John 14:15-17
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I
will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never
leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot
receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But
you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you."
Jesus is nearing the end of his earthly
ministry, and is talking to his closest followers. He has announced that he
will soon be leaving them, but gathers them close for words of encouragement.
Even with his promise that he will ask the Father and he will give them another
Counselor, it was still painful that these disciples would be losing Jesus. He made another promise to them in verse 20,
"When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in
you."
Acts 2:38 assures us the indwelling Spirit
is a gift to us, too, at our baptism.
Numerous other promises are given to the Christian as he receives the
Holy Spirit. Here are a few:
He leads us in all truth. He
will be in you.
He gives us the power to be free. He helps us in
presenting our prayers
.
He is a foretaste of future glory. He gives life to
our mortal bodies.
Because God, through His Spirit, lives in
you, you have a Counselor, an Advocate, a Guide, to be helpful in determining your
eternal future. He empowers you with gifts and talents that you are to use for
the benefit of the entire body of Christ.
It is a growing process as we empty
ourselves of self, and make room for more and more of God's Spirit to live in us. That is why Paul told the Ephesian Christians, "Let
the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your
hearts." Ephesians 5:18-20
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