spirthim

The Spirit of Him

To my true brothers and sisters, reborn by the power of God; the following knowledge may also be new to you, as you wait for God's mysteries to unfold while studying His word in the quietness of His presence.

In our worship time together a week or so back, a study was made of Paul's problem with sin as described in Romans 7 and it was noted that what we know as Romans 8 should have followed straight on without the psychological break of a chapter heading. The later portion of Romans 7 deals with involuntary sin and thereafter, how it is that by living "in" the Spirit we conquer condemnation.
Romans 8:1 is indeed one of the key verses of the Bible - to reborn believers!: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.; (Romans 8:1)

While in the charismatic movement we were taught that the Holy Spirit was a person, and that we had to repeatedly "call him up" or ask him to "come", almost like rubbing a magic lamp or dialling his number on the cell phone; and the remnants of this lie and the confusion that went with it have remained with this writer all these years. Only this last Sunday was the Holy Spirit able to "comfort " me with the truth, or as much of it as He is able to show me at this stage of my walk with Him.

Those of us who use the King James Bible know full well that there are certain passages that we just don't understand because of the archaic English and the way that God has set the words out, causing us to "search the Scriptures for the buried treasure", and it needs revelation from the indwelling Spirit to unlock the mystery when we need it - for God's glory.
What a wonderful God we serve. What a privilege to be His servant.

During last week a search was made in the Scriptures for clarification of certain characteristics of the Holy Spirit and a virtual box of jewels was opened.
Using mainly Romans 8 and John 14 the following was found:

Jesus was resurrected by God's Spirit:: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.; (Romans 8:11)

God's Spirit and Christ's Spirit are the same:: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.; (Romans 8:9-10); 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 8:27)
This means that God is in you and Christ is in you through the Holy Spirit which is in you. This is confirmed in John 14.: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.; (John 14:10); 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. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.; (John 14:16-18); At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.; (John 14:20-21); But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.; (John 14:26)
We see that the Spirit of truth is the Holy Ghost, which is the Holy Spirit.

Going back to Romans 8 we see that Paul uses the term "itself" when describing the Holy Spirit,: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:; (Romans 8:16); 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)
whereas, in John 14, Jesus of Nazareth calls the Holy Spirit "Him".
Am I nit picking? No, only trying to find the truth in my heart..

Now, in the middle of these studies an e-mail article about true salvation was read and a pearl of great price was discovered.
John 3:8 was always unclear as to it's exact meaning, and the writer of the e-mail article rewrote verses 5 and 8: for the first time making it perfectly clear, for all to understand, what true salvation means.
Here is John 3:1-12: 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 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. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?; (John 3:1-12)
Please reread it, interposing the following for verse 3:
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from above he is not able to see the kingdom of God.

And the same for verse 8:
The Spirit [pneuma] breathes where He wishes and you hear His voice, but do not know where He comes from and where He goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit [pneuma].

This may need some study to be comprehended.
Please understand that we are not "born again" by any act that we can do.
God can sanctify me by an act that I do.
The blessing of sanctification comes from God. He sends the Holy Spirit, we cannot claim anything on our own just because we've said a prayer or two, or responded to an alter call.: So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.; (1 Corinthians 3:7)
My heart cries for all those poor people in the churches who believe that they are "born again" because their spiritual leader told them that they were, or because they "speak in tongues".

But you, child of God, reborn from above; now have the positive knowledge that because the Holy Spirit is in you; Christ Jesus is in you; God is in you.
They are all one!

Remember how Jesus of Nazareth received the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove at the beginning of His public ministry?
We have that same Holy Spirit!!

When you ask for anything in God's will (e.g. not for a new TV set), God will hear you.
Not maybe(?)
Immediately.
Praise the Lord!

And when you have sufficient faith to believe that this is true.
And believe His word that He will do it
He will do it.




And for those of you who have read the preceding writing and realise that you are not born from above, and want, above all else (above sickness, or wealth or fame), to be born from above:
Once again: Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.; (Leviticus 20:7-8)
Jehovah-M'Kaddesh.