David Diga Hernandez - Are You A Friend of The Holy Spirit?

Jesus promised that he wouldn’t leave you alone to live the Christian life; he promised to send a personal and able helper. I am telling you these things now while I’m still with you. When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. That’s John 14:25–26. If you’re thankful for the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, type «I love you, Holy Spirit,» in the comment section. Perhaps you’ve heard of him; maybe in one way or another, you’ve seen him at work, and it’s quite possible that you’ve even felt him, even if you didn’t realize that it was he. But whether you’re familiar or unfamiliar with him, it’s my passion to tell you more about the precious Holy Spirit.

You see, you received the Holy Spirit the very moment you were born again. You were born again of the Spirit. Jesus answered, «Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.» That’s John 3:5-8. Everyone who belongs to Christ has the Holy Spirit; he’s our distinguishing mark. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but 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. That’s Romans 8:8-9.

You didn’t receive a portion of the Holy Spirit, a baby Holy Spirit, or the new convert Holy Spirit. No, when you believed in Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you in the fullness of his presence and power. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. That’s Romans 8:11. The Holy Spirit is not a badge of honor for only the spiritually elite, if ever there was such a group. He’s not a reward for the super spiritual; he’s your only hope of ever being spiritual. In fact, not only could you not be spiritual without the Holy Spirit, you wouldn’t even desire to be spiritual without him. He gives you not just the how-to but also the want-to.

«I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.» That’s Ezekiel 36:26–27. So when I talk of surrendering to the Holy Spirit or becoming a friend of the Holy Spirit, I’m not talking about receiving him but about acknowledging and obeying him. In so doing, it’s not that you suddenly get the Holy Spirit, but rather that you begin to cooperate with him. It’s not a matter of you getting more of the Holy Spirit but of the Holy Spirit getting more of you.

Now there was a time when I didn’t know that the Holy Spirit could be known as a friend. I had long imagined him to be like a mist in the air or like a cloud that hovered above a church service. He’s more than a force; he can be known as a friend. «May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.» That’s 2 Corinthians 13:14. Yes, the elating reality is that his friendship is for all who bow to Jesus as Lord. The Spirit’s presence abides wherever there is love for Christ, and he cultivates that love in greater measures. If the name of Jesus is on your mouth and a love for Christ rests in your heart, then the Spirit’s presence belongs in your life. For no single person is more passionate about Jesus than the Holy Spirit. He’ll reveal Christ to you with such clarity that the reality of the Savior will grow with vivid intensity. He makes Jesus more real to you and draws you closer to God than you ever imagined possible.

Your friendship with him will give you everything that you need to be, do, and have all that God desires. He’ll help you to pray more powerfully, worship more sincerely, love more truly, serve more effectively, understand Scripture more deeply, and live your life more spiritually. Whatever your issue, question, concern, or struggle, he will personally see to it that you are guided in the right direction. But the Holy Spirit isn’t looking to check into a hotel; he’s looking to buy a house. He’s not looking for a visit; he’s looking for a residence. You are his dwelling place. He’s attentive and relevant to your every moment. You can go to him when you’re sad, when you’re happy, when you’re frustrated, and when you’re mad. He can be the first to greet you in the morning and the one who hears your final thoughts of the day. Talk to him about your desires and your dreams, your fears and your failures. Speak with him about the people in your life, from old friends to new acquaintances. Let him guide your conversation, your plans, and your decisions. And as it goes with conversations, he is disturbed by neither the trivial nor the significant, though magnificent. He’s approachable in every situation.