The Old Testament saints had to approach God through animal sacrifices, Levitical priests, and a specific temple in Jerusalem, yet they longed for what we have today. Through Jesus Christ, God's Spirit dwells within us directly, and we are the dwelling place of God. While God is always with us individually, there's something uniquely powerful about experiencing the Holy Spirit when believers gather together as the church. We encounter God's Spirit in three distinct ways when we come together. First, through corporate gathering and worship, where something supernatural happens as we pray in unity, sing God's promises together, hear His Word, and participate in communion and baptism. God literally inhabits the praises of His people, creating a more palpable sense of His presence than we often experience alone. Second, through other people's spiritual gifts, as every Christian has been gifted by the Holy Spirit with natural abilities, life experiences, and passions that God uses for His purposes. Like a physical body where different parts serve one another, we're designed to minister through our various gifts - sharing wisdom, offering comfort, demonstrating hospitality, teaching, and providing counsel. Third, we experience the Holy Spirit through practicing the 'one another' commands found throughout the New Testament, such as loving one another, praying for one another, encouraging one another, being patient with one another, and bearing one another's burdens. These aren't just acts of kindness but supernatural manifestations of God's Spirit working through His people. God never intended for us to be 'Lone Ranger' Christians, isolated and unable to properly discern truth. Instead, He has placed us in a body of believers where His Spirit moves uniquely and powerfully through community, creating opportunities for both giving and receiving through the gifts He has distributed among His people.

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