Holy Spirit

Well, we went to Adult Sunday School yesterday, and one of the things I like is that I almost always learn something new when I am with other believers. I don't proclaim to know it all, and I hope I never come across that way. Even tho I was raised in a Christian family, and went to church schools and all that- I have learned that being a Christian is a "process", not a final destination. So for those who feel like they just don't know enough about the bible or religion to chime in- take heart, it's OK. Everyone started from the beginning (not knowing anything) and we are all in different stages of progress. I certainly hope this blog is not a place for anyone to make someone else feel inadequate, or be ridiculed for what they do not know. :) and why do I feel that way? Because it wouldn't be very "Christian" of anyone to do that. To be a Christian is to be imitating Christ- and when you read about his life in the New Testament- that's a tall order. But God gives us some help in that area- the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit being the form of God/Jesus that lives within us. The Holy Spirit is 1/3 of the trinity- which is a difficult concept to fully understand, and I'm not a seminary school graduate, so I don't want to and can't get too deep. But it relates to our sunday school lesson so thought I'd share....

The topic of sunday school was "how do I know I am a Christian and that I'm saved?"- and people had all kinds of answers like I prayed a prayer, or I was baptized, or I hate sin, or I love Jesus- and while those are all good things- they are things WE do, and being saved isn't about what WE do- it's about what Christ did for us. So- the Holy Spirit is like a down payment on our eternal life- God gives it to us (we accept it) and the Spirit guides us. The Holy Spirit lives in us to help lead us, by peace, wisdom and the Word of God. He speaks in a still small voice in our hearts. And when we let him guide us, our lives produce "fruit" of the Spirit. (Some are listed in Galatians 5:22-25)- you can look it up :) But when we don't live by the Spirit, we live for the flesh. Galatians chapter 5 has some great verses about the cravings of the flesh (human nature without God) being opposed to living in the Spirit. It doesn't mean we are perfect- but we need to listen and obey the Spirit's leading to find peace and contentment in our daily lives. And when we have the Holy Spirit in us we want to be obedient to God. And that takes practice, which is moving forward each day, walking with the Spirit, sometimes sinning and asking for forgiveness.. So I guess the bottom line is- do I have the Holy Spirit in me, and am I in step with Him, listening to Him? Do I have any fruit?