For the next 40 days at Liquid Church, we're learning about and seeking to encounter the Holy Spirit! The truth is, the Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood member of the Trinity of God. The Trinity simply means that God exists in three people: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. When people think of the Holy Spirit, we often think of an impersonal, invisible force - but that's not the case. So, let's clear up the confusion about who the Holy Spirit really is.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON OF GOD

First the Holy Spirit is not a force, but rather a person of God and friend to love in your heart. The book of Acts from the New Testament of the Bible describes the actions of the Holy Spirit after Jesus resurrected from the dead and returned to Heaven. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, the disciples waited and prayed for the Holy Spirit to come, because Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come after Him and "fill you with power from Heaven" (Luke 24:49). So, the Holy Spirit is not a doctrine to be believed, but rather a power to be received.

WIND & FIRE

The Holy Spirit is like wind and fire. He's an invisible power with a visible impact, much like the wind. You can't see the Holy Spirit, but you can feel Him. Sometimes the Spirit is gentle, and other times the Spirit is more like a violent wind that uproots trees. When the Holy Spirit comes into your life, addictions get uprooted. Anxiety gets uprooted. Secret sin gets ripped up by the roots! When the wind of the Holy Spirit blows into your life, it blows out all the dirt, dust and sinful debris and you receive a new power to live for Christ!

If the wind of the Spirit is about the power of God, then the fire of the spirit is about purity. Fire is used to heat things up and burn out impurities in precious metals. It's all about refining them. Likewise, God's Holy Spirit can do the same in your life - He's a flame of furious love that convicts us of sin.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS

In John 16:8, Jesus says "When the Spirit comes... He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement". The presence of God's Spirit in our lives convicts us of sin, especially the stuff we want to ignore or overlook. Only the Spirit can show us our sin in light of our need for the Gospel. While there is judgement when it comes to sin, Jesus took our judgement on the Cross so we could be forgiven and set free, raised to new life by His Spirit!

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMFORTS

Next, in John 14:16, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit "...the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name..." What does it mean to comfort somebody? It means you remind them they are not alone. You speak peace into their life and put your arm around them. Comfort means you reassure the other person that you love and support them. In the same way, God's Holy Spirit comforts us in our grief. We can take heart that we are not alone, but that God is with us.

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMFORTS

Last but not least, the Holy Spirit is also our counselor. A good counselor gives insight and wisdom at crossroads moments in our lives. When life gets confusing and we're not sure what path to take, Holy Spirit fire gives light! The Holy Spirit is the voice of God guiding us, lighting up our path, and showing us the way to go. Maybe you're facing a big decision this Spring. If so, ask Jesus to pour out His Spirit on you and counsel you as you decide.

As we continue learning about the Holy Spirit this Spring, we also want to encounter the Holy Spirit! To make the most of this special season, we encourage you to join a Small Group. To explore Small Groups meeting online, in-person across New Jersey or even a hybrid of both, check out LiquidGroups.com.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For additional resources during Liquid Church's Wind & Fire series, check out the content below:

• DEVOTIONAL: Starting on March 9th, we're kicking off Wednesday Wisdom on Facebook Live! Join our team of pastors as they share weekly encouragement. Click here to learn more.
• GROUPS: Have questions about joining a Small Group? Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about Groups.