majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him in Galatians 3:14,
"He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might
receive the promise of the Spirit."
As this passage tells us, the Holy Spirit is received by faith. There
are those groups today, who have been around just a little over a
hundred years, who, for whatever reason, feel they have the corner on
the Holy Spirit. They are the ones who feel they have some special
inside track on the Holy Spirit and have the only bona fide gifting of
the Holy Spirit. Nothing could be further from the truth.
All born-again believers in Jesus Christ have the Holy Spirit dwelling
within them. Paul tells us in Romans 8:9, "You, however, are
controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit
of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Christ." Pretty clear: all Christians have the
Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit does not indicate a spiritually
superior condition for anyone. Paul told the Corinthian believers they
were all baptized into the Holy Spirit and shared in the various gifts
of the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit dwelt within them, 1 Corinthians
12:1-11; 6:19. And, yet, having the Holy Spirit, these same believers
were called "worldly", by Paul, 1 Corinthians 3:3.
The Holy Spirit as a comforter, counselor and constant companion was
promised us by the Lord while he was still here. He said, "I will ask
the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you
forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it
neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with
you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come
to you." John 14:16-17. Here is the wonderful promise of our Lord
himself to send us the Holy Spirit when we become his. This mystical
reality impacts our lives in a variety of ways as the Holy Spirit
lives in us and brings about change within us. Galatians 5:22-23
provides a wonderful outlook as to what becomes of us due to the
indwelling Holy Spirit.
Fascinating, isn't it?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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