You Are Not Alone & Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Acts 10:45 tells us that the Holy Spirit is a gift.

The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. Acts 10:45 NIV

Many of us know about the “gifts of” the Holy Spirit. Paul lists the gifts starting in 1 Corinthians 12:4. Many of us have taken quizzes to see what gift of the Holy Spirit is ours.

And while all that is good, have you stopped to consider that the Holy Spirit is a gift himself? The fact that we, as believers, have been given the Holy Spirit is Jesus’s greatest gift to us after He went to heaven.

Jesus told his disciples it was better for Him to leave because the Holy Spirit would come in his place.

Related: What Does It Mean That God is Our Redeemer?

How can anything be better than the physical presence of Jesus? But Jesus is telling us it is better to have the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is our:

• Helper
• Counselor
• Comforter
• Advocate
• Guide
• Intercessor
• Teacher
• Revealer
• Witness

And so much more. But do we believe this or just read through it?

Do we experience Him being our comforter when we’re sad? Our guide when we feel lost. Our advocate when we’ve been treated unfairly.

Life is noisy; thanks to technology, it’s getting louder and busier every day.

There are days I don’t hear or feel God’s Spirit.

I wonder if we don’t experience the Holy Spirit because we aren’t slowing down. We aren’t making space for Him. We rarely sit in silence.

He is there. He lives in you.

He helps you when you feel like you can’t make it one more hour.
He counsels you when you are lost and confused.
He comforts you when your heart is in a thousand pieces.
He advocates for you to the Father.
He guides you to understand God’s Word bit by bit.
He intercedes for you when you’re too overwhelmed to pray.
He teaches you God’s love and your love toward others.
He reveals to you the truth of the gospel.
He is your witness that you are a beloved child of God.

The Holy Spirit is such a gift.

To learn more about the Holy Spirit, all that is required is to become quiet and let Him. Let Him calm your soul. Let Him direct your next step. Let Him become Lord of your life.

Related: How Do You Know if Your Decision is God’s Will?

Books About the Holy Spirit (For the average non-pastor)

The following books have significantly impacted my love for the Holy Spirit. Bible teacher Jen Wilkin says, “The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.”

God So Close: Experience a Life Awakened to His Spirit by Becky Thompson 

This book explores who the Holy Spirit is and why He is important, helps you to become aware of God moving around you and within you and how to listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Help Is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit by Max Lucado

Max Lucado is one of my favorite Bible teachers. In this book, Max will give you the tools and encouragement you need to know and connect to the Spirit of God. 

Don’t Miss Out: Daring to Believe Life Is Better with the Holy Spirit by Jeannie Cunnion

This is the first book I read about the Holy Spirit. Thirty chapters cover 30 attributes of the Spirit. I read one chapter a day before going to sleep, but this would also be perfect for your morning devotions.

Scripture About the Holy Spirit and His Gifts To Us

However, the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. He will remind you of everything that I have ever told you. John 14:26

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. John 16:7

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

John 14:16

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26

Related: What You Need to Know About Spiritual Strongholds

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Luke 11:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11