Who Is The Holy Spirit?
Goodbyes are the worst. I hate them. None is more painful than saying goodbye to someone you love and knowing you won’t see them again until Heaven.
I remember how painful it was when my Mom passed away. Even though I knew she was in Heaven and I would see her again someday, it was also heartbreaking knowing that we would be separated for the rest of my years on earth.
I’d imagine the disciples felt something like this as Jesus prepared to ascend into Heaven. For sure, they were NOT excited about the prospect.
Knowing this, Jesus began preparing them even before His crucifixion. In John 16, Jesus began teaching His disciples about the Holy Spirit.
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:7-15, NIV)
In these verses, Jesus prepared His disciples for what was to come. He was going to be taken prisoner, crucified, and die. Even after He rose from the dead, He could not stay with them forever. His work was completed at the cross, and He was going back to Heaven.
Still, He wanted them to know they wouldn’t be left alone. Instead, the Holy Spirit would come after Him to help them.
Here’s the cool part: rather than being “with them,” the Holy Spirit will be “inside of them,” leading, guiding, and empowering them to live their lives and do the work God called them to do.
That’s why Jesus said it was “better” for them that the Holy Spirit came—because He would live inside them.
The good news for us is that the powerful work of the Holy Spirit didn’t end at the close of New Testament times. The same Holy Spirit Who was present at creation, worked throughout the Old Testament, filled Jesus, and anointed and guided the early church wants to be equally active in our lives today.
Just as He lived inside the disciples, He lives inside of us. Allowing Him to play a vibrant, active role in your day-to-day life is the key to living a legendary spiritual life.
Memory Verse: But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7, NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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