“And the Fellowship of 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 (NIV)

Think about the following question for a moment,

As you say, share and hear the Apostolic Benediction, do you have an appreciation of its significance?

Do you know what is meant by “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit”?

"Dove" by H. Lee Shapiro

When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, just as the Holy Spirit, as a dove, descended upon Jesus, so He descends upon you, the believer. The Holy Spirit comes and lives inside you (see 1 Corinthians 6:19) in constant and continuous fellowship – that means that the Holy Spirit becomes an ever-present friend, always available to you to comfort, guide, counsel, teach, lead, and bear witness to Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:12-14). 

The Holy Spirit lives in every born again believer (see Romans 8:9) and it is through the Holy Spirit at work deep within you that enables you to appropriate to yourself the infinite fullness of the grace of Jesus Christ and the all-encompassing love of God.

The Holy Spirit was sent by God in answer to Jesus’ prayer, to be to you what Jesus had been to His disciples during the days of His personal companionship with them (see John 14:16,17). He was with them day after day, week by week, month by month and year after year; an ever-present, loving and devoted Friend, a mighty Helper, and a compassionate Comforter and this is exactly what Spirit is to you. He literally lives in the depths of your being every minute of every hour and every hour of every day.

The Holy Spirit takes possession of you in fellowship. And just as the Father and the Son are worthy of your adoration and your praise, so too is the Holy Spirit of God. He is worthy to receive your love, your faith and your complete surrender to Him. 

Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is to be in constant and continuous partnership, comradeship, and intimate personal relationship with the Divine Spirit of God Himself (see Psalm 139:7). And this is what the disciples and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ would have gained on that first Pentecost, with the descent of the promised Holy Spirit.

So, do not simply recite the benediction mindlessly but instead be conscious of the powerful blessing you are declaring over yourself and imparting to others.

Amen †

“And the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit” ©2013 Shelley Johnson 16-May-13