As I reread well known verses, my eyes are being opened to all that we’re missing out on by ignoring or denying the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. One that has really caught my attention is Eph. 3:18-20:

“…may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and the length and the height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according the power at work within us…”

I cannot tell you the number of sermons I have heard over these verses or heard them quoted in. However, somehow that understanding and power seems to completely elude me, and, it seems, our churches.

Then, as I read the verses in context, I discovered the missing piece. Eph. 3:16-17:

“…according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and ground in love, may have strength to comprehend…” (emp. mine)

Without the power afforded to us by the indwelling Spirit, understanding his love and seeing the “far more abundantly” is impossible. As these verses show, the strength and the power to access these promises can only be found in the Spirit of Christ living in us.

As I read the New Testament and see the working of the Spirit there, drawing near to him and discovering the strength and power he offers isn’t some mysterious ritual or thing. When the Spirit moved people in the Bible, they didn’t have to do anything, but simply believe it was possible.

In the same way, we need to stop fearing Him, seeing Him as something ethereal, and ignoring Him. Instead, we need to embrace the Spirit’s presence in our lives and believe that He can work and fulfill the promises God gave us through Him, just as he did in the Bible. Simply believing he is there and has the power to work in us is enough.

Song Quote taken from: Tenth Avenue North. “Light Meets the Dark.”