Our vision statement has 3 secondary statements that are designed to highlight the 3 primary areas where we will experience the enjoyment of our relationship with Jesus. The first of these areas is expressed as follows, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s Word and prayer. Over the next 3 days we’ll consider each of these aspects of relying. Today, lets consider relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7 - Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

One of the most shocking statements Jesus makes in the final days before He goes to the cross is found in the verse above. The disciples’ jaws must have dropped. Not only did they expect Jesus to live for ever and to usher in Israel’s golden age, they could not imagine anyone else being better to have with them. Yet, Jesus unequivocally declares that it is better for us to have the Spirit in us, then to have His physical presence.

For us today, never having the opportunity to physically touch, see, and hear Jesus, can tend to quickly read over this passage. Yet, despite a clear theology of the presence of the Spirit, we often struggle to rely on the power of the Spirit. Even if we experience regular manifestations of the Spirit in our life, we still tend to live as if He's not active. We fear the evil

one and those who do his work. We are filled with anxiety about tomorrow thinking that somehow, we are the one sparrow who will fall to the ground unnoticed by the Father. We hesitate to speak the messages the Spirit has clearly given to us. We believe the lies and the criticisms whispered in our ears by the Accuser and are deaf to the true words of life expressed by the Spirit.

John 16:13-14 - When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 14:16-17 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of

truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Romans 8:9-11 - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

All these verses emphasize the truth of the indwelling Spirit in all who are disciples of Jesus. And because the Spirit of God dwells in us, we can live with confidence no matter what comes our way. May we trust in the power of the Spirit, who is always with us, always revealing truth to us, and always empowering us to walk with Jesus!

Spirit of God, help me to know You are with me. Give me clear evidence of Your presence, and give me confidence to walk, without fear, in Your power. Build my trust in Your daily provisions, Your subtle invitations, and Your encouraging words. Amen