The Holy Spirit is more.  John 14.16-17

Hi.

Do you communicate regularly with any teen-agers?  If you do, chances are good that you text message them via cell phone…seems to be a preferred method.  This past week, a young man—a high school senior—texted me to tell me he had won his golf tournament … cool!  After I congratulated him, he texted, ‘Can I ask you a question?  How can I keep the feeling I get when I am at our youth gatherings, (Sunday Night Live and Fellowship of Christian Athletes)…is there any way?  I have known this young man since he was eight years old, and played on the same soccer team as Dylan.  His family is Catholic, but weekend activities have pretty much squeezed out church, until now.  Now he wants more.

And so Matt and I brought the dilemma before our student leaders, enlisting their input for their friend who wants more.  ‘Matt, you have to hang out with guys that want Jesus,’ one said.  ‘Dude, like check out reading your Bible,’ another said.  ‘Listen to Christian music!’ his buddy offered.  All good, for sure!  But what keeps us connected to Jesus is the Holy Spirit. 

Here in John, Jesus begins to explain to the disciples that they would not be left alone, when he returned to the Father.  “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.  He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.  _{John 14.16-17} 

Jesus kept his promise, and the Holy Spirit came to reside in devoted followers—but first was the crucifixion, then the resurrection, then 40 days more with Jesus, Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, and in 10 more days, the Holy Spirit descended.  From that time forward, Christians experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  He remains with you and will be in you—Jesus’ foretelling of this event, recorded by John, here in chapter 14.

‘Matt, if you have prayed and determined to follow Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit with you and in you—you are not without his presence when you are not at FCA or SNL.  Look for him, look to be with him, talk to him, and know that he is there!’  Ah, the Holy Spirit…drawing a 17-year-old guy to the Father’s heart.  How I love that!

Christine