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The Holy Spirit and heirs of God (2003-05-27 - 5:01 p.m.) Once again, I'm beginning the afternoon with a reading from Oswald Chambers' great devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest. Today's reading deals with the Holy Spirit and his ministry to us on earth. When the disciples were given instructions by Jesus to wait in Jerusalem at the end of the gospel of Luke, they were having to wait for power. The Holy Ghost (Spirit) had been working and evident before Pentecost, but he had not been present in the lives of the believers. As soon as the Ascension and glorification of our Lord took place, "the Holy Spirit came into this world, and He has been here ever since. We have to receive the revelation that He is here. The reception of the Holy Spirit is the maintained attitude of a beliver. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive quickening life from the ascended Lord. "It is not the baptism of the Holy Ghost which changes men, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into men's lives by the Holy Ghost that changes them. We too often divorce what the New Testament never divorces. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is not an experience apart from Jesus Christ: it is the evidence of the ascended Christ. "The baptism of the Holy Ghost does not make you think of Time or Eternity, it is one amazing glorious NOW." That's good stuff. The debate has gone on for decades, and will not end soon, as to when we "receive" the Holy Spirit and what the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit is. I think Chambers has nailed it. Reading in Galatians again, 3:26-4:20. A lot of stuff about heirs and adoption in there. But there is a very good point buried in this passage. We are heirs of God, due to our adoption as sons. Adopted sons get all of the benefits that real sons get. We are all sons of God, heirs of the King. As such, we have all of His resources behind us. There is nothing that we need that He will not, has not already, supplied. This often a difficult truth to grasp. My Daddy owns the cattle on a thousand hills. If I need it, He's got it. 0 comments so farMissed anything? |