Rediscovering the Holy Spirit: Knowledge and Experience
Summary
Today, we gathered to begin a journey of rediscovering the Holy Spirit—His person, His presence, and His power. Many of us come from different church backgrounds, each with its own traditions and experiences regarding the Holy Spirit. Some of us grew up in churches where the Spirit was rarely mentioned, while others experienced environments where spiritual gifts and emotional expressions were front and center. These differences can leave us confused or even hesitant about what it truly means to know and experience the Holy Spirit.
Jesus made a remarkable statement in John 16:7, saying it is better for us to have the Holy Spirit than to have Him physically present. This means the Spirit’s presence is not just a theological concept but a profound reality meant to transform our lives. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or a vague feeling; He is God Himself, a person who can be known and experienced. Yet, just as we know and experience people differently, our understanding and encounters with the Spirit will vary. That’s not only okay—it’s expected, given His infinite complexity.
We often fall into two extremes: some of us are “head knowers,” seeking to understand God primarily through study and contemplation, while others are “holy rollers,” eager for supernatural experiences and manifestations. The truth is, both knowledge and experience are essential. The Spirit invites us to both behold God through Scripture and to encounter Him in power, gifts, and fruit. If we lean too far in either direction, we risk missing out on the fullness of relationship God desires for us.
Biblical examples like Nicodemus and Simon the Sorcerer illustrate the dangers of seeking only knowledge or only experience. Nicodemus wanted understanding without transformation, while Simon craved power without relationship. Instead, we are called to a holistic relationship with the Spirit—one that involves both deep knowing and vibrant experiencing.
As we embark on this series, the invitation is to set aside our preconceptions and traditions, and to seek the truth of Scripture about the Holy Spirit. The goal is not uniformity of experience, but a deeper, fuller relationship with God through His Spirit. Let’s pursue both knowledge and experience, trusting that the Spirit will meet each of us uniquely, drawing us closer to Jesus and making us more like Him.
Key Takeaways
- The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force or an abstract concept. He is God Himself, with thoughts, feelings, and a will, inviting us into relationship rather than mere understanding. Our journey with Him should move beyond intellectual knowledge to genuine, personal experience. [30:46]
- Our backgrounds and traditions shape how we perceive and experience the Holy Spirit, but Scripture calls us to seek Him beyond those boundaries. The Spirit is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible, and a fresh, biblical perspective can free us from both fear and confusion, leading us into a more authentic relationship. [40:48]
- There is a tension between knowing about God (contemplation) and experiencing God (charisma). Both are necessary for a full relationship with the Spirit. If we pursue only knowledge, we risk spiritual dryness; if we seek only experience, we may become unanchored or self-focused. The Spirit desires to fill us with both truth and power. [52:19]
- Biblical examples warn against one-sidedness: Nicodemus sought understanding without transformation, while Simon the Sorcerer desired power without relationship. True life in the Spirit is found in embracing both the knowledge of God and the experience of His presence, gifts, and fruit. [58:27]
- Just as a deep human relationship involves both knowing and experiencing one another, so our relationship with the Holy Spirit should be holistic. We are invited to behold Him through study and to encounter Him through lived experience, trusting that He will reveal Himself uniquely to each of us and make us more like Jesus. [01:04:10]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Opening Prayer and Reflections on Recent Messages
[03:30] - The Value of Spirit-Filled Leadership
[05:00] - Jesus’ Promise: The Holy Spirit Is Better
[08:00] - Who Is the Holy Spirit? Personhood, Not Force
[11:00] - Personal Church History with the Holy Spirit
[14:00] - Navigating Weirdness and Authenticity in Spiritual Experiences
[18:00] - The Bible’s Account of the Spirit’s Power
[21:00] - Defining “Charismatic” and Its Biblical Roots
[24:00] - The Desert Island Test: What Would Scripture Alone Teach?
[27:00] - Embracing Differences in Experience and Understanding
[30:00] - The Goal: Knowing and Experiencing the Spirit More
[32:00] - Head Knowers vs. Holy Rollers: Two Extremes
[36:00] - Biblical Examples: Nicodemus and Simon the Sorcerer
[41:00] - The Call to a Full Relationship with the Spirit
[44:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
[46:00] - Announcements and Final Blessing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Rediscovering the Holy Spirit
---
### Bible Reading
1. John 16:7
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
2. John 3:1-9
(The story of Nicodemus and Jesus’ teaching about being born again by the Spirit.)
3. Acts 8:9-24
(The story of Simon the Sorcerer and his desire for the power of the Holy Spirit.)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In John 16:7, what does Jesus say is better for his followers than having him physically present? Why is this surprising?
[[28:53]]
2. When Nicodemus comes to Jesus in John 3, what is he seeking, and how does Jesus redirect the conversation?
[[56:43]]
3. What was Simon the Sorcerer’s reaction to seeing the Holy Spirit given through the apostles in Acts 8? What did he try to do?
[[58:27]]
4. According to the sermon, what are some ways people’s church backgrounds shape how they think about and experience the Holy Spirit?
[[32:55]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might Jesus say it is “better” for us to have the Holy Spirit than to have him physically with us? What does this suggest about the Spirit’s role in our lives?
[[28:53]]
2. What is the danger of seeking only knowledge about God, as seen in Nicodemus’ story? How does this relate to the idea of being a “head knower”?
[[56:43]]
3. What is the danger of seeking only spiritual experiences or power, as seen in Simon the Sorcerer’s story? How does this relate to the idea of being a “holy roller”?
[[58:27]]
4. The sermon mentions that the Holy Spirit is a person, not just a force or feeling. How does this understanding change the way we relate to Him?
[[30:46]]
---
### Application Questions
1. Think about your own church background. Was the Holy Spirit talked about a lot, rarely, or somewhere in between? How has that shaped your comfort level or expectations about the Spirit?
[[32:55]]
2. The sermon described two extremes: “head knowers” who focus on knowledge, and “holy rollers” who focus on experience. Which side do you tend to lean toward, and why?
[[52:19]]
3. If you tend to seek knowledge about God, what is one way you could open yourself up to experiencing the Holy Spirit more personally this week?
[[56:43]]
4. If you tend to seek spiritual experiences, what is one way you could deepen your understanding of the Holy Spirit through Scripture or study this week?
[[58:27]]
5. The sermon compared knowing the Holy Spirit to having a deep relationship with a person—both knowing and experiencing them. What is one practical step you could take to grow in both knowing and experiencing the Holy Spirit?
[[01:04:10]]
6. Are there any fears, confusions, or past experiences that make you hesitant to pursue a fuller relationship with the Holy Spirit? What would it look like to bring those honestly to God in prayer?
[[40:48]]
7. The goal is not to have the same experience as everyone else, but to have a deeper, fuller relationship with God through His Spirit. What is one thing you hope God will do in your life as you seek to know and experience the Holy Spirit more?
[[01:05:19]]
---
Close in prayer, asking God to help each person both know and experience the Holy Spirit in a fresh way this week.
Devotional
Day 1: The Holy Spirit Is Better Than Jesus’ Physical Presence
Jesus told His disciples that it was better for them if He left, so that the Holy Spirit—the Advocate—could come and dwell within them. This means that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is not just a consolation prize, but an even greater gift than having Jesus physically present. The Spirit is not a distant force or an impersonal power, but God Himself, living and active, desiring a real relationship with us. To be filled with the Spirit is to experience God’s nearness, guidance, and transforming power in a way that surpasses even walking beside Jesus in the flesh. [28:53]
John 16:7 (ESV)
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to believe that the Holy Spirit’s presence is truly better than having Jesus physically beside you? How might that change your prayers or expectations today?
Day 2: The Holy Spirit Is a Person, Not a Force
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal energy or a vague feeling, but a living Person—He thinks, feels, loves, comes and goes, and desires relationship with us. Just as we don’t want to merely understand our friends or family but to truly experience them, so too with the Holy Spirit: we are invited not just to study or analyze Him, but to know Him, talk to Him, and walk with Him daily. This personal relationship is foundational to a vibrant spiritual life, moving us beyond mere knowledge into genuine encounter. [30:46]
2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Reflection: How can you intentionally relate to the Holy Spirit as a Person today—perhaps by speaking to Him, listening, or inviting Him into your daily routines?
Day 3: The Spirit Gives Different Gifts, But All Believers Can Be Full of Him
The Holy Spirit gives a variety of gifts to believers, and not everyone will have the same experiences or manifestations. Some may never speak in tongues or prophesy, but that does not mean they are less full of the Spirit. The Spirit alone decides who receives which gifts, and fullness is not measured by outward signs but by the presence, fruit, and power of the Spirit in our lives. We are called to seek both the gifts and the fruit, trusting God’s wisdom in how He works through each of us. [38:09]
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (ESV)
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."
Reflection: What gift or fruit of the Spirit do you see in your life, and how can you use it to serve others today—regardless of whether it looks “supernatural” or not?
Day 4: Knowing and Experiencing the Spirit—Not Just One or the Other
A full relationship with the Holy Spirit means both knowing Him deeply through Scripture and experiencing Him powerfully in our lives. Like a marriage that is rich in both understanding and shared experiences, our walk with the Spirit should not settle for just head knowledge or just emotional encounters. We are invited to behold God in His Word and to encounter Him in His power, gifts, and presence, refusing to settle for a one-sided relationship. [01:04:10]
Philippians 3:10 (ESV)
"That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
Reflection: Are you more comfortable with knowing about God or experiencing Him? What is one practical step you can take today to grow in the area that is less familiar to you?
Day 5: The Spirit Is Wonderfully Complex and Meets Us Uniquely
The Holy Spirit reveals Himself in many ways to many people, and our experiences and understandings of Him may differ. This diversity is not a problem but a reflection of His richness and complexity—He is big enough for all of us to know and experience Him in unique ways. Rather than being threatened by differences, we are encouraged to seek to know Him more deeply and experience Him more fully, trusting that He will meet us where we are and lead us forward. [48:58]
Romans 11:33-36 (ESV)
"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?' 'Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."
Reflection: How have your past experiences or church traditions shaped your view of the Holy Spirit? What is one way you can open yourself to knowing and experiencing Him in a new way this week?
Quotes
Jesus is saying that having the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is better than having him physically with us 24 -7. So I think whoever the Holy Spirit is and whatever it is to experience him, apparently it's better than being with Jesus. So it must be pretty amazing. So I want that. Now, I want that for me and for you. And I don't want a little. You know, I want it all. [00:29:19] (34 seconds)
He's God, but he's also a person. He lives and he loves and he comes and he goes and he thinks and he feels, you know, and like a force, like gravity. I can't, I can, I can only try to like understand gravity, but I don't want to just understand persons, right? You, my wife, my kids, my friends, I, I want to experience them. You know, I want to have a relationship with him and maybe that starts with trying to understand him, but it doesn't end there. [00:31:18] (36 seconds)
Jesus said the truth will set us free. So maybe when we know the truth about the Holy Spirit, my prayer is that it will free us to not just know about Him, but to really know Him and to experience Him. [00:43:16] (20 seconds)
The Holy Spirit is who he is, but he is so wonderfully complex that there's enough of him for all of us to have a huge knowledge of him and a huge understanding of him and not to have those knowledges and understandings in common. [00:48:58] (20 seconds)
Jesus was what Adam couldn't be, right? Remember the circles? Man got, God's space and man's space got separated. And in Jesus, God and man came together because he was the body of a man full of the spirit of God. The thing that makes us like Jesus is the spirit of God in us. He's what connects us to God. He is God in us. [01:00:34] (24 seconds)
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