Signs and Evidence

When Jesus was on the earth, people kept asking him for a sign. They cared more about his miraculous demonstrations than they did about getting to know him and listening to what he had to say.

We can be just as guilty about our relationship with the Holy Spirit. This church believes that everything the Holy Spirit did in the book of Acts still happens today. The Holy Spirit still baptizes people, and they speak in tongues. He moves among us, giving people prophetic words, healing people, and miraculously providing. But it is easy to get caught up in those demonstrations and manifestations, and forget that the Holy Spirit is a person. He has a role, which is to help us become more Christ-like. He wants us to bear fruit.

Galatians 5:22–23 MEV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law.

How loving are you? How loved do you feel? Do you feel joyful? Is there peace in your heart? Patience, kindness, goodness—how are those things in your life? Is there a gentleness in your spirit, or are you full of rage and chaos? How about self-control?

You can speak in tongues all day, but if