The Holy Spirit Will Never Take Control of You: Here’s Why
Can the Holy Spirit control you? Will He take over your body so that you are out of control?
I remember visiting a Pentecostal church when I was new in my walk with the Holy Spirit. A woman with a long skirt, long hair, and no makeup was in the isle yelling in tongues uncontrollably. She was disturbing everyone else who was trying to worship. I knew the Lord well enough at the time to know something was off.
The Holy Spirit will never take control of you. The Holy Spirit is part of the triune God. Your free will is given by God and He will not violate it. The Holy Spirit influences, leads, and operates through you only as you allow Him to. He does not violate your self control and free will.
So what was going on with the Pentecostal lady? She was choosing to do that. She could have at any minute stopped the show and been considerate of everyone else that she was disturbing. The Holy Spirit was not leading her to make a scene like she was. That was her own decision.
What are the Characteristics of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus said that after He was crucified, rose again, and ascended to the Father, He would send the Holy Spirit, who would be another just like Him.
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
The word another in the above verse is from the Greek word állos, which means another of the same kind. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one. They do not operate independently from one another. They always agree. They always agree with the written Word of God as well. The Holy Spirit will not do anything that violates the written Word of God.
I might add that we refer to the Holy Spirit as a He because the pronouns in the Bible describing Him were translated “he”. But they could have been translated “he, she, or it”. Let’s look at what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit. The Word of God refers to the Holy Spirit as:
- Spirit of Truth- John 14:17,15:26, 16:13, 1 John 4:6
- Spirit of God- Genesis- 1:2
- Promise of the Father- Acts 1:4
- Spirit of Grace- Hebrews 10:29
- Spirit of Love- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Spirit of Power- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Spirit of a Sound Mind- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Spirit of Wisdom- Ephesians 1:17
- Spirit of Revelation- Ephesians 1:17
- Spirit of Glory- 1 Peter 4:14
- Spirit of Promise- Ephesians 1:13
- Spirit of Faith- 2 Corinthians 4:13
- Spirit of Adoption- Romans 8:15
- Spirit of Life – Romans 8:2
- Spirit of Holiness- Romans 1:4
What are the Roles of the Holy Spirit?
The Bible tells us that Holy Spirit is our Teacher, Counselor, Advocate, and Comforter. Here is a non exhaustive list of roles of the Holy Spirit:
- intercedes for us
- reminds us of what Jesus has said
- testifies of Jesus
- convicts us of our righteousness in Christ
- reminds us that the devil has been judged
- helps us bear witness of Jesus to others
- gives us boldness
- opens our spiritual eyes to see truth from the Word of God
- gives us understanding
- will prays through us and lead us
- inspires us and energizes us
- gives us access into the hidden wisdom of God
- teaches us all things
- tells us things to come
- operates in various supernatural gifts through us
- comforts us
- leads us into all truth
- prays through us
- builds us up
- reveals the plan of God to us
There is even more than this that the Holy Spirit does in our lives! The Holy Spirit is an amazing gift given to every believer who asks. Outside of salvation, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the best decision you could ever make. God never intended for you not to receive this gift of power. I could not imagine where my life would be without the power of the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful.
Jesus said it was more beneficial for us to have the Holy Spirit than to have Jesus himself here in a physical body! Can you believe that?
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 depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7
What is the Promise of the Holy Spirit?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit in our lives is absolutely priceless! The promise of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from salvation that allows the believer to receive special power from God.
In John 20:28, Thomas confessed Jesus as his Lord and God.
And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28
This was when Thomas received salvation according to Romans 10:9-10.
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
Even after this experience, Jesus told Thomas and all the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit.
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; Acts 1:4
Again in Acts 8, we see where the Samaritans believed on Jesus and were water baptized. But they had not yet received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 8:15-16
There is yet another example of believers being born again but not baptized in the Holy Spirit in Acts 19. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift for every believer and it will change your life forever. You can read more about the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit here.
What Does it Mean to be Anointed by God?
Without being anointed by God, we do not have the power we need to do the things God is calling us to do.
So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6
It’s the anointing of the Lord that breaks the yoke of the devil.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Isaiah 10:27
Jesus didn’t do any miracles or start His public ministry until after He had been anointed with the Holy Spirit. Being anointed by God is crucial. However, the way many people approach receiving the anointing of the Lord is not Biblical.
God’s anointing is not something that comes on you and then leaves. We don’t have to be anointed again and again. It’s not something a pastor or spiritual leader gives you.
2 Corinthians 1:21 shows us that if we are born again and have received the power of the Holy Spirit, we are already anointed.
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 2 Corinthians 1:21
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:27
To be anointed by God means that you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The anointing of the Lord is the power and presence of the Holy Spirit operating. Any believer who has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit has this anointing.
The anointing is already in you to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and do anything God has called you to do. You are anointed by God! Just believe it.
When you realize you are already anointed, you will operate in that anointing. Keep your eyes focused on who you are in the Spirit, and nothing will be impossible!