And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate,
who will never leave you.
No, I will not abandon you as orphans
—I will come to you.
John 14:16,18
It is for your good that I am going away.
Unless I go away,
the Counselor will not come to you;
but if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:7
Jesus knew the sadness and fear that his followers were feeling when he told them he would be leaving. He was concerned for them. For three years they had enjoyed his companionship, deriving strength and encouragement from his presence. Jesus comforted them by telling them that he would not leave them but would come to them in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would become their close companion to help, cheer, strengthen and encourage them just as he had done.
The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us. Because of this gift we have the privilege of living in the presence of God. It is just like the disciples walking with Jesus except now the Holy Spirit is not just with us and around us, but also in us. Jesus sent the Spirit to us to be our companion as we walk here on this earth. He didn't want us to feel alone but wanted us to walk every day with a sense of his presence. We experience his presence all around us. Even in those times when we cannot feel his presence we rely on the truth of God’s promise. He said that he will always be with us, will never leave or forsake us, so we take him at his word knowing no matter how we feel, he is there.
Thank you, Jesus for asking the Father to send the Holy Spirit to abide with us. We know you are always there to comfort and encourage us no matter how we may feel. We seek more and more the experience of your presence, Holy Spirit.
And when you believed in Christ,
he identified you as his own
by giving you the Holy Spirit,
whom he promised long ago.
2 Cor. 1:22
The Spirit is God’s guarantee
that he will give us the inheritance he promised
and that he has purchased us to be his own people.
Eph 1:14
Holy Spirit
Francesca Battistelli
There's nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You're our living hope.
Your presence, Lord.
I've tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord.
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord
There's nothing worth more
That could ever come close
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
