The Holy Spirit
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you
John 14:16-17
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit lives in the believer. All the divine attributes of the Father and the Son are given to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is our connection to God through Christ who intercedes for us. It is the Holy Spirit that identifies us belonging to the family of God where we receive his perfect grace. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9) It is the Holy Spirit that is our deposit on eternal life. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
The Holy Spirit brings the character of God into us and has the divine power to change us to be Christ-like. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) The Holy Spirit molds us to have the mind of Christ, and if we could perfectly have the mind of Christ we would have perfect love, perfect peace, make perfect choices, perfect confidence, and all the characteristics of Christ. However we cannot be perfect but we can always strive toward perfection and forever reap more blessings.
To receive the Holy Spirit we must accept Christ as our Savior and surrender our repentant hearts. We are willing to turn from our old sinful behavior and become a new creation guided by the Holy Spirit. Once we reach this state of mind, then we publically confess with our mouths that Christ is our Savior, and then we can get baptized. The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. “Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17) When we accept Christ and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are born of God, the old has passed away and all things become new. We will become the person God created us to be, and the world around us becomes new because we now see the world through the eyes and heart of God. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)
Today be guided by the Holy Spirit, making Godly wise decisions, knowing heaven is your home. If you are not sure you are filled with the Holy Spirit, follow the scriptures starting with the ones in this message, and receive the Holy Spirit and reap life to the full. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) Satan tries to place fear in our hearts but God’s perfect love through the Spirit overcomes fear. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)
Prayer: Father, help me to walk today guided by your divine love and wisdom through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit which molds me to be Christ-like. Let the Spirit fill my heart with your love so I can overcome the fear and worry that comes from Satan. And Father, help me to realize the person of the Holy Spirit lives in me. In Jesus name, Amen