1. You Are Not Alone

In the past, you might have got strength from God’s promise: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b NIV). But have you ever thought how this promise becomes real in your life?

The promise becoming real can be understood thus: Someone gives you a gift voucher. As long as you keep it with you it does not serve its purpose. But when you purchase something, say a book, and present this gift voucher at the cash counter the gift that was given you becomes real to you.

Similarly, as long as this promise is part of your knowledge alone, it does not serve its purpose. It becomes real only when you experience God’s presence in your life. Now the question is how does it become real? Jesus made it clear that it is through the Spirit of God.

Just before His crucifixion He was sharing with His disciples some intimate thoughts. He told them that He was to be taken away from them. But He added that He will send the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to be with them forever.

He said that the Spirit will live with them and be in them. And they will be able to know Him. (Ref. John 14:15–17). And He added: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18 NIV).

This is one of the loveliest thoughts in the New Testament. It talks about the caring attitude of Jesus towards you. He does not want to leave you alone. He wants to be with you always. So, He has sent the Holy Spirit to be with you.

And through Him, Jesus is real to you and always with you. Jesus intended that this experience of the Holy Spirit living in you to be more real than Jesus being physically present with you.

The motherly love of God who promised, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13b NIV); and the compassionate longing of Jesus, who said, “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Ref. Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34) becomes real to you when the Holy Spirit indwells in your heart.

You are no longer alone. You are no longer left without care; for God the Holy Spirit dwells in you.

In this world, there are occasions when you feel terribly alone. This need not be physical absence of others around you. In your workplace, in a crowded train or shopping mall; you can feel terribly alone.

Sometimes when decisions go wrong and you face criticism; you can feel left all alone. When friends or close relatives fail to meet your expectations and cannot give you the emotional support you crave; you can feel the aloneness.

But you need to know that these are times you can know the intimate companionship of Jesus through the Holy Spirit sent to dwell in your hearts. Yes, you are not alone. He is with you.

In this techno-crazy age when emails and mobile phones have made relationships lose that personal touch; think about the welcome relief of a hand-written note or card that someone who cared send your way.

How much real the person seemed to you as you recognized that familiar handwriting and sensed the warmth of love with which those lines were penned to you!

That same personal touch is what Jesus intended when He sent the Holy Spirit to be with you–that you may know the intimate love with which Jesus longs for you; that you may never feel orphaned but that you may feel loved and belonged!

Table of Contents

Meet the Holy Spirit: An Introduction
1. You Are Not Alone
2. Our Teacher
3. Our Helper in Prayer
4. Our Guide
5. A New Relationship
6. The Promise
7. The Spirit of God in the Life of Jesus

A Beginner’s Introduction to the Holy Spirit

Prayer Life of Jesus Christ

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