God’s spirit, it’s in You

I have been giving this subject a lot of thought and consideration.  In all I feel so many believers are missing out on the glorious benefits of being filled with holy spirit.  Many except the ideal we have been given this gift from God, but often deny many of the aspects of what that means.

Before I get into much of the New Testament writers on this subject let me summarize what Jesus was letting us know about this gift.  We can learn about the power and effects of having holy spirit from what Jesus taught.  I feel that Jesus was letting us know, that the spirit is the life force of the believer.  Without holy spirit one could not truly be a believer.  That is maybe why he said that a person could be forgiven of any sin, but a sin against the spirit. ( Matt 12.31)

Jesus said that our human flesh is weak, but the spirit can help us against temptation ( Matt 26.41).  We also find in Matthew and Luke that it was the spirit that led Jesus. In return Jesus says in John that the spirit would lead us.  Jesus quoting from Isaiah 61 in (Luke 4:18-21 NKJV  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; {19} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." {20} Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. {21} And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." ) was letting us know that it was the spirit that was giving him the ability to proclaim the gospel message. This is what he was telling his followers in John, that the spirit would help them proclaim the gospel message.

Then we can look at the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus in John 3.  The question was asked how a man can be born again.  Jesus made it very clear that it was a work of the spirit that made it possible.  Let’s look at the word spirit used in John 3.

  (John 3:3-8 NKJV)  Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." {4} Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" {5} Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. {6} "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {7} "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' {8} "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

4151. pneuma, pnyoo'-mah; from G4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Comp. G5590.

(John 6:63 NIV)  The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Let me express some thought here and share some things I feel I see in this.  As we see the word spirit basically means breath or wind.  Breath and wind is expelled and inhaled on a regular basis, and this is how we are living beings.  You take the breath away and we are dead and there is no more life.  We are not eternal breathes, we are living souls.  Take away the breath and we die, end of story.  There is no scripture that refers to man to be eternal spirits, but there is for man being living souls. 

It is also breath that goes into and out of God.  In Genesis God breathed into Adam and he became a living soul.  God’s breath carried with it the power and essence of God himself into man to make him a living soul and then man breathed spirit.  To be reborn is to breathe a new breath of God’s spirit that will give you life and hope for a resurrection into a new life eternal.   

Looking at a message from Jesus in Matthew 13, telling us the kingdom of God is like one sowing seed.  I learned early in life lessons on seeds, many of you may have too.  In grade school we took seeds and put then in a bag with a damp towel and after a few days the seeds began to sprout.  Now, there was no telling how long the seed had remained in the packet or on a shelf.  They could have been there for many years never sprouting. 

All seed, plant or human have life and promise of future life in them, but in themselves they do not have the power to produce.  It takes an outside element to cause growth and life. Like in my childhood class it took moisture to cause the seed to come to life, still for it to produce it needed good ground.  Even in humans a male child has seed in him, but not the power to produce a living person by himself.  Even if that seed is deposited into a fertile womb that life can only exist connected to the womb.  It is only when it takes its first breath (takes in spirit) that it can grow and produce life in itself. 

Born again is being transformed by the gospel message, believing as John 17.3 tells us, then filled with God’s spirit.  God deposits His word into us and then breathes His spirit into us and makes us a living force of God’s spirit, able to live a holy life growing into maturity and truth.  Without the spirit, you are just like a baby in the womb; living but not alive, always taking in but never giving or growing into maturity and truth, knowing nothing but the womb.   

The true message of the Gospel suffers and religion takes over.  Theses people call themselves believers, but yet they have no life in them.  I often have said “Something is wrong when a person who says they are born again, attends church for years and never grows or changes from where they were before.”  We all should be concerned about our spiritual growth if we are not becoming more like Jesus and finding deeper truth.

It is the spirit that gives life and power to the true message of God.  Isaiah 61 should be our own words as well as Jesus’.  The message of the coming kingdom and hope of all mankind has been given to the church of God.  We have been given the spirit to produce life and power, showing each generation in demonstration, that one can live a holy life and power before God.  We have been given the deposit or taste of what is yet to come in the future.  If the Kingdom and resurrection has not yet come then we should conclude that the demonstration and power of holy spirit has not been done away with.

  (Luke 3:16 NIV)  John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Jesus came to baptize all believers with holy spirit and to help them be connected to the Father.  Without holy spirit how can we know the father, or his son like we should?  How can we truly know all truth.  It was a command to believers to be filled.  It is how you are born into God’s family.  Everywhere in Acts and other places you read of outpouring, it is on all those that believed not just a select few.  If the works of the spirit is finished then the work of water is finished as well.

  Going back to John what can one conclude about this gift that is in us and what should it be doing for us? (I will start dealing with demonstrations and gifts later)

(John 4:23-24 NIV)  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. {24} God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

We can only be true worshipers when filled with God’s spirit.  This gift that is called holy spirit, comforter, helper, is given to help us to live a life of worship and obedience to the Father.  I believe without it is imposable to please the Father and obey Him.  Our flesh will always win out and lead us down a path of sin and destruction.  

The gift of holy spirit will do the following in our lives if we will let it.

1. Reveal the Father
2. Lead us into truth
3. Bring us peace
4. Give us joy
5. Make us one
6. Show us true love
7. Empower our message
8. Give us the word to say
9. Give us a taste of what is yet to come
10. Produce unity in the body
11. Power to do mighty works
12. Help us obey God
13. Makes us sons of God
14. Help us remember God’s words
15. Produce Fruit in our lives
16. Helps us abide faithfully in Jesus
17. Helps us endure struggles and persecutions
18. Helps us in prayer
19. Makes us over comers
20. Prepare us for the coming Kingdom

I know there is much more many of you may come up with, but this is a good list to start.  In closing this week I want to leave with the following scripture. When Jesus was about to leave this world with the promise of return, he gave a command to everyone that was there that day, not just the twelve.  Telling them that what John the Baptist had said was about to be fulfilled.  Is it fulfilled in you?

(Acts 1:4-5 NIV)  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. {5} For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."