Jesus was with his disciples for around 3 years. He was physically with them in the boat during the storm. He was feeding them when they were hungry. When they became anxious, he was there to comfort them. In John 14-16, Jesus is telling them he’s leaving them and they have lots of questions. Jesus tells them that he’s going back to the Father but he’ll ask his Father to send the Holy Spirit.
There is a seemingly crazy verse in John 16:7 where Jesus says, “It’s better for you that I go.” Wait. What? No way. We’ve had you for 3 years and you’ve taken care of us but now it’s better? What Jesus is saying is God IN you is better than God WITH you.
So with the Holy Spirit living in us, what does his presence in our lives do for us? John 16:8 reminds us the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, reminds us of God’s righteousness and that God is going to judge the world. It’s the Holy Spirit that reminds us we need a Savior whose name is Jesus Christ.
Even making a decision to follow Jesus was the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who convicted us that there was a better way to live. He’s also the one that continually convicts us to be more like Jesus. He makes me aware of things that I used to ignore. Things I thought were not a big deal are now a big deal. Things I used to rationalize are no longer okay. The Holy Spirit prods me to be more like Jesus everyday.
The presence of the Holy Spirit also confirms our salvation. Paul tells us in Romans 8:16 that His Spirit joins our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Paul also reminds us in Ephesians 1:13-14, “…you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 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. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.”
Finally, the presence of the Spirit comforts us during difficult times in life. Jesus says in John 14:16, “the Father will send another comforter…” The Spirit gives us the peace that passes all understanding. It’s the idea that one can’t really explain but must be experienced to fully understand.
You’ve seen folks going through difficult times and thought, “I am not sure how they are doing that.” When they are following Jesus, that is the Spirit at work in their lives helping them move through the storm. I’ve seen widows walk tall, villagers walk for hours, those silenced in foreign countries speak with their lives, mom’s very their children and divorced parents come together for the good of their kids. All of that happens because the Spirit is there walking with them in those dark moments.
So how do we feel the presence of the Spirit in our lives? You have to put your self in a position to let the Holy Spirit work. He’s been described like the wind. So put yourself in the space to let your life sails catch the wind. We can do that be creating daily space to be in God’s Word and prayer, surrounding ourselves with other followers of Jesus and be fully vested in the life of a church. You must create margin. You must be still and sit and wait.
God’s Holy Spirit wants to connect with you. So create space in your life to see his work and feel his presence. Blessings on the journey.