When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. John 15:26

 

How can we know God when we can’t be with Jesus, God’s physical representation?  When Jesus returned to heaven to be with God, the Father, He told His friends that God would give them someone whose name means, “one called alongside to help” (John 14:16-17). This helper, also called our advocate, intercessor and the comforter, is the Holy Spirit.

Yes, the Holy Spirit is invisible, just as our own spirits are invisible. But think about it: we believe that we exist beyond our bodies, and we can interact with others beyond the purely physical too. The Holy Spirit is the invisible presence of God, interacting with us.

As God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are mysteriously One, to know one is to gain insight into the others. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, as we read scripture, we come to know more of God’s nature.  Wow!

What do the scriptures say about the Holy Spirit? They say that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf before God when we can’t find the words (Romans 8:26) and that He helps us understand spiritual teaching (John 14:26). As we submit to Him, His presence in our lives changes us, bringing attributes like love, joy and peace, patience and kindness (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit both pours out God’s love to us (Romans 5:5) and convicts people of sin, drawing them to God (John 16:7) and serving as a sign, a seal, of one’s new life in Christ (Ephesians 1:13).  Get to know the Helper today.

Resource reading: Romans 8:1-39