Partner with God's Spirit

Imagine you are a writer working on a movie script. After months of writing and editing, you feel like you have a fantastic story. Thankfully, the studio that is going to put your story to screen agrees with you. In fact, they think this could be an award-winning film. So to protect the story, the studio execs decide to put you in charge of the search for the right director.

With the help of some friends within the industry, you start culling through suggestions for a director. Your team finally narrows it down to an incredibly successful director who has had multiple films up for numerous awards. He has a great reputation. He is known to be an "actor's director." He is your absolute dream hire.

But before you can make the phone call to ask the director to come on board, one member of your search team says, "I actually think to wow Academy Award voters, we need to take a risk and hire a director no one has ever heard of. Someone who is cutting edge, in touch with the youth, has a unique style, and can really add finesse to the film. And the person I think that would be perfect for this is..." (and as he throws a folder down on the desk top in front of you, he says with dramatic flair, yet with all seriousness,) "...this 13-year-old girl who has published six TikTok videos in the past 8 months."

Who are you going to pick? The famous, powerhouse director with tons of success? Or the completely unknown teenager who only knows how to shoot video with her iPhone?

Who will you partner with?

We are in a series called How to be Holy. Thus far we've seen how Jesus-followers are to partner with God's grace as well as God's people in their journey toward holiness. But today, we get to see that Christ followers also get to partner with the Holy Spirit.

If you are a follower of Jesus, you have been filled with the Holy Spirit:

While my imaginary scenario above is quite ridiculous, a similar thing happens spiritually on a daily basis. Humans are like the 13-year-old TikTok creator in this ludicrous scenario while God's Holy Spirit is the powerhouse director. Too often, we flawed humans try to direct our own lives in whatever fashion seems best, following the latest trends (or latest selfish desires) to get to Christlikeness. Yet even if someone is the most talented, self-disciplined person in history, their ability to produce holiness within themselves pales in comparison to the work the Holy Spirit can do.

"In [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit," (Ephesians 1:13, ESV, emphasis added)

"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17, ESV, emphasis added)

"...in Christ Jesus... we might receive the promised Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:14, ESV, edited for clarity, emphasis added)

But this Spirit of God isn't like your odd uncle who comes over to your house occasionally and tells you how to fix your car or mow your lawn. Rather, He works in you and with you (Philippians 2:13) to help you grow into Christlikeness. His work is then evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Meaning, He is a full partner in your journey toward holiness.

That is why the Apostle Paul encouraged the believers in Galatia that...

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, ESV)

So don't try to achieve holiness through sheer will power. Rather, submit yourself to God's Holy Spirit through Scripture, prayer, and attitude, allowing Him to partner with you so you might go farther in this spiritual journey than you ever imagined.