God’s children already have the Holy Spirit abiding in them, but they may not recognize Him or obey Him. They need to do so completely.
They must realize that this indwelling presence is a Person, One Who teaches, guides, and communicates the reality of Christ within.
Until they learn how to open up their spirit to the Holy Spirit to lead them almost all communication with Him will be blocked.
We need to let Him control everything, so that we can experience the truth.
John 7: 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
Except a believer knows that the Holy Spirit is indwelling them and unless with their spirit they wait for His teaching, they will not hear his voice.
Only as we take the position of being teachable will the Holy
spirit give us truth which we are able to digest.
As we acknowledge Him and respect Him, He manifests His power flowing out of our spirit into our soul or conscious awareness.
The Christians at Corinth were of the flesh. In exhorting them to depart from their carnal state, Paul repeatedly reminded them of the fact that they were God’s temple and that the Holy Spirit lived in them.
Knowing He indwells them helps Christians to overcome their carnal condition.
They must know and understand perfectly by faith that He abides in them. Christians should not be content merely with knowing mentally the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as given in the Bible; they also need to know Him experimentally.
They will then commit themselves without reservation to Him for renewal and submit every part of their soul and body to His correction.
The Apostle said to those at Corinth this question: “Do you not know that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Paul seemed to be surprised at their ignorance of the fact. He viewed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of foremost importance.
Without his help we could never overcome our carnality.