Insight for Living

Chuck Swindoll: The permanent presence of the Holy Spirit, he will be with you, he will be your advocate, he will be your helper, he will be your counselor, he will be your guide, he will be your shield, he will be your protector, he will be your identity, he will be your reason for going on.

Bill Meyer: Knowing about the Holy Spirit is one thing, experiencing his presence and power in your daily life is something else entirely. Today on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindoll brings his rich three-day study to a close by unpacking the remarkable benefits that belong to every believer. Benefits that speak directly to the struggles, fears, and uncertainties you face right now.

If you've been running on empty or wondering if God is really at work in your circumstance, today's message from Chuck will prove otherwise. Chuck titled his message: Getting Reacquainted with the Spirit of Power.

Chuck Swindoll: When I did my study, I came up with about 30 to 35 things the Spirit of God does. You'll be happy to know we won't go through all 30 to 35 of them. But I'm going to spot maybe three, four of them that are important enough to underscore. Titus chapter 3.

One of the four that I want to mention is the Spirit regenerates. He regenerates. Verse five. "He saved us." This is a "he" referring to God the Father. "God our savior saved us," verse five, "not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of"—there's our word—"regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."

What does that mean? That means when you and I were converted to Christ, new life was given to us. Now, back to First Corinthians. Here we are, verse 12 of chapter 12, you'll see the second of the four we're going to point out that the Spirit does. First Corinthians 12, verse 12. "Even as the body is one and yet has many members and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one, so also is the body of Christ."

The universal family of God is called in scripture the body of Christ. Now, where's the Spirit at work in this? Look at verse 13. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, we were all made to drink of one Spirit." This occurred at salvation. The work of the Spirit is to identify us with the body of Christ and with Christ himself. He baptizes us.

You've gone to Corinthians, go a little further to Ephesians chapter one. Here we read: he seals us. Ephesians one, verse 13. Referring to Christ: "In him you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed you were sealed in him"—in whom? In Christ—"with the Holy Spirit of promise." He permanently secured our salvation when we came to know Jesus.

There's another right here in Ephesians and that's chapter 4, verse 30. Turn ahead to 4:30. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." So, the Spirit of God seals us. What does that mean? That means we're his forever. A divine seal is a permanent seal. Have any idea how many people live their lives never sure of their salvation?

Praying that they will not lose what God has given them or praying that they will not sin so badly that they will wake up one day and they'll be lost again. I have a great question for those who think like that: how bad is too bad? That you have moved from saved to lost? No one can ever answer that because there is no such thing as the loss of salvation.

Salvation is a gift and God doesn't take his gift back. We receive the gift and as a result, we are born again and we can never be unborn. Our children were born into our family, they have our nature, they have our blood, they even have our temperaments in many ways because they're in the family. They'll never be not a part of our family. Same as it is because of the Spirit of God who seals us.

And now one more great, John chapter 16, verse 13. "When he"—referring to the Spirit—"the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own initiative but whatever he hears he will speak and will disclose to you what is to come." So, there is the illuminating work of the Spirit. We have four of them now. Four. He regenerates, he baptizes or re-identifies us with Christ, he seals us and he now, according to this verse, illumines us.

See what it says? He guides you into all truth. Let me give you three words that you need to remember: revelation, inspiration, illumination. Revelation has to do with God's giving his word. God no longer reveals divine truth. It's contained within the covers of this book. He revealed his truth. Inspiration, that has to do with the writing, the recording of the truth that God has revealed. That ceased.

Now we may be inspired to write songs or inspired to write poetry or inspired to write certain notes of encouragement. That's a different kind of inspiration. This inspiration has the word miracle connected to it. *Theopneustos* is the word. It means God-breathing his word into human beings. And a select number of people took a stylus in their hand and without error, they wrote the original manuscript of scripture.

That's called inspiration. That ceased. But illumination goes on to this very moment. Isn't that a great idea? Isn't that a great thought? You are now able to be illumined by what has been revealed and written under inspiration and now it's available for you to grasp because you have it in your own language. How wonderful is that? How marvelous are those ministries.

I think of the ministry of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Taking the written word of God and putting it in the language of the people who do not have it and often do not even have their own language. And as a result of that work and the faithfulness of those missionaries, they're able to read in their own language the very word of God. Imagine that!

Because we live in a land where there is every type and style and font and color and size text of the Bible, we tend to take it for granted. But you go to a country that doesn't have a Bible... oh, let me tell you, they'd love you to tear one page out and leave it with them. Why? Because it is like no other writing. It is the revealed, inspired, written word of God that will illumine them for life.

Let me ask you to guard against feeling that you have reached the ultimate now in your Christian growth. Just in case you're tempted to think like that... wait, just sit there, just stay right there, okay? Just listen closely. You are in a good place. You are in a place where God's word is being taught, where there is worship, meaningful worship, where there is integrity, where there is growth, where there is a momentum, where there are signs of spiritual life.

There's excitement, there's enthusiasm. I mean, it is like magnetic to be a part of what God is doing here in this wonderful place. But it's easy to think because of that, well, we've reached the pinnacle. I mean, it just won't ever get any better than this. I mean, this is the best. When you say that, you forget the work of the Spirit is to continue to make your life even better and better. I didn't say easier. I said better.

He is able to take this year and turn next year into one that can hardly be compared as you grow spiritually, as you learn to handle difficulties and endure tests. He's always able to improve on what once was. That's my point. And how we thank him for that! We thought last year was good, but look at what this year has held. It's magnificent.

Now, why should we care about this? Some of you are thinking, look, this isn't a seminary. Why on earth would you take our time to tell us these things? A couple of very important reasons. And by the way, when I preach, when you have teaching at this church, regardless of who may be the teacher, it is always for a purpose. And it never has anything to do with the teacher. It is always for your benefit.

And the benefit of this is when you know truths like this, it gives you an edge in the world in which we live. It gives you an edge not only to survive but to thrive. You're guarded against the teaching of the cults. You are instructed in truth so that you are equipped to handle whatever comes to you, whatever impacts you. And understanding of the Spirit, as we're going to see, brings us enormous amount of comfort. And that's my second point.

We're all only human and we need an advocate. Because we fall, we fail, we blow it. And the good news is that the Spirit of God is our advocate. We're in John, so go back to chapter 14 and look at verse 16. John 14:16. "I will ask the Father," says Jesus, "and he"—that's the Father—"will give you"—that would be the disciples—"another"—here's our word—translated here, "helper."

The New International Version translates it "counselor." In this New American Standard Bible, we read "helper." It's from two Greek words, one means "alongside" and the other means "to call." Put them together, I will call one alongside for the purpose of helping you. I found this interesting that *parakletos* always has reference to helping someone in need or in trouble.

Well, that's a story of our lives, isn't it? We have spent our days dealing with struggles and troubles and trials. The good news is the Spirit of God comes alongside. And so as you learn of the Spirit, you learn about the one who has been given you as a helper. Now, the significance of the Holy Spirit cannot be overemphasized. And I've left you a place here in your outline for you to fill in three of these and we'll sort of click through them before we're through today and hopefully they'll make a difference. First of all, his permanent presence within us.

His permanent presence within us. The word permanent is significant. In fact, if you will look at John's Gospel, verse 16 and 17 of chapter 14. In fact, it is in verse 17: "the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not see him or know him, but you know him because he abides with you"—please notice the word with—"and will be in you." This is a marvelous promise.

Now it may not seem that significant to you, but to the people to whom it was spoken, it was incredibly important. Because the context of John 14 is a savior who is about to leave the presence of his disciples. He's been with them continually, faithfully, daily for three, three and a half years. And he's now reached the Last Supper. This is a part of the Upper Room teaching on that Last Supper.

And he has already told them he's going to be leaving them. Well, suddenly an anchor was thrown in their minds and that's all they could think about. He's going to go away. He's going to leave us. What are we going to do when he's gone? I remember when my orders were cut to go to Okinawa. Cynthia and I were living in San Francisco and before I picked her up from work that evening, I had gotten the mail and there was a large, very officious looking brown envelope marked confidential. Military orders.

And I thought, hmm, wonder why they're sending me this. They promised I'd get to be here the rest of my tour of duty. Veterans are smiling right now. I opened the envelope and I pulled it out and it was a speed letter from the Commandant of the Marine Corps saying your orders are you will be going to the island of Okinawa where your MOS is needed and no reason in going on all that.

The point is the word going and suddenly, out fell an anchor. I couldn't read anything else. I'm going to be going. And I'm thinking surely that's not what it said. So I got it and I read it again. And I read it this way, and then I read it this way. And about that time Cynthia walked out and sat down in the car and my being tactful husband that I am, I said, I'm going to Okinawa.

Well, now all of a sudden, out goes an anchor in her mind and both of us sit there with tears, not able to read anything else. We never thought about the future, we didn't go beyond the word going. You're going. We didn't even think about the benefit of my spending time there and how it would transform my whole life. It was going, that was the hard part.

And that's what's got them stuck. And they're thinking he's gone, who are we going to turn to when all hell breaks loose? When persecution really gets to impacting our lives? What about our families? What about our lives? So now he says to them, I'm going to send one who is going to be with you forever. Now this makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

The permanent presence of the Holy Spirit, he will be with you, he will be your advocate, he will be your helper, he will be your counselor, he will be your guide, he will be your shield, he will be your protector, he will be your identity, he will be your reason for going on. All of us are facing tough times these days. The good news is it has not impacted the Holy Spirit whatsoever.

He is at work, he is using whatever it is we're going through and this permanent presence of the Spirit of God is ours to claim. How grateful we are that he is permanently among us and within us. And you don't have to pray that he will stay in you. You don't have to pray that he won't leave you because you have gone so far away from God. It is not a temporary presence, it is a permanent one.

And now, you're in John, so look at Acts chapter one. We would add to that benefit of his permanent presence the supernatural enablement of the Spirit. This is a wonderful part of his presence. The supernatural enablement of the Spirit among us. "You don't know the times or the epochs," verse 7 chapter 1 tells us, "but it does say you will receive power." You will receive a dynamic, I call it an enablement, a divine enablement when the Spirit of God comes upon you.

You will be empowered is another way of putting it. You can put that in the margin. You will be empowered when the Holy Spirit is come. And that's exactly what happens to these apostles. Before they are fearful, they are hesitant, they are reluctant. And after the Spirit of God comes upon them and transforms them, they are bold and they are decisive and they are courageous and they are willing to withstand all kinds of persecution, hardship, and difficulty.

Why? Because they have the Spirit of power within them. Magnificent promise. You will receive that power. F.F. Bruce writes this: "They would be clothed with heavenly power. That power by which in the event their mighty works were accomplished and their preaching made effective. As Jesus himself had been anointed at his baptism with the Holy Spirit and power, so his followers were now to be similarly anointed and enabled to carry out his work."

How do I do what I do? It's the work of the Spirit. How do you do what you do? It's the work of the Spirit. How do you stand fast when the bottom of your life drops out? It's the presence of the Spirit. The enablement of the Spirit keeps us going, holds us close. There's one more I'll mention and we'll call a halt to this. The divine will for us, he reveals that.

He makes that known to us. In fact, verse eight says, you will be my witnesses to the remotest part of the earth. And there you have it. His will is that we share the message of the Savior from here on out. And what a great place to stop that is. Are you doing that? The Spirit of God is at work to move you into action and to take you to places where that message is needed and you can share that message.

Now, let me warn you about something. In this place where truth is taught and where we enjoy such blessings as a local church, it is easy to think we've just about got the very best there is. And that's easy for it to happen in your mind, that I have reached a place where it is the ultimate. It just won't ever get any better. And let me guard you against that.

That leads to a complacency and a pride that is devastating. Always remember that when the work of the Spirit is alive and at work, it always has an effect on us that is better and better. This next year can be far greater than this last year simply because of the work of the Spirit. He can take what looks like the very best and turn it into something even better.

That's what our prayer is. I thought of this when I was reading in a book called *Leadership Jazz*. Great little book on leadership by Max De Pree. Listen to this true story. A German machine tool company once developed a very fine bit for drilling holes in steel. The tiny bit could bore a hole about the size of a human hair.

This seemed like a tremendously valuable innovation. So the Germans sent samples off to Russia, United States, and Japan. Suggesting that this bit was the ultimate in machine technology. The ultimate. From the Russians, they heard nothing. From the Americans came a quick response inquiring as to the price of the bits, available discounts, and the possibility of a licensing agreement.

After some delay, there was the predictable polite response from the Japanese. Complimenting the Germans on their wonderful achievement. But with a postscript noting that the Germans' bit was enclosed with a slight alteration. Excitedly, the German engineers opened the package and carefully examined their bit that had been returned to them and to their amazement discovered the Japanese had bored a neat hole through it.

About the time you think you've got it all cornered and all wrapped up, along comes a wonderful surprise that only the Spirit of God can bring. And that is a breakthrough in areas of your life that have not yet been invaded. The presence of God. My prayer for you is you will not miss that. Bow with me, will you please? Right where you're sitting, just sit quietly.

Are you absolutely certain, I mean absolutely certain that the Lord Jesus Christ is your Savior? I mean, there's not a doubt in your mind that if you were to die this night, that you'd be in the presence of God in his heaven. If your response is, you know, Chuck, I'm not sure of that, then the fact is quite likely you haven't been regenerated. Reborn. This is your moment.

The Spirit of God is at work. He will take the truth you have heard, which is the truth that Christ died for your sin and was buried to prove he died and then was raised victoriously from the dead to prove that he was victorious over sin. That sin that has captured you all your life to this moment can be removed and relieved, forgiven. Thank God. By your trusting in Jesus.

Father, I thank you today for helping us stop playing church. Thank you for helping us see the value of great theology. The important role it plays as we are equipped to take on the world that has lost its way. Give us not only discernment, our Father, to see through the pizzazz and the fog of the stuff around us, but also the courage to stand against what we have no business agreeing with.

Give us that enablement, our Father, to grasp the truth and then take that truth to those who've never heard it. Excite us with that possibility. And now, Father, dismiss us with the hope that this day will be refreshing because of your Spirit's presence within us. And we thank you for him and the important role he plays in our lives. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, we pray to you, our Father. Everyone said, Amen.

Bill Meyer: The Holy Spirit isn't a distant doctrine. He's our permanent companion, our supernatural enablement, and our daily guide. He was there at our conversion, he sealed us for eternity, and he's at work in you right now, perhaps even powering you to do what you never imagined possible. That's the magnificent reality that Chuck Swindoll has unpacked for us today on Insight for Living.

He titled his message: Getting Reacquainted with the Spirit of Power. You're invited to take your next steps to learn more. Why not stop by our website and look at the creative collection of Bible study resources that we've prepared for you? There's an encouraging Bible study workbook for this 12-part teaching series that's part of our Searching the Scriptures Bible studies.

This workbook is called *How Great is Our God*. Plus you have access to all of Chuck's full-length sermons as well. You can find all the details at insight.org/offer or call us at 800-772-8888. For many years, families have gathered around *Paws & Tales*, Chuck Swindoll's beloved audio series for kids set in the charming community of Wildwood.

Now, for the first time ever, those beloved characters leap from the speakers onto the page. *The Overcomers* is a brand new 300-page novel crafted for 10- to 12-year-olds. It is wholesome, compelling, and woven through its pages are timeless truths about faith, repentance, prayer, and standing firm against the darkness. Kids need entertainment during the summer months, and what could be more wholesome and life-giving than a fictional journey to Wildwood?

This is the kind of book that a child will pick up on a Tuesday afternoon and won't put down until dinnertime, and maybe not even then. Every copy you order today includes a map of Wildwood, so the adventure feels as real as the truth behind it. Be among the first to own a copy of *The Overcomers* by calling 800-772-8888 or go online to pawsandtales.org. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? I'm Bill Meyer. Join us to hear Chuck Swindoll's clarifying answer Tuesday on Insight for Living.

Voiceover: The preceding message, Getting Reacquainted with the Spirit of Power, was copyrighted in 2008, 2009, 2016, 2019, and 2026, and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2026 by Charles R. Swindoll Incorporated. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited.