Chapter 6a: Questions We’re Afraid to Ask About the Spirit
Clearing the Air
Before we talk about walking with the Spirit (as we will in the next chapter), we need to be honest.
Many Christians carry silent questions about the Holy Spirit — questions we’re too embarrassed or too intimidated to ask.
We believe in Him — because we’re supposed to.
We sing about Him — because the lyrics are on the screen. But deep down, we’re confused.
Uneasy.
If the Spirit is God,
why do we treat Him like a stranger?
This chapter is about clearing the air — bringing the quiet questions into the light.
Why Do We Treat Him Differently?
We don’t hesitate to speak of the Father or the Son. But when it comes to the Spirit, we flinch.
Why?
Part of it is what we’ve seen.
Some people have turned the Spirit into a show — shouting, fainting, emotional frenzy.
We don’t want to be “like that,” so we keep our distance.
Part of it is how He works.
The Spirit glorifies Christ, not Himself (John 16:14).
He is gentle, often subtle, not demanding attention. So we forget.
And part of it, honestly, is fear.
We fear what He might do if we gave Him full control.
Is He a “He” or an “It”?
We often say “the Spirit” as if we’re talking about a thing — like the wind or electricity.
But the Bible calls Him He — never it.
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” (John 15:26)
He thinks, teaches, speaks, grieves, and loves. You can’t have a relationship with an “it.”
If you think of Him as a force, you’ll try to use Him.
If you know Him as a Person, you’ll learn to trust Him.
Does He Only Come Once?
Some of us think the Spirit showed up when we believed — and that was it.
He took up residence, sealed our salvation, and now He’s quietly waiting for heaven.
But Scripture says the Spirit is not only the One who starts the work — He keeps working.
He continues to fill, guide, convict, comfort, and empower. He’s not finished.
He’s not silent. He’s not passive.
“…be filled with the Spirit…” (Ephesians 5:18) The verb is ongoing — keep being filled.
You don’t need Him just once. You need Him every moment.
Is He Just Fuel?
Some of us think of the Spirit like gasoline —
we come to church to “fill up,” then run on that all week. We treat Him like a power source —
useful, impersonal, and invisible.
But He is not your fuel — He is your Friend.
He does empower you — but He also speaks to you, walks with you, and shapes you.
He is not a tool you use for your mission. You are His vessel for God’s mission.
Is the Spirit Just an Emotion?
We’ve seen people cry, sway, fall down, or shout in “the Spirit.” We’ve felt tingles in worship and wondered, “Was that Him?”
The Spirit can move our emotions — but He is not just a feeling.
He brings conviction, peace, and joy — but also wisdom, holiness, and courage, even when our feelings don’t cooperate.
If you think the Spirit only shows up when you feel something, you will mistake emotion for His presence — and miss Him when you feel nothing.
Does He Only Meet Us at Church?
We sometimes act like the Spirit lives in the sanctuary and shows up at 11 a.m.
But Paul writes:
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
He lives in you.
Where you go, He goes. When you wake, He’s there. When you sleep, He’s there.
When you gather with other believers, His presence is magnified — but He does not leave when you walk out the door.
Why Is He Silent?
We say the Spirit speaks —
but sometimes it feels like He’s not saying much. Why?
Sometimes we’re not listening.
We drown His whisper with noise, busyness, and sin.
Sometimes He withdraws to discipline us — to make us hunger for Him again.
Sometimes He’s quiet because He already told us what to do — and we’re pretending we didn’t hear.
But even in silence, He is present.
Not So at Pentecost — What Happened?
At Pentecost, the Spirit came like wind and fire. The disciples were bold.
The church exploded.
Why does it feel different today?
We’ve traded boldness for comfort. We’ve traded dependence for control. We’ve grieved and quenched the Spirit.
The Spirit has not changed —
but we often resist what He wants to do. What would happen if we stopped resisting?
Why It Matters
We will never fully understand the Spirit. He is God — mysterious, holy, and free.
But we cannot afford to ignore Him or reduce Him to a feeling or a force.
And this is the story we are living:
In the Garden of Eden, humanity walked with God’s breath in their lungs.
At Pentecost, the Spirit came to fill His people again.
In the final garden, the Spirit will make us fully alive in the presence of the Father and Son.
To know the Spirit now is to prepare for that day —
to walk with Him here before walking with Him there.
Reflection
Your questions about the Spirit do not offend Him. Your fears do not disqualify you.
But your indifference does rob you of joy.
The Spirit is not waiting for you to figure Him out — but He is waiting for you to trust Him.
Bring your questions to Him.
And then be ready to follow when He answers.
Questions to Consider
✦ Do you tend to see the Spirit as a Person, a force, or a feeling?
✦ How has fear of emotionalism, confusion, or control kept you from embracing Him?
✦ When have you sensed the Spirit prompting you — and did you obey?
✦ What would it look like for you to live with the boldness of Pentecost?
Prayer
Holy Spirit,
I have been afraid to ask questions —
afraid of You, afraid of what others might think, afraid of losing control. Forgive me.
Teach me who You truly are.
Show me where I have resisted You.
Give me ears to hear You, courage to obey You, and boldness to trust You — even when I don’t fully understand.
Until the day I see You clearly in the final garden, help me walk faithfully with You here.
Amen.
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