Oh, the depth and richness of the Holy Spirit in our day! Have you ever wondered about the difference in the Holy Spirit now in our day as opposed to the earlier days before the first coming of Yahusha (Jesus)?
I was recently reading a little booklet called “Christ in You”, and it touched on this subject. As I prayed and thought more about it, the picture became even clearer. We know the Holy Spirit was with the righteous in the beginning. There are many references to the Spirit moving and working in people. David is a perfect example… Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Psalm 51:11 We know He loved the first fathers and believers and was with them and equipped them to obey Him, just as He does for us today. After all, the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world. The plan of salvation was already in place, and those before knew this through the Holy Spirit. They had a choice of which spirit to follow in their day just as we do in ours today. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve… Joshua 24:15 But today, the power of the Holy Spirit is so full for us!! It is so personal, because He lives in us, having fully experienced our way in our realm in our flesh!! Because of the great fallen state of man – the fleshly man -- Yahusha came to our realm to finish the plan of salvation! Again, He did it our way! He left His holy habitation to step into humanity to experience our way. He was tempted in every way but sinned not. He experienced every temptation, every emotion, and every pain. Even as deity, He humbled Himself to live as a man. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8 Then in this human, sinless state, He took on our sin -- literally upon Himself -- and allowed His Father to destroy it in Him. He was persecuted and crucified in the worst way because of our rebellion and failures. This is how we can relate to the scripture, “I am crucified with Christ”… He was crucified in STEAD of us. His pure blood, shed through adversity, was placed upon the heavenly alter for the ultimate and final atonement. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:26 (read full chapter for fullness of context – amazingly beautiful!) I can see Him saying to the Father, "Here I am, send me. I will go and redeem our creation”, knowing what lay ahead for Him. And when His assignment in the flesh was over, He cried, "It is finished". Although He was slain before the foundation of the world creating the plan of salvation from the beginning, He had to finish it in our realm, in the flesh, to gain the final victory over death. Salvation is now complete, and it is offered to us -- the chiefly undeserved -- as a free gift. I wish I could fully grasp the magnitude of this. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 But now, with us, the partakers of this amazing gift and this powerful Holy Spirit within us in its fullness, WE now say to Him, "Here I am send me" that we may be ambassadors for His truth and to shine His Light to all the world!! And in the process, we obey Him and His commandments at all cost, because we truly love Him, knowing that He first loved us. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 So now here we are in a time in that is headed to one that is like none other - a time when we will all be tested in all things. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21 Yahusha knew this time would come, but He has equipped us with His Spirit, in the fullness of His own experience and overcoming of the flesh. We are now completely and absolutely equipped more than any other people from the beginning of time to overcome every sin and even the world through His power IN us! Let that soak in!! Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 The key is to believe this and consistently walk in this faith, fully submitted to giving our lives to Him as He gave His for us. This can be the hard part, because we are flesh and must choose to walk in the Spirit and never doubt that He has equipped us. I literally have to start the day reminding myself that I am crucified with Him and the life I live now, I live by faith in Him, believing that He is literally IN me! All we have to do is want this and ask for it, for He is a faithful Father giving to us all those desires that are in unity with His will. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you… Matthew 7:7 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:11 May we all be steadfast to follow, obey, and fully submit to Him, and may we remember that the greatest gift in all its fullness, the Holy Spirit, has been freely given to us in these last days to make this a reality! To Him only be all thanks and praise and honor!!!
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Special NoteThese writings are written in love and a spirit of servitude. They are not designed to judge but make us think. We are all sinners in need of saving, and we all need encouragement and absolute truth to endure on the narrow road to sanctification and ultimately eternal life. Categories
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