2015.06.21_Be Blessed in the Spirit

God’s Gift

God is full of the power of life. If He demands anything from us, it is not to burden us but to give us the good things He has. Matthew 7:11 says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” The same is found in Luke 11:13 which says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Of all the good things God wants to give to His children, the greatest is the Holy Spirit.

The reason Jesus said to His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away” (Jn 16:7), is also because He must go to Heaven in order for the Holy Spirit to come upon us. As Apostle Paul knew just how important it is for Christians to receive the Holy Spirit, he also asked the disciples at Ephesus, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2).

The Holy Spirit helps our spirit take possession of the things God gives us. The reason we can receive God’s word is that the Holy Spirit abides in us. The reason we’re able to use God’s power is that the Holy Spirit abides in us. It is because the Holy Spirit is within us that we’re able to receive God’s covenant. Furthermore we can be blessed with God’s blessedness because the Holy Spirit is within us. The Holy Spirit will later resurrect us and enable us to enjoy all the abundant things God bestows on us.

But the problem is that man cannot receive the Holy Spirit because of sin. The Holy Spirit dwells only in holy places. Therefore a sinner must first receive the remission of sins in order to receive the Holy Spirit. That is the reason God sent Jesus Christ into the world to shed His blood. Hebrews 9:22 says, “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Under the law, the blood of animals was sprinkled on the unclean to purify his flesh. If the blood of animals could sanctify a person’s flesh, how much would the blood of God?

God’s word is that which is sprinkled with God’s blood (Rev 19:13). So how sacred and holy would that word be? Jesus Christ is that word which was made flesh and came into the world. Though He is equal with God, He was sent by God to the world and shed His blood. He obtained redemption for our souls by entering the heavenly sanctuary and sprinkling His own blood. Thus our souls are now able to receive the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Who Comes in Jesus’ Name

We know that the Holy Spirit abides in us because Jesus’ name is within us. Jesus is the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Before His ascension, Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ (Matt 28:19). In most churches today, those administering baptism say, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. However when the disciples obeyed the Lord’s command and baptized people, the Bible writes that they baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ.

The name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit is Jesus. That name is originally the name of God the Father, which He gave to His Son. We can see this in the scene when Jesus earnestly prayed to the Father saying, ‘Holy Father, keep them through Your name You have given Me, that they may be one as We are! While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name’ (Jn 17:11-12). God the Father has given all authority of heaven and earth to the Son (Matt 28:18) and has made those in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth bow their knees before the name Jesus (Phil 2:10). The remarkable thing is that the Holy Spirit has now come inside our spirit in that name (Jn 14:26).

Christians are well aware that the resurrected Lord is in heaven. Yet at times we say, ‘the Lord abides in me’. Some who misunderstand this believe it is just a subjective faith confession of the individual to either say that the Lord is in heaven or within us. However both are true statements. But to be specific, the Son of Man is in heaven and the name Jesus is within us by the Holy Spirit.

Bind the Demons by the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, ‘If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God has come upon you’ (Matt 12:28). Jesus cast out the demons by the Holy Spirit. This is evidence that the kingdom of God has come upon us. The Holy Spirit who came upon Jesus Christ now also comes into those who are united with Jesus Christ. We are the ones who belong to God’s kingdom. The kingdom of God is filled with His blessedness and joy. Thus if we are of His kingdom, we ought to be filled with His blessedness and joy.

How much love does a newborn baby receive from his or her parents and grandparents? Nobody in the family hates or curses the baby. Just how happy is a baby to receive all the love of the family? Likewise we too are receiving the love of God. So then, how happy should our souls be?

The problem is that there are beings which hinder us from enjoying this happiness. The demons are the ones that do anything to steal this happiness of ours. In this world of cutting-edge technology, one of the most lethal threats challenging human civilization is infectious diseases.  The development of air travel has led to an increase in global trade and travel, but that has also increased the speed at which infectious disease spread. And due to large population concentration in the metropolitan cities today, the damage caused by an outbreak of an infectious disease can only be worse than ever before. The problem of infectious diseases is definitely not matter that can be taken lightly in light of human history either. Medical science attributes such infectious diseases to viruses and bacteria. Yet if they really were the fundamental causes, humans would have overcome infectious diseases a long time ago. The Bible reveals that there are spiritual beings called demons behind all kinds of disease including infectious diseases.

An outbreak of an infectious disease spreads a sense of fear among the public. Schools shut down, infected individuals are quarantined, and certain events of mass gatherings are restricted. In such times, we ought to be different to secular people if we have received the Holy Spirit. Rather than being overcome by the fear of an infection we must vanquish all weaknesses by the power of the Holy Spirit. By trusting in the promise of the Lord, we have to defeat the attack of demons.

Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, “These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18). These words would be fulfilled in us if the Holy Spirit who comes in Jesus’ name abides in us. Thus we must not fear the demons but instead cast them out. Even at an outbreak of a deadly virus, we should be confident that we will not be harmed by it. We need have the boldness to lay hands on the sick and display the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:4 says, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” When the day of Pentecost came, the disciples of Jesus were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues. The Lord’s promise was being fulfilled in them. But for that to happen, the disciples had been praying earnestly for ten days in Mark’s upper room.

In order to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we need to pray fervently. The way Jesus petitioned and cried out at Gethsemane should become the model example of prayer we must take after. Hebrews 5:7 says, ‘In the days of His flesh, He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear’. Luke 22:44 also writes, “Being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Even the Son of God cried out so earnestly to the Father. How much more earnestly should we have to pray?

Speaking in tongues significantly benefits our spirit. And if our spirit is well, we could have prosperity in all things and be in good health. Thus if anyone is suffering an illness, it is good to speak in tongues more. Do not say that tongues would not come out; use your will and speak in tongues. When you do speak in tongues, do not make feeble groans but tighten your stomach and speak out loud. Do not just stop after a short time but continue speaking in tongues until you are filled by the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul said, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” (1 Cor 14:18).

The Holy Spirit has come for our blessedness. We must not be content at having received the Holy Spirit but endeavor to be blessed and joyful through the Holy Spirit. While the flesh finds happiness in material possessions, it is left with nothing once the spirit departs from it. What we are seeking is the happiness that comes through the Holy Spirit. Our families and our children must be happy through the Holy Spirit. Pray and lay your hands on your children that they may be filled by the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues. Make sure they are filled with the Holy Spirit to vanquish infectious diseases and the like. The desire of the Lord, who carried our sins, shed His blood and died for us to receive the Holy Spirit, must be fulfilled.