Entertaining the Spirit of God
(Reference John 14:16-27; John 15:1-17; and Romans 8)
The Puritan theologian, Richard Sibbes, spoke of “entertaining” the Holy Spirit in our hearts – that is, providing him an inviting, hospitable place to live and relate to us. He wrote that as the Spirit makes us “a house for himself, he doth also become unto us a counselor in all our doubts, a comforter in all our distresses, a solicitor to all duty, a guide in the whole course of life, until we dwell with him forever in heaven…” (The Works of Richard Sibbes, 5:414)
“It is the happiest condition in the world,” Sibbes wrote, “when the soul is the temple of the Holy Spirit; when the heart is as the ‘holy of holies,’ where there be prayers and praises offered to God… While the Spirit and his motions are entertained by us, we shall be happy in life, happy in death, happy to eternity.” (Works, 5:432) (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
Questions: 1) How would your life be different if you stayed aware that “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20); 2) Seeing your heart as the “Holy of Holies” inside your “temple of God”, how will this change your experience of God and your ability to hear him speak to you?
7 Ways to Entertain the Spirit
- Read what He says (2 Timothy 3:16) – all Scripture is God-breathed by the Holy Spirit.
- Read it for what it teaches about His truth – not for what you want it to say
- Clear your mind of your “business” so you can hear His agenda for your life
- Ask Jesus, “What are you saying to me through this scripture?”
- Respond to His prompting (John 14:26) – the Spirit prompts us, teaches us, and causes us to remember what he has said. Our response is to say, “Yes, Lord, and amen.”
- Resolve to take immediate action when you are prompted (Galatians 5:16, 25) – “walk out” the prompting of the Spirit, for faith without works is “dead”. (James 2:14-17)
- Revolt against the “spirit of slavery” and “put to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:12-15). This is a fight for your heart and ultimately for your life, now and eternally.
- Revel in His grace (Psalm 34:18; John 14:27; Matthew 5:4; 2 Timothy 1:7) – if sin has drawn you away from him and you are living in fear, the Spirit wants you to once again experience power and love and self-control. Don’t withdraw from his grace and miss it.
- Renew the image you have of your heart. Place your hand over it to draw attention to it realizing it is the origin of your “mindset”. (Romans 8:5-11). God designed it to be a place of life and peace where you commune with him as “Abba Father” – “Daddy”.
- Re-align your priorities so that spending time with the Spirit is your highest priority. After all, he is the one who “intercedes for us” with the Father and “causes all things to work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:26-30) Nothing in this world makes more sense than entertaining God in your heart.
Credit Scott Hubbard, How to Entertain the Holy Spirit, Editor of DesiringGod.org
Document by Russ Rainey, PhD, www.NewDirectionChristianCoaching.com
