The coming of the Holy Spirit at the ascension of Jesus Christ marked the beginning of a new era in redemptive history. Yet despite the Holy Spirit’s central role in the life of the believer and the ministry of the church, He is often neglected or misunderstood within Christianity today. In this sermon, Pastor Paul explores selected Scriptures to highlight both the identity and work of the Holy Spirit. Beginning in Acts 2, we witness the Spirit powerfully advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ through the expansion of the church, even in the midst of suffering and persecution. Church history itself is the story of Jesus Christ building His church through the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no separation between Christ and the Spirit; rather, the Holy Spirit continues and applies the work of Christ to His people. As C.H. Spurgeon rightly stated, “If, when you believed, you had not a life imparted by the Holy Spirit, your believing was a dead believing, the mere counterfeit of living faith, and not the faith of God’s elect.”
Where the Holy Spirit is absent, conviction of sin is absent, and therefore there is no perceived need for a Savior. J.C. Ryle emphasized that true Christianity honors the inseparable work of the Trinity in salvation: the Father elects, the Son redeems, and the Holy Spirit applies redemption to the believer’s soul. Each person of the Trinity is equally divine and essential in both doctrine and practice. Therefore, the church must not neglect the Holy Spirit by focusing only on the Father and the Son.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune God. He is eternally holy and not merely an impersonal force or influence. Scripture reveals that He possesses a mind, emotions, and a will. He is almighty God Himself and therefore worthy of the same worship, honor, and obedience given to the Father and the Son.
Since Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit has continually led and guided believers and the church (Jn. 16:7). Jesus taught that the coming of the Spirit would be advantageous for His disciples because the Spirit would “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (Jn. 16:8–11). The Spirit exposes humanity’s unbelief in Christ, reveals the righteousness of Christ, and declares the judgment already pronounced upon Satan, the ruler of this world.
What Is the Purpose of the Holy Spirit?
The primary purpose of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus Christ and point sinners to Him. It is only through the Spirit that a person is able to truly love and believe in Christ (1 Pet. 1:8). At conversion, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within believers so that they may personally know God (Jn. 14:17). Christians are therefore called the temple of God because the Spirit abides within them.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and exposes the seriousness of rebellion against a holy God. He reveals the hidden motives of the heart and demonstrates the futility of all human effort apart from divine grace. Without the Spirit’s work, sinners remain spiritually blind and hardened.
The Danger of Neglecting the Holy Spirit
Although Scripture clearly teaches who the Holy Spirit is and what He accomplishes, many Christians still neglect Him in practice. Too often believers live according to emotions, circumstances, self-reliance, or personal discipline rather than being led by the Spirit. Neglecting the Holy Spirit means failing to depend upon Him, respond to Him, and cooperate with His sanctifying work in daily life. As a result, believers forfeit the power and effectiveness God intends for their spiritual growth and witness.
The Apostle Paul frequently reminded the churches to live in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, the grace of Christ and the love of God become living realities within believers. Every true work of God in salvation and sanctification is ultimately brought to fruition through the Holy Spirit.
One of the clearest evidences of neglecting the Spirit is self-reliance. Christians may attempt to pursue holiness merely through personal determination, discipline, or moral effort. Yet Scripture commands believers to “walk by the Spirit” so that they “will not carry out the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). Apart from the Spirit, hearts become dull toward sin and insensitive to conviction. It is the Spirit who leads believers into true repentance and ongoing sanctification. The difference between Judas and Peter was not merely remorse, but the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Neglecting the Spirit also weakens prayer. Prayer becomes occasional, mechanical, or reserved only for moments of crisis. Charles Spurgeon taught that genuine prayer is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit because prayers arising merely from human effort are spiritually lifeless. Believers must not quench the Spirit but continually seek His influence and power in prayer, faith, and obedience.
Another revealing test is one’s relationship to the Word of God. Is Scripture merely informational, or is it the means by which we seek to know God personally? The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ primarily through the Word He inspired. As Scripture declares, “men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Pet. 1:21). A Spirit-filled believer increasingly treasures the Word because through it the Spirit reveals Christ.
The Holy Spirit and Sanctification
The Holy Spirit works inwardly to produce sanctification in every believer. Therefore, growth in personal holiness is evidence of His ongoing work. The Spirit-filled Christian depends upon God’s promises and relies upon the Spirit’s power to overcome sin through love and obedience.
Philippians 1:6 reminds believers that “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Sanctification is not accomplished merely through human effort, nor through passive waiting for God to act. Rather, it is the active work of the Holy Spirit as believers yield themselves to Him in obedient faith. One of the clearest marks of spiritual growth is the increasing presence of the fruit of the Spirit in the believer’s life.
How Can We Avoid Neglecting the Holy Spirit?
Believers must continually remain in God’s Word and seek to obey His commands. They must pray unceasingly in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, trusting Him to strengthen and intercede for them. Romans 8:26 teaches, “the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
A life that truly glorifies God can only be lived through abiding in the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier. He transforms the believer’s heart, produces holiness, and creates within us a growing desire to love and imitate Christ.
At the same time, believers must pursue a balanced understanding of the Holy Spirit. Dry formalism and powerless Christianity often result when the Spirit is treated merely as an intellectual doctrine rather than as the living presence of God. Yet emotional excesses that minimize Christ and distort the Spirit’s work are equally dangerous. A biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit always exalts Jesus Christ as Lord.
Conclusion
The Holy Spirit is not a secondary figure within the Christian life, but the very presence of God dwelling within His people. Every aspect of salvation, sanctification, prayer, worship, conviction, and perseverance depends entirely upon His work. To neglect the Holy Spirit is to attempt to live the Christian life apart from the very One whom God has given to sustain and transform us.
Therefore, believers must continually seek the Spirit through prayer, obedience, and faithful meditation upon the Word of God. As we walk in dependence upon Him, He deepens our love for Christ, strengthens us against sin, produces true holiness, and fills our lives with thanksgiving and worship. The Christian life was never meant to be lived in human strength alone, but through the abiding power and fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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