Acknowledging the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church

Often in many gatherings of believers or in church meetings, people pray to invite the Holy Spirit into their midst. However, what does Scripture actually say? Jesus Himself declared, “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). This shows that the Lord is already present whenever believers gather in His name. Indeed, God has always been with His people, and He does not require an invitation to be present among His children.

Furthermore, nowhere in Scripture do we see the Apostles inviting the Holy Spirit into their assemblies. Rather, they gathered in faith, obedience, and expectation, fully aware that the Spirit of God was already with and within them.

Bible references: Matthew 18:20; Luke 24:49; John 14:16-18; Acts 2:1-4, 42; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Hebrews 13:5.

A quick about the identity of the Holy Spirit, though, a white dove is mostly used for the Holy Spirit, it is not the Holy Spirit but it's just a symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit... Our today's devotion is centered on growing more in the Holy Spirit as a believer.

The Holy Spirit Is God — Not an Angel, Not a Man

The Holy Spirit is not a created being or a human person; He is fully God. Scripture confirms that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God (Acts 5:3–4). He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), all-knowing (1 Corinthians 2:10), and present everywhere (Psalm 139:7). He also creates, gives new life, and sanctifies (Genesis 1:2; John 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Therefore, let no one deceive you into believing that any religious leader is the Comforter Jesus promised to His Church. The Holy Spirit alone is that promised Comforter, Teacher, and Helper—ever present in all believers.

Jesus Is Not a Prophet but God

Scripture reveals that Jesus is far more than a prophet—He is God manifested in human form. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14). When Apostle Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” (John 14:9). In Christ, “all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

One of Jesus’ clearest declarations of divinity is His statement, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58), directly connecting Himself to the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14—the eternal, self-existent Yahweh.

God Himself affirms the deity of His Son, declaring, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever” (Hebrews 1:8). And in Revelation, Jesus proclaims, “I am the Alpha and the Omega… the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

Jesus is God revealed to us—our Savior, our Lord, and the eternal source of life. In Him, we behold the fullness of God’s glory, grace, and truth.

The God Who Exists Beyond Time Yet Chose to Form Us With His Hands

There’s something about God that truly marvels beyond our understanding. He is not limited to time or anything. He exists beyond the boundaries that limit us. Time, space, matter, and circumstance all operate within creation, but God Himself stands outside of it. That’s why He is the Alpha and Omega. He spoke all things—excluding humans—into existence. But when it came to the creation of humanity, He chose to mould us like a potter moulds a vessel and breathed into us, making us representatives of His image and likeness. We are so dear to Him, and we are the only creation He chose to have a relationship with.

Bible References: Genesis 1:26–27; 2:7; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 31:3; Revelation 1:8.

God Is Our Ever-Loving Father

Let God continually be praised in all the earth and in the heavens above, for His love endures forevermore. God has shown us a love so great that our minds cannot fully comprehend it. Though humanity fell into disobedience through our earthly father Adam, God neither abandoned nor forsook us.

After we failed in our attempts to attain salvation through our own works, God Himself stepped into the scene. Through His incarnation, His crucifixion, and His glorious resurrection, He made the way possible for us to be restored.

And when we finally come to our senses—acknowledging this truth and accepting the glorious Jesus Christ as Lord—He rescues us from condemnation and brings us into salvation.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Before the creation of humanity, God had already purposed to bring us into oneness and fellowship with Himself. He created us in His own image and likeness, but through disobedience, we lost that divine relationship and fell short of His perfect will. Yet, because of His unfailing love, God made a way to restore us. Through His incarnation and the sacrificial work of Christ—His crucifixion and triumphant resurrection—He paid the price for all our unrighteousness and separation from Him.

Whoever comes to the knowledge of this Gospel and accepts it by faith is no longer separated from God, but restored to perfect oneness with Him.

Let's pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great love that restores us to fellowship with You. Open our hearts to fully receive the finished work of Christ and to walk in the oneness You designed for us from the beginning. Help us to remain faithful to Your truth and to live in the fullness of Your grace. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Grace came to us—given freely—because we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. There was absolutely no way we could have been made right with God through our own efforts. That is why grace is not just a gift; it is our constant Help in every weakness.

Let's pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your amazing grace. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to make us right with You when we could never save ourselves. Thank You that Your grace strengthens us, lifts us, and helps us in every weakness. We are grateful for Your unfailing love and for the power of grace that sustains us daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Unlike Adam, who tried to hide himself from God because of his guilt, in Christ, we no longer need to hide. His blood removes our shame, His righteousness covers us, and His Spirit draws us boldly into God’s presence. What once separated us has now been fully reconciled through His sacrifice. In Christ, we stand forgiven, accepted, and free.

Indeed, Jesus is the reason for all our experiences in this world. In our good times, let's not forget to praise Him and in our bad times, let's turn complaints into our compliment to Him. For He is always faithful and His love for us has no end.

Dwelling in the Righteousness of Christ

Remember, it’s never about our own righteousness but about the righteousness of Christ credited to us. Our human effort, no matter how sincere, can never measure up to God’s perfect standard. In His sight, our self-made righteousness is nothing more than filthy rags. That is why we cannot depend on ourselves—we must rely completely on His perfect, finished work.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (CEB) – “God made the one who didn’t know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

No matter what you're going through in life, remember that God is always faithful.