Several years ago I preached about the Holy Spirit during the Sunday morning service at a large church. That night, when we returned for the evening service, I was supposed to start teaching around forty-five minutes after worship began. Instead, the Holy Spirit began moving and people were being healed and saved. I didn’t get the microphone for two hours. Finally, before I was given the platform, the pastor (who is no soft or weak man) came to me in tears saying, “John, in the eight years that I have led this church, I have never felt the presence of God so strongly!” I immediately replied, “There is a reason for that. It’s because we talked about the Holy Spirit this morning, and whenever you talk about Him, He will manifest.” This perfectly illustrates what will happen when you and I, as “ordinary” believers, walk in close mutual association with the Spirit.

Communion Means Intimacy

The final meaning of koinonia is “intimacy.” This is actually the word that best describes Paul’s use of koinonia in 2 Corinthians 13:14. Intimacy can only be developed through fellowship or relationship, but it goes beyond the connotation of both these terms. Intimacy goes deep into the thoughts, secrets, and desires of the heart.

In The Message version of the Bible, we read, “The intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you” (2 Corinthians 13:14). I look at intimacy as the deepest level of friendship. Never forget that the Holy Spirit’s desire is to be your friend; He yearns for your fellowship. James 4:5 says, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously.” He is jealous for you and longs for your time and attention. Just think: the Holy Spirit is God, and nothing is hidden from Him. His knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are limitless—and He longs to reveal Himself to you. When I know or understand something of great value or importance, I passionately desire to share it with those who are close to me. The same is probably true of you, and the Holy Spirit is no different.

Too often, believers attempt to draw close to Jesus outside of relationship with the Holy Spirit. This is similar to the mistake that the Pharisees made. They said to Jesus, ‘“We are not illegitimate children…The only Father we have is God himself.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me’” (John 8:41-42 NIV). The Pharisees wanted a relationship with the Father apart from Jesus. They were unwilling to accept that God had something different in mind. Jesus explained to the Pharisees that He and His Father are one. In fact, He later said, “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well” (John 14:7 NIV). But the Pharisees simply refused to listen. Because they were unwilling to come to the Father through the Son, they could not truly be close to the Father at all.