Communion with the Holy Spirit, Part 1
At Jesus’ baptism, all three Persons in the Godhead were present and active (Matt. 3:13-17). The Father spoke from heaven, the Son was fulfilling all righteousness, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son like a dove.
Holy Spirit is a Person of the Godhead, not a mere mystical force. He thinks, feels, comforts, guides, and can be grieved. He wants to have daily fellowship with us. He desires for us to hear His voice, receive His instruction, and walk with Him in purity and holiness. He empowers us to love like Jesus and become more like Him.
Through Jesus, we know the love of the Father, and our communion (fellowship) with God and God’s people is given by the Holy Spirit. There is no fellowship with the Holy Spirit apart from a life surrendered to Jesus.
The certainty of our resurrection is based upon the certainty of the resurrection of Christ. Jesus was made alive by the power of the Spirit. You and I are reborn, transformed, and made alive in Christ by the Spirit.
Today let us begin to discuss what it means to have ongoing Communion with the Holy Spirit.
It is our communion and friendship with Him that enables us to live and become Christlike. God is looking for loyal friends, for those who will hunger and thirst for the Holy Spirit and who have a passion to know Him deeper. Our life in God is communion with Him.
In John, Jesus declares about the Holy Spirit,
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39 NKJV
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink!” Holy Spirit, we thirst for you!
Jesus was in Jerusalem, worshipping with other Jews at the Feast of Tabernacles. The feast was a celebration of the exodus from Egypt and God’s care of them during the 40 years of wilderness wandering. The feast also looked forward to the promised kingdom of the Messiah.
During the feast, the Jews lived in booths made of branches to remind them of God’s providential care of the nation for nearly forty years (Lev. 23:33-44).
Following the Feast of Trumpets and the solemn Day of Atonement, Tabernacles was a festive time for the people. The temple area was illumined by large candlesticks that reminded the people of the guiding pillar of fire that led them in the wilderness.
The feast was a joyous celebration where each day the priests took a golden pitcher to the pool of Siloam. They would draw water from the pool and bring this water to the temple pouring it out on the altar as an offering to God, while the people shouted and sang from Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” The ceremony was symbolic of drawing water from the rock in Ex 17:1-7.
Believe in Me, and out of your innermost being, rivers of living water!
Foremost, this living water flows from God. Jesus is the rock from which the river of God flows, Paul confirms this,
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10:4 NKJV
We also get a glimpse of this truth in Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22, speaking of God’s river flowing forth from Him to His temple. But this temple is also you and me as we live in Christ! We have become the temple of God, where God’s Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16).
Living water refers to running water. In Israel, there are many dry riverbeds. Running water in Israel, or any desert location, becomes life-giving water to people and towns. God intends that you and I become a source of living water to bring life to others! How? By the Holy Spirit! He is that living water within us!
The Holy Spirit Has Been Poured Out on All Flesh
John 7:37-39 connects to Pentecost in Acts and promise fulfilled!
Fifty days after the crucifixion of Jesus, Pentecost occurs. Jesus ascends forty days after His resurrection, the disciples gather in the upper room for ten days and now the Holy Spirit is poured out. Peter quotes from Joel 2:28-32,
And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18 NKJV
Peter also affirms that this is the fulfillment of God’s promise.
This Jesus God has raised up, of which you are witnesses, therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” Acts 2:32-33 NKJV
During the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests poured out the water, symbolizing the water from the Rock. But now, on the day of Pentecost, God Himself pours forth water from the Rock, the river of His presence, the River of the Holy Spirit!
Twentieth-century healing evangelist Smith Wigglesworth said, “At Pentecost, God came with a blast from heaven, but God has not exhausted his blasts!”
He will give you another helper.
Jesus promised the disciples at the last supper the Holy Spirit as another helper,
If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you anotherHelper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 NKJV
The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise Jesus made to the disciples that He would send another comforter, the Spirit of truth who would abide with us forever (John 14:16).
The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our friend, our helper in a time of need. He teaches us, leads us, and empowers us to proclaim and demonstrate the gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus is the Rock, the source, the Holy Spirit is the River that never runs dry, never wearies, never quits, never stops flowing!
In John 14:16, the word “another” is the Greek word allos, means: One besides, another of the same kind. Jesus’ use of allos for sending another Helper equals “one besides Me and in addition to Me but one just like Me. He will do in My absence what I would do if I were physically present with you.” The Holy Spirit brings continuity with what Jesus did and taught.
The word “helper” is the Greek word parakletos, a word that is derived from para “beside” and kaleo “to call”; meaning “called to one’s side.” The word signifies an intercessor, comforter, helper, advocate, and counselor.
In nonbiblical literature, parakletos had the meaning of “an attorney who appears in court on another’s behalf.”
The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father, who comes alongside us to help us, who is just like Jesus! He reveals the Father and the Son to us, He leads us into truth, He guides and directs us, He gives us strength, and He comforts us.
The Holy Spirit wants to envelop you in His presence. He really cares for you and wants to be your best friend.
Our Christian life was meant to be an ongoing experience of fellowship with the Holy Spirit, individually and corporately. Most of us want to live a victorious Christian life. But without daily communion with the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to attain that goal.
Communion with the Holy Spirit is the launching pad for a life of supernatural power and consistency. But it requires our full surrender to God, His Word, and leading. Miracle evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman stated, “It’s not your prayers, it’s not your ability, but it’s your surrender.”
Hunger, surrender, humility, and prayer precede His presence and power.
Jesus likened the Holy Spirit to water. Without water, you and I cannot live. Likewise, we cannot live without the presence of the Holy Spirit. If you are thirsty for Him, for your family, the Church, your city, and nation, He wants to fill you and be your closest friend. Stay thirsty, keep believing and praying, for He promises:
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;” Isa 44:3 NKJV
Begin today to develop a walk of daily communion with the Greater One within! Let Him be all He wants to be in your life: your source of wisdom, power, and strength to launch you forth into victory.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I want to thank You for being my comforter, helper and friend. I need Your friendship and partnership. I promise from this day forward to commune with You and to consult You before deciding or taking a single step! I invite You to come now and fill me afresh, let me know the joy of Your fellowship! In Jesus’ name!
Next week I will finish with part two of Communion with the Holy Spirit!
For a deeper look at this topic, watch the Passion Church message “Communion with the Holy Spirit”
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