Jesus declares in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” Living in the Holy Spirit is the key to abiding with Jesus and following Him as He describes in John chapter 10.
John 10 (NKJV)
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
Jesus teaches how to hear His voice in John chapters 14-16, and promises to send another Helper, the Spirit of truth to live with us and be in us.
John 14 (NKJV)
Jesus Promises Another Helper
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Our divine Helper, the Spirit of truth, will testify of Jesus, bearing witness to who He is.
John 15 (NKJV)
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
In John 16, Jesus further describes the Holy Spirit’s work in the believer’s life, guiding us into all truth.
John 16 (NKJV)
The Work of the Holy Spirit
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
When we allow the Holy Spirit to fully dwell in our lives, He gives many benefits: power for evangelism, supernatural love, fruit of character and of souls, and gifts for ministry. The Holy Spirit pours out the love of God into our hearts, making it possible for us to walk in the love of God toward others: “… because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5 NKJV)
By living in the Holy Spirit, every stronghold of sin or spiritual oppression can be broken and cast out of our lives, but we have to ask Him for it. “Pray without ceasing,” as Paul exhorts in 1 Thes. 5:17.
Evangelist David Diga Hernandez describes the breaking of demonic strongholds for good in his book, “Holy Spirit the Bondage Breaker”. He reveals how cultivating a deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in lasting authority, power, and freedom. In a recent interview with Sid Roth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwvr1m1gKx0), he testifies how he suffered for years from panic attacks until in desperation one day in the middle of an attack he called out, “Help me, Holy Spirit!”.
Immediately a deep peace and presence of God came over him, and these attacks never recurred. This heartfelt prayer regularly repeated breaks strongholds of sin, enabling us to stay centered in God’s will, hearing and obeying Jesus’ voice. The key to living in the Holy Spirit is to ask Him continually to be in charge. This simple prayer empowers us to abstain from every form of evil, so that the God of peace will sanctify us completely, preparing us to meet the Lord at his coming, as Paul lovingly exhorts.
1 Thessalonians 5
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/
Compelling Love 
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