The Tangible Reality of the Holy Spirit
One of the most profound realities of the Holy Spirit is His tangible presence. He is a Person with a real, felt presence. This tangible presence comes from the Holy Spirit living within us. By ‘tangible,’ I mean that you can feel His presence with your five senses. Experiencing this tangible presence in your daily life is strong evidence of a living relationship with the Spirit of God.
The life of Philip Neri offers a perfect example of the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit. In his twenties, while still a layman, St. Philip spent many nights in prayer, asking God to give him the Holy Spirit. One night, he was suddenly filled with great joy and had a vision of the Holy Spirit appearing as a ball of fire. This fire entered his mouth and descended into his heart, causing it to expand to twice its normal size and breaking two of his ribs in the process! Filled with overwhelming joy and consolation, he finally had to throw himself on the ground and cry out, “No more, Lord! No more!” During his lifetime, many people noticed he was always warm; he was often flushed and would walk around with his cassock unbuttoned at the chest, even in the middle of winter.
The Unmatched Presence of the Lord
In my book “Holy Spirit: The Reality of His Presence,” I wrote, “There is nothing like the presence of the Lord, the presence emanating from the Holy Spirit.” I have been to the best places, had plenty of money, enjoyed the finest foods, and received honors from people, but nothing compares to the presence of the Lord. This testimony has remained unchanged.
His presence makes me strong, confident, gentle, and content. It assures us of the things we hope for, eternal life, and the promises of God.
When the Holy Spirit fills us, He wraps us in His presence. When He leads us, we can sense His presence within. However, His presence wanes when we go our own way, when our priorities shift, and when Jesus is no longer the Lord of our lives.
The Holy Spirit never leaves us; He is in our spirit and given to be with us forever. Yet, His tangible presence can wane when we grieve Him or walk away from His guidance. We can lose the touch of the Lord on our lives.
The Importance of the Lord’s Touch
The touch of the Lord keeps us humble, pure, sharp, and protected. It brings favor and approval upon our lives. When we repent and confess our sins, the presence of the Lord returns, and His touch is felt once more.
Walking in His Will
After years of walking with the Lord, I have learned—and am still learning—that to maintain the Holy Spirit’s presence, I must do what He wants and abandon anything that diminishes His presence.
The Consequence of Separation
Do you know what will happen at Christ’s Judgment? The Bible says, “These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes to be glorified by His saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed…” (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10a).
Separation from the Lord’s presence and glory is the worst fate after death. The Bible confirms that life in purgatory and hell is a life separated from His presence.
Living a Life Reflecting His Glory
“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).
We will not all be equal in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible tells us there will be the “least” and the “great.” I believe the difference lies in the Glory Light we carry in Heaven. The presence of God we carry on earth will reflect in Heaven. As we walk daily in God’s will, follow the Holy Spirit’s promptings, and carry our cross, we will be transformed from Glory to Glory into His likeness.
“And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The Eternal Impact of Our Lives
We have only one life to live, and how we live on earth will reflect eternally. Do not take the indwelling Holy Spirit and His presence for granted. Walk in the Word, for your deeds will follow you into eternity.
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them'” (Revelation 14:13).
Those who die in the Lord are called ‘blessed’ because their deeds follow them.
Maintaining a Steady Relationship with the Holy Spirit
Without humility and purity, our relationship with the Holy Spirit’s presence will be inconsistent—appearing and disappearing. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is one of the greatest favors a Christian can have. Learn to appreciate and value the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit within you. The Holy Spirit is truly yours.
