The Holy Spirit who dwells in you

Based on Thomas Boston’s sermon on 1 John 3:24, with modernized language and spiritual application by Pastor Peter

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit who dwells in you—Sep 28 2025 

1John 3:24,’ Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 

Ephesian 4:30,’ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

As the title of today’s sermon indicates, our focus will be on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in every true believer, and on our sacred responsibility to honor His holy presence by living in such a way that we do not grieve Him in the daily practice of our faith.  

We’ll begin with 1 John 3:24, where John teaches that those who abide in Christ, In other words, those whose souls are united with Christ are known by this evidence: God has given them His Spirit to live within them. ‘by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.’ This truth is the foundation for what Paul later warns in Ephesians 4:30, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” If we don’t believe or remember that the  Holy Spirit truly lives in us, we won’t take seriously the call to honor Him. 

So, friends, let me ask you: Do you live each day with the awareness that the living God dwells in you by His Spirit? If you are unsure, then nothing could be more important than seeking this blessing—making it your priority above all else to know the joy of having God’s Spirit truly living in you.  

Do you remember how the Apostle Peter spoke to the crowd at Pentecost, when they were cut to the heart by the Word of God? He said in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This promise of receiving the Holy Spirit  was not about some passing influence of the Spirit, but about His permanent indwelling—the Spirit of God taking up residence in the believer’s life forever. This is the doctrine of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  

Yes, there are many duties and responsibilities in our daily lives, but hear me clearly: no privilege on earth compares to this blessing—having the Spirit of God dwell within you. Not just a temporary touch, not just a passing influence, but the living God Himself making your soul His home, never to depart.   And do you remember Paul’s triumphant reminder in 1 Corinthians 6:19? “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?” Believer, your very body is the sacred dwelling place of God’s Spirit! What higher dignity, what greater privilege, could God ever give to His redeemed children? 

Since Scripture plainly teaches this marvelous truth—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every true believer, You must recognize the absolute necessity of saving faith in Christ. It is not enough to merely profess His name with your lips; what is required is a true, living faith in Christ Himself. Only such genuine faith brings the blessing of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. 

 There are many kinds of faith that people may claim under the name of Christianity. Even the demons believe in God, in Christ, and in the truth of Scripture (James 2:19,’ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!)—yet their faith is not a saving faith. Only one kind of faith unites a sinner to Christ, and that is true saving faith. It is through this faith alone that the Holy Spirit draws your soul into living union with Christ. This is exactly what Paul declares in Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 

Do you see it? Union with Christ is not optional—it is essential for salvation. And who accomplishes this miracle? It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling within the believer, who unites the soul to Christ and seals that union forever. This is the Spirit’s glorious, life-giving work.  Now Do you treasure this as one of the greatest privileges of the Christian life? When we lose sight of His indwelling presence, we tend to treat sin lightly and forget how it wounds the Holy Spirit. 

 But when we hold this truth close—that the Spirit of God lives within us—it produces holy reverence, careful living, and a burning desire to please the One who has made His home in us. And it is for this very reason that the Apostle Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 4:30, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”   Since grieving the Holy Spirit means offending the very Person of the Spirit, understanding His indwelling work is essential for understanding what it means to grieve Him. 

That is why, in this sermon, I will treat both doctrines together—the doctrine of the Spirit’s indwelling and the doctrine of grieving the Spirit. Two weeks ago, I had planned to spread these topics across two messages, but since we must move into a longer study on the atonement of Christ sooner than expected, I will combine both teachings today. From our next gathering in October, I’ll open a new series exploring the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Once Lord Christ said to the Pharisees in John 5:39,’ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.’   For us as Christians, everything we do, everything we study, and every experience we pass through must ultimately direct us back to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is this so? Because Jesus Himself taught that all of Scripture points to Him as its center and fulfillment. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.’    If we let ourselves get sidetracked—even while using the language of the Gospel—we might actually be chasing our own glory instead of God’s. 

It is a most grievous and dangerous sin for anyone who labors in the Gospel to use the name of Christ as a cover for pursuing their own glory or interests. Christ alone must be the center and aim of all Christian work and activity. 

We have been reflecting on the great blessing of the Spirit dwelling in believers. But we must not forget: this indwelling is only possible because of the redemptive work of Christ—most especially His atonement. Who are we in ourselves? Nothing but sinful, corrupted hearts, as Paul laments when he says that sin still dwells in us and wreaks havoc in our faith-life. Yet the Holy Spirit, who is pure holiness by nature, chooses to make His home in our tainted souls. How can this be? Only through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. 

I believe the introduction to the sermon is sufficient, let’s proceed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit from 1 John 3:24,’ Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.   In this chapter, the apostle John takes on a tough subject. His goal is to show the difference between true believers and those who are only Christians in name. And he doesn’t do this by looking at outward things, but by examining the inward work of the Spirit of God in their hearts. 

If you run a pawn shop, you need trained eyes to tell whether gold or diamonds are real or counterfeit. In the same way, the Apostle John teaches us that there is a way to test whether faith is truly saving faith—the kind that leads to the salvation of the soul. But John is not satisfied with outward claims or even religious performances. He presses deeper, down to the very attitudes of the heart and the principle that shapes true worship. And that principle is this: the genuine believer is marked by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. 

By this standard, he calls believers to examine themselves, to reflect on how the Spirit of God is working in their souls. The Spirit’s gracious effects and fruits in their hearts give far stronger evidence of their union with Christ than a vague, surface-level hope—which can be deceiving and dangerous.    Thus, these inward workings of the Spirit provide a solid foundation for true assurance of the Union with Christ.  As Scripture says: “Hereby we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us. 

In these words, we have three things to consider, namely: 1. The matter to be tested—our union with Christ.  2.The method of testing it—by the giving of His Spirit to us.  3.The certainty of this method of testing—"Hereby we know." 

First, the matter to be tested:  what is the issue we’re testing?     It’s the greatest and most important question anyone could ever face—in this life or in eternity: Are we truly united with Christ? 

Here the Scripture speaks of Christ “abiding in us.” That phrase draws a sharp line between two groups of Christians. If some Christians truly abide in Christ, then it necessarily follows that there are others who do not abide in Him.    On one side are those who seem Christian on the outside—by profession and reputation—but their connection to Christ goes no deeper than outward religious duties. On the other side are those whose union with Christ is real, living, and lasting—proved by the Spirit of God dwelling within their hearts. 

Our Lord Jesus spoke of the true, living union with Him in John 15:5–6, which sheds light on the depth and weight of this phrase, ’union with Christ’.   “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” 

So here’s the real question to examine: Are we like dead branches tied onto a living tree—only held there outwardly for a time by external ties? Or do our souls share a living, vital union with Christ, drawing the very sap of life from Him, the blessed root? 

Secondly, we can examine our union with Christ by asking whether the Holy Spirit truly dwells within us. The evidence of this union is found in God’s gift of His Spirit. And why is this gift so vital to our salvation? Because the Holy Spirit Himself is the very bond that unites Christ to our souls.    Though this union with Christ is mystical in nature, it is by no means abstract. It is a real, living bond that produces tangible effects in the believer’s life through the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

 Since the Holy Spirit resides in every true believer as the Spirit of holiness, His saving influence reaches us through His sanctifying work, just as the sun enters a house by its light and warmth streaming through the windows.   Think of a house on a cold winter morning. The sun itself never physically moves inside the house — it remains where it is, up in the sky.  Yet when the rays of its light shine through the windows, the house is filled with brightness. And when the warmth of those rays spreads inside, the coldness begins to melt away. 

In the same way, the Holy Spirit is God Himself dwelling in us. His sanctifying work is like the light and heat of the sun. By His light, He illuminates our minds to see Christ and the truth of God’s Word. By His warmth, He softens our hearts, melts away the hardness of sin, and kindles holy affections of love, humility, and obedience.    The gracious workings of the Holy Spirit within us are undeniable evidence of our union with Christ. Just as the living sap that flows from the vine into its branches both gives life and produces fruit, so the Spirit’s operations in our hearts demonstrate that we truly belong to Christ, the true Vine. 

Thirdly, this brings us to the certainty of this test: “Hereby we know.” And what do we know? We know that the assurance of our salvation is real, because it rests upon our union with Christ. And we know that it is the Holy Spirit, given to us, who unites our souls to Christ Jesus. So let me ask you plainly: Is your soul in union with Christ? Are you truly in Christ Jesus? The answer to these weighty questions can only be found in this reality—the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every true believer. 

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives us an assurance so clear that we cannot be deceived about whether we are truly in union with Christ. Paul puts it plainly in Romans 8:9: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” In other words, the presence of the Holy Spirit within a believer is the decisive mark of belonging to Christ. 

Here is a question for you: So if someone were to ask you this question: “How can a believer be certain that the Holy Spirit truly dwells within them?” Or how can we sense or recognize that grace of Holy Spirit in ourselves? By ‘grace,’ I mean here the presence and work of the Holy Spirit within the believer. —how would you answer? 

 Now, we cannot see the very essence of grace itself—only God can. But we can see its effects. The Spirit’s indwelling always produces visible fruit: conviction of sin, love for Christ, and growth in holiness. These are not grace itself, but they are clear signs that grace is truly there. In other words, while the Spirit’s presence is hidden, the evidence of His work is revealed in a transformed life. 

God’s very being is invisible, isn’t it? No matter how much you reflect on yourself, day and night, you cannot see the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Many believers have stumbled here, falling into the trap of chasing mystical experiences in order to confirm the presence of the Holy Spirit.   But there is a safe and reliable way to confirm the Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life.    Though the being of God is invisible, but the operations of His Spirit in believers are tangible and discernible.   The soul’s union with Christ is a supernatural mystery, yet it can be recognized through its effects, which are clearly perceptible in and through believers. 

Now, if I mention the word “effects,” many people might quickly assume that their Christian life must be fully approved by God because of the impressive outward performances they have achieved. But when we speak of the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit, we need a careful and biblical understanding. 

Scripture shows us that these gifts of the Holy Spirit fall into two categories:  1. Common, assisting gifts—These are given for service and ministry.   2. Special, sanctifying gifts—These are given only to true believers, marking their union with Christ. 

One of the most serious and destructive errors in the church today is the neglect of the Spirit’s sanctifying work. Many congregations, and far too many preachers, focus almost entirely on the common or assisting gifts of the Holy Spirit—outward abilities for service—and they teach and preach as though this is the entirety of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  

That is a deadly mistake. It is a subtle yet vicious deception of the devil, blinding people to the Spirit’s highest and most glorious work: His sanctifying indwelling, by which He unites us to Christ and conforms us to His holiness. To reduce the Holy Spirit to mere external power is not only a distortion of His person, but an outright denial of His greatest gift to the church. 

Why does it really matter that we understand the difference between these two kinds of gifts of the Holy Spirit? Because when the Holy Spirit truly lives inside a believer, He doesn’t just give abilities — He brings real change. His indwelling always leads to sanctification, shaping us to be more like Christ. 

As to the common assisting and ministering gifts of the Holy Spirit, they are bestowed indiscriminately upon one person as well as another. Such gifts, even in an exceptional degree and great measure, are often found in the unregenerate and, therefore, can never serve as solid evidence of the soul’s union with Christ. In this light, we can better understand what happened to those seemingly devoted Christians whom Christ describes in Matthew 7—people who performed mighty works yet were denied entrance into the kingdom of God.   However, His special sanctifying gifts, being the proper effect and consequence of that union, must necessarily serve as strong proof and confirmation of it. 

Let me take a moment to briefly summarize the difference between the common gifts of the Holy Spirit and His special sanctifying gifts.    The Holy Spirit gives two kinds of gifts. Common assisting gifts—such as wisdom, teaching, or leadership—may be found even in those who are not truly united with Christ. They are useful but not proof of salvation. In contrast, special sanctifying gifts belong only to those in real union with Christ. These gifts bring holiness and internal transformation, and they serve as true evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling work. 

When Peter says, “Repent and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” and when Paul exhorts believers to “walk by the Spirit” and “live in the Spirit,” they are all pointing to the same reality: the Spirit’s indwelling presence as God’s gift, which works in us for sanctification and holy living.  We all recognize that the Holy Spirit distributes many kinds of gifts—such as outward, ministerial, and service-related gifts. But there is also the unique gift of sanctification, which is given only when the Spirit Himself comes to dwell within a believer. 

So What Is the Sanctifying Gift of the Holy Spirit? 

The sanctifying gift is not about power for outward ministry or public miracles but about the inward transformation of the heart and character: 

It results in holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3-’ For this is the will of God, your sanctification:’), love (Romans 5:5,’ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.), and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23,’ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,). 

Therefore, when a believer receives the sanctifying gift of the Holy Spirit, it serves as clear evidence of a genuine union with Christ—a union that necessarily produces the fruit of obedience, the posture of humility, and a life increasingly shaped by conformity to God’s will.   The evildoers in Matthew 7 lacked this inner transformation. Though they performed religious works, their hearts remained unchanged—hence, they are called “workers of lawlessness.” 

Many evangelical workers today eagerly seek the Spirit’s outward gifts—such as healing or demonstrations of power through the laying on of hands. This movement, often called “power evangelism,” can sometimes display strange behaviors in the church. While many within the Charismatic movement sincerely hope they are witnessing the genuine work of the Holy Spirit, we must be sober-minded and discerning. Scripture warns us that the enemy can—and does—imitate outward displays of power, deceiving many with signs that lack the true inward sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, external gifts alone are not a reliable measure of the evidence of the union with Christ. You need the sanctifying gifts of the Holy Spirit that is only possible when the Holy Spirit indwell a believer.  

Now I’ll now share some clear signs and tests that can help us discern whether God has truly given us His Spirit.  

First evidence that God has truly given us His Spirit:    When the Holy Spirit dwells in a believer, He comes as the sanctifying Spirit. And where sanctification begins, the very first work He does is to convict of sin—opening our eyes to the depth of our corruption and making us feel our unworthiness before a holy God. 

Therefore, anyone in whom the Spirit of Christ is truly at work in sanctification will, at some point, have experienced His convicting power—bringing the soul low in humility before leading it upward in grace.    This is the usual order the Holy Spirit follows when working in the hearts of grown or adult converts, as we read in John 16:8–9: “When He comes, He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment— 

You can see the Spirit’s way of working—it’s always the same. He starts by bringing conviction of sin. That conviction is like the blossom on a tree: it’s not the full fruit yet, but it shows what’s coming and leads to the fruit of sanctification.   Anyone who has cared for a fruit tree knows the importance of its blossoms. The blossom is not the final product—it is beautiful, yes, but temporary and fragile. It falls away in time. Yet its purpose is vital: it is the sure sign that fruit is coming. 

In the same way, if you want to know whether God has truly given you His Spirit, look for the blossoms of grace in your life. Do you see the Holy Spirit bringing conviction of sin? That conviction is like the blossom—it is not the end, but it shows the Spirit’s work and points forward to the fruit of holiness. Remember how Paul himself lamented in Romans 7:17 and 24: “So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me… What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Such sorrow over sin is not weakness—it is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence, the beginning of real spiritual fruit. 

Think of it this way: if the Holy Spirit truly dwells in a person, He will certainly carry out His sanctifying work in both their inner life and outward conduct. And how could that sanctifying work begin without first awakening the conscience to sin and humbling the heart before God? That is why conviction of sin is the very first evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling—it is His initial mark of grace in the soul.    Where there are no blossoms, we can expect no fruit; and where there is no conviction of sin, we can expect no conversion to Christ. 

Has the Spirit of God ever worked in you as a Spirit of conviction? 

Why is it that so many voices in the church loudly associate the Holy Spirit almost entirely with outward displays of power—signs, wonders, and noise—while ignoring His deeper, quieter, and more essential work of convicting the heart of sin and producing holiness within? Such distortion misrepresents the true person and ministry of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Scripture. 

So let me ask you once more, Christian: Has the Spirit of God ever worked in you as the Spirit of conviction—piercing your heart over sin and humbling you before the Lord? 

In other words, has the Spirit shown you not only individual sins here and there, but the deeper reality—that even though your sins are forgiven, the corruption of your nature is still present and active, leaving you in a condition of ongoing struggle and misery apart from God’s grace?      This provides, at the very least, a strong probability that God has given you His Spirit, especially when this conviction remains upon your soul day and night, so that nothing but Christ can give it rest. Consequently, the great inquiry of your soul is after Christ, and none but Christ. 

Another Evidence God has truly given us His Spirit is this that:   Those to whom God gives His Spirit have a tender sympathy with all the interests and concerns of Christ. When a person receives the Holy Spirit, their heart, mind, and affections are transformed to conform to the will of Christ. This leads to a deep, compassionate connection to everything that matters to Christ — His mission, His people, and His purposes in the world. 

Have you ever noticed how strange it is when some preachers or Christians speak fluently about the works of Christ, yet rarely—if ever—speak of Christ Himself in a personal way? They may expound endlessly on what He has done, but you rarely hear them speak of their own living union and fellowship with Him. 

The Puritan divines used a striking analogy to describe this problem. Imagine a man desperately sick who discovers a wise doctor offering a medicine that can cure every disease. The man is so impressed by the power of this medicine that he cannot stop talking about it. He tells his friends, his neighbors, even strangers on the street about its virtues. Yet for all his enthusiasm, he never once opens the bottle and takes the medicine himself. He praises the cure, but he never experiences healing. 

This, sadly, is the condition of many professing Christians. They are eager to talk about what Christ has done in history, but they never receive Christ Himself into their souls.  They know of His merits, but they do not know Him personally. They speak much of the external works of the Holy Spirit, yet they lack the Spirit’s indwelling presence.   The true evidence that someone has received the Spirit is not endless talk about Christ in the abstract, but heartfelt testimony to how His blood has personally healed their sin-sick soul. If that mark of personal intimacy is missing, then however religious or eloquent the person may sound, there is no real union with Christ. No indwelling of the Holy Sprit! 

There are many more evidences we could examine, but we must now turn our attention to Ephesians 4:30: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” In our last sermon, we studied 1 Thessalonians 5:19, “Do not quench the Spirit.”   “Quench” literally means to extinguish a fire. The Spirit is often described as fire (Acts 2:3). Quenching means stifling His influence or suppressing His active operations — ignoring conviction, refusing to yield to His guidance, or silencing spiritual gifts. Thus, Quenching is more about resisting the Spirit’s work than offending His person. 

Eph 4:30 says, ‘do not grieve the Holy Spirit”. Grieving emphasizes an attack on the Spirit’s personhood — treating Him as though His presence doesn’t matter, especially in sins against others.  Some sins are particularly relational in nature—things like bitterness, anger, slander, and unforgiveness. Grieving the Holy Spirit belongs in this category. To grieve the Holy Spirt means to bring sorrow and pain to the Spirit of God, who dwells within us in love and holiness. 

Since the Holy Spirit is a Person, He can be “grieved” in the relational sense. Grieving happens when believers act in ways that are contrary to His holy nature — especially sins against love and unity in the body of Christ. Thus grieving is a personal affront to the Sprit’s holiness and love. 

1. How can we know if we have grieved the Holy Spirit? 

 The Spirit Himself often lets us feel His displeasure when He is grieved. Just as we can tell when we’ve offended a close friend because they withdraw from our company, likewise we can tell we’ve grieved the Spirit when He withdraws His help or comfort from us.   You can usually tell when something’s wrong in your walk with God, and that you may have grieved the Spirit. It shows up in a few ways: When prayer, worship, or even resisting temptation feels empty, because His help and strength seem far away. 

When the comfort and joy of His presence is gone, and you just feel spiritually flat or cold (unless it’s really because of physical sickness or weakness).  All of these are warning signs that your heart has drifted and that you may have grieved the Spirit. 

When we feel spiritual weakness, dullness, or lack of comfort, it is often a sign that we have not treated the Holy Spirit rightly. For if we walked closely with Him, we would find Him to be our strength, our comfort, and our source of life and energy. 

The consequences of grieving the Spirit are no small matter. Some may rely on their own cleverness and think, “Is it really such a big deal if the Spirit is grieved by my actions or thoughts?” But here is a sobering truth: if we persist in this, the Spirit may justly withdraw and leave us to the devices of our own hearts. You may shrug and say, “So be it, I’ll manage on my own.” But remember what Scripture says—our hearts are deceitful above all things. They may flatter us for a time, but in the end our very heart will betray and destroy us. 

And when the Spirit withdraws, another spirit is always waiting to move in—the evil spirit, who gladly works with our sinful desires. He may make us feel satisfied for a season, but his end is to ruin us forever. 

And whenever we sin against the Spirit, it eventually turns back to grieve us. Being a Spirit, He can stir such sorrow and heaviness in our own hearts that life on earth feels like a foretaste of hell.    If we make Him our best friend, He brings peace and strength. But if we grieve Him and turn Him against us, He can become our greatest enemy, stirring up every other trouble against us. 

2. The most practical spiritual wisdom regarding the grieving the Holy Spirit: What should we do to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit? 

1. Hand over the control of your soul to the Holy Spirit. Let Him lead, guide, and govern your life. This is the safest thing we can do, because the Spirit is far wiser than we are, and we are unable to guide ourselves rightly. True freedom is found in living under the wisdom and goodness of the Spirit, which is greater than our own.   We should let the Spirit be the one who thinks in us, desires in us, prays in us, lives in us, and works through us in all things. 

I love Galatians 2:20, where the Apostle Paul declares, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” The words “I have been crucified with Christ” beautifully describe our union with Him—sharing in His death so that sin no longer rules us. And when Paul says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” he is expressing his wholehearted resolve to let the Holy Spirit be the One who shapes his thoughts, stirs his desires, inspires his prayers, directs his actions, and works through him in everything. What a powerful testimony of a life fully yielded to Christ! 

At the same time, we must work to keep our hearts in a condition that is ready for the Spirit to act upon—like a musical instrument tuned and waiting for the musician’s touch. As Gregory Nazianzen (who is one of Cappadocian fathers in 4th Century Church) once prayed: “Lord, I am an instrument for You to touch.” Just as a perfectly tuned instrument makes no sound unless played, so our lives must be open and ready for the Holy Spirit’s touch. 

Of course, this requires deep self-denial, because it means giving up control and submitting fully to the Spirit’s guidance. But if we truly understood how often we are our own worst enemies, it would not seem so hard to yield ourselves to Him. 

Let me finish with some closing thoughts:    When Scripture uses expressions such as “by the Spirit whom He has given us,” we should understand this as referring to the Spirit in His sanctifying gift—that is, His indwelling presence that marks true believers and works holiness within them.    But also in the Scripture The Spirit of God is said to come upon individuals in a transient way, providing present assistance for a particular service, even though those individuals themselves may be unsanctified. For instance, the Spirit of God came upon Balaam (Num. 24:2,’ and the Spirit of God came upon Balaam), enabling him to prophesy about things to come. He was a condemned man. 

Whatever gifts the Holy Spirit may distribute to others, His indwelling presence—His dwelling and abiding—is reserved only for true believers.   There is a significant difference between the assisting and the indwelling of the Spirit: the former is transient, while the latter is permanent.   In this way, the Spirit dwells in believers. Therefore, they are said to live in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), to be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18), to be in the Spirit, and for the Spirit to dwell in them (Romans 8:9). 

It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that unites the believer’s soul to Christ, and it is this union with Christ that gives us the assurance of salvation. Scripture, as in today’s passage, testifies that the indwelling of the Spirit is a special blessing—the gift of sanctification at work within every true believer. This is not an abstract idea but a living reality taking place in the hearts of God’s people.   Therefore, Christians must not be distracted by the outward glory of performance, or rest content in a duty-bound religion. Our eyes must be fixed on the Spirit’s true work—the heavenward work of sanctification that He accomplishes when He makes His dwelling within us. 

So I plead with you: pour out your efforts to seek this highest blessing—the Holy Spirit Himself choosing your soul as His permanent residence. Sacrifice whatever is necessary; pay whatever cost. But never, ever lose this priceless gift: the Spirit of the living God dwelling within you. Amen 

youtube Link: https://youtu.be/kxKwfluZN20 

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