Hennie Symington

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

The eighth Article of Faith deals with the third person in the Trinity, namely the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that the Holy Spirit is a Person i.e. the third person in the Trinity. He acts as the Comforter and the One who prays for us, but also as the One who commands us to perform righteous actions while guiding us in truth. Paul tells of the Spirit “who searches the depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10),and when Jesus talks to the Father, the Spirit steps in to testify on his behalf. (see John 15:26).

The Holy Spirit is different from our own spirit. As modern Christians, we are deeply influenced, and indeed, captivated by the modern interpretations of the ways in which the Holy Spirit works, yet we have lost sight of the fact that the Holy Spirit is not limited only to his presence within the hearts of believers. He resides in us, yet the Spirit is separate from us. Indeed, the Holy Spirit was present during Creation (Genesis 1:2), He was active in inspiring the writers of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21) and equally active in the giving of spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:8-11). And of course, He continues to be active in the establishment of God’s kingdom among us (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Prayer: Dear Lord, you know our hearts and our wandering minds which are easily led along strange paths. Thank you Lord for assuring us that your Holy Spirit is with us always to guide and encourage us when our spirits flag. Amen.