The journey of faith begins with a profound mystery - how does a spiritually dead person come to life in Christ? During this Wednesday night Recharge service, we tackle a question that troubles many believers: "How do I know if I've heard God speak to me?"

The answer begins by understanding the Holy Spirit's foundational role in our salvation. Scripture paints a stark picture of our pre-salvation state - "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). This isn't metaphorical language but spiritual reality. A dead person cannot respond, cannot breathe, cannot make any effort toward life. Similarly, we did not come to faith through our own decision-making prowess or spiritual insight.

Jesus himself declared, "No one comes to Me unless the Father draws him." The Holy Spirit meets us in our deadness and, through various means - conscience, Scripture, nature, an innate sense of God - begins to kindle spiritual life. He convicts of sin and creates a hunger that wasn't previously there. When the gospel message arrives, those whom the Spirit is drawing respond with faith - a faith that itself is described as a gift, not a self-generated virtue.

The story of Cody Clausen, a lost Boy Scout rescued by Harrison Ford's helicopter, provides a powerful parallel. Like Cody - cold, helpless, and utterly lost - we were spiritually stranded until the Spirit of God searched for and found us. The profound comfort in this truth is captured in Philippians 1:6: "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Our spiritual life doesn't depend on our grip on God but on His unrelenting hold on us.

Take heart in knowing that if you've placed your trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit has already been speaking to you, drawing you, and working in you. And He promises to continue that work until the end. That's not just good news - it's the best news.