by Jerry Chen (member of the Asia Pacific Leadership Team and former National Director of Taiwan)
The Holy Spirit and His work are among the most profound—and sometimes most sensitive—subjects in the Christian faith. Countless books, sermons, and teachings have been devoted to this topic. Yet for many believers, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives feels mysterious and difficult to grasp. We may hear much and read much, longing deeply for the Spirit, yet still wonder how to truly experience His presence and work in daily life.
To understand how the Holy Spirit indwells our lives, we first need to grasp an important truth. Every person who believes in Christ already has the Holy Spirit living within them. After the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and spoke in different languages, Peter stood up and proclaimed to the crowd: “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38). That day, about three thousand people believed and were baptised. Scripture tells us that every believer receives the Holy Spirit as a gift from God at the moment of salvation. The Apostle Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 6 and 12, and again in Romans 8, that believers are baptised by the Spirit, are temples of the Holy Spirit, and have the Spirit dwelling within them.
The Holy Spirit does far more than simply dwell in us—He transforms us. Jesus called the Holy Spirit our Helper who teaches us to understand God’s Word (John 14:26; 16:12–14), pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:5), helps us pray when we are weak (Romans 8:26–27), and empowers us to overcome the flesh and live victorious lives.
If we truly desire to bear the fruit of the Spirit, we must learn to draw near to Him, listen to Him, walk with Him, and allow Him to work deeply within us. When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, He said: “God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Jesus was teaching her that genuine worship is not about location, rituals, or religious tradition. True worship is spiritual, authentic, and heartfelt. The Holy Spirit sees beyond our outward actions and discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.
Wanting to seek God is one thing. Quietly waiting before Him with a surrendered and attentive heart is another. I remember a season when my devotional life felt more like fulfilling a Christian obligation than enjoying a relationship with God. Deep inside, I knew something was missing. I yearned to know how to wait quietly before the Lord and listen for His voice. At first, it was difficult. Within minutes, my mind wandered everywhere, and focusing on Jesus felt almost impossible. But I persevered, learning that spiritual hunger is a gift from God—something I could not manufacture through sheer determination. Only God could give me a heart that truly longed for Him.
Gradually, I began to experience the deep sweetness of God’s presence. The Holy Spirit began a quiet but profound work within me. He brought back painful memories—not to condemn me, but to heal and restore me. Little by little, my focus shifted from myself to God. Even my perspective on ministry changed. Instead of asking, “What can I do for God?” I began asking, “What does God want me to do?” I became less concerned about whether I felt capable or about which tasks I personally preferred. I also became less preoccupied with how others viewed me and instead learned to care about how God viewed me.
Alongside the Holy Spirit’s inward work of transformation is His outward work of empowerment. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul speaks about spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit for the service of others. Throughout the Old Testament period of the Judges, whenever Israel turned away from God and suffered, they cried out to Him. Then God raised up deliverers empowered by His Spirit. Most of these Judges came from ordinary and unimpressive backgrounds. Yet when the Spirit of God came upon them, they received supernatural courage and strength.
Spiritual gifts and spiritual maturity are not the same thing. Yet both are important. Servants like Moses, Paul, and Samuel endured seasons of testing, discipline, and formation. They were not only empowered by the Spirit but also faithful throughout their lives. May the Lord have mercy on us as well. May He teach us to remain thankful in every season and allow the Holy Spirit to refine our character through trials and hardships. And at the same time, may we continue to pursue the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit with humility and wisdom.