It is important to note that the Holy Spirit is the senior Partner in this relationship. Paul said to the leaders at Ephesus, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Notice Paul did not say “the flock, among which Jesus has made you overseers.” This verse perfectly illustrates Jesus’ partnership with the Holy Spirit. Jesus purchased the Church of God “with His own blood.” The Holy Spirit, as the member of the Godhead currently residing on the earth, now appoints the Church’s overseers and manages its affairs. He’s in charge—or put another way, He is the senior Partner. Paul was very aware of the fact that the Holy Spirit is the One who resides with and in us.

Another example of this can be found in Acts 13: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ...So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia” (verses 2 and 4). Again, in this instance we see the Holy Spirit clearly identified as the One who was partnering (in communion) with the apostles. Remember, Jesus is with His Father in heaven. The Holy Spirit has been sent to earth to partner with us in this amazing life.

Day 3

Close Mutual Association

Let’s look once again at 2 Corinthians 13:14: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Now that we’ve defined communion as “fellowship” and “partnership,” see this verse through your new understanding of these two terms. Are you starting to realize the magnitude of Paul’s statement? But it doesn’t stop there. The word koinonia also conveys “close mutual association.”

I’m going to give away my age with this comment, but when I think of close mutual association, I think of the Beatles. As a young boy (long before the Beatles ever separated), when someone said “Paul McCartney,” I would immediately think of the other Beatles: John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. At that time I didn’t even think of the Beatles as individuals; they were simply the Beatles.

Another example of close mutual association is the Three Stooges. They wouldn’t be “three stooges” without Moe, Larry, and Curly—all three of them. An episode that only had Moe in it would be pretty ridiculous. What made the Three Stooges great was the dynamic of the three of them together. They were dependent on each other.

When I think of people who walk in close mutual association with the Holy Spirit, Dr. David Yonggi Cho is one of the first who comes to mind. Doctor Cho pastors one of the largest churches in the world. I’ll never forget when I first met him in the 1980s. It was his first visit to my home church, and my role on our church staff gave me the opportunity to welcome and host our guest speakers. I had been doing this for several years by the time I met Dr. Cho, so by then I had probably hosted several dozen ministers. However, my encounter with Dr. Cho was completely unique. When he got into my car, the presence of the Lord came with him. Almost immediately I started crying; tears were streaming down my face. I tried to remain silent, as I didn’t want to disturb him before a time of ministry, but I eventually felt compelled to speak. I softly and soberly said, “Dr. Cho, God is here in our car.” He smiled and nodded. “I know.” This encounter makes sense to me when I consider how much Dr. Cho has written and preached about his communion with the Holy Spirit. I have heard him say that he prays for four hours a day, mostly in the Spirit. Dr. Cho makes quality time with the Holy Spirit a priority; for this reason God’s presence is strong in his life.