Mysterious Power in My Life

Mysterious Power in My Life

Guide 21

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He chose to give His followers the most precious gift that He could bestow. He told His disciples:

"It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."—John 16:7.

The choicest gift that Jesus could give His disciples was the Holy Spirit.

1. WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

No other mystery can possibly challenge the human mind so completely as does the nature of God.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"—Romans 11:33.

To our finite minds the Holy Spirit is as mysterious as is God the Father. In talking with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the workings of the Holy Spirit to the comings and goings of the wind.

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."—John 3:8.

A Personality. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as a personal being and accorded Him a place in the Godhead:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST."—Matthew 28:19.

Romans 8:27 indicates that the Spirit has a mind. The Bible tells us that the Spirit has wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:10); feelings of love (Romans 15:30); ability to instruct (Nehemiah 9:20); power to guide (Acts 16:6, 7); that He grieves over the sins of men (Ephesians 4:30); and that He directs or interprets our prayers to God. (Romans 8:26, 27.)

Active in Creation. The Scriptures teach us that the Holy Spirit was associated with the Father and the Son, in creating the universe.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. . . . And the SPIRIT OF GOD moved upon the face of the waters."—Genesis 1:1, 2.

"By HIS SPIRIT he hath garnished the heavens."—Job 26:13.

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit is spoken of more than a hundred times. He is repeatedly referred to in a personal sense as having intimate knowledge of human beings and control in their lives. He is pictured as actively working out God's purposes in the earth and among the nations. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit assumes an additional role as Christ's personal representative in this world.

2. CHRIST'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE WORLD

As Jesus talked with His disciples about His going away, they felt bereaved. His promise gave them courage and hope:

"I will not leave you orphans."—John 14:18 (margin).

"I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, . . . even the Spirit of truth."—Verses 16, 17.

The life of Christ on earth had been marked by the influence of the Holy Spirit. From His baptism to the cross, He had been led by the Spirit in a marked manner. His teachings had emphasized the work and power of the Holy Spirit in saving sinful man.

In God's plan for saving man, Jesus returned to heaven to appear as our representative before the throne of God. The Bible says that Christ has entered "heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Hebrews 9:24.

"We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."—1 John 2:1.

While we are represented in heaven by our crucified Lord, we have also here on earth the Holy Spirit, His direct representative from heaven.

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, THE COMFORTER will not come unto you; but if I depart, I WILL SEND HIM UNTO YOU."—John 16:7.

Encumbered with humanity, Jesus could not be everywhere present. Since the Holy Ghost is a spiritual being, He is not limited by a human body, and can mysteriously and instantly be anywhere and everywhere.

3. ACTIVE AGENT IN SAVING MAN

Just as the Spirit of God moved on the waters at creation, so the same Holy Spirit moves in us to accomplish our re-creation. Answering the troubled question of Nicodemus, Jesus emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit in changing the human heart:

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."—John 3:5.

So Jesus sent, as His choicest gift to us, the Spirit of divine power to transform our sinful natures into His likeness.

Were it not for the convicting power of the Spirit, we would never feel condemned for our sins. How thankful we can be for the promise of Jesus:

"And when he is come, HE WILL REPROVE [CONVICT] THE WORLD OF SIN, and of righteousness, and of judgment."—John 16:8.

The Holy Spirit whispers to our hearts through the conscience:

"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."—Isaiah 30:21.

We do well to heed the voice of God in that "still small voice" of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit not only points out our sins, but guides us into right doing.

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."—John 16:13, 14.

The Holy Spirit does not glorify human beings. This divine Guide leads us to Jesus, by glorifying Him as the Sin Bearer and the Redeemer of the world. The Spirit lifts up Jesus, and when Jesus is kept before us we are drawn by His wonderful love.

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."—John 12:32.

Jesus keeps in constant touch with us through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The telephone brings the voices of our loved ones into our immediate presence, but the telephone hardly begins to illustrate how this Agent of heavenly communication operates. We turn an electric switch, and light flows into the room through the bulb that has been electrified by the unseen current. But this illustration too is inadequate to show how we receive light and power from God through the Holy Spirit. The television set brings us pictures of faces a continent away; but by the Holy Spirit we are lifted into the very presence of Jesus. He becomes a part of our spiritual nature, in a relationship far more intimate than the affinity between two earthly lovers.

All heaven is committed to saving man. God gave His Son. The Son gives us the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit carries out the divine purpose, working for us and in us to accomplish our salvation. As Jesus promised, "He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John 14:17.

So much did God love the world that He gave everything to save the people He had created. Jesus said:

"ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: AND, LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD."—Matthew 28:18-20.

4. THE FULLNESS OF THE GIFT

The Day of Pentecost brought an unlimited measure of the Holy Spirit, in keeping with the Master's promise:

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me."—Acts 1:8.

Pentecost marked the moment when Jesus presented His choicest gift to His followers. At the baptism of Jesus, three and a half years before, the Spirit had assumed the form of a dove; at Pentecost He appeared as "cloven tongues like as of fire." Acts 2:3. On that occasion the apostles were empowered to make clear the story of the cross to more than twenty nationalities.

The Bible likens the coming of the Spirit to falling rain.

"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month."—Joel 2:23.

Gentle rains saturate the earth and water the seeds, causing new life to swell in them. The purpose of Pentecost was to water the Word sown by Jesus during His ministry, as the disciples began to carry out the gospel commission. It was the power of the Holy Spirit coming with marked might, yet falling on hearts with gentle persuasiveness, that caused men as they heard the gospel call to cry out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

5. CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

At Pentecost Peter became the human agent, cooperating with the Holy Spirit in leading men to Christ.

"Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST."—Acts 2:38.

Peter emphasized that the sinner must repent and forsake his sin in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We must be willing to turn away from sin before Jesus can offer us His great infilling gift.

But we must remember that it was the wooing of the Spirit that led men to receive Peter's invitation. It is the Spirit that leads us to repentance. By the Spirit, God in His goodness gives us the desire to turn from sin.

"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADETH THEE TO REPENTANCE?"—Romans 2:4.

Repentance involves conversion, as Peter stressed in Acts 3:19; and conversion is a turning about, a changeover.

Peter pointed out that baptism is another condition for the Spirit's reception. This agrees with what Jesus told Nicodemus: a man must be born of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:5.)

According to Jesus the love of God must motivate us and the spirit of obedience must possess us if we are to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"IF YE LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. AND I WILL PRAY THE FATHER, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, that he may abide with you for ever; EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU."—John 14:15-17.

The reception of the Holy Spirit is dependent upon our obedience to the commands of God. Habitual sin cannot exist where the Spirit holds sway.

When anyone claims the gift of the Holy Spirit and is willfully living in sin, that person is completely deceived. Remember, there is a "wicked spirit" which counterfeits the Holy Spirit's work and leads some to believe falsely that they have the gift of God. We should guard against false claims.

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."—Isaiah 8:20.

Just as Jesus warned against "false christs," so we are warned in the Scriptures that "lying spirits" may deceive men. Before Jesus comes the second time, a wicked spirit will be revealed and will deceive those who do not cherish the pure teachings of the Bible.

"And THEN SHALL THAT WICKED [ONE] BE REVEALED, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED."—2 Thessalonians 2:8-10.

6. PERSONAL RESULTS IN MY LIFE (Part 1 of 2)

A sinner hears the story of Jesus' saving power. His heart burns within Him. He longs for deliverance. In self-condemnation he asks for forgiveness. He repents and receives power to live above sin.

It was the Spirit who led this man to Christ. The Spirit troubled his heart. The Spirit gave him the longing for deliverance. Even the forgiveness for which he longed came from the Spirit. Every step was by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

"For as many as are LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, they are the sons of God."—Romans 8:14.

Our prayers are brought to the throne of God by the Spirit.

"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. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."—Romans 8:26, 27.

When the Spirit of God possesses a man, his life will bear fruit.

"BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."—Galatians 5:22, 23.

The fruit of the Spirit is evidence that we are grafted into the true vine, Jesus.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."—John 15:5.

The genuine fruit of love, joy, peace, and all the other spiritual graces, is evident in a Spirit-filled life.

In the Spirit-filled life, Christ lives His life in and through us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

6. PERSONAL RESULTS IN MY LIFE (Part 2 of 2)

Have you made the wonderful discovery of the Spirit-filled life? When the Spirit dwells in the Christian, when the Christian is filled with the Spirit, his life is controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. His prayers are effective. He understands the Word of God. He is victorious in the spiritual conflict against the flesh, Satan, and the world. Through the Spirit's power, he resists temptation and sin. He lives the abundant and fruitful Christian life of witness, introducing others to Christ. Romans 8 gives a thrilling description of this life of victory. Read it when you can.

The Spirit-filled life is a fulfillment of Christ's ideal for us:

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."—John 10:10.

How can I experience this abundant life in Christ? "Be filled with the Spirit"! Ephesians 5:18. Remember God's love and forgiveness always. Daily draw on heaven's resources by feeding on the Word. Moment by moment keep in contact with your Saviour through the lifeline of prayer. Draw continually upon the power of the ever-present Spirit, for Christ dwells in you by His Spirit to give you power to live victoriously. His presence will drive sin out of your life and give you victory day by day.

After describing this Spirit-filled Christian life, Paul offered this prayer for you and for every Christian:

"That he [the Father] would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT BY HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, THAT YE MIGHT BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD."—Ephesians 3:16-19.

Jesus promises the Spirit-filled Christian who is willing to give his time, his energies, and his means to advance the coming of His kingdom:

"YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME . . . unto the uttermost part of the earth."—Acts 1:8.

7. GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (Part 1 of 3)

Christ's gift of the Holy Spirit should not be confused with the gifts of the Spirit. In Scripture there is a clear distinction made between God's gift of the Holy Spirit to every believer for victorious Christian living and service, and the gifts of the Spirit bestowed upon the believer for effective ministry in special lines of service. Paul, speaking of the gifts of the Spirit, says:

"When he [Christ] ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave GIFTS unto men. . . . And he gave some, APOSTLES; and some, PROPHETS; and some, EVANGELISTS; and some, PASTORS and TEACHERS; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."—Ephesians 4:8, 11-13.

In this passage Paul makes clear that all do not receive every gift. "Some" receive one or more of the gifts, "some" receive others of the gifts. The Spirit divides "to every man severally as he will." 1 Corinthians 12:11. The apostle makes it clear that the gifts which the Spirit brings are different one from another, and that the gifts bestowed on one Christian are in most cases different from those bestowed on another Christian.

7. GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (Part 2 of 3)

Paul cautioned against misusing the gifts of the Spirit. The church at Corinth seemed to be a trouble spot. Chapters 12 to 14 of 1 Corinthians were written to correct these abuses. Paul's list of spiritual gifts in chapter 12 begins with the word of wisdom; then follow the word of knowledge, faith, the gift of healing, miracle-working power, the prophetic gift, ability to discern the counterfeit from the true spirit, the gift of tongues, and finally the ability to interpret tongues. In the Corinthian church some were teaching that the gift of tongues or languages was the most important gift of all. Church division set in as a result, and the effect was anything but edifying. Chapter 12 is devoted to making it clear that the true spiritual gifts will be in balance in the church, and one manifestation will not exclude or dominate the others.

Which are more important — the gifts of the Spirit, or the fruit of the Spirit? Let Paul answer:

"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."—1 Corinthians 12:31.

What is the "more excellent way" of which the apostle speaks? We have but to read the next chapter to discover that first and foremost in Christian living is love, the fruit of the Spirit.

"But the FRUIT of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Galatians 5:22,23.

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, AND HAVE NOT CHARITY [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."—1 Corinthians 13:1.

A wrong understanding of the gifts and of their purpose in the church can only lead to disorder, confusion, and division. The work of the Spirit is to guide us into all truth. (John 16:8.) Our concern should be to possess the fruits of the Spirit and then to let the Spirit use us, manifesting His gifts as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11.) The Spirit is to use us; we are not to try to use the Spirit. God will provide the gifts when and where they will perfect His people and His church.

7. GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (Part 3 of 3)

The church will never be complete without the gifts of the Spirit, but it will not be strengthened by false demonstrations. God will provide the genuine gifts of the Spirit when we are spiritually ready to receive them, for they are to be in the church:

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."—Ephesians 4:13.

8. THE LATTER RAIN OF THE SPIRIT

Pentecost was the "former rain," when the Christian church was in its infancy and the seed of the Word needed watering. (Joel 2:23.) Centuries have passed since then. The story of salvation has gone to a large part of the earth. It is time for the "latter rain" to fall which will fill out the heads of ripening grain and make them ready to harvest. Read the Bible prophecy of the coming days when the Spirit of God will be showered upon the church.

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." Joel 2:28, 29.

The prophet declares that as the final signs preceding the second coming of Christ are manifest, God will prepare every honest soul for heaven through a great outpouring of His Spirit. Are you prepared for the latter rain of the Spirit? Are you now living a Spirit-filled life? Empowered by the Spirit, can you be used of God to help reap the final harvest?

Dear Father, Giver of every good and perfect gift: I praise you today for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, my Saviour, come and dwell in me by Your Spirit, and through His presence drive sin out of my life and give me victory day by day. Spirit of God, fill me, make mine a Christ-centered, Spirit-controlled, Spirit-empowered life. I pray in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.