Many see the Holy Spirit as power, and He is that. The Holy Spirit has the power to transform us to be Christlike. The Holy Spirit is available to us because of what Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross. We see in the birth of the Christian church in the book of Acts the release of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This is a promise of God!

The power of the Holy Spirit is made available to us so that we can be witnesses to Jesus. To be a witness in this sense means that we testify of His goodness, comfort, and healing in our own lives. Our testimony causes others to see what the Lord has done in us, which will, in turn, attract them to Jesus. Not only does surrendering to the Holy Spirit change us, but the Holy Spirit also enables us, by faith, to perform the miracles of God. John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” 

The work of the Holy Spirit

Imagine the Holy Spirit working through you to do the following: 

The Great Commission, Mark 16:15-18, “And Jesus said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” The Holy Spirit gives us boldness to represent Him, the King of kings! People are drawn to our confidence in our relationship with God and the power of the Gospel message.

Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control…” The Holy Spirit is the agent of change to manifest the character of God. Others are drawn to Jesus because of the change they see in us.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” Still others are drawn to the Gospel because they see the Holy Spirit as the power of God to do miracles. 

All of these spiritual abilities and gifts are available to us as we recognize that the Holy Spirit is not a thing or just a power, but a person who can help strengthen us in our daily lives to do the things that honor the Lord. Because the Holy Spirit is a person, we can have a relationship with Him; after all, He is also God, one part of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Let’s examine the scriptural evidence that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, not just a power.

1. The Holy Spirit Has a Mind, Will, and Emotions

• Mind – The Spirit thinks and knows: “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10)
• Will – The Spirit makes decisions: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11)
• Emotions – The Spirit can be grieved: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

2. The Holy Spirit Speaks and Teaches

• The Spirit speaks to people: “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’” (Acts 8:29)
• The Spirit teaches and reminds: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit… He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

3. The Holy Spirit Can Be Lied To and Resisted

• In Acts 5:3-4, Peter says Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit and then equates lying to the Spirit with lying to God—demonstrating both personality and divinity.
• Stephen rebukes the Sanhedrin for resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51), again pointing to the Spirit as someone who can be opposed—not something passive or abstract.

4. The Holy Spirit Has Relationships

• The Spirit relates to the Father and the Son within the Trinity. Jesus spoke of sending the Spirit (John 15:26), showing relationship and mutual interaction. The Spirit also relates to believers—He comforts, guides, convicts, and intercedes for them (Romans 8:26).

5. The Holy Spirit Is Addressed as “He”

• Jesus consistently referred to the Spirit using personal pronouns: “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13) This use of “He” (Greek ekeinos) is grammatically unnecessary unless the intention was to communicate personhood.

The only conclusion one can come to is that the Holy Spirit is not just a divine power or mystical energy. He is a divine person—the third Person of the Trinity—who loves, speaks, teaches, feels, and relates. Recognizing the Spirit as a person deepens our relationship with Him and allows us to respond not just with obedience, but with fellowship and worship. You see, that is the key to obedience: a relationship and fellowship of mutual love. We love Him. He loves us. Therefore, we want to be pleasing to him.

Now, back to the topic of “Why is it so hard to obey God?” I hope that you can see that without the work of the Holy Spirit, it is difficult, if not impossible, to overcome certain barriers to obedience. Without the Holy Spirit of God, we must try to overcome these common barriers in our own strength, and that doesn’t work because the battle is spiritual. 

A lack of desire does not always hinder obedience to God, but unseen barriers within the heart and spirit often cause it. These obstacles can keep us from fully aligning with God’s will, no matter how sincere our intentions. Here are some areas to consider:

Inability to Sustain Change

Lasting transformation requires more than willpower—it requires inner healing and continued reliance upon the power of the Holy Spirit. Without addressing the root causes of our struggles, any outward change becomes temporary and unsustainable. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” — Romans 12:2

Emotional Injuries and Broken Trust

Wounds from past experiences—especially betrayal, abandonment, or rejection—make it difficult to trust others or even trust God. A heart that has not been healed can unknowingly resist the very love and guidance it needs. The Holy Spirit can reveal those hidden areas if we surrender to Him. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3

Demonic Strongholds

Strongholds are spiritual strong points—habitual patterns of thought or behavior—where the enemy has claimed ground. These areas are often rooted in lies we’ve believed about ourselves, others, or God. They must be exposed and broken through the truth of God’s Word and calling out to the Holy Spirit for guidance and help. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” — 2 Corinthians 10:4

Temptation: The Threefold Attack

In 1 John 2:15-17, Scripture reveals that the world draws us into sin through a three-pronged strategy:

• Lust of the Flesh – Desires that appeal to physical gratification.
• Lust of the Eyes – Cravings stirred by what we see and covet.
• Pride of Life – Arrogance, self-reliance, and the pursuit of status.

These same tactics were used in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7) and continue to plague humanity today. What’s more, these temptations are not just ancient history—they can be seen in the lives of even the wisest among us. Let’s look at a case study: Solomon, the Wise man who fell.

Lust of the Flesh

Solomon “loved many foreign women,” which directly led him away from God’s commandments and into idolatry. “For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods.” — 1 Kings 11:4

Lust of the Eyes

His pursuit of wealth, pleasure, and extravagant beauty consumed him. He built great works and amassed riches, yet found them ultimately empty. “Whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them… Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done… and indeed all was vanity.” — Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Pride of Life

Though subtle, Solomon’s pride is reflected in his later years, as he relied more on his accomplishments and status than on obedience to God. The kingdom he built began to crumble after his death, revealing the fruit of misplaced priorities. Solomon relied on alliances and human strategies rather than obedience to God. (1 Kings 11:5-8)

You may think that these biblical examples of King Solomon’s fall show that these tactics of Satan don’t happen anymore, but that would not be true. As a pastor, I have seen Satan use these strategies to hinder and cripple Christians in their walk with Jesus.

There Is Nothing New Under the Sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 

Some think that the Lust of the Flesh is a struggle that only men have, but more and more, I have seen it in women as well, and that is the struggle with pornography. They justified it as “just a stress reliever,” but it created shame and distance from God. They eventually confessed to a mentor and entered accountability, finding healing through community and God’s grace.

The Lust of the Eyes is as much of a problem to us today as it was in Solomon’s time. Who has not wished their situation or circumstances were better in today’s modern societies? If only I had a car or a better car, a house or a bigger house, fancy clothes, and jewelry. The desire for “things” can cause us to take our eyes off the most important thing, the person of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Pride of Life is a crack in the armor for those who have had a measure of success in their careers and took pride in never needing help; these people are truly vulnerable. When they lost their jobs, they felt devastated. That experience made them realize they had placed their identity in their achievements instead of God’s love.

Hope for the Broken

Despite our frailty, God offers healing, strength, and restoration. Through forgiveness, truth, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome every obstacle. Here are some Steps Toward Obedience:

1. Seek Healing: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any emotional wounds or spiritual strongholds that may be hindering your obedience.
2. Renew the Mind: Fill your thoughts with Scripture and truth. (Romans 12:2) Invite the Holy Spirit to heal areas of mistrust and bitterness in your heart.
3. Armor Up Daily: Prayer, Scripture, worship, and community keep your armor strong.
4. Guard against the threefold temptation: by regularly examining your desires and motives.
5. Learn from Solomon’s example: wisdom alone does not protect from compromise; only ongoing submission to God does.
6. Walk in the Spirit: Let the Holy Spirit guide your steps (Galatians 5:16-25).

Obedience is hard because it requires surrender. But in surrender, there is freedom. In letting go, we are held. And in obedience, we find joy, purpose, and the power to overcome. “He who does the will of God abides forever.” —1 John 2:17

Conclusion: Why Obedience Is Possible Through Wholeness and Surrender to the Work of the Holy Spirit.

Obeying God is not merely a matter of discipline or willpower—it is the outcome of a healed and surrendered heart. As this study reveals, cracks in our spiritual armor—whether emotional wounds, pride, unforgiveness, or strongholds—can leave us vulnerable to temptation and disobedience. Even the most spiritually aware can fall prey to the ancient tactics of the enemy: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

Through the example of Solomon and countless modern believers, we see how unresolved pain and misplaced identity can erode obedience over time. But we are not left without hope. God offers healing for the brokenhearted, power for the weary, and grace for the fallen. Obedience becomes possible not by striving, but by allowing God to heal our souls, renew our minds, and guide our steps through the Holy Spirit.