Holy Spirit, Part 2, from Mom

2 Corinthians 3:17  For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

The Holy Spirit is the Lord, thus there is liberty.

The Holy Spirit is evident in:
1)  Daily inward renewal.  2 Corinthians 4:16  That is why we never give up.  Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  
2)  Spiritual warfare.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5  We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do.  We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to know down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.  We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.  We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  
3)  Sense of fellowship with Jesus, God, to know the love of God.  2 Corinthians 13:14  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 
4)  Only in Christ can I see the glory of God and only in Him can I be transformed.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18  But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.   But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.   For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.   So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

To have the Holy Spirit, take the step of faith.
1)  Admit you are a sinner.
2)  You need God's forgiveness.
3)  You need to believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
4)  Believe Jesus died for our sins and Jesus conquered death (resurrection).
5)  Trust Jesus Christ.
6)  Receive His forgiveness and you will be accepted by Him.
7)  You will be reborn (spiritually).
8)  The Holy Spirit now lives in you.  He gives you power over sin and a guarantee of eternal life.

Romans 5:1-2  Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.  

BELIEVE IN JESUS.

2 Corinthians 5:5-8  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.  When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, thought someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  

Ephesians 1:13-14  And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you.  And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago.  The Spirit is God's guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people.  He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.  

John 3:16  For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  

From me.

The Holy Spirit is so involved, so entwined in our lives.  From salvation, the daily living, to being our guarantee of eternal life....He is active, He is with us.  I think back to when Jesus told the disciples "But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come.  If I do go away, then I will send Him to you."  (John 16:7)  Jesus could not, being limited by human form, be in all places, at all times, with all people.  But the Holy Spirit can.  And He is.  He is the Advocate, the one who comes along side us to help.  What a beautiful ministry He has in our lives.

Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. I am so grateful that He is with me.  I am so grateful that He turned my heart to trust You.  Thank You.  Please keep me and all of us aware of His presence, His availability and activity in our lives.  What a wonderful companion we have.

Focus on the Holy Spirit today.