Friday, September 13, 2019

Another Comforter to abide with you

God's power is very important in the church today! Without the power of God, the church will wither into nothing.

Only when the Holy Spirit dwells in us can we do all that we are called to do during our lifetime.

And without the Holy Spirit's power to change us and to help us impact the world around us, we cannot be strong, nor can we finish strong, so we must seek the presence of God to be empowered from on High.

It seems even more crucial to understand that principle today, for only God's power works! Dependence upon Him is everything!

Our Source of Power
We are told in Scripture that the source of power in the life of Jesus and His ministry was the Holy Spirit: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Acts 10:38).

Even after His resurrection, the Lord still depended upon the Holy Spirit: "Until the day in which he was taken up, aft,er that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen" (Acts 1:2).

If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit after His resurrection, how much more do we need Him before our own resurrection?

The Lord is our pattern for total dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and the Lord promised that we would receive the same Holy Spirit that had empowered Him:
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive).

He is our limitless Resource!
Consider John 7:38: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." "Out of his belly" refers to your innermost being. The Holy Spirit is your limitless resource, an everlasting fountain. All you will ever need will be completely fulfilled and satisfied by the Holy Spirit—every longing and every desire in your life.

According to John 14:15-18, the Holy Spirit is our Parakletos—our Counselor, Comforter, and Helper! And He is with us forever. Without the Holy, Spirit we would be as orphans with no one to care for us. But with Him, we have full provision!

And since that day when the Holy Spirit came, as promised by our Lord Jesus, He has been and still is the personal, resident representative of the Godhead on earth. Without Him, we are powerless.

Jesus was anointed by and dependent upon the Holy Spirit. God the Father was with Him by the Spirit. This is crucial for us to understand. The Apostle Paul preached that message, and the known world was revolutionized.

if you get away from depending on the Holy Spirit, you will die. Without His power, you cannot do it. You will not do it. You will fail and fall back into bondage, just like you were before you were saved. We know this because the Word of God tells us that where the Holy Spirit is (not was), "there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17).

It doesn't matter what you have done in the past, nor what formulas you try today; without the Holy Spirit, you will fail. Only the Holy Spirit sets people free! Only the Holy Spirit can fill you with God's power. That is why God the Spirit is here on the earth.

What Really Happened at Pentecost?
Freedom and power are why the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost. Just before the Lord's ascension, Jesus promised: "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5). That baptism took place on the Day of Pentecost:
And when the day of Pentecost has fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Pentecost was the manifestation and fulfillment of the promise made by our Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven in person in the form of a mighty wind, filled each one of the 120 individuals, and gave them His power!

The Apostle Peter declared that because Jesus was exalted and glorified, Pentecost took place: "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:32-33).

The Secret of God's Power Today
Because of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit brings freedom and power today.

The secret to the power of God in the person of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit is the One who gives you:

* The power to live a life that pleases God: "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10).
* The power to know the truth: "And when he comes, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:8-11).
* The power to be free from sin’s dominion: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).
* The power to be strengthened in the inner man: "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16).

Paul also tells us that when we are led by the Holy Spirit, we will pray correctly: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). When you are led by the Holy Spirit, your prayer life will be powerful, not chaotic.

With the Holy Spirit, we have full provision. Without Him, we have no guidance or protection. We certainly cannot fight sin effectively without Him.

Today, we can compare our situation with what happened after Pentecost. What are we lacking today? They went from being powerless, oppressed, and lacking to someone filled with God's power, strength, guidance, and direction!

And today, as in the first century, the Christian life must depend upon the Holy Spirit. Only with Him in charge can you succeed.
My Prayer for You
It is your time for fullness and abundance!

I believe that the remainder of 2019 can be the best time ever, and that means in every area of your life, including your finances.


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