Our need for the Holy Spirit

Why is it so easy for Christians to forget the Holy Spirit?
I don’t mean that we forget the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Most of us are grounded enough in a Trinitarian belief system never to do that. We are all aware, at least on a cognitive level, that the Third Person of the Godhead exists.
But, nevertheless, we forget him.... What I mean is we often overlook the fact that, since we are in Christ, the Spirit of God dwells within us. He is our Helper, our Counselor and the guarantee given to us to assure us that we are truly saved. The Holy Spirit is the One who empowers our prayers and brings Scripture-reading to life. He is the One who makes worship meaningful and preaching effective. It is the Holy Spirit who creates unity in the church and gives us each gifts that can build others up. He is the One who brings people to faith in Jesus. He is the One, the only One, who can transform our hearts and minds. Without the Holy Spirit there is nothing that Christians can do that will bring any glory to God.
When we stop depending on God’s Spirit for purity and power we find ourselves trying to live the Christian life in our own strength. Few experiences are more frustrating than this. British pastor David Jackman, writes, “Many of us have a sub-Christian experience of what we should be ‘in Christ’, because we have left the Spirit so little room in which to operate in our lives. We have taken the controls back into our own hands and we are far too ready to tell God what he can or cannot do, in us and with us.”
Beginning on Sunday, April 13, ACC will offer a series of sermons on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. For four consecutive Sundays we will look at him as: the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of power and the Spirit of life. During this time, Fellowship Groups will have opportunity to study and respond to related texts.
On Sunday evening, May 4 at 6pm, we are planning an all-church prayer meeting to ask God to make his Spirit’s presence known in fresh ways in our lives. Then on Sunday, May 11 (Pentecost Sunday), we will focus on God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
As we participate in these activities, let’s be asking God to reveal the goodness of his Spirit to us again.