Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the disciples of Jesus who walked alongside him?! Well the good news is that Jesus actually told his disciples, and promised to us also, that even though he was leaving, God would send a “helper” who would be with and in his followers forever (John 14:15-17).

Before Jesus gifted us the Holy Spirit, God’s presence was in certain places (e.g. Jewish temple) or in people at certain times (e.g. Joshua in Numbers 27:18). Jesus came to begin a new, permanent season of God’s Holy Spirit’s work in people that is clearly prophesied in the book of Joel. At Jesus baptism, we see the visual picture of the ‘heavens being opened’ to indicate that God was coming from heaven in a holy invasion of earth and that this filling of our hearts with God’s presence wouldn’t require theological or moral mastery but would be gifted to anyone who placed their faith in Jesus – entrusting him with their life and eternity.

In the book of Acts we read a historical record of this outpouring of God’s presence in His people, beginning when the first Christians awaited the Holy Spirit just like Jesus taught them to. Once he came into them individually and dwelt amongst them as a group really good things began to happen. Not only did many people begin to respond to the gospel, but his followers experienced their own profound internal transformation of character, passion and purpose as God’s presence and power came to dwell among them (Acts 2:37-47).

This personal transformation is a direct result of the Holy Spirit leaving Heaven and dwelling with and in them. This is the distinguishing mark of any follower of Jesus, not that they simply adhere to certain principles or religious practices, but that God’s presence in them transforms them into the people God’s original designed them to be.

However, this is not the only purpose to the Holy Spirit filling us. Just like Jesus, God’s presence within us marks us as God’s beloved son or daughter. In the 2nd letter to the church in Corinth Paul says that God has “given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee”. This idea of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee is similar to a layby or putting a deposit down on a new car that you are committed to paying off in full. God is saying that just like He resurrected Jesus from the dead and brought Him back to heaven, He will also never leave us stranded on our own. His presence in us is part of his promise that we will one day be reunited with Him literally, physically, tangibly forever.

Like a US Navy Seal, God is committed to “leaving no man [or woman] behind”. The presence of God in you is the reminder you need that God has not, and never will, forget you. In short, you have a place in eternity because God has found His place in you.

Action: If you haven’t yet put your faith in Jesus, you can do so today. If you have, thank God for his Holy Spirit in you and that you are his forever.

Acts 1:1-8,
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying[a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 2:1-4;
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Digging Deeper: Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:1-2:4; John 14:15-17; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 2 Cor 1:22.