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Day 2: Communion with the Holy Spirit:
Welcome to day 2! Today, we’re discussing communion with the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul was one of the greatest Spirit-filled men of God we will ever read about in the Bible. He had a lot to say to us about God the Holy Spirit. Paul was a missionary, evangelist, and church planter. One of the churches he started was the church in the city of Corinth. If you read through the two letters of Corinthians, you will discover that the church at Corinth had many problems, and Paul continuously had to deal with issues in the church.

In 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, as the apostle Paul is giving his final farewell, as he signs his benediction, he gives them the key to victory in every battle and the solution to every problem they will ever face in the future:

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. —2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (NKJV)

Here are Paul’s encouragement and instructions: Stay in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace, and to have victory in this life, you must also stay in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

No matter what you are going through, stay in grace.

No matter how difficult life can be, stay in grace.

Grace is God’s undeserved favor. If you have received God’s grace, God wants you to extend His grace to others. Being in grace means being gracious to others who do not deserve your favor or kindness. This is a significant key to victory in this life. Being gracious to others keeps you in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

We must be gracious at all times, in all circumstances, and with all people.

· Be gracious when you are irritated.

· Be gracious when you are frustrated.

· Be gracious when you are anxious, nervous, or fearful.

· Be gracious when you are sad, disappointed, and discouraged.

· Be gracious when you are glad, happy, successful, and blessed.

Being gracious to others keeps you in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, your soul, your mind, and all your strength. And love others with the same love that Christ has been loving you. You do not love God if you do not love others. You love God by loving others, especially those who do not deserve your love and those who will not return your love. Love even your enemies—not just the folks who love you back. While you are being gracious to others, the love of God is manifesting in you toward God and others.

As you are gracious to others, loving others—especially the unlovable—it keeps you in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

· Love your enemies.

· Love those who talk about you.

· Love those who disagree with you.

· Love those that you disagree with.

· Love those who persecute you.

· Love those who criticize you.

· Love those who complain about you.

· Love those who gossip about you.

· Love those who hurt you.

· Love those who offend you.

· Love those who misuse you.

This does not mean that you put yourself in a position to be mistreated or abused. To love them means that you sincerely pray for them, ask God to bless them, and sincerely mean it with all your heart.

God desires that you be in a hand-holding, neck-hugging, day-in, day-out relationship with the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit wants to walk with you and talk with you every day, all throughout the day, and every night.

God the Holy Spirit wants you to recognize Him and acknowledge Him with you all the time; He will never leave you. He is always with you.

God the Holy Spirit wants to lead you into all the blessings of the Lord.

God the Holy Spirit wants to give you His wisdom and knowledge to make you successful and victorious daily.

God the Holy Spirit is a real person that wants to be real to you.

He wants you to yield your will to Him and allow His will to be done in you.

He wants you to invite and welcome Him into your life; He will not intrude or force Himself on you.

He wants to be treated like He is with you.

He wants you to look to Him for His advice.

He wants you to talk with Him and enjoy His presence all the time.

He wants you to completely yield to Him and allow Him to have His way in your life.

He wants to fill your mind with His thoughts and your mouth with His words.

He wants to see through your eyes and hear through your ears.

He wants to live in your heart.

He wants to work through your hands and feet.

He wants you to give yourself to Him.

Many Christ believers and followers are trying to live a victorious Christian life without an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit! We’ve had experiences with the Holy Spirit, but God’s intention is that we go on to discover and explore the greatest adventure this side of Heaven (a hand-holding, neck-hugging relationship with the Holy Spirit). We need communion with the Holy Spirit! This was Paul’s instruction-filled farewell to the Corinthian church.