In John’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that they are about to receive the Holy Spirit. While prophets and patriarchs had longed for millennia to see this “Promised One”, “The Prophet”, “The Messiah”, only a few close disciples actually lived life with Him for three years. And now Jesus explains that He must die a sacrificial death and return to His Father. Astoundingly, Jesus tells them: “It is better for you that I go” -- so they can receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7).
From the disciples’ perspective, what could possibly be better than living in daily fellowship with Jesus?
Jesus lived intimately with Holy Spirit and the Father. As a human being in a mortal body, Jesus had limited Himself to be one place at a time. But, as Jesus’ followers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; each one now enters into “new life” – life in the Spirit. We now have continual access to Jesus and Father God through the Spirit.
Here are two quotes from C. Baxter Kruger’s book “The Shack Revisited” about what Holy Spirit means to us:
“The Holy Spirit walks with us as we are, not as we are supposed to be or as we pretend to be on Sunday, but as we are in our strong-willed blindness, independence, and judgment. And she works in the invisible world of the heart in order that we may encounter Jesus, and experience — against our own prejudices — the life he shares with us in his relationship with his Father.” (pg 86).
“According to the Scriptures, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, baptized in the Spirit, led and empowered by the Spirit, given great joy by the Spirit, cast out demons by the Spirit, heard his Father in the Spirit, and offered himself to his Father by the power of the Spirit.” (pg 89)
As I shared in my talk last Saturday, each one of these experiences of Jesus with the Holy Spirit are also meant for us! This includes being conceived by the Holy Spirit. Really. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5-6: “Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born (Greek γεννάω gennáō – procreated/conceived of the father and by extension; born) of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (NKJV)
What does “Life in the Spirit” look like for you? How have you experienced the Holy Spirit leading you, empowering you, giving you great joy? Are you aware of the Holy Spirit setting people free from evil spirits through you? Have you been “in the Spirit” and heard your Abba speaking to you/about you?
Like you, I desire more. I know one key is “tuning in” and noticing the Spirit’s ways with us. This life in the Spirit is meant to be both adventurous and grounded in God’s love for us.
What adventures await you each day? Stay tuned….
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