As we are getting close to Pentecost we need to reflect on the Holy Spirit and what it does for us and for God himself.

In the first Pentecost talked about in the book of Acts, all the followers of Jesus Christ were gathered in one room where the Holy Spirit descended on them with the sound or roaring wind and appeared like a flame. The experience came all at once and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. It then equipped many of them to speak different languages to proliferate the gospel to all nations. In other words it was the beginning of the Christian Church under Jesus Christ.

Although many Christian denominations still acknowledge Pentecost, there are many more that do not for one reason or another. We keep it as a reminder of the Old Testament first fruits and the beginning of Christs work in us and through us through the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is one of the greatest gifts God gave us. One of many, including the life we have and the sacrifice of his son for our sins. The Holy Spirit is God’s personality working in us to regenerate us into a character that resembles God himself. Although it can come immediately for a good number of people but all of the changes do not always happen quickly. Some do not happen immediately and may not be complete in this life but the process begins and continues to the point that we become more God like in our character as time goes on.

One of the changes I noticed throughout the years in the yearning to get away from sin in my life. Over time you learn to despise things you once considered even fun at one time and you wish to reach out for a life that does not have it anymore. You begin to yearn for a perfect life and what that looks like and feels like. The carnal trappings of this life become less fun as time goes on. It is not to say that you cannot have fun but pure things and experiences actually become more enjoyable as time goes on.

One way to see this in your life is to acknowledge how you consume entertainment. There may have been TV shows, movies, or music you once enjoyed, but find the offensive and difficult to watch. You may find yourself avoiding those things altogether when you used to consume them on a regular basis. This is one of the ways you know the Holy Spirit has taken root in your life. One of many.

Another is an increasing want for God’s word. You may not have dug to deeply in it in your past years but now you want to get it every day. Always looking for truths in scripture to getter your understanding of his ways, and ultimately put them to use in your life as well as others. That’s another one of the great changes that you will see in your life with the Holy Spirit.

Once you have it, the spirit can be subdued or grieved if we do not use it as God intended. Still it remains with us as he promised it as a down payment on your place in the Kingdom.

Ephesians 4:30 says do not grieve it for we are sealed with it to the day of redemption. What a wonderful promise! So even if you struggle with the life transforming power it has and you feel you are not as good as others you are still sealed, you are still His, you still have a place in His Kingdom no matter what.