This week, our Senior Pastor, Richard Botta, shares 3 ways you can build your partnership with the Holy Spirit.

Tip 1 - Take Some Time

If you want to connect with the Holy Spirit, then give Him some time. Undistracted, unhurried time. Don’t be in a rush to be with someone or something else – make the Holy Spirit your priority at the time and you will benefit immensely. Some things are not instantaneous – and relationships, deep abiding relationships are one of these things!

Tip 2 - Pray in Tongues

“He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him…” [1 Corinthians 14:2]. Speaking to God in tongues is not the only way to speak to Him, but it’s an accelerator by which we gain intimacy with God, and by which the Holy Spirit empowers us to serve others. The Lord loves each of us in a way that is distinctive. When we pray in the Spirit, we are speaking only to God. While we don’t know what we are saying, we do know to Whom we are speaking, as well as the texture of what our heart feels toward Him, as the Holy Spirit enables us to speak beyond the words we know.

Quick link - A helpful insight on Tongues from internationally respected biblical scholar N T Wright if you are interested in finding out a bit more about this gift of the Holy Spirit.

Tip 3 - Remember God wants to Give You the Holy Spirit

“If imperfect parents know how to lovingly take care of their children and give them what they need, how much more will the perfect heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit’s fullness when his children ask him.” [Luke 11:13] I love that God wants to give us the Holy Spirit and John 3:34 reminds us that God gives us the Spirit “without measure”! Sometimes we think God has a pie that He carves up and there are only so many pieces of the pie. The impact of this thinking is we may think it is a competition to get even a little portion of the Spirit. But God wants to give you the Holy Spirit “without measure”. I like to think of a big water fall, like Niagara, water cascading in un-countable amounts, when I think of God’s desire to give the Holy Spirit to me.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta, Senior Pastor of C3 Church Carlingford & Wentworthville