Understanding the Holy Spirit can be tricky for those just entering the faith. However, don’t worry; here is your new believer’s guide to the Holy Spirit and everything you need to know about Him! In Christianity, the Holy Spirit holds a profound significance. He is often portrayed as a mysterious and intangible presence, but He doesn’t have to be a mystery at all! He is supposed to be a part of our everyday lives, guiding us to all truth, understanding, power, and righteousness! The Holy Spirit is a constant companion in our spiritual journey. Let’s delve deeper into understanding who the Holy Spirit is and His transformative impact on our lives.
He is Our Helper
John 14:26 says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” One of the most important things to know about the Holy Spirit is that He is our helper. He is here to assist us in everything and always lead us to Christ! He teaches us by instructing us from the basis of God’s word, and He constantly reminds us of what God’s word says!
In times of weakness, confusion, or distress, the Holy Spirit comes alongside us, offering comfort, wisdom, and strength. Other versions will say He is our “Comforter” who provides solace in times of trouble. Or an “Advocate,” Someone who always recommends Jesus’ will. Whether it’s navigating through life’s challenges or making decisions, the Holy Spirit is ever-present, guiding and empowering us.
Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” When we are unsure or lost, the Holy Spirit is there to help us. He is our portion when we fall short and gives us the strength we need! He even gives us what to pray! The rest of the verse says, “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. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray
As I stated, part of understanding the Holy Spirit is knowing that He helps us with everything we do. And prayer is one of the things He helps us with! Have you ever heard of praying in tongues? Well, that’s the Holy Spirit! Knowing the power of tongues is vital to understanding the Holy Spirit and shows that you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Baptism in the Holy Spirit gives you a boldness and anointing you don’t have with just plain salvation. It is what took Peter from denying Jesus three times to preaching to the people who wanted Him dead and calling them to repentance.
Acts 2:3-4 says, “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Your Heavenly Language
Speaking in tongues, also known as speaking in your heavenly language, is so crucial to understanding the Holy Spirit. You must realize that it is a gift from God, and we all have access to it! This is part of where our power comes from; it’s the chance we get to speak directly to God, and no one else but Him can understand what we’re saying! The Holy Spirit will guide you in what to say, and it will always be in the will of God!
So, if you ever feel unsure what to pray about, ask the Holy Spirit, and He will give you utterance. He intercedes on our behalf! Isn’t it wonderful we can lean on Him when we don’t know what to say or do? If you are a new believer and want to get baptized in the Holy Spirit, ask God! It’s as simple as that: pray and ask God to baptize you in the Holy Spirit and to start speaking in tongues.
I know some people don’t believe in tongues, but it is in the Bible, and it is a direct line to Heaven! Don’t you want direct access to God’s ear? I know I do! So, get into a Holy Ghost fire meeting, pull up church meetings on YouTube where people speak in tongues, get in the presence of God, and be open to receive! The gifts of the Holy Spirit are readily available to us all; we just have to lay hold of it.
Understanding the Holy Spirit: He Lives In Us
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Holy Spirit is His indwelling presence within believers. Upon accepting Jesus Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit takes residence in our hearts, becoming a constant companion in our daily lives. This intimate connection fosters a deep relationship with God and enables us to experience His presence on a personal level.
1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,” One thing you must understand about the Holy Spirit is that He lives inside the believer! Every New Testament Believer houses the Holy Spirit! So, you are not alone in this life; you have constant help residing inside you. We must become Christ inside-minded because the reason why a lot of Christians don’t live victorious lives is because they see themselves as separate from Jesus. However, because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we must see ourselves as one with Christ.
This mindset allows us to live holy, righteous, and victorious lives! This is why we have verses like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” the Holy Spirit gives us the strength of Christ. The only way that you can live a successful Christian life is if you truly believe that the Spirit of Christ lives in you. Without that understanding and revelation of the Holy Spirit, you fall victim to a lot of the wiles of the devil.
Christ Lives in You
Romans 8:9-11 says, “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”
We do not have to be subject to sin or our flesh because the Spirit of God lives in us. And God is righteous, pure, and holy, so we are set free by realizing we have those same attributes living in us! The Spirit brings us life because He leads us to Jesus, and Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life, the bread of life!
Resurrection Power Lives in Us
The wonderful thing about the Holy Spirit is that we don’t have to rely on ourselves to be right with God. Due to the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, when God looks at us, He sees His Son. It is not us who lives, but Christ lives in us. We are no longer our own, as stated in Corinthians, but we belong to God! We aren’t victims any more; we don’t lose anymore.
The Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. Imagine the things you can do and overcome once you have that revelation! The Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you! Do you hear me? That means everything dead in your life MUST come to life because if you hang around Jesus long enough, you’ll get resurrected. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom and life. Everything you’re dealing with that doesn’t align with the Word of God must be aligned now in the name of Jesus because you carry His Spirit.
Since the Spirit lives in you, you can actually command these things to align with God’s Word. You have the power and authority to speak to the sickness, depression, lack, anxiety, addiction, and lust and tell it to leave and demand that a solution, miracle, and victory come forth now! You don’t have to suffer any longer because you carry breakthroughs and power by the Holy Spirit! Breakthroughs and miracles live in you!
We Are Children of God
Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” What’s important about understanding the Holy Spirit is that you will be sure. Some people question their salvation, but the Holy Spirit will never allow you to question. He makes it clear you are a child of God. So, if you are someone who claims to be a Christian but questions whether they will go to heaven or not, you need to evaluate a couple of things. One, where are you falling short? Are you engaged in some sins (premarital sex, drugs, cursing, stealing, lying, etc.) Do you neglect personal time with God? (Not reading your Bible or praying.) Do you yield to the Holy Spirit or live according to your flesh?
If you answered yes to any of those, you must repent and return to God. He still loves you and will forgive you, but you must change your ways because you’re headed down a dangerous path. I don’t want you to think you can live that way and keep your salvation; I would be lying to you. Continuing to live that way will cause you to lose your salvation. The Holy Spirit will lead you to righteousness and the ways of God so that you can be sure of where you’re going.
Pray and ask God how you can change your ways and how to live for Him! It’s the Holy Spirit that does the work; all you have to do is ask and obey. He will give you the strength to leave your old life behind and truly live for Jesus Christ!
The Holy Spirit Guides Us to Righteousness
When it comes to righteousness, it is not by our works we gain right standing with God. Through the Spirit of His Son who lives in us, we gain right standing. When it comes to understanding the Holy Spirit, you must know that He convicts and guides us toward righteousness. He helps us discern between right and wrong, convicting our hearts of sin and empowering us to live holy lives that honor God. As we yield to His guidance, the Holy Spirit enables us to walk in alignment with God’s will, reflecting His character and love to the world around us.
We can’t do any of it without the Holy Spirit. John 16:8 says, “And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” You cannot convict yourself of sin nor lead yourself toward God’s righteousness. It’s impossible; conviction can only come from the Holy Spirit, so if you struggle with sin and feel guilty afterward, good. That means you haven’t completely grieved the Holy Spirit, and you have a second chance…or 20th! But either way, you have the opportunity to come back to God!
I would suggest doing it as soon as possible because when you’re living in sin, the devil has free reign in your life. So, repent, turn from your old ways, and live for God!
Cleansed and Made Holy by His Spirit
The Holy Spirit sanctifies and purifies us, conforming us to the image of Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, “You were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Understanding the Holy Spirit means understanding that He makes us clean and holy. As I said before, it is not you. So, it doesn’t matter how often you go to church, how much you read your bible, sing in the choir, or pray if none of it is done with the Spirit. It is the Spirit of God that enables us to live right! You can do all those things and still go to hell if you rely on that to get you to heaven and not on the Spirit.
You must have the Holy Spirit to go to Heaven because He keeps us in line with God’s Word. He makes sure we stay righteous and don’t lose our salvation. Ephesians 5:9 says, “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth,” The Holy Spirit will always lead us to these three things. He will always lead us to Jesus! So, if you’re thinking about doing something but it’s not good, does not bear righteous behavior, and doesn’t glorify the truth, which is Jesus, it is not the Holy Spirit. Check your daily life and see if your behaviors warrant these three attributes. The Holy Spirit is always going to glorify Jesus!
The Holy Spirit Keep Us From Fleshly Desires
In the New Living Translation, Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Our sinful nature does not glorify God. For example, our sinful nature wants us to have sex outside of marriage, get drunk, do drugs, steal, lie, cheat, avoid God at all costs, and do whatever we please. Understanding the Holy Spirit means knowing He will not lead you to do any of those things. He is going to guide you to holiness.
He will lead you toward being like Jesus, and if you read the Gospels, we know Jesus didn’t roll like that. Jesus is righteous and holy and continues to do what glorifies the Father. Since we have His Spirit, we are to do the same! New believers may find it difficult to let go of their old lives, but you don’t have to depend on yourself; you depend on the Holy Spirit to change you.
Here’s a quick new believers’ guide. Read your Bible every day, and set aside at least 30 minutes of Bible study a day. Pray every day; again, let’s aim for 30 minutes. Find a church and get involved. Stop going to places where you would engage in sin. Get rid of things from your old life that would tempt you to fall back into sin (ex., secular music, sex toys, crystals used for manifestation, provocative clothing). Get an accountability partner, someone who will check up on you spiritually! These should help you get closer to the life God has called you to! Through the Holy Spirit, you can be righteous!
The Holy Spirit Guides Us to All Truth
In a world filled with conflicting ideologies and beliefs, the Holy Spirit guides us, leading us into all truth. Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things and remind them of His teachings (John 14:26). Through the Holy Spirit’s illumination, we gain insights into God’s Word, discerning His will and understanding His ways with clarity and depth.
John 16:13 says, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” The Holy Spirit will only lead you to what glorifies God and aligns with His word. So, if you can’t find it in God’s Word, it was not the Holy Spirit! He will guide you to all truth, which, in my opinion, is He will always lead you toward Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” Everything the Holy Spirit does is to lead us to Jesus and give Him glory.
Identify God’s Voice
With this in mind, it should be easier to identify what is of the Holy Spirit and what is not. Understanding the Holy Spirit means understanding that He will not lead you toward sin. He is not going to discourage you but encourage you; He is going to lead you toward prosperity, not poverty, and peace, not depression or fear. Again, if it doesn’t align with the Bible, it is not the Holy Spirit! He only says things by the authority of Jesus, and John 1:1 says, “The Word was God,” So the Holy Spirit will only say things by the authority of the Bible. The Holy Spirit guides us in all truth, which is the Word.
The Word is the Truth
It is essential that, as new believers, you get into your Word. Even if you’re a seasoned believer, you must be in your Word. Reading your Bible regularly will allow you to know the Holy Spirit more intimately and grow your overall relationship with Christ. The Bible is the truth, Jesus is the truth, and the Holy Spirit is here to guide us to it continually! When deciphering whether you heard God or not, you need to know the scriptures. The Holy Spirit will never, and I mean never, say anything that contradicts the Bible, so keep that in mind. How can I recognize the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Easy, continually search God’s Word, day and night, and have it written on your heart.
Additionally, the Holy Spirit serves as a warning for things to come. You will never be blindsided when following the Holy Spirit. He tells you of your future, others’ future, and even the future of society. He does this to keep us aligned with God’s will. In the Old Testament, only prophets had access to that kind of knowledge or people that God specifically chose (ex. David, Abraham, Noah). Now, this is available to all believers, no matter who they are! You don’t have to be a mighty minister to know the plans of God or the future. You just need to make Jesus your Lord and Savior, and His Spirit live in you! We have so much more access than those in the Old Testament, all because of the Holy Spirit.
What No Eyes Have Seen
1 Corinthians 2;9-12 says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him. But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.”
One of the most incredible things about the Holy Spirit is that He reveals God’s dreams to us. Did you know that God has dreams for you that exceed anything known to man? And He reveals those to you through His Spirit! We don’t have to be in the dark about anything when we have the Holy Spirit. God’s plan and secrets and all the wonderful things He has in store for us are revealed by His Spirit. We can know God’s thoughts to understand what pleases Him, what doesn’t, and how to follow Him effectively. The Holy Spirit leads us to greatness!
There are things that God has planned for you that would blow your own mind. However, it is all possible! Get hooked up with the Spirit and start walking in the supernatural and miraculous daily! This new life with the Holy Spirit will bring us to unreal levels, but it is real because of God and His Spirit.
He Gives Us Power and Boldness
The Holy Spirit is not merely a passive presence but an active source of power and boldness. In the book of Acts, we see how the early disciples were transformed by the Holy Spirit, emboldening them to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly despite opposition and persecution. This same empowering Spirit equips us to live out our faith courageously and to be effective witnesses for Christ in a world that often opposes His truth.
Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” It is because of the Holy Spirit that we can fulfill our God-given destinies. Without Him, we would not have the boldness to spread the Gospel. Peter did not have boldness until Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit. You cannot be an effective witness for Jesus without the Holy Spirit. When it comes to the things of God, you cannot do it in the flesh; everything must be done by the Spirit.
Empowered by His Spirit
Ephesians 3:16 says, “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.” It is God Himself that empowers us through His Holy Spirit. That’s why, when it comes to being righteous, we can do it! It is the power of God Himself strengthening us to fulfill His will. So, when you realize that, you should also recognize that you have the power to overcome everything Jesus did. And *hint* *hint* Jesus overcame everything!
No sin, temptation, witch, warlock, voodoo, depression, sickness, anxiety, or fear is more powerful than the Spirit living inside of you! 1 John 4:4 says, “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” Just because you are God’s child and have His Spirit, you have the victory. As a believer, you have already overcome every spirit in this world because of Whose you are! You have greatness inside you, so you must use it every moment of the day!
You Have Power Over the Devil
The power you have because of the Holy Spirit is greater than the power of the enemy. This is vital when understanding the Holy Spirit that He gives us authority and power! It is the same authority and power as Jesus, so start acting like it! When trials and tribulations happen, I need you to utilize that resurrection power that lives in you. I need you to start speaking, praying, praising, and rebuking the devil! He has no right because you are a child of God, and you hold the power of the Most High.
If God is before me, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31) The answer is no one, you have the victory! You had victory the moment you got saved because that was the moment you received the Holy Spirit. Jesus would never leave us empty-handed regarding the wiles of the devil. The weapons of our warfare aren’t carnal but mighty through God! (2 Corinthians 10:4). They are mighty through our use of the Holy Spirit and the power and authority He offers us! We can pull down strongholds with the power that resides in us.
My prayer is that every day, you become more Christ-Inside-Minded. It is pivotal during these end times that we recognize and understand the vast greatness that lives in us. The Holy Spirit isn’t one to play with, so let’s continue to get to know Him more. I hope this helped, and God Bless!
A Call to Salvation
If you want to know God and have the wonderful, amazing, powerful Holy Spirit, and have a relationship with Him, say this prayer: “Dear Heavenly Father, I repent of my sins and turn my back to them; I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for my sins and rose on the third day. I accept Him into my heart now; I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart Jesus is Lord. By faith, I give Him my whole life, heart, mind, and soul. Amen!” If you said this prayer, go to the I Just Got Saved page for church recommendations, a Bible, and a journal! God is for you, not against you. You now have the most incredible power living in you, so let’s get to work and kick the devil’s butt!
Helpful Resources
Books of The Bible to Read
The Book of Acts
Romans
Ephesians
I and II Corinthians
Galatians
Bible App
Holy Spirit Guidance Verses
Acts 1:4-8
John 14:26
Ezekiel 36:26–28
Acts 2:1–4
2 Corinthians 3:17–18
Ephesians 1:11–14
1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Romans 8:26–27
Galatians 5:16–25
Holy Spirit Guidance Prayer
If you want more guidance by the Holy Spirit pray this prayer: “God guide me in your perfect will with the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. May He teach me Your ways and reveal to me your plans. I pray that I will continually be strengthen by Your Spirit, withstand temptation and sin, and live a righteous and victorious life! Give me direction every single moment of every single day and may I never go astray from Your Word. May Your Holy Spirit continually lead me to the truth and remind me of it so I can be in your perfect will! I thank you God that in Your Word you promise to guide me through your Spirit God, so I thank you that this is an answered prayer! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!”
