Do I Even Know the Holy Spirit?
If you’d asked me a year ago what I believed about the Holy Spirit, I probably would’ve shrugged.
Sure, I was “aware.” I read my Bible. I prayed and had seen God move. But honestly? I never gave the Spirit much attention. I figured—well, I’m saved, I go to church, I try to be a good person, I know I’m headed to heaven… so that’s it, right? I “had” the Holy Spirit, case closed.
Or so I thought.
A Book That Shifted My Curiosity
In December 2023, I came across a book recommended by a mom-podcaster: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.
That book sent me down a rabbit hole. I learned Comer had been a pastor at Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon (yes, Christians in Portland—who knew?). I started listening to sermons and came across something that caught my attention:
An annual Holy Spirit Conference.
A whole conference just on the Holy Spirit. Like six years running. And at the 2024 gathering? People experienced real healing—physically and mentally.
Meanwhile, here I was in the so-called Bible Belt, raised in church my whole life… and I barely knew anything about the Holy Spirit. Truthfully I thought it was all about Jesus. Sure I know the Holy Spirit lives in me & I was saved. End of story… but it was just the beginning.
Discovering the Gifts of the Spirit
Hungry to learn more & see what I was missing, I found a Bridgetown sermon series on the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12. Jackpot.
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Wisdom. Knowledge. Faith. Healing. Miracles. Prophecy. Discernment. Tongues. Interpretation.
The sermon series was full of real experiences happening today – not just First Century Church. Did this all end when John the Apostle died?
I was amazed. Drawn in. Almost undone. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
My Southern Baptist Roots
Growing up Southern Baptist, I learned plenty about God, Jesus, baptism, John 3:16, and the Great Commission. I knew the hymns, the altar calls, and the do’s and don’ts.
But the Holy Spirit? Hardly mentioned.
Yet Jesus Himself said:
“It is better for you that I go away. If I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7).
Better. Hmmm…. Better?… Yep He said better.
Jesus actually said it was better for Him to leave so the Holy Spirit could come. That flips everything, doesn’t it? What’s better than Jesus?
If you’d asked me back then whether I could spend one day with Jesus or Holy Spirit, I would’ve answered Jesus without hesitation. But Jesus didn’t take that approach. He insisted the Spirit’s arrival was the greater gift.
Sitting With That Truth
Better.
Not just good. Not equal. Better.
That single word shattered my old assumptions and forced me to admit: I really didn’t know the Holy Spirit. What was I missing?