Not sure why I never saw it before there on the way to my daughter's house. I’ve passed it dozens of times–the Holy Spirit Party Center. This recreation hall, located in front of a church, gave me pause and then inspired a broad smile. I never considered a party center in terms of God's indwelling spirit, but it makes perfect sense. There's so much about the Holy Spirit to celebrate.
I treasure the Holy Spirit’s presence more the longer I walk with Christ. He never leaves me, and no circumstance can separate us. His power continually imbues my life with hope and strength. While God’s Word outlines my purpose and plan, and Christ’s sacrifice enables me to live that out, the Holy Spirit gives practical discernment along the way. As Peter says, “His divine power has given us all we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). That’s reason to rejoice! We should find ourselves in the Holy Spirit Party Center each and every day.
Here are some of the many blessings the Holy Spirit provides in the life of a believer:
Assurance. Many Christians struggle with the truth of their salvation. On this broken, horizontal plane, Satan tempts believers to doubt their faith. They wonder if they’re truly cleansed by the blood of Christ, or if the cross was powerful enough for what they brought to it. In John 16, Jesus outlines the work of the Holy Spirit as that of “convicting the world…in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment.” Jesus’ work on earth, calling sinners to repentance and pointing out that pride and self-dependence is not righteousness, continues through the voice of the Holy Spirit. His presence in our lives is a sign of our redemption. Hearing his voice signals the authenticity of our salvation.
The Holy Spirit’s voice reminds us of a beloved truth– the penalty for our sin, its propitiation, has been paid once and for all with Jesus’ blood. The Holy Spirit continually reminds us of the reality of Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This reality is beautiful and hard to take in. Our hearts may struggle comprehending the free flow of grace, but it is the solid foundation of faith.
Equipment. Because the precepts in God's Word are contrary to our flesh, it’s hard to move from intellectual assent to feet on the ground obedience. The Holy Spirit enables us to do what God calls us to do. At the point of our salvation, two incredible miracles took place. First, Christ’s sacrifice paid for the forgiveness of our sins. After we have accepted that payment as our own, our sins are as far from God as the “east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). The second miracle is taught about less frequently, but is vital to our walk. At the point of our salvation we were imputed with the righteousness of Christ through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. That imputation represents a fascinating gift.
One way to think about imputation comes from the huge hypodermic-like needles chefs use to marinate turkeys. Marinade is pushed into the meat through an external force, which changes its flavor, making it moist and palatable as it goes through the heat of frying or cooking. The imputation of the righteousness of Christ into our lives works similarly. God’s almighty hand gives it to us–pushes it into us at the point of our salvation. It permeates each part of our being. Christ’s righteousness is ours, on reserve, like a bank account we draw from through prayer and practice. The struggle most of us face is applying what we have to the challenges we face. Sometimes we forget how to use the ATM!
Comfort. This world, broken by sin, plagues us with sorrow, struggle, and loss. The Holy Spirit enables us to see rays of God’s light through clouds of discouragement, disillusionment, and pain. He reminds us God is always working and is always with us, whatever the situation. Like the Israelites, we need ongoing reminders. God gave his people fire by night, a cloud by day, and beautiful honey toast, in the form of manna, each morning. In the difficult deserts we wander through, he is equally faithful. The Holy Spirit reminds us God is present and we are not forsaken. He calms our soul with words of truth, like those found in Psalm 27:1; “The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?”
Beautiful things happen when I choose to hang out at the Holy Spirit Party Center in my heart. I have a standing invitation, and the door is always open. Jesus is always there. Joy, strength, peace, and providence load the table, and the party never ends.
Crystal is a Christ-follower, wife, mother, counselor, and friend. She is passionate about connecting others with the truth of God's miraculous power and sustaining presence.
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