Today’s message: Fellowship with The Holy Spirit
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” 2 Corinthians 13:14
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
Genesis 1:1-3
The Holy Spirit was there before the creation, He was hovering over the waters. The Holy Spirit has been there since there was darkness only, but He moved when there was light.
Both Christian and unbeliever have the Holy Spirit within them, every person has the Holy Spirit with them.
The Holy Spirit is the One who convinces and convicts us from sin (John 16:8)
That’s why Jesus told His disciples:
The Holy Spirit is with you but He will be in you. John 14:17
Also, after His resurrection and before He went to heaven Jesus said to his disciples:
“I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49
What does that mean? It means that Holy Spirit is always around everyone, even unbelievers, just like He was in the dark, when the earth was formless and empty.
The Holy Spirit waits for the light, and Jesus is the light of the world.
The Holy Spirit waits for Christ to be accepted into one’s heart and once He’s let in, the Holy Spirit goes to work.
The Holy Spirit started to move because the light came on.
When Jesus comes into my life the Holy Spirit starts moving and starts to do something that is supernatural and impossible.
He goes from being with you to living in you. He begins to have a relationship with you.
The Holy Spirit wants to come in, stay, live, dwell and operate in you, not because you are good but because Christ died on the cross.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” 2 Corinthians 13:14
Let’s breaks this down:
Before there can be communion there must be Grace and Love
1- The Grace of the Lord Jesus
Jesus has Grace to offer, abundant and amazing Grace.
He gives us Grace but Grace is not an excuse to sin, it’s a power that allows us to overcome sin.
Some Christians are living a sinful life but claim to be living in grace.
However, the Grace of Jesus is not mercy.
Mercy keeps me away from what I deserve. Grace gives me what I don’t deserve.
Many Christians cannot enjoy Grace because don’t know the Grace of God; all their prayers and expectations are only at the level of Mercy.
But Jesus has more than Mercy, He has Grace for you and Grace that you do not deserve, is like credit in your account.
Jesus gave us Grace, but the Father says: I also have a gift for you!
2- The Love of God: John 3:16 For God so loved the world.
He didn’t simply love us, but he loved you SO much, even before you became a Christian, before you surrendered, He so loved you already.
Can you imagine how much He loves us now, now that we’re his children?!
The love of God is the foundation for everything, and because He loved us, He sent Jesus to save us.
3- Fellowship with The Holy Spirit:
Jesus said I’m going to give you Grace, the Father said: I’m going to give you Love but the Holy Spirit says: I still have something too. I have yet another gift for you!
Grace is the gift from Jesus, Love is the gift from the Father and the Holy Spirit has offered communion and fellowship.
You can have the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. But what does it mean to say, ‘may the fellowship be with you all’?
It suggests that there is a possibility this fellowship might not yet be present in your life.
The word “Fellowship” is the Greek word “Koinonia”.
Let give you all definitions I’ve found.
“Koinonia”: Communion, fellowship, companionship, communication, intimacy, sharing together, social intercourse, partnership, joint participation, close mutual association.
Fellowship is different from prayer. Prayer is when you ask, prayer is when you create supplication, intercession, when we bring thanksgiving, praise, and worship.
Fellowship is different. Fellowship is always done among friends. Fellowship is not when one person talks and talks and the others listen. This is not fellowship.
If you’re the only one speaking and the Holy Spirit cannot talk back, you are not in fellowship.
I’m not talking about praying to the Holy Spirit. We pray to the Father in Jesus’ name, and that is prayer.
But the bible says that we must have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I never pray to the Holy Spirit, I pray to God but I talk to the Holy Spirit.
Actually the Bible says the Holy Spirit will help us pray, He will help us worship Jesus.
You should have Fellowship and talk with the Holy Spirit.
You can change your life as you commune with the Holy Spirit. We actually can talk to the Holy Spirit every day.
How can you have fellowship if only one person is doing the talking? It is not possible!
The Holy Spirit has a gift for you and it’s not only the gift of tongues, power and miracles, it’s the gift of relationship.
Watch this verse very carefully once again:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV
“The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.”
2 Corinthians 13:14 MSG
It says to have what with who? What does it say? Fellowship for who? for “YOU all”!
Stop disqualifying yourself because you don’t have a ministry, The Holy Spirit has a gift for us all.
You can’t disqualify yourself from Grace because you don’t have a ministry.
You don’t disqualify yourself from the Love of God because you are not a preacher, a pastor or life group leader.
Yet, somehow, our relationship with the Holy Spirit gets neglected. But the bible says that having a relationship with the Holy Spirit is for all of us.
If you have fellowship with Him, He can Help you in any circumstance, because He is our helper, or councillor.
Years ago, when I was the manager of a company, there were plenty of times when I felt like I was in trouble, I didn’t know what to do or what decision to make.
When I found myself in doubt, I would ask the Holy Spirit what to do and He many of times would give me an answer.
I experienced many miracles as a result of this fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I have even found lost things, like my wallet or documents after asking Him and He revealed to me where there were.
The communion or the fellowship with the Holy Spirit is what will change everything! Many know about grace and love but very few Christians practice communion with the Spirit.
Remember the previous message I gave: The Holy Spirit is God, He’s a person, He speaks, He has His own will, He gives direction, and He is the only One from the Trinity who is on earth today and He lives in you. The question is: do you have fellowship with Him?
Some years ago, I had a nephew living in my house with me. He physically lived with me. But there were some days of the week I didn’t talk to him, because I had such a busy life.
I used to wake up at 5:30 and he was still sleeping, I returned home and he was studying and so we didn’t see each other. Somedays we didn’t talk even though he was living under the same roof as me.
Sometimes this is what our relationship with the Holy Spirit can be like! Legally, He lives in us, we are not enemies, we like each other, you invited the Holy Spirit into your life but you have no communion with Him.
He waits to be wanted, longs to be welcomed. He needs to be hosted. Many people invite the Holy Spirit, but few know how to host Him.
To start fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, we must first see Him as a person. If you want to walk with the Holy Spirit, start by talking to the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the day welcome Him, thank Him and worship Him.
The Holy Spirit is hosted by surrender. All Christians have the same Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit does not have all the Christians the same way.
Every Christian has some kind of relationship with the Holy Spirit but not everyone has intimacy with Him.
We received the Holy Spirit when we were saved, the Holy Spirit gets us by surrender.
“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16
The bible says that you must walk in the Spirit. Your body may come with legs but walking requires practice, mentors and time.
Salvation gives you Holy Spirit but walking in Him takes time, practice, and mentors.
To walk with the Holy Spirit you must first talk to Holy Spirit.
He is not a force but a friend. He is not tongues, He is not fire, a dove, oil or manifestations; but a person that lives inside of you, and as a person He can be grieved and so the Bible warns us: don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.
The only way for you to overcome sin is walking in the spirit.
When I walk in the Spirit, fruits are developed as a result of this intimacy
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22,23,25
Love, patience, joy , peace , kindness , gentleness, self control is developed in your life as you have fellowship, Communion and intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
When we are born again we become the temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul the apostle said,
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Corinthians 6:19-20
The Holy Spirit address is where you are, the Holy Spirit lives inside of you. In fact, your own body becomes His house.
When Jesus saved us, He prepared a place for us in heaven, but also Jesus says to the Holy Spirit , I got you a room in their hearts.
Salvation doesn’t only get me a spot in heaven, salvation makes me a spot for the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is not just looking to get me to heaven, He is looking to bring Holy Spirit inside of me. The Holy Spirit is looking for a home. The Holy Spirit is looking for someone to live in, to inhabit and to have fellowship with.
Salvation turns your heart into a home for the Holy Spirit. You’re his temple, His house. But remember, one can share a house and still have no intimacy.
Our life is like an old house with many things to be fixed. He is the only one who can help you to fix your life.
For example, He can fix your mouth, (maybe you speak bad words or gossip about others)
He can help you with impatience (you keep getting into fights, get angry easily)
He can help you with your lack of self-control, or maybe with your pride.
Some of you have physical issues and He can help you because He loves you.
He is for you, He knows your soul, your body, your mind and your spirit inside out.
Things that you may not know how to fix, things that are broken and you have already consulted therapists or doctors about, you have confessed your mistakes but you’re still broken inside…
I can assure you this: When you have a relationship, fellowship with Him, He will change you, and heal you!
The Holy Spirit knows you because He built you and He will help to restore you, He will help rebuild you and He will be with you until the very end. That is His relationship with you!
What transform us is our Communion with The Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit belongs to you, the same way Grace belongs to you, the same way Love belongs to you.
Please do not ever disqualify yourself, because you’re so special to God, you’re so dear to God and He loves you so very much.
He is giving you His amazing Grace, He’s giving you His great Love and the Holy Spirit is giving you the gift of friendship, relationship, communion and walking with you through your life.
He wants to live within you, He wants to help you.