FORGOTTEN GOD, PART 3.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

As much as we Christ-followers try to hide it (unsuccessfully), heavy baggage is brought into our relationship with God. Often times, this creates misconceptions about who God truly is because we exalt our experiences over the Scriptures. Perhaps this is why the Holy Spirit is so neglected in the Church today and thus in our individual walks. A.W. Tozer said "what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

So, let me ask you believer, is your understanding of the Holy Spirit Biblical or is it filled with misconceptions? I pray this post sets you free today while you throw your baggage in the fire and go deeper with the Holy Spirit like never before. Here are a few misconceptions that I have allowed myself to believe. Maybe you can relate?

1. "The militant holy spirit."

Duty. Pressure. "You better obey, or else"! This type of "holy spirit" is like a drill sergeant. You are under so much pressure to 'not' mess up that you constantly find yourself messing up! This self-led effort comes out of guilt, stress, and slavery. It is unsustainable and increasingly frustrating. Many Christians find themselves knee deep in this dysfunction which explains the inconsistent, "roller-coaster," lifestyle that makes up their spiritual walk (Galatians 3:1-3).

2. "The mad holy spirit."

Life is hard. In fact, Jesus never said it would be easy (John 16:33). Life gets even more challenging if you've experienced a rough upbringing. It's common for those who have 'been through the ringer' to extend those thoughts up to God. This creates a "holy spirit" who acts and sounds a lot like your angry parents, grandparents, guardians, etc. Because we live in a sin cursed world, injustices exist (Matthew 5:45). However, the God of the Bible is a loving Father who sees them all. There will be a day when God will make all wrongs, right (Psalm 10). Without minimizing your situation, I want to urge you to remember that God is wholly unique. He is not like those who have mistreated you because no sin can exist in Him. That's why heaven will be a perfect place (completely unlike this temporal, sinful world). Therefore, you can fully trust and rely on His Spirit without hesitation both now and forevermore.

3. The monotonous holy spirit."

It's easy for the Christian walk to become dull if your relationship with the Holy Spirit is not maintained. The Christian life is active, not lifeless and boring. It takes great commitment on your part as a Christ-follower (Galatians 5:16-18). When you place a seed in a planter you don't just stare at it and wait for something to sprout. It takes constant care like regular watering, exposure to sunlight, and sometimes even replenishing/replacing the soil. Similarly, the Lord in His sovereignty invites us to play an active role in our relationship with Him. Believers sometimes forget that when the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of them a very intimate exchange with the God of the universe should grow continually.