This lesson aims to cover two main topics. Firstly look at how now we know that the Holy Spirit is a Person, lives within us , empowers us and we have a relationship with Him. So how do we build an ongoing fellowship with the Spirit within our personal lives? Secondly, as believers, we are called to walk by the spirit and live a life of godliness (Gal 5:16), with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are able to do so. So what does means to walk by the spirit?
Now that we have established the Holy Spirit’s character, person and role we must establish how we must walk with and have fellowship with Him. The Holy Spirit is the only reason why life is able to be radically transformed- desires are re-routed, some sins that were vices become disgusting, actively walking in sin becomes unbearable because the Holy Spirit is our reminder of the new life that we possess, which is a life dedicated to God (Rom 6).
In 2nd Corinth 13:14 “ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Here we see the word fellowship in relation to the Holy Spirit. The word fellowship here comes from the Greek word koinonia. Though without a direct English translation, the word is closely associated with words such as association, community and joint participation. Koinonia originates from the Greek word, koinonos, which means partner, sharer and companion. Koinonia is mainly used to describe the sacred, holy, unified fellowship that takes place between believers and between the believer and God.
This word is firstly used in Acts 2 where on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the Gospel to those who had witnessed him and other believers being filled by the Holy Spirit and on that day 3,000 came to Christ and were baptised. In verse 42 we see the word koinonia being used and from verses 44-47 true koinonia is described- where these new believers devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching, meeting every day in temple courts without fail, selling their possessions and living together, eating and sharing everything together. This was a deep bonded intimacy between the believers that far surpassed generic friendships or family ties and signified the love, devotion, encouragement and faithfulness that thrived within the body of believers (Romans 12:10,13, 16, 1 Peter 3:8, . The same kind of fellowship that is described and sought for between the Holy Spirit and the believer (1 John 1:6-7).
So how does one fellowship with the Holy Spirit?
Firstly it is key to recognise that we can only fellowship with the Holy Spirit because of what Jesus has done. Through Jesus’ death on the cross- our sins were attributed to Him and we are acknowledged by God to be clean. There in our state of redemption and spiritual cleanliness, the Holy Spirit takes residence. However, His residence has to be welcome, His force within our lives has to be realised, welcomed and yielded to. This is done through having a relationship and fellowshipping with Him.
So how is this done? – (the verses show us what not to do in order to achieve the point)- All these points are of high importance because of what we have learnt in previous lessons about the Holy Spirit’s person and character.
- By communing with Him daily. The Holy Spirit resides within us, we must make daily efforts to interact with Him (1 Thess 5:19, Acts 7:51)
- Read the word (Matt 4:4)
- Strive to live a holy life (Ephesians 4:30)
- Yield to Him (Romans 6:13)