Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit | The Branch

"I think the fact that the Holy Spirit is given to believers is evidence that we can't do it on our own. We're not supposed to do it on our own." — Pastor Anthony Lombardi

This week on The Branch, Pastor Anthony Lombardi rejoins Pastor Matthew Johnson and Pastor Chris Reed after a season away from the podcast. The three continue the church's ongoing series on the Holy Spirit called Proof, picking back up on a conversation about what it looks like to actually live in relationship with the Spirit rather than simply knowing facts about him.

Before diving into the main discussion, the hosts share a lighthearted icebreaker question, asking whether they would rather always know exactly what to say or have unshakable confidence in difficult moments. Their answers set the tone for an honest conversation about confidence, insecurity, and where true strength actually comes from.

Pastor Anthony and Pastor Matthew both grew up in Pentecostal environments where the gifts of the Holy Spirit were considered a normal part of everyday faith. Pastor Chris grew up in a Lutheran tradition where the experiential side of the Holy Spirit was rarely discussed. Despite these different starting points, all three hosts share stories of wrestling with confusion, skepticism, or discomfort before arriving at a more grounded understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and how he works.

Pastor Anthony shares that some of his early hesitation came from witnessing extreme emotionalism that felt forced or manipulated. Pastor Chris shares a similar experience, describing how encountering charismatic expressions of faith in college left him confused and intimidated at first. Over time, both pastors describe moving toward a more balanced, biblically grounded view, shaped by scripture, ministry experience, and healthy community.

A central theme of this episode is the danger of self reliance in the Christian life. Pastor Anthony explains that the very fact God gave believers the Holy Spirit is evidence that people were never meant to rely only on their own strength, wisdom, or effort. Pastor Matthew agrees, describing the Christian life as fundamentally about cooperating with the Spirit rather than accomplishing things on our own.

The hosts use the example of Peter to illustrate this point. Peter denied Christ the night before the crucifixion, yet just fifty days later he was filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly preaching to a large crowd. His transformation was not the result of self improvement, but of the Holy Spirit working in and through him.

Pastor Anthony and Pastor Chris both reflect honestly on their own natural strengths, admitting that the areas where they feel most confident can actually become areas of spiritual danger if they lean on their own ability instead of depending on God. Pastor Chris shares that his tendency toward self reliant problem solving can strip the joy out of everyday life, while Pastor Anthony shares that his natural confidence in leadership had to be surrendered to God over time.

As the conversation continues, the hosts turn to an important question, how can someone know if they are using spiritual gifts for the benefit of others or simply to be noticed. Pastor Anthony points to Jesus's teaching in Matthew chapter six about fasting, prayer, and giving, noting that the issue was never about doing these things publicly, but about the motivation behind them.

Pastor Matthew offers an honest, relatable confession, admitting that receiving compliments after preaching can create a strange internal tension. Pastor Chris shares a similar struggle, describing his own effort to simply say thank you rather than deflect, while also being careful to examine his heart when it comes to receiving credit for spiritual gifts.

The hosts spend time unpacking the gift of prophecy, which Paul highlights in 1 Corinthians chapter fourteen. Pastor Chris explains that prophecy is meant to be understandable and edifying for the whole church, unlike a gift like tongues which can require interpretation. Pastor Anthony adds that prophecy allows believers to receive God's word through another person, comparing it to the way confession functions in James chapter five, as a tangible reminder of God's grace delivered through community.

The conversation also addresses the danger of corrective prophecy being misused. Pastor Chris and Pastor Anthony agree that any corrective word should never come from a single self appointed voice acting alone. Instead, this kind of correction should happen within community, involving trusted leadership, and rooted in humility and love rather than personal authority.

Toward the end of the episode, the conversation shifts to recognizing the presence of God in everyday life, including what many would call miracles. Pastor Chris encourages listeners to have a broad view of what counts as miraculous, starting with the simple gift of being alive each day. He also shares a personal story about financial provision during a difficult season, describing it as clear evidence of God's care.

Pastor Anthony shares his own experience of being connected with someone at just the right time, describing it as one of many reminders that God is actively working behind the scenes. Pastor Matthew adds a story about a couple in the church who consistently recognize God's hand in their daily life, encouraging listeners to develop the same habit of gratitude and awareness.

The episode closes with a reminder that living from a posture of trust in God as provider, rather than relying on self sufficiency, opens believers up to experiencing more of what the Holy Spirit wants to do in their lives.