I am not "it"...

Years ago I attended a weekend seminar and I remember waking up the one morning with these words in my mind:  

"I am NOT it..."

As I was contemplating where these words came from and what it meant, I realized it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me.  That was the morning that I realized - not thinking of the actual implications of the words - I had always talked about the Holy Spirit as "it" whenever I spoke about Him.  Peculiar, as I have been taught from a young age that the Holy Spirit is a person and yet I would not have a conversation with Him as a person but rather as "it" - maybe as a power rather than anything else, but certainly not really as a person.  

That weekend changed my life profoundly for a number of reasons, one of which was that my relationship with the Holy Spirit started to change from a non-personal one to a relationship with a person.  One that can, and wants, to be known.  One that invites us into an intimacy that is closer than our heartbeat.  Let's read a few scriptures today that confirms the personhood of the Holy Spirit for us:

John 14:26 speaks of the Holy Spirit as a person with specific qualities, characteristics, and a mission  to represent Jesus on earth.  

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

A comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, representative, and One who teaches and helps us to bring to remembrance everything Jesus taught, cannot merely be a power - this is clearly speaking of a person with a special mission in your and my spirit. 

In John 15:26 He is called the Spirit of Truth and it is said that He will testify regarding Jesus.

But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.

Although a spirit can have power, a power alone cannot be a Spirit of Truth  since power alone cannot have discernment.  Neither can a power testify of Jesus since testimony is something only a person can give.  

There are many more scriptures we can quote on this matter but I am going to suffice with these two. I want to challenge you today with the question, "Who is the Holy Spirit to you?"  I think it is fitting for us to contemplate this question in the light of the fact that we are  celebrating Pentecost in a few weeks' time.   

Come Holy Spirit, come once again and meet us in person.

 

Holy Spirit you are welcome here - Bryan and Katie Torwalt