21 January 2023 - The Holy Spirit your best friend

The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. The breath and Spirit of God. To love, worship, and adore the Holy Spirit is to know the very best friend we could ever have in life.

As Jesus prepared to lay down His life for us, He promised the disciples another paraclete, which is often translated Comforter. The word originates from two Greek words: para meaning alongside of and clete (kletos) meaning come. So, the Holy Spirit comes alongside us. And what power He wields for us - this Advocate, Counsellor, Helper! He is not a spiritual force, but the divine person of God who does the work of the Father and the Son here on earth as He walks with us through life.

John 14:16 (NLT) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

The Holy Spirit is to be to us what Jesus Himself was to the disciples when He was here on earth, in the flesh. Jesus walked, talked, and fellowshipped with them; He guided, instructed, and protected them. He told them: ‘I’m going away, but I’m sending Another to walk with you, befriend you, and be with you.’

The Holy Spirit took Jesus’ place on earth. Jesus wants you to come to know the Holy Spirit—to love, trust, and believe the Holy Spirit who lives in your heart—to become personally acquainted with Him and give Him the royal place He deserves.

It is the Holy Spirit alone who enables us to live as true sons of God. This is brought out very clearly by Paul in Romans 8:14 (NLT) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

The word children in this verse, implies maturity, not mere babies, not mere infants, but grown children of God. We become born again by the Holy Spirit. In order to become mature children of God, an ongoing, growing relationship with the Holy Spirit is needed; we have to be continually led by the Holy Spirit. Paul says that it’s very definitive: ‘…as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.’ To become a child of God, you have to be born again of the Holy Spirit; but to become a mature child of God, you need to have an ongoing relationship; you have to be daily and continually led by the Holy Spirit.

After becoming a friend of the Holy Spirit, that friendship needs to be sustained. Every friendship requires energy to sustain it; the Holy Spirit gives His power by being with you all the time.

The Holy Spirit is the best friend you can ever have. He is the best gift you can ever receive.

I conclude with these words by DL Moody - “When the Spirit of God comes into your heart and mine, it will be easy to love and serve God.”