2 Misconceptions of the Holy Spirit

I believe that there are two misconceptions that we sometimes view the Holy Spirit. I'll define them by comparing them to two different "cousins."

The first cousin is, "Cousin It"

Cousin It is a relative of the Addams Family. If you are not familiar with the Addams Family; they were a group of fictional characters created by an American Cartoonist Charles Addams. Later, it became a tv show in the 1960's. In the show, cousin It came and visited the family from time to time. Sometimes, he would spend the night; but he never lived with the family. In the Old Testament, we see that the Spirit of God comes and goes in the lives of the Old Testament characters. In the New Testament, He is promised to those who calls on the name of Jesus and is promised to dwell in the life of the believer! Meaning the Holy Spirit is not like Cousin It who comes, visits, and leaves. The Holy Spirit comes, visits, and stays! He dwells within you! Leading, directing, guiding, comforting, teaching, filling you and so much more. You have the Holy Spirit living in you every day! God living inside you!

The second cousin is "Cousin Eddie"

Cousin Eddie is from the 1989 movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. A movie where anything can go wrong for Chicago resident Clark Griswold...In the movie, his cousin Eddie shows up; like if anything else could go wrong in his life, cousin Eddie would multiply the problems in Clark's life. When cousin Eddie shows up, life gets crazy, and things get awkward. Conversations are awkward. Meal times are awkward. Living conditions are awkward. The list of awkwardness goes on and on when cousin Eddie shows up. Maybe as I am describing cousin Eddie, you are thinking about that family member that shows up at family get togethers or perhaps, maybe you are cousin Eddie. The misconception is when the Holy Spirit shows up, that people have to start acting crazy and things have to get awkward. I am not saying that when the Holy Spiit is at work that things might not look crazy or feel awkward, but that we as Christians don't need to act crazy and awkward. I believe when we do that, we put the attention on us instead of giving God the glory. Another thought, goes back to the thought that if the Holy Spirit is alive and living inside us. Well then, He should be showing up on a daily basis in our lives! 

In wrap up, the Holy Spirit is active in the lives of the believer. He is always with us and will never leave us. We need to tap into His teaching and leading, allowing Him into all parts of our lives. In everything we do, we need to let the Holy Spirit be involved and give God the glory on the things that we do!