Submitted by Pastor Richard Boettner, Rock Port Baptist Church

To recognize a spiritual life it is necessary to understand that God provides that through His own Person at work in our lives, the Holy Spirit.

In our recent Bible study at the Rock Port Baptist Church we have been studying 2 Corinthians. This book speaks so honestly of Paul’s own suffering, but also his wonderful, victorious experience of God. Consider the following verses:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17,18)

To first experience God in Spirit we must turn to Him by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, and turn away from a mere physical existence, that will be shallow and unfulfilling. It is essential that we “live by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7) This is especially true when the reality of death comes, and I need to receive the promise of a “building from God, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1,2).

Over time, God changes me to be the person He wants me to be. That can happen through a variety of different life circumstances for each person, and it will be unique for each individual. But the Holy Spirit is the Source of this transforming work. I am so glad to be a more mature person than I used to be in the past. And I look forward to more that is yet to come.

I am also glad that God has taken the difficulties of life, and redeemed them into something good. It protects me from discouragement or despair, which would plague all of us without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Additional signs of the Holy Spirit would include:

1) Comfort in life’s troubles and the ability to provide comfort to others in suffering (2 Cor. 1:4).

2) A clear conscience that seeks good in others from a sincere and pure faith (2 Cor. 1:12).

3) The ability to say “Yes” to God’s promises, and live in obedience to Him with joy and good service (2 Cor. 1:20,21).

4) Awareness that Moses and the old covenant is past, and we live with a new covenant in the Holy Spirit that gives life (2 Cor. 3:7,8).

As always feel free to contact me with any questions or comments at rockportbaptistchurch.com.