The Holy Spirit Is Promised
15 Jesus said to his disciples:
If you love me, you will do as I command. 16 Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. 17 The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don’t see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you.
18 I won’t leave you like orphans. I will come back to you. 19 In a little while the people of this world won’t be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live. 20 Then you will know that I am one with the Father. You will know that you are one with me, and I am one with you. 21 If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like.
John 14:15-21 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
For my birthday this year, I received my first apple watch. I soon discovered some amazing things it does to keep me going throughout the day. There are two particular alerts that I find most helpful. The first is the standing alert. Every hour the watch sends me an alert to stand for at least one minute. Now one minute does not seem like a lot but according to research, that one minute of standing each hour has tremendous health benefits. In addition, because I am a bit competitive I enjoy the reward it gives me each day when I meet my standing goal. The other helpful alert is the breathing alert. Again, it reminds me to breath. Not just short shallow breath but deep cleansing breaths. The watch monitors my breathing to determine if I fulfill the necessary depth to meet the goal. While a minute of deep breathing is more challenging than it seems, doing my deep breathing helps alleviate much of the stress of the moment. It brings me peace. Jesus in his farewell speech to his disciples in the gospel of John promises us the Holy Spirit. This shy member of the Trinity of God. Which raises some questions: Who is the Holy Spirit? How do we know we have the Holy Spirit in us? How do we know we have experienced the Holy Spirit?
Scripture answers these questions:
- First, how do we know we have the Holy Spirit in us? Because Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit and Jesus is faithful to his promises.
- Second, the Holy Spirit is our advocate, the one that stands up for us when we are in difficult situation; prays for us when we don’t know how or what to pray for; reminds us what Jesus has taught us and walks alongside us during our life. The literal meaning of the word “advocate” is one who walks alongside.
- Third, the Holy Spirit gives us gifts or fruits. These gifts are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Fourth, the Holy Spirit looks like Jesus. The Spirit acts like Jesus. When we see the Spirit, we see Jesus. When we act like Jesus, our Jesus like actions reveals the Holy Spirit to others.
I also invite you to pray each morning this prayer:
Come Holy Spirit,
Fill my heart and kindle in me
The fire of your love
Send forth your Spirit
That I might be created anew
And that you shall renew the
Face of the world. Amen
Mike Sager
ELCA Pastor, Hope Lutheran Church, Eagle ID
This Post Has 2 Comments
Thanks, Mike, for your encouragement to take time each day “to breathe in the Holy Spirit.” Makes a lot of sense to do this each day consciously on my daily walk. I especially like your prayer to the Holy Spirit. Wrote it in my journal.
Yes that Apple Watch does just what you say. It has helped me and the spirit does as well. Well said Mike.