The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. It is through the Holy Spirit that Jesus is revealed to us. We cannot circumvent what God has established. If we want more of Jesus in our lives, we must walk in closer communion with the Holy Spirit. This is why the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ (see 1 Peter 1:11; Romans 8:9). When the Spirit speaks to us, He is representing Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not merely a “nice addition” to this life in Christ but rather the essence of Christ on the earth. The manifestation of His presence will not be found where He is not honored. Therefore, if we refuse to honor the Spirit, Christ’s presence and power will be absent from our lives. Could this be why the world (the target of Christ’s transforming power) often perceives the Church as both lifeless and powerless?

Deep Friendship with God

The end goal of communion is deep, personal friendship. The Spirit of God desires to be your friend. In fact, He yearns for your close fellowship. James said, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously” (James 4:5). What does He yearn for? He yearns for intimacy with you and me. Isn’t that what we all desire to have with those we are closest to? Notice that He yearns jealously. This simply means He is not going to tolerate our entertainment of other suitors, even as my wife would never allow me to court another woman.

God desires our full devotion. Just one verse earlier in James, we read, “Friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). The dictionary defines enmity as “a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity.” These are strong words. It stands to be asked, why does friendship with the world create enmity with God?

Friendship with the world is the lust of the flesh. It is the selfish pursuit of gain, status, or position. It is the indulgence of our carnal selves. The Holy Spirit knows that our pursuit of these aims will only lead to futility and emptiness. God, in His jealous love, hates when we flirt with things that will only lead to the demise of our souls. Never forget that God is the perfect Father; like any great father, He hates to see His children settle for anything less than the best. This is why He will not tolerate our friendship with the world. Jesus desires for you to experience abundant life (see John 10:10), and the Holy Spirit manifests the desires of the Son. Remember that the Godhead is one in purpose. God passionately longs for an intimate relationship with His children. When we flirt with the world, we displace ourselves from the experience of deep intimacy with God. What a tragic loss—and how it breaks our Father’s heart!

Far Beyond Salvation

I have come to realize that God’s intentions for us go far beyond salvation. It is not “good enough” for us to stop at “being saved.” Yes, the reality of our salvation is so wonderful that it is beyond our comprehension; but a place in heaven is only the beginning of all God wants to give us. God also sent His Son so that we can enjoy an amazing life on this earth. Why? Because it is really difficult for us to effectively advance His kingdom when we are constrained by the fears and desires of this world.