Quick Thoughts

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus that for a person to enter the kingdom of God they must be born again. (John3:1-8) This experience occurs when a person is baptised by full immersion in water and baptised in the Holy Spirit. The evidence of a person being born again of the Holy Spirit is the sound or voice of the Spirt. On the Day of Pentecost, the faithful believers had this experience which was individually evidenced in them by speaking in tongues. (Acts2:1-4)

God has always given His people cause to hope in a better future. For the bible nation of Israel it was to deliver them out of slavery in Egypt to live in a geographical location where He would provide for all their needs. Now, for any person, it is the hope of resurrection to eternal life living in God’s presence which has been made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Upon receiving the Holy Spirt a person can have God’s living hope within them and have this hope as an anchor to their soul.

God has always forewarned His people about what will be the next main event in His plan (e.g. Noah and the flood, Jesus speaking about the coming Holy Spirit and his return). God does not tell us precisely when the next event will occur but more importantly though, God does tell us what we must do to be ready for whatever is next. (2Peter3:10-15) Let’s make sure we are all in that present continuous state of readiness.

God does not ask His people to enter into conflicts that involve the kingdom of man. Jesus Christ said His kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight (John18:36). Paul and Peter directed the church to pray for those in authority, not to take to the streets in protest of the rulers of the day. Man’s kingdom will fail. God’s kingdom will last forever.

Once we receive the Holy Spirit we enter into a warfare. Jesus Christ won the ultimate victory at Calvary for us and with the Holy Spirit we are now fully equipped to fight the good fight of faith. The battle is not against flesh and blood but against the false doctrines of the ‘Christian’ world. Adam and Eve lost their battle when they went against God’s Word. Their carnal nature got the better of them. Spirit-filled people must use the Holy Spirit to overcome their carnal nature and live by the nature of God. Be strengthened and encouraged by, greater is he that is in you than he that is the world.

Our battle: to win souls

As Spirit-filled people we are in a battle to win souls for the Lord. The main weapon we have is the gospel message of Jesus Christ and the word of our testimony. (1Cor9:19-23, Rev12:11). Whilst there are currently and have always been worldly events that are topical and foster comment and conversation, the battle is not fought or won by speaking and promoting anything else other than God’s gospel.

We may wonder if God, the Creator of all things would bother to hear us in our attempts to communicate with Him. Well, you may be happily surprised to know that God is very much interested in communicating with us on a very personal, one on one basis. God’s communication is through the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirt we are given the ability to communicate directly to God without any distortion. Yes, we of course can speak and pray to God in our own understanding, but the Holy Spirit takes it to a whole new level when we pray in the Spirit (speaking in tongues).

Abraham is referred to in scripture as the friend of God. The testimony of Abraham is a wonderful demonstration of faithfulness, patience and uncompromising obedience. As a result of Abraham’s faith the Lord made many unconditional promises that established the foundation of God’s Great Plan for mankind—with the fundamental one being the promise of the Holy Spirit, which is now available to all because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Abraham laid down a wonderful blueprint of faith for all to ascribe. We do well to take heed to Abraham’s testimony by remaining faithful to the faith of God and doing those things that are well-pleasing to Him.

Imagine what it must have been like to be the High Priest of Israel who went into the Most Holy place of the tabernacle on that single occasion each year and into the presence of God. A bit scary perhaps or full of excitement and anticipation? How many questions by others would he have been asked? How many times did he give an account of his experience? This incredible experience was only available one day of the year (Day of Atonement). Was he hanging out waiting for it to come around again? Did the impact and impressions of the first occasion stay with him? Or did it wain?  Today, we are able to come into the presence of God 24/7. It happens when we receive the Holy Spirit. Our bodes become the tabernacle of God; His presence is now within us. As Spirit-filled people we are encouraged to continue to build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost and keeping ourselves in the love of the Lord.

Whilst, as spirit-filled people, we are not removed from the troubles of the world, our perspective is vastly different. Once we become a child of the living God we can confidently proclaim that ‘He who is for us is greater than all that can be against us’. As Jesus reminded His disciples when speaking about the coming of the Holy Spirit: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

God assures us that, no matter what, we are not alone. He is with his people for eternity.