For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:15

There’s a brilliant theological concept we call the Trinity, which amazingly, nearly all Christians agree upon. It’s simply a way to describe the ‘three in one’ nature of God: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. These three are One God. Not three parts of God, even though they can act individually. (It can get a lot deeper than that, but that’s all we need for this meditation.)

The ‘Father’ and ‘Son’ are concepts which we can understand pretty easily in the Bible. They have a sort of mental and emotional resonance with us and we can pretty much figure out how they act individually and in harmony with each other and with each of us.

The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is more difficult for many of us to grasp (just as Jesus implied when He spoke of those who are ‘born of the Spirit’ and how they would be (Jn 3:8).

The ‘Spirit’ or in the old English, ‘Ghost’… ‘Holy Ghost’ sounds alien and just a little spooky. So those of us who like to define and pigeonhole things into neat packages so that they are easily taught and understood are going to find the Holy Spirit pretty elusive because He isn’t easily defined—and that’s exactly what Jesus was saying to the theologically-bound Nicodemus in John 3 (v. 10). The Spirit works mysteriously but so tangibly…if we’re watching.

We can read the instructional material in the Bible, like teaching of Jesus in the Gospels or the letters of Paul and others, to get a pretty clear picture of the ‘Father’ and the ‘Son’. But to grasp the essence of the Holy Spirit, we need to read the narrative accounts in the Bible…the stories of the Spirit’s interactions with people and events in the Bible. Because although Jesus, Paul, and others mention the Holy Spirit often, He isn’t as well explained in the theological sense as the Father and the Son.

So as we read the Bible, we need to build up PICTURES of who the Spirit is rather than trying so hard to find WORDS that describe Him. Pentecost is one of those picture—and a clear one.

I mean, who could forget the mighty rush of wind that filled the upper room? Or the fire appearing on the heads of the room’s 120 occupants? They are pictures of the Holy Spirit. And then there’s the picture of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus “like a dove” … the list goes on.

When you think about it…it’s easy to see why we need to have more contact with the Holy Spirit of God.

  How little power Christians often walk in (The Spirit clothes us in power-Luke 24:49)
  How often Christians are ignorant or confused (The Spirit instructs us-John 14:26, and brings wisdom and revelation-Eph 1:17)
  How distressed and anxious Christians often are (The Spirit comforts-John 14:16)
  How often Christians are dis-unified and alienated (The Spirit brings unity-Eph. 4:3)
  How Christians are often deceived and beguiled (The Spirit brings truth-John 15:26)
  How often Christians live in bondage (The Spirit brings freedom-1 Cor. 3:17)

As I said above…it’s easy to see why we need to have more contact with the Holy Spirit of God.