“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26 (KJV)
“But I tell you I am going to do what is best for you. This is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.” John 16:7 CEV)
During my worship this morning, I wished earnestly that I had been alive when Jesus was here on earth in bodily form so I could have spent time with Him and gotten to know Him. Then I read the words of Jesus in John 16:7: “The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave.” He said that it was best for us that He should leave.
Think of it: the Holy Spirit is God with us permanently. That means we are better off than the five thousand people in the crowd that Jesus taught and fed one day. We are better off than Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, who counted Jesus as a friend. We are better off than Peter when he walked toward Jesus on the water. But when Jesus was taken into heaven, everything changed. The Spirit came to live among us permanently.
In other versions of the Bible, the word for Holy Spirit is translated in different ways: Advocate, Counselor, Comforter, Helper, Companion, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Friend. If you take a peek in the Orthodox Jewish Bible, you’ll see one of my favorites, Ruach HaKodesh (breath of God). Knowing the breath of God is at work in me causes me to go to my knees in worship.
I don’t know about you, but I have always had a mental image of the Holy Spirit. Since I know that the Spirit is in me, around me, above and below me, I always thought of Him as a kind of ethereal mist surrounding me. But I am learning that the Spirit is a vibrant, energetic force, constantly working and on the move. That excites me. Even when I lack energy and don’t feel the presence of God, His Spirit is still with me, in me, and around me, proactively working, protecting, guiding, and comforting.
Hallelujah!
“Heavenly Father, we thank You for our salvation and the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit. We pray that You will give us a better understanding and appreciation for what You have done for us, in Jesus’ name.”
For His Glory
Cherie Harbridge Williams (www.cherieharbridgewilliams.com)
TRBC Women’s Life
trbccoffeebreak 
It is so amazing that the Spirit of God resides within us. Such a powerful thought. May we remember that as we we face struggles in this world. Thanks for the post.
By: Chris G Thelen on July 12, 2023
at 7:09 am