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Recently, the Lord has been impressing truths of the Holy Spirit on my heart. I blogged some about this a few years ago when I took the Beth Moore class on the HS called "Living Beyond Yourself".
I talked about how, even though I was raised in a strong Christian home/environment, somehow I missed the church lesson on the absolute POWER of the Holy Spirit. Of course I knew I received the Holy Spirit and that He served as my guide and counselor through life, but I learned an incredible amount more about the Holy Spirit and his intent in/for my life...

I feel like where I grew up, it was taught about how becoming a Christian means you recognize Jesus as Lord and his death/resurrection for your sins, confess those sins, recognize your need for a Savior, then accept Jesus into your heart. Yes, this is all absolutely true What I feel was missing in that, was then being told how now as Christians, the Lord gives you the most amazing, powerful gift known to man...the supernatural POWER of the Holy Spirit that will now indwell and use your physical body to proclaim the Gospel. Why wasn't that part discussed????

In the past 2 years I have heard countless sermons on the role of the Holy Spirit and I feel it's presence more than ever before in my life. Don't get me wrong, since I became a Christian (at an early age), I did learn about the Holy Spirit that dwelt within me, but what I have come to realize over the past few years is how much I have quenched the Spirit...the powerful gift God gave us to do HIS work in a supernatural way. I think until recently, the Holy Spirit has been somewhat arbitrary to me. Yes, I want the Holy Spirit fully and continually activated!

I could go on about that journey and what it's looked like for me more, but I wanted to share just a few things that I have read/heard in the past few days that super convicting to me in my own life and thought you'd want to read them, too....
I also listed 3 of the main sources God has used in my life recently to reveal more of Himself and the Holy Spirit's role in my life in case you wanted to check them out! I love them because each of them highly depend on Scripture and fully concentrate on JESUS (and none other). I am currently reading the Francis Chan book, and haven't finished but already highly recommend it.

From the Francis Chan book:

"If you say you are called to be in the place where you are, a few questions need to be considered:
1. How would you be missed if you left this place?
2. What would change?
3. Basically, what difference does your presence make?
4. What would your church look like if everyone was as committed as you are? If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered? Or would it be weak and listless?"

"My purpose in these questions is to get you to take 1 Corinthians 12 seriously, to believe that YOU have been given a manifestation of the Spirit and that your church, the worldwide body of Christ, and the world are crippled without your involvement."

"If you are still alive on this planet, it's because He has something for you to do."

"We cannot live submitted to the Spirit and at the same time, gratify the flesh because the two are opposed to each other (Gal 5:17)."

And then something I've starting doing in my morning prayers:

"But she was not content to merely endure. She was ready every day and every moment, asking God, 'Who do you want me to love for You today?'"

One of the things Driscoll said on the recent sermon I listened to (which is also about the Holy Spirit) was:

"We do not live for God, but rather, as Christians, we should allow God to live through us."



"Jesus Gives Life": Mark Driscoll Audio Sermon  - you can also download these as podcasts, or download Mars Hill app to your phone and get these sermons. I've started listening to them as I run. This particular one is fantastic.

Forgotten God: Francis Chan - highly recommend this book. He used to speak at Biola a lot when I was there and if you ever get the chance to hear him, don't let it pass (no one skipped chapel on Chan days - ha).

Living Beyond Yourself: Beth Moore - if you're involved in women's ministry, recommend doing this study with the videos! I want to do it at least every 2 years. One of the most practical, life changing studies I have ever done.