Much has been written so far regarding the important roles gratitude of heart to God plays in our worship. However, any writeup on worship without discussing the Holy Spirit, His help and His manifestations in worship is not complete. This is because the Holy Spirit is our worship-enabler. He is the revealer of the truth of God and the one that helps us to worship God in Spirit as expected and not superficially nor with mere lip service.

The Holy Spirit is real and so are His manifestations. Therefore, they are supposed to be real in the believer’s life and in the body of Christ as a whole. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit in a believer was a source of strength, power, spiritual gifts, edification and help during the individual and congregational worship among the early New Testament Christians. Among His manifestations are those mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, which are word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gift of healing, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, prophecy and interpretation of tongues. He also gives the ministry gifts of the church such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:4-12). Among the purposes of these gifts of the spirit is to manifest the grace, power and love among God's people in their public gatherings, homes, families and individual lives (1 Cor. 12:4-7; 14:25; Romans 15:18-19; Eph. 4:8 ). The Holy Spirit is that which helps us to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Pathetically, such supernatural manifestations cannot be said to be the case in our days. Why? Is the Holy Spirit no longer in existence? Or has such manifestations ceased? Not at all! Then what? Our problem is attitudinal.

It is unfortunate that in the present day dispensation, worship is still being done based on, man’s natural skills, efforts and understanding thereby leading to mechanical and superficially and mere lip-service worship. We still worship according to man’s laid down doctrines and not according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, our worship services though may look lively, very entertaining and impressive yet are not impactful. People come with burdens and go back home the same, if not worst off because it lacks God’s presence and power (Psalm 16:11). No moves of the Holy Spirit. Lack of the manifestations of the gifts of the spirit such as mentioned in 1 Cor. 12 in the midst of God’s peoples gatherings/worship is what is responsible for the influx of Christians to fake pastors and fake prophets.

Worship under the control of the spirit is not about singing melodious songs whether slowly or otherwise, it is not about loud shouting and noise. It is not about body shaking or good legwork dances. It is not about being emotional, sobbing and crying, neither is it about loud and noisy prayers as many believe. These are just outward forms of worship. True worship is about worshiping before the presence of God doing everything according to the way He wants to be worshipped with our whole heart, in holiness, righteousness, humility and love and in spirit and in truth by the leading and control of the Holy spirit.

Worship by God’s design is an avenue for individuals and the body of Christ to meet with Him, enjoy His presence and receive His blessings. To achieve this, He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us live right and do things the way pleasing unto Him (Roman 8:6-8 ).

The Holy Spirit is a very great and wonderful gift of God Himself to the believers and in the believers. The Holy Spirit is everything Jesus is; same attributes and character that He is; He is Omnipotent, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Infinite, Eternal, True, Invisible, Immutable, perfect, holy, good, compassionate, and so on. It is because of who He is that He is capable of doing the works Jesus mentioned of Him in John 16:7-15. The Holy Spirit also causes the believer who obeys and submits to him to bear the fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). It is the Holy Spirit that gives sonship (Romans 8: 14-17). The Holy Spirit quickens us and spread abroad our hearts God's love. He helps one us to pray (Romans 8:26-27). Jesus did all He did by Him and through Him because He is the presence of the Father in Him and with Him.

Ironically, He is the least acknowledged, loved and appreciated of the Trinity by individuals and by the body of Christ as a whole in our generation and this has proved to be a great loss for us.

It is the desire of Jesus to manifest himself through individuals and His body but can only do this if one willingly submits oneself to His Spirit indwelling us. The reason why He manifested powerfully in the lives of the early Christians was because they surrendered totally to Him and his leadings and gave Him recognition. They cherished him, obeyed him, appreciated him, depended on him, submitted unto him and they made their hearts habitable for Him.

The Holy Spirit is very, very holy as the name reveals. He out of the trinity is the one that is easily grieved by the slightest sin and any negativities and sadness because He is the Spirit of holiness, Joy, Love and peace. Our sins and other negativities of our heart darkens the heart thereby making it uninhabitable for Him to stay. This is the reason we were advised not to walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit because when the Holy Spirit comes into operation as the believers commit themselves to obey Him, they find a new power operating within, a power that allows them to overcome sin and to do what pleases God (Romans 7:4-5, 13-14).

As said earlier, being in the attitude of gratitude of heart to God illuminates the heart, fills it with love, joy and peace thereby making it the right atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to stay and make manifestations.

Do you acknowledge and recognize the Holy Spirit for who He is as the Spirit of the living God and Jesus? Do you recognize Him as the greatest helper Jesus made available for you to have and to hold concerning every area of your spirituality? He is a person and a friend. Be intimate with Him and enjoy His unlimited powers by acknowledging, communicating and appreciating Him.

When last did you thank God for the gift of His indwelling Holy Spirit in you and others? When last did you in gratitude acknowledge the presence and person of the Holy Spirit, His gifts and His workings in you? Spend time by thanking and praising the Holy Spirit for each of His attributes, works, and manifestations. Always tell Him how wonderful He is and how much you love and cherish Him in your heart. Thank and praise Him for His spiritual manifestations in the lives of others and the body of Christ as a whole and how much you desire such manifestations. Doing these will make you experience Him.

Allowing the Holy Spirit His rightful place in your life ends all fleshy struggling and worship because He leads, directs, instructs, teaches and guides in the way one should go, do and say things and have results spiritually. Experience the sweetness of the Holy Spirit as you worship with a heart of gratitude.

GOD LOVES YOU SO DO I.
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