DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY April 23, 2021

The Holy Spirit: God in Us

But 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. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore, I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:7-15

God’s presence with mankind has become more intimate—from a cloud of glory in the temple, to the incarnate Son of God living with men, to the indwelling presence of His Spirit. In other words, God the Holy Spirit actually takes up residence within each believer! That’s why Jesus said it was better for Him to go away, because then the Helper could come.

While on earth, the Christ could be in only one place at a time. But after His ascension, the Holy Spirit came to impart divine wisdom, insight, and power. If you want to see the difference this made, compare the disciples’ lives before and after Pentecost. They were transformed from timid men to bold preachers ready to suffer for the gospel.

The Lord wants to accomplish His will through us. But without His supernatural indwelling presence, we can’t become the people He wants us to be. Through His Spirit, Jesus Christ lives His life in us, empowering His work. If we really believed this, we would live like the victorious children of God that we are.

If you are a believer, think about the amazing blessing that is yours: Even when you feel inadequate, God’s power resides within you. No challenge is insurmountable, because the Holy Spirit is greater than any obstacle you’ll ever face.

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