Nougat 16

There’s an interesting turn of phrase in Jamaica that is often used when we have to adjust to intimacy. That is, moving from superficiality to deeper friendships or relationships. It says ‘(to) see me AND (to) live with me are two different things’. (Of course it may sound a bit more colourful in our local language; nevertheless!) And what it intones is the ‘growth pains’ of deepening friendship shift over time. Sometimes it’s a warning when we are taken for granted by another. Today’s Holy Nougat challenges that theory.

“He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:17 NLT

John argues that the Spirit of God is constant. Unwavering and unchanging. As the Spirit of Truth, this is a Most accurate description. All Truth still means ALL Truth. And God’s Spirit can and will lead us to a far deeper understanding about God, Jesus AND God’s Spirit – if we so seek! Who we experience is the same yesterday, today and forever.

There’s a subtle difference between us and Jesus’ disciples. They had Jesus with them full time and the Holy Spirit was WITH them. But; they had to wait for Jesus’ departure before the Holy Spirit would dwell WITHIN. For me that’s TWO noteworthy things

A. The difference between With & Within (ie ‘see me and come live with me). As noted prior; God’s Spirit HAS NOT changed. But while Jesus was around, the disciples probably did not even notice that God’s Spirit was ‘With’ them. In human relationship terms being With someone suggests a depth of intimacy that isn’t implied here. The Greek term used suggests ‘alongside’, ‘parallel to’, or even ‘in proximity to’. I make the distinction because the next phase of the Spirit’s relationship with Jesus’ disciples moves from With to Within. And for Jesus, that’s where intimacy begins.

The Greek shifts from proximal patterns to suggest a Fixed position in a person, thing or state; it also presupposes ‘giving oneself WHOLLY to’ (emphasis mine). We realize that on Jesus’ departure, the promise was that God’s Spirit would be wholly given to the disciples. Since we are living in the post-Ascension, pre-Return era (which for us could be considered a second Advent); our experience of God’s Spirit is not With. It’s Within.

Let’s allow that to sink in for a minute.

We automatically qualify for God’s Spirit to be voluntarily, permanently and wholly given to us! To each of us who believe. Guaranteed!

Which leads us to

B. God’s Spirit is Where Jesus is

Remember, the disciples, and others, had live experience of God’s Spirit being With (actually, ‘upon’ if one wishes to be exact) Jesus at His Baptism (John 1:32). Or they would have heard of it. And, in Luke 4, after reading the Scroll in the Temple, Jesus affirmed that God’s Word had been fulfilled. The text we ask? Isaiah 61:1-3, and particularly verse 1! He dared to say that God’s Spirit was With Him!

And that was fact! For the Trinity, though hard to conceptualise as separate though connected (by virtue thereof singular), are ALWAYS TOGETHER! God’s Spirit is With God ALWAYS; thus pointing us To God’s Truth. YET God’s Spirit is Within us when we accept Jesus into our lives; thus fulfilling God’s Truth.

Isn’t that awesome?

A final thought – our belief in, or even our acceptance of God’s Spirit has Zero bearing on the Person, the Witness or the Work of God’s Spirit. Let’s not get it twisted. Just as a gift is no less a gift whether we see or accept it. We may enhance or highlight God’s Spirit by our acceptance and belief, and that is to our benefit. But elsewhere God’s Spirit is moving. So much so that the accuser of our souls has established counterfeit spirits all around.

And while that has given us many moments’ pause; it actually makes a strong case – to ME – for the Witness and Work of God’s Spirit. Because no one wastes time to invest in Mass Counterfeits if there’s nothing existing. A counterfeit only copies the Real. Why waste time on false spirits when we have internal personal access to God’s Spirit?

See me and come live with me – with God’s Spirit it intensifies positively!

—

May all we seek be found in Christ