We understand that we are made up of body, soul and spirit.  The apostle Paul writes about these three elements in that he expresses his desire that all three elements of the brethren be preserved blameless at Christ’s coming. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We can see and touch our bodies because they are physical. But it is more difficult to understand our soul and spirit and understand the differences between them.  And yet, we understand that we have a soul and a spirit because we are not just a body. We have life; we have emotions and feelings; we have desires; we can think; we have personalities. When we die, it is obvious that something changes; there is still a body, but the soul and spirit are gone. We must admit that we have a soul and a spirit.

The Bible talks about another Spirit that we will be given as Christians.  In Acts 5:32, the apostle Peter spoke about “the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” We cannot see this Holy Spirit within us, but there should be evidence that He is within us; we should bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Is there evidence in your life that the Holy Spirit is in you? Are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit?

Some might say that they don’t know that the Spirit of God dwells in them. Romans 8:9-11 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  We are promised the Holy Spirit.  If we do not have the Spirit, we are not His.  We should want the Spirit within to give us life and to help us. Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” There are great benefits from having the Spirit within us.

I think it is good to appreciate that our bodies are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in us.  1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”  When we appreciate that the Spirit of God also dwells in our body, it should influence how we use our bodies; we would not want to defile or use our bodies for unholy things since we are the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Not only does the Holy Spirit live within us, but we have been purchased by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  We now belong to God.  We are not our own. Our body and spirit should glorify God.

People in the world do not have the Holy Spirit within them.  Indeed, they may have another spirit.  But He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4-6 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”  Is Christ in you?  Test yourself. 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified.  But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.” I encourage you to see yourself as having Christ in you.

So, what is the significance of the Spirit within us?  We belong to God.  We bear the fruit of the Spirit.  The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses.  All these are true for us as Christians.  But in addition to these things, God works within us.  I understand that we have free will.  We make choices in our life.  But if we allow Him, God will work within us. Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” As Christians, God desires to work within us through His Holy Spirit, for His glory.

Since we know that the Holy Spirit lives within us and that we are the temple of God, I encourage you to let this knowledge impact your life.  The Holy Spirit knows everything that you say and do.  He knows your heart.  Ephesians 4:30-32 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” I encourage you to not grieve the Holy Spirit.  Be spiritually minded and not carnally minded.  Put away the works of the flesh. Follow the leading the Spirit. Then you will bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life.