Our Friend

water-sculpted rock in Antelope Canyon, AZ

I am so taken with God's gift of the Holy Spirit!  I've known about the Holy Spirit and I've seen the evidence of his presence in my life, but not felt I had a relationship with this person of God.  Now that is changing, too!

In the 14th Chapter of John, after the Last Supper, as Jesus prepares to be sacrificed on the cross, He says "...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth.  The world ... neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans;" (from John 14:16-18)  "...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)

I see now that this whole chapter is filled with tender care.  Jesus has washed his friends' feet.  He has given them symbols of his body and blood just as he will give his real body and blood in a few hours..  He is assuring them that they will not be abandoned even though it will look that way.

What if we didn't have the Holy Spirit?  Actually, there would not have been a church at all.  Jesus could have taken the punishment for our sins on the cross and God could have forgiven us, but how could we have known Him?  How could we have turned from sin to live differently?  How would the fearful disciples have come out and convinced anyone to believe?

sunrise in a cactus garden

The power for true life is from the Holy Spirit.  The power in the Word of God is in the Holy Spirit.  But he's not just a form of power, he's a person.  He's a Counselor, a Helper, and a Comforter.  He represents the maternal side of God - the nurturer who brings growth about.  He opens our eyes and gives understanding and assurance (the "knowing that you know").  He quickens faith in us.  He is the spirit of truth and the spirit of Jesus Christ.

I was so excited when our pastor explained that the spirit of Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit that unites with our human spirit. That is how Jesus "comes into our hearts".  His very spirit comes in and joins with ours.  That is how he can live through us, and why we can have his faith, and his love for someone, and his mind.  Wow...  Does that not open up a whole universe of possibilities?

One of the best things I have ever done, is attend a conference called "Ruach"** (which means breath of God).  It was 3 days about the Holy Spirit and our spirits.  I didn't know that God intended our spirits to be the dominate part of us.  We are spiritual beings, but we often live like just physical beings.  We let our bodies or our souls (mind, will, and emotions) dictate how we view the world and life.  That is what someone who hasn't been born again of the spirit has to do.  They have no choice.

We do have a choice.  I think we want to be more spiritually mature in our response to things, but we sometimes don't know how.  We try, but if we are trying in the energy of our souls, or flesh, we will fail.  Our souls are meant to rely on our spirits.  When our spirits are in Christ and Christ's Spirit is in us, there is a strength to behold!  No wonder the enemy cannot stand up to that!  When we realize this, we can have a deep unshakeable confidence that has nothing to do with self or pride.

wild horses on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

This confidence, or conviction of where we stand with God provides the strength to stand firm under temptation to doubt that God is for us and will never leave us.  It's the strength to refuse shame and to keep trying when things don't go well.  It's the source of hope that allows us to persevere in prayer for "impossible" things.  It is the way we walk above our circumstances - the way we reign in life.

Thank you, Father, for sending the Holy Spirit to take over when Jesus had to leave.

**here's a link to the Ruach Journey website:    http://www.ruachjourney.com/