THE FIERY SPIRIT - Coptic Orthodox Electronic Publishing

God’s loving Spirit shelters you to make of you a kind
of “an ark of Covenant,” as was said, “The Cherubim spread
out their wings above, and covered the mercy seat with their
wings” (Exod. 37:9). From there God spoke to His people, thus
you become a witness to God who sends His messages to
others through your sanctified heart. In other words, He shelters
you, and creates of you a sanctuary that witnesses to Him.
In the ancient days during war a commander used to
lead the way, to encourage the soldiers to fight courageously.
That is the case with the Holy Spirit; He walks as a cloud in
front of you as a true Leader, who gives Himself to you as a
victorious spiritual Armor. The companionship of the Spirit is
not an emotional or imaginary friendship, He is rather an
intimate companion to assist you in your spiritual struggle
through your actual life, to grant you the spirit of victory.
The children of Israel were previously saved from
slavery under Pharaoh, to walk in the wilderness, as in a battle,
until they crossed to the promised land. All that time the cloud
was leading the way.
My beloved friend, you are invited to free yourself from
the slavery of sin to be free of the captivity of the enemy, and
pass through the wilderness of this world, and experience the
pledge of the glory of the children of God. In your struggle you
need the Spirit of God who renews your new nature in the
water of baptism. And through repentance He gives you a daily
renewal, thus freeing you from the slavery of your old man, the
earthly Adam, in order to accord you with the new man. Thus,
you will bear the image of the new Adam, Who is our heavenly
Lord. (1 Cor. 15:46).
It is amazing how the Holy Spirit guides you! He
changes the distressing worldly battle into a joyous and cheerful
feast, making the spiritual struggle gratifying and delightful.
Concerning this, St. Anthony states, “The Holy Spirit makes any
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