This past Sunday, my family and I attended a Charismatic church for worship. If I am not scheduled for any Sunday duties, I make it my practice to visit different churches for observation, reflection, and learning. Engaging with different worship traditions broadens my understanding of the body of Christ and challenges me to see God’s work beyond my own context.

During the service, the pastor shared his personal experience of being baptized by the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. His testimony was powerful, and I appreciated hearing how the Spirit has worked in his life. However, what followed in the response time left me wondering: is this all? The leaders and campus pastor primarily spoke about how the Holy Spirit helps them personally, especially in dealing with emotions, family issues, and workplace struggles. While these testimonies were honest and relatable, I felt something was missing.

The gift of the Spirit is more than just personal comfort or emotional healing. The Spirit is given to us so that we may serve. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was not merely a private, mystical experience for the disciples—it was an empowerment for the mission. The Spirit enabled them to speak in languages that allowed people from all nations to hear the gospel in a way they could understand (Acts 2). This wasn’t about self-focused spirituality but about proclaiming the good news and building up the body of Christ.

When Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Spirit transforms us not only for personal growth but for the sake of others. True spiritual renewal leads to action-loving, serving, and bringing God’s kingdom to those in need. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that the gifts of the Spirit are given for the common good, not for self-edification alone.

This raises important questions for us as individuals and as a Church. Are we embracing the fullness of the Spirit’s work? Are we using the gifts God has given us to bring healing, reconciliation, and justice to our communities? Or are we limiting the Spirit’s movement to personal encouragement and inward reflection?

Reflecting on my experience at this church, I am reminded of the urgency of the Spirit’s calling. The world is longing for God’s presence in tangible ways—for love, justice, and reconciliation. The Spirit is not merely a comforter for our struggles but an empowering force that sends us to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world.

I invite you to consider: How is the Holy Spirit leading you beyond yourself? How might the Spirit be calling you to speak the language of the gospel in ways that others can understand? How can we, as a community, follow the Spirit’s leadership into deeper love and service?

Let us not settle for a Spirit that only soothes our hearts. Let us embrace the Spirit that ignites our souls, compels us outward, and equips us to serve with boldness and love. May we walk in the leadership of the Spirit—not just for ourselves, but for the sake of the world.