I think the words of John 14: 15-17, are really interesting; (Jesus is speaking to his disciples) “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Earlier in the Chapter, Jesus had said those famous words (verse 6): “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me … ”
Just as Jesus is the truth, so too the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. In the same way, those who reject Jesus also reject the Holy Spirit – they cannot accept Him – they cannot know God.
I like the way Selwyn expressed the relationship between us and the Holy Spirit: “The word ‘know’, from the verse above, ‘but you know him’, signifies a true and close relationship between the person knowing and the person known. Hence it is more than knowing about – it is knowing in a deep and intimate way. When the Holy Spirit is received He is also perceived. To know Him is to be swayed by His truth, inspired by His love, kept by His grace, led by His hand, sustained by His presence, cheered by His promise and used in His service.”
To know the Holy Spirit is to feel God close at hand. It is a great comfort to know that we are able to know God and depend on Him as we walk this difficult journey.
‘And how!’
I think the words of John 14: 15-17, are really interesting; (Jesus is speaking to his disciples) “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Earlier in the Chapter, Jesus had said those famous words (verse 6): “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me … ”
Just as Jesus is the truth, so too the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. In the same way, those who reject Jesus also reject the Holy Spirit – they cannot accept Him – they cannot know God.
I like the way Selwyn expressed the relationship between us and the Holy Spirit: “The word ‘know’, from the verse above, ‘but you know him’, signifies a true and close relationship between the person knowing and the person known. Hence it is more than knowing about – it is knowing in a deep and intimate way. When the Holy Spirit is received He is also perceived. To know Him is to be swayed by His truth, inspired by His love, kept by His grace, led by His hand, sustained by His presence, cheered by His promise and used in His service.”
To know the Holy Spirit is to feel God close at hand. It is a great comfort to know that we are able to know God and depend on Him as we walk this difficult journey.