Scripture
reading: Gal 3:1-9; 5:16-23
We
have learned in this series of blog posts that the Holy Spirit is a
person having intellect,
emotion
and a will,
the
Holy Spirit is at work in our conversion
experience, He regenerates the believer and brings
new life. Paul
wrote in Titus
3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost”.
All persons of the godhead participate in the work of
salvation. Based upon the redemptive work of His Son, the Father
sends the Holy Spirit to wash away our sins and continually renew us.
He takes up His residence in the believer. Paul confirmed this in 1
Corinthians 6:19-20, “What? Know ye not that your body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and
ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's”
The
Holy Spirit seals
the believer. God's Word tells us this in Ephesians
4:30 , “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby, ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption”
He
baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ. 1
Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and
have been all made to drink into one Spirit” All
believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body of believers,
the church. We don't lose our individual identities, but we have an
overriding oneness
in Jesus! We
learned that
each of us has received the same Holy Spirit who completely fills our
innermost beings. The question we want to pursue today is “How
can I know whether or not the Holy Spirit is within me?”
The
presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer produces
faith
(Galatians
3:1-9).
The
Christian life begins
with faith. Paul had been to Galatia and many had believed
There
had been evidence
of their new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit will draw you to faith
in Jesus. Now
these converts had concluded that keeping the law
was necessary as well.
This
is the mistake of many cults. The
law is fulfilled
in Christ Jesus! The
Holy Spirit comes
in
response
to faith, and He matures
our faith. He increases
our faith through the written
Word. He
was at work in revelation
- in revealing (2 Peter 1:21). He was at work in inspiration
(2 Timothy 3:16). He is at work in illumination.
Look at the
words of Jesus in John
14:26, “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”
He increases our faith by revealing Jesus, the Living Word. This is the promise of Jesus. John 16:13-14 “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”. The more we know about Jesus, the stronger our faith becomes
The presence of the Holy Spirit produces a fight (Galatians 5:17). We will have peace at the moment of conversion. Spiritual life has come. Fellowship with God becomes a reality!
But soon we learn we are in a war. Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses”
Paul, toward the end of his life said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). We are at war with the devil (Ephesians 6:11-12). We are at war with the flesh. Paul said in 1 Cor 9:27, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection”
What is the point of this conflict? The Holy Spirit verses the sin nature (Galatians 5:17-21). Paul shared some insight into this struggle (Romans 7:15-25). How do we stay victorious in this battle? By feeding the new nature on the Word of God and by yielding to the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer produces fruit (Gal 5:22-23). We're talking about the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit we bear will show us if we are winning the battle. These are the things the Holy Spirit wants to produce in you
Notice the natural divisions in this list. First, in relation to God...love, joy, peace. Second ,in relation to our fellow man...longsuffering, gentleness, goodness. Third, in relation to ourselves...faith, meekness, self control
What is the Holy Spirit producing in you? Are you allowing Him to work in your life and produce the fruit He desires to produce? By yielding to the Holy Spirit, we become fruitful.
Until next time...enjoy the journey!
Ray
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