In just three weeks it will be the night of the Last Supper and the Upper Room Discourse. In other words, on the night Jesus was betrayed he gave the disciples teachings and reassurance about the Holy Spirit.
Jesus had earlier taught the disciples to pray and seek the Holy Spirit, “for the Father loves to give the Spirit to those who ask Him.” (Luke 11: 9-13.) Now, Jesus is preparing the disciples for his departure. He says that he is going away but will return (John 13 and 14). In the meantime, he promises that another Counselor or Comforter will come to them.
And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth…He lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16, 17
Though the disciples didn’t understand it at the time, Jesus would continue his presence with them through the Spirit, while he himself was exalted to the right hand of God. The Spirit gives believers comfort, assurance that we are God’s children, fruit in our character, and giftings with which we serve the Lord and the body of Christ. It is interesting to note that in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12, the gifts are not just for us personally, but so that we can serve the Body of Christ- the Church!
With the Spirit’s gifts in our lives, we can serve our fellow believers in the church. Fellowship with God is the beginning, but it is completed in the body of Christ, of which we are all members. For now, let us remember and give thanks for the Holy Spirit. Jesus completed his work in the season of Passover, which we now celebrate as the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. He ascended to heaven and then poured out the Spirit, beginning at Pentecost and extending down to our lives today! Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Lord, we thank you today that Jesus does not leave believers without the presence of his Holy Spirit. We thank you that for those who receive Christ, the Holy Spirit is given as a new-birth present. We thank you that he lives in us to comfort and counsel us, to bring forth fruit in our lives and to bring forth gifts with which we can serve one another in the church. Help us to call upon this power than lives within us, so that his power can be released in us! We continue to ask, seek and knock. Jesus taught us that your Spirit fill us. We praise you in worship that we also might be filled with your Spirit as promised in Ephesians 5:19. Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Help us to overflow with praise as we are filled with the Spirit and encourage others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.