If there is any relationship we need to nurture in this world, it is that of the Holy Spirit. When that relationship takes the prime place in our lives, everything else will fall in order. As He is a Person and not just an influence, you can relate to Him easily. The Holy Spirit desires to be your best friend! He wants to be by your side—forever.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” — (2 Corinthians 13:13)
The word ‘communion’ comes from the Greek word Koinonia, which carries several deep meanings:
- Fellowship
- Intimacy
- Partnership
- Sharing
- Close association
- Participation
- Unity
When you reflect on these words, you can begin to understand the kind of friendship you are called to have with the Spirit of the Living God. True friendship with the Holy Spirit is priceless. His presence provides everlasting satisfaction and deep contentment—something that nothing in this world can compare to.
God’s Spirit working in us and indwelling us is not enough. We need to cultivate a living relationship with Him. Imagine two people living under the same roof but never communicating with each other. This is exactly how many Christians are! They have the indwelling Spirit within them but do not talk to Him. That is why many believers live burdened lives.
The Transformative Power of Communion With the Holy Spirit
- The communion of the Spirit will bring God’s touch upon us.
- The communion of the Spirit will bring rest into our lives.
- The communion of the Spirit will bring softness into our hearts.
When you embrace His awesome fellowship, your life will become an adventure. Nothing in this world will be able to measure it. You will glide over obstacles with ease. When others are frowning, you will be smiling. When others are exhausted, you will be at peace. You will be like a bridegroom coming out of his wedding canopy or a strong man running his race with joy. It’s like walking in the ‘cool of the evening’ all the time.
“The communion of the Holy Spirit in the Church restores to the baptized the divine likeness lost through sin.” — (CCC 734)
The Holy Spirit Desires Intimacy With Us
The Holy Spirit within us longs for an intimate fellowship. The Bible tells us, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us.” — (James 4:5b)
Many times, we think God is far away, but the truth is, He is near. The Bible says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” — (James 4:8)
I personally grew into a deep friendship with the Holy Spirit in Odisha through my prayer life, which included reading the Bible for two hours daily. Leading prayer meetings required me to spend even more time in prayer. I used to pray for three, five, even nine hours. Though the meetings lasted only an hour, I spent hours in preparation. Whenever I felt I had lost the presence of the Holy Spirit, I sought the Lord until He revealed the reason. Then, I would close the loopholes.
In His mercy, the Lord showed me how I was losing His presence and communion. Experiencing His tangible presence once again brought me immense joy.
Guarding the Presence of the Holy Spirit
I know of a preacher who loved to counsel people. However, over time, he realized that excessive counseling was diminishing his communion with the Holy Spirit. Once he recognized this, he returned to his place of prayer, refocused on preaching, and God prospered him.
I removed everything from my life that reduced the presence of the Lord. These distractions became like rubbish to me.
“More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” — (Philippians 3:8)
I also learned that many things in this world are not of God and are not anointed by the Holy Spirit. Some things can make your relationship with Jesus Christ grow cold, preventing you from boldly declaring that He is Lord.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.” — (1 John 2:15-17)
Conclusion
The Holy Spirit desires deep intimacy with us. He longs for us to walk in communion with Him daily. Are you nurturing your relationship with Him? Take time to pray, read the Word, and remove anything that hinders His presence in your life.
To learn more about the communion of the Holy Spirit, read the book “HOLY SPIRIT, I LOVE YOU!” by the same author.
Stay tuned for Part II!
