In Touch - Nov. 9, 2007

In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley

            After His resurrection, the Lord told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait. Even though they had lived and served with Jesus for three years, something more was required before they could do kingdom work. They were in need of a divine presence, a Helper who would equip and empower them to fulfill their divine calling.

            Who is the Holy Spirit? He is God the Spirit—the third person of the Trinity, who has equal standing and relationship with God the Father and God the Son. Jesus spoke the words of His Father and sought to glorify God; so, too, the Spirit speaks only what He hears, and His purpose is to glorify Christ (John 16:13-14). He is the fulfillment of a promise made by God to everyone who has chosen to follow Christ.

            The Spirit is sent from the Father in the name of Jesus as a gift to every believer. When someone trusts Christ as Savior, that individual becomes a new creation; he or she is a child of God, indwelt by the person of the Holy Spirit.

            What is the Spirit’s purpose? Jesus called Him our Helper, who teaches us and brings to mind what we have learned (John 14:26). He is our constant companion, who will never leave us (John 14:16). He seeks to transform us into Christ’s likeness in our attitudes, priorities, thought life, and behavior.

            Some Christians have mistakenly thought of the Holy Spirit as a source of power rather than a divine person. He is God the Spirit, and His presence within us is vital to our ability to follow Him.

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