JUST LOOK WITHIN

How close is Christ Jesus? A thought away. The breath of His name away. 

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17)

After Jesus had described the Holy Spirit as The Comforter or one called alongside - Jesus described the Holy Spirit dwelling in two other fashions - with and in them.

Never before had every believer received such an intimate connection with God. In the past, Old Testament prophets would be graced with a special endowment of God's Spirit to accomplish His will, but that was all. The Holy Spirit would come upon people according to God's design, but never reside within them. The stone temple was considered God's dwelling place.

At other times the Holy Spirit would be with someone - as in the confusing of an enemy so that they kill themselves. Still at other times the Holy Spirit would come alongside someone and supply their need(s) like He did with Elijah, when the Lord had ravens supply him with food and a brook was near-by for drink.

Fast forward back to Christ and His disciples. The Holy Spirit was alongside them in the person of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was with them when Jesus sent them out to evangelize. They did not know it but they had the upper room experience with the Holy Spirit still to come. However, from here on out, in addition to alongside them and with them, they also have the Holy Spirit within them, wherever thou goest. And that promise extends to all Believers/Disciples of Christ.

Paul confirms this switch from a stone temple to a flesh temple when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19 - "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own?"

Mr. Rick Renner puts it this way - "...your heart was never meant to be a hotel. God never intended for the Holy Spirit to be your Guest. The Holy Spirit has come to stay as a permanent Resident inside your heart and He will be with you for the rest of your life." (p. 553, Sparkling Gems from the Greek 2)

If the Holy Spirit is enthroned upon our mind, heart, speech and spirit then the matter becomes living a life that honors His Lordship and recognizes His indwelling presence wherever we go. We always carry Him around, to and through the dark places in our lives, as well as the bright. He promises that He never walks away from us or abandons us altogether. His presence in us comes with a great responsibility to showcase His Character. How close is Christ Jesus? Just Look Within.