Knowing the Holy Spirit is not an academic issue, or up to one's mental gymnastics or acumen, or facts to be memorized. One can ace the seminary course on the subject and still not know Him. And to not know Him is to not know God the Father or Jesus. God gives us discernment of spirits and tells us to test the spirits. Only with experience do we learn not to grieve the Spirit or to quench His fire.
He is the conviction, the enabler, the teacher, the guide and comforter (we can sense His illuminating power every time we read the Word). Are you sensitive to when the Spirit is speaking to your heart? Some Christians readily go from talking about something the Spirit blesses to a worldly subject. Like Jesus rebuked Peter telling him that he minded earthly things. If we would rather talk about our favorite football team than things spiritual or about Jesus, we must scarcely know the Holy Spirit, though there is a time and place for this.
In sum, knowing the Spirit cannot be taught; but it is learned by experiencing Him. Like God's love--once you've experienced it, you want to pass it on!
Finally, it is not how much you know about the Spirit, but whether you experience Him and have this experiential knowledge. A little knowledge of God is better than a whole lot about Him. We must grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ through the Spirit through His gifts and fruit. As we learn to be led by the Holy Spirit we know Him better. Soli Deo Gloria!
He is the conviction, the enabler, the teacher, the guide and comforter (we can sense His illuminating power every time we read the Word). Are you sensitive to when the Spirit is speaking to your heart? Some Christians readily go from talking about something the Spirit blesses to a worldly subject. Like Jesus rebuked Peter telling him that he minded earthly things. If we would rather talk about our favorite football team than things spiritual or about Jesus, we must scarcely know the Holy Spirit, though there is a time and place for this.
In sum, knowing the Spirit cannot be taught; but it is learned by experiencing Him. Like God's love--once you've experienced it, you want to pass it on!
Finally, it is not how much you know about the Spirit, but whether you experience Him and have this experiential knowledge. A little knowledge of God is better than a whole lot about Him. We must grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ through the Spirit through His gifts and fruit. As we learn to be led by the Holy Spirit we know Him better. Soli Deo Gloria!