He presents the evidence.
“We thirst for Your presence
Send down Your rain
Here in this moment, a holy embrace”
Spirit of God, Phil Wickham
“15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:15-18, NKJV
What a powerful thought: “I will not leave you orphans; I (ME, MYSELF - Jesus) will come to you.”
The Holy Spirit is Jesus alive in us.
Jesus says, comforting the disciples, that the Father will send another Helper. The word Helper here is translated from the Greek ‘paraklétos’ which can also be translated as ‘advocate’ or ‘attorney’.
An advocate presents evidence.
There have been many ‘helpers’ from the Old Testament to the New - evidence of God’s presence in the world. In the Old Testament God would appear to Abraham (Gen 18:1-15), Jacob (Gen 32:24-30), and Manoah and his wife (Judges 13) and Joshua (Joshua 5:13-15). He would appear to Moses and speak from within a burning bush (Exodus 3:2-10). The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, would see Him as the Fourth Man in the Fire (Daniel 3:16-28) - and all of Israel would see Him as a Pillar of Cloud and Fire (Exodus 13).
Besides these ‘theophanies’ there were of course also dreams, visions, prophecies, miracles, signs and wonders - other visible manifestations of God’s glory and presence.
In the New Testament God Himself steps down from His throne in Heaven to walk in our midst - the ‘paraklétos’ in flesh and bone. Evidence of God With Us.
In talking about the Holy Spirit Jesus talks about yet another ‘paraklétos’ - and insists “I will come to you.”
A common misconception, especially in our South African context, is that the Holy Spirit is somehow a different being altogether - completely distinct from Jesus. Biblically we should understand that there is only One seated upon the Throne - and He is the same One enthroned within our hearts, seated there through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus.
Jesus was the ‘paraklétos’ - providing evidence of God WITH us.
The Holy Spirit is the ‘paraklétos’ - providing evidence of the same God IN us.
The Holy Spirit is Jesus alive in us.
The proof of His presence. The Holy Spirit is our comforter in times of sorrow, His presence is a balm to the broken heart.
He is our guide, helping us navigate the storms of life by reminding us of His Word and making it come alive in us.
If Jesus was, while walking the Earth, the embrace of God made flesh - then the Holy Spirit is the very breath of God breathed into our lungs, the resurrection power of God in our lives.
The Holy Spirit is the resurrection power of God - working not only in us but also through us. In understanding the Holy Spirit correctly, as the Spirit of Jesus - the Spirit of the Living God - in understanding the Oneness of the Godhood and our communion with Him through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our understanding of our Kingdom purpose is not only enlarged but also becomes more practical.
If the Holy Spirit is Jesus alive in us - the presence of God living and active in our hearts - then the next step is Jesus alive THROUGH us as we become His hands and feet, the tangible evidence of His presence in the world around us.
The Holy Spirit is the ‘paraklétos’ - providing evidence of God IN us but also becomes the ‘paraklétos’ - providing evidence of the same God THROUGH us as His hands and feet, all the more visible as we become more and more conformed to the image of Christ:
“18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Through His presence IN us we become His presence IN the world.
Prayer: Lord, as I contemplate Your glory, transform me ever more into what You would have me be. Let me do, all the more, what You would have me do. Through Your Holy Spirit, Lord, empower me to be Your presence in a broken world, Your light in the darkness - so that others might see You in me and through me. Come breathe in me and through me, O Lord. Let Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, here in our hearts and lives. In Jesus Name. Amen.