These truths shape ordinary days, days filled with errands, worries, and responsibilities. When life feels crowded or tiring, the Spirit reminds believers of what is real and eternal.

The Spirit’s presence is not a small comfort. It is a promise fulfilled.

The Life Shaped by the Spirit

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RICHARD CORDER

Have you ever seen someone trying to build a life with God through rules or by trusting their own efforts? Their effort leads to pressure, fear, or a sense of never doing enough. The message of the gospel is different. It teaches that new life comes through the Spirit of God, not through human effort. The Spirit changes the heart, gives new desires, and leads a person into a way of living that the old nature cannot produce.

Relying on the law for salvation is a burden no one can carry. IRS Images, 2025

Some early believers struggled with this truth. They were taught that faith in Christ was not enough, and that they also needed to follow the laws of Moses to be accepted by God. They were told that salvation depended on certain rituals, dietary rules, and old covenant practices. These teachers believed that people needed to become Jewish before they could truly belong to Christ. But this idea weakened the message of the gospel and placed a heavy burden on those who were new in the faith.

The teaching of Scripture sheds light on this. No one is made right with God by following the law. The law shows the standard of God, but it also shows how far people fall short. No person has ever kept the law perfectly. Because of this, the law cannot save. Instead, it reveals the need for a Saviour.

Christ lived the life no one else could live. He fulfilled every requirement of the law. His obedience was complete, and his sacrifice was without fault. At the cross he paid for sin fully, taking the judgment that should have fallen on others. His obedience and his sacrifice together form the basis of salvation. When a person places faith in Christ, his righteousness is counted to them. Nothing needs to be added to it. To trust Christ and then add human effort as a safeguard takes away from the finished work he has already done.

At the cross, at the cross Where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!

Once a person trusts in Christ, the Holy Spirit enters that life. His presence is not noisy or dramatic, but his effect is real. The Spirit brings change in desires, change in direction, and a new hunger for the things of God. Old habits lose their appeal. Sin becomes heavier on the conscience. The heart begins to want what God wants. This is not something a person can create by force. It is the work of God within.

Walking in the Spirit means living in step with this new direction. It means letting the Spirit guide choices, attitudes, and daily actions. A person cannot do this if they ignore the word of God, because the Spirit uses the word to teach, correct, and shape the heart. To be filled with the Spirit is closely tied to being filled with Scripture. Time in the word, prayer, and disciplined devotion strengthens the inner life and helps the believer stay alert to God’s leading.

Holiness does not happen without effort. It grows as a person builds habits that point the heart toward God: steady reading of Scripture, faithful prayer, worship, time with other believers, and the practice of obedience in ordinary moments. The Spirit uses all of these things to form character and sharpen spiritual understanding. When mistakes or sins occur, the Spirit brings conviction, and repentance restores the heart again.

There is a constant tension between the old nature and the new work of the Spirit. The flesh pulls one way while the Spirit pulls another. This conflict is normal for the believer. It is a sign that the Spirit is present. The way to resist the pull of the flesh is not through rigid self-effort but through walking closely with the Spirit. When the Spirit leads, the power of the flesh weakens. When the flesh is ignored, the Spirit’s influence becomes stronger.

A life guided by the Spirit is not passive. It is a daily choice to give God the first place rather than the leftovers of time or energy. It is a life that seeks to please God not out of fear but out of gratitude for what Christ has already done. The Spirit makes this possible. He strengthens, comforts, teaches, and directs. He keeps the believer moving toward holiness and keeps the heart anchored in the truth that salvation rests on Christ alone.

If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.

Galatians 5:25

The Holy Spirit: Our Source of Comfort

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FLOYD ROGERS

When someone places their trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, something important happens. According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit comes to live within that person. While God the Father and Jesus the Son remain in heaven, the Holy Spirit works here on earth, living in every believer.

The Holy Spirit has many roles, but one key purpose is to bring comfort. This means that those who follow Christ are never truly alone. They do not need to search outside themselves for peace or strength in hard times, because God’s Spirit already lives within them.

Unlike the rest of the world, believers have access to comfort that doesn’t depend on outside circumstances. The presence of the Holy Spirit offers a steady and lasting sense of peace that comes from God.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever;

John 14:16

Jesus’ Lesson on Change: New Wine and Old Wineskins

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AMY TURNER

In Luke 5:37–38, Jesus shares a simple image. He says that no one pours new wine into old wineskins, because the wine will cause them to break, spilling everything and ruining the skins. Instead, new wine must go into new wineskins. This lesson came when people questioned why Jesus and His disciples did not fast like others. His answer showed that when God does something new, people must also change how they respond.

As the message of Jesus spread to non-Jewish people, the early church had to rethink many old habits. Some traditions had to be left behind, while others had to be welcomed. This was not always easy, but it was necessary for God’s work to grow.

Today, this lesson still matters. We need to be willing to let go of our old habits, attitudes, and behaviors in order to fully embrace the new life that Jesus offers. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as we follow God’s fresh direction with willing hearts.

The Comfort of the Holy Spirit

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

The Holy Spirit is often referred to as the Comforter, a title that speaks to His profound role in the lives of believers. In moments of despair, uncertainty, or sorrow, the Holy Spirit offers a unique kind of comfort that transcends human understanding. He meets us in our pain and provides solace that is both profound and transformative, allowing us to experience the peace of God amidst our struggles.

The deep love of the Holy Spirit becomes a source of comfort that is both personal and intimate. Unlike a distant figure, the Spirit draws near to us in our times of need, offering words of reassurance and hope. His comfort is rooted in an unwavering love that never falters, reminding us that we are cherished and understood. This divine affection can heal the wounds of our hearts, offering a sense of belonging and security that only God can provide.

Moreover, the Holy Spirit’s comfort is faithful and persistent. He does not abandon us in our darkest moments but remains steadfast, offering strength when we feel weak. Even when we resist His help or struggle to accept His comfort, the Holy Spirit continues to reach out to us