Who Is the Holy Spirit, really?
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor Caleb Culver’s sermon from November 16, 2025!
Spirituality often gets reduced to vibes, energy, and intuition. But Scripture offers a far greater reality: the Holy Spirit is not an it or a feeling—He is a divine person. Fully God. Present and active in the life of every believer.
The Spirit’s Divine Nature
The Bible describes the Holy Spirit with the same qualities as God Himself. He is eternal. He knows all things. He is present everywhere. He creates, guides, speaks, comforts, and transforms. Jesus never spoke of the Spirit as an impersonal force; He called Him “another Helper”—someone who comes alongside us.
The Holy Spirit works in two powerful ways:
He lives within us—changing our hearts, shaping our character, and guiding us into truth.
He empowers us—giving courage, boldness, and supernatural help to live out our faith.
At Pentecost, the Spirit filled ordinary people with extraordinary boldness. Peter, once afraid to admit he even knew Jesus, stood before a crowd and fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel. Thousands responded.
These are the works of someone, not something. Which leads to an honest question: Do we see the Spirit as someone to know, or something to use?
The Breath of Life
When God created the first human, He breathed life into Adam. That breath—God’s own Spirit—made him alive. Humanity was designed to carry God’s Presence, but sin cut us off from that life. We kept breathing physically, but not spiritually. Then Jesus came.
After His resurrection, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He was restoring what had been lost—God’s own life filling human hearts once again. When someone turns to Jesus, this same Spirit fills them. Romans 8:11 says the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in believers. That means real change, real power, and real hope.
The Spirit’s Work Today
The Holy Spirit has not retired. He still gives wisdom, comfort, strength, spiritual gifts, and direction. Jesus said the Spirit would flow out of believers like “rivers of living water”—bringing life wherever He goes. That means He doesn’t only want to dwell within us; He wants to overflow through us.
He empowers us for both big moments and everyday ones—to love difficult people, to forgive, to raise children, to share our faith, to resist temptation, and to walk in peace.
Yielding Control
Believing in the Holy Spirit is not the same as surrendering to Him. We can walk in our own strength or walk in His. Trying to produce patience, joy, or love on our own always leads to exhaustion. But when we yield—when we let Him lead—He produces fruit in us that we could never produce ourselves.
The church today does not just need better strategies. We need His Presence. The question isn’t whether He’s here. The question is whether we’ll make room for Him.
Tap to watch Pastor Caleb Culver’s full sermon on Youtube.
Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:
Day 1: The Holy Spirit Is God
Reading: Acts 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 2:10–12
The Holy Spirit is fully God, and when He speaks, God is speaking. Today, treat His nudges as His direction—not mere suggestions. Take a moment to pause and ask, “Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me right now?” As you go through your day, obey one small prompting He gives you, and do it immediately. You’ll begin to recognize His voice more clearly as you respond in faith.
Day 2: The Holy Spirit Is a Person
Reading: John 14:15–21; Ephesians 4:30
The Holy Spirit is not an “it.” He is a person who thinks, feels, speaks, and desires relationship with you. Talk with Him throughout your day as you would a trusted friend. Ask Him, “What is on Your heart today?” Be attentive to anything that might grieve Him and turn away from it quickly. The more you relate to Him personally, the more you’ll sense His Presence and guidance.
Day 3: The Breath of Life
Reading: Genesis 2:4–7; John 20:19–23
God’s Spirit is your spiritual breath; you cannot live a Christian life without His life in you. Begin your morning by praying, “Holy Spirit, breathe Your life into me today.” When stress or temptation rises, pause and breathe deeply, inviting Him to fill and strengthen you. Notice where you’ve been relying on your own strength and surrender those areas so His life can flow freely through you.
Day 4: Clothed with Power
Reading: Acts 1:4–8; Acts 2:1–4
The Spirit lives within you to give new life and comes upon you to give boldness and power for God’s mission. Ask Him specifically, “Holy Spirit, empower me for what You’ve called me to do.” Step into one situation today with Spirit-led courage—share the Gospel, pray for someone, or serve boldly. Expect Him to work through you, not just in you.
Day 5: Walking in the Spirit
Reading: Galatians 5:16–25; Romans 8:5–14
Every day you are either walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit brings life and produces godly character. Begin your day by saying, “Holy Spirit, I choose to walk with You.” Before each major decision, pause and ask, “What honors You here?” At the end of the day, reflect on where you followed His lead and where you resisted, then realign your heart for tomorrow.
There’s an opportunity for you to grow in your spiritual journey, build meaningful community, and truly get connected. At Radiant Church, we’re passionate about helping people grow in faith, encounter the Presence of God, and be part of a church grounded in Spirit and truth.