The God I Never KnewSample

Preface 

By Robert Morris

Over the years, the Holy Spirit has become my closest friend. My wife, Debbie, is my best friend on earth, but the Holy Spirit has become my spiritual best friend. However, it wasn’t always that way.

I’ll never forget the advice my pastor gave me when I left for Bible college. He said, “Watch out for people who talk about the Holy Spirit.” He didn’t tell me to work hard or listen to my professors. This one sentence is all he gave me. I didn’t realize it at the time, because my spiritual background ignored the work of the Holy Spirit, but there’s something very wrong (yet very common) about that statement.

Let me ask you a question. Is the Holy Spirit God? Of course He is! God has three parts: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So when I think back to what my pastor told me all those years ago, he was essentially warning me against people who talk about God. Now that I know better, that really offends me. Since that time, I’ve been on an adventure of discovering who the Holy Spirit really is. And let me tell you, He isn’t weird; He isn’t rude; and He isn’t some far off spiritual being.

The Holy Spirit is a person; He is a Spirit; and He has a soul. He intercedes for us and through us. He hears, speaks, teaches, and guides us into truth. He glorifies Christ, reveals Christ to us, and brings all of Christ’s words to our remembrance. He shows us the things to come, knows the deep things of God, searches all things, and reveals all things. Where He is, there is liberty. He inspired the writers of the Bible. He reveals the Son to us. We are convicted by Him, born again by Him, led by Him, filled by Him, and sealed by Him. Now why would anyone want to watch out for people who talk about Him?

The truth is the Holy Spirit desires a relationship with us.

Perhaps you’re like me and you grew up in a church that treated the Holy Spirit like the crazy uncle you have to endure at Thanksgiving. Or maybe you witnessed some abuse of the Holy Spirit and His gifts. Or maybe you’re a new Christian and don’t know much about Him. As you read through this devotional, it’s my hope that you can come to know how truly great He is and how victorious your Christian life can be when you have a relationship with Him.

I want to encourage you to read each day with an open heart. Listen for what the Holy Spirit might say or reveal to you. I promise you, if you will open your heart to the Holy Spirit over the next 28 days, you’ll see an increase of His presence and power in your life. He wants to do amazing things in and through you if you’ll let Him.

So please allow me to introduce you to my best friend, the Holy Spirit.

Day 1 | He's Present

Have you ever wanted to meet someone, but you couldn’t get an introduction? That’s often what holds us back from stepping out on a limb and introducing ourselves to someone new. It’s always easier when a mutual friend makes the introduction for us.

Thankfully Jesus, who knows the Holy Spirit better than anyone, has already introduced us to Him. As we read in today’s verse (John 14:16–17), Jesus tells the disciples that He “will pray the Father” (the Greek word pray literally means ask), and “He will give you another Helper.” Do you know what was about to happen when Jesus made this introduction? He was with His disciples at the Last Supper, mere hours before He was to be crucified, and He had just told them He was going away. Imagine what the disciples thought when they heard their leader would be gone soon. There was probably some uncertainty and maybe even some fear about what would happen after He left. Many of us have probably experienced a similar feeling after the loss of a parent, friend, or mentor.

But Jesus assured them they wouldn’t be alone, and the Helper (the Holy Spirit) would be with them to help them keep His commandments. In verse 17, Jesus goes even further and says, “But you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” He’s telling the disciples that they already know Him.

Jesus’ message to the disciples is still true for us today. And as we’ll discover in the next few days and weeks, we can develop a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit. He wants to be our Helper and closest friend. And just as Jesus told the disciples, we can have peace knowing we’re never alone because the Holy Spirit dwells in us and with us. Isn’t it amazing to know that God sent the Holy Spirit not just for the disciples but for us as well? He’s not an inaccessible God that we cannot reach. He’s right here with us, and He desires a close relationship with us.

Have you met my best friend, the Holy Spirit? If not, now is the perfect time. His presence in your life can change everything. 

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for introducing me to the Holy Spirit and for giving me the opportunity to grow in relationship with Him. I want to know Him as my helper and friend. Help me remember today that the Holy Spirit is always with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John 14:16–17 (KJV)