Hello everyone,
Have you ever wished you could be ‘like a fly on the wall’ to secretly witness something pricelessly spectacular, without actually intruding in on the moment? One of my favourite portions of scripture where I feel like we can do this, is found in John 17:21-24. This is where a very personal, heart to heart conversation between Jesus and His Father is revealed. It takes place in the moments leading up to Jesus being betrayed and going to the cross to fulfil His purpose. It’s one of the most beautiful illustrations of their hearts concerning us, I like to call it a moment where the core of their intentions are revealed or unveiled.
Now, before we go to that particular place in the Bible, I want to explain that in the preceding verses, Jesus is praying for those who walked closely with Him while He was on earth, as well as for us, who have subsequently come to personally receive and know Him as our Lord and Saviour today. That means you can take this for yourself!
He prayed...“That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, ...
I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one:
I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.”
Wow....just take a moment to let that sink in. “I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and recognise that...You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.”
This oneness and inseparable unity Jesus is talking about between Him and us and His Father, through the Holy Spirit, is the very same ‘partnership’ we find Paul speaking about in Ephesians 2:5-6, where he says, “He (the Holy Spirit) made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favour and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” AMPC
So, again, another glorious piece of scripture highlighting the inseparable connection every believer has with the Lord. According to this scripture in Ephesians 2, we have been made partakers of the full extent of God’s salvation and victorious, resurrection life - through the Holy Spirit. In other words - we have been made to be completely, and to the fullest measure - one with Him, loved by Him, made righteous through Him, and alive with His resurrection life - seated with Him in Heavenly places!
Now, let’s take this one step deeper. In 2 Corinthians 13:14 it says, “The grace (favour and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it).”AMPC
The phrase ‘fellowship in the Holy Spirit’ means communion, and participation in Him. The English dictionary defines the word ‘communion’ as the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially on a spiritual level. The Greek word for ‘communion’ is koinonia, it is the idea of taking responsibility for someone.
So, when Paul says “... the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” He was saying, in our partnership with the Holy Spirit, He will share and exchange intimate thoughts and feelings with you and in doing so becomes the One that takes the responsibility of your life for you.
That doesn’t mean we just throw our hands up and live as we please - expecting the Holy Spirit to run our lives for us. No, it means becoming so intertwined with His thoughts and emotions and will, that as we follow after what He has influenced our hearts and minds with - we will see Him move supernaturally on our behalf, in every area of our lives. He even moves behind the scenes bringing all things into line with His perfect will for us. This is our partnership with Him!
So as we pray in the Holy Spirit, it stirs up, fine tunes, enhances and amplifies this communion we have with Him.
Now it’s easy to see how the spirit of heaviness and fear, and any evil influence can’t hang around a believer who is constantly stirring themselves up, praying in the Holy Ghost. This is where Romans 8:13 comes into play: “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.”
When this truth settles inside us spontaneous thanksgiving and praise begins to well up! When we sing and praise the Lord from the depth of our spirits, singing and praying in the Holy Ghost because our own human language simply can’t express the gratitude and elation we feel in our hearts - we offer up thanksgiving of the purest and highest level! Do you know why? As we begin to praise and thank and worship the Lord, through His Holy Spirit, His presence and power is intensified in us and the situation we are praying about.
Psalm 22:3 says the Lord dwells in the praises of His people. He actually makes Himself at home in our praise. The New King James Version says He is enthroned in our praises. That means no matter what has raised itself up against His perfect will for our lives - He has dominated and ruled over it through our praise. You see, that intimate communion we spoke about earlier, where His thoughts and feelings have so filled and influenced our own, making us one with elevates Him to a place in our lives where He truly is king. Where He dominates and rules and takes responsibility for our lives as we are completely and wholeheartedly yielded to His will. Our spontaneous thanksgiving through the Holy Spirit while praying in tongues seals and amplifies His active presence in our lives; at the same time, empowering us with whatever is necessary to overcome!
Our purest thanksgiving brings us our greatest victory!
As you spend time meditating on this truth, I pray the Holy Spirit will fill you up and flood your soul with His overwhelming goodness and power, and as you begin to thank and praise Him from your spirit - you will experience what it is to truly know the precious communion we have in Him.
All my love,
Jenny
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