It might not seem like a big deal to tell a white lie or to be envious of your neighbor’s new car, but any and all sin creates a separation between you and God.
John 3:16 describes the gift that God gave us: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. " This means that believing in Jesus is the path to spending your afterlife in heaven! In John 7:37-39, Jesus says: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. " The “rivers of living water” he’s referring to are the Holy Spirit.
Even Jesus experienced this, as described in Matthew 3:16: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. " In other words, He received the Holy Spirit as a result of being baptized.
The Bible explains this separation in Isaiah 59:2: “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. " You can’t be close to God if you intentionally continue to sin. The presence of the Holy Spirit may help you have a better understanding of what the sins are in your life!
For instance, the writer of Psalm prays in 51:11: “Do not cast from me your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. " Even holy men fear losing their closeness with God!
It’s okay if you don’t experience all of these things all at once. It’s a process!
Jesus describes the Holy Spirit in John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. " If you listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, it will be easier to know what’s right.
Romans 8:26 describes this: “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. " For instance, if you’re feeling consumed with grief, you might not know where to start praying. However, the presence of the Holy Spirit can communicate that pain to God for you.
In 1 Corinthians 12:29-31, Paul writes: “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have the gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. " God intends for us all to have different gifts! 1 Corinthians 14:2 explains the experience of speaking in tongues in a little more detail: “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. "
