Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Lesson 50 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit

     We've been looking at many things concerning the Holy Spirit and all these things are important.  His most important work and ministry, though, is revealing the Lord Jesus Christ to us.  Jesus told His disciples in John 14:26 (Amplified), "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-By) the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
     This message wasn't true for only the four Gospels.  Since Jesus is the Word, everything Paul received in the "third heaven" was the revelation and person of Jesus.  Without the Holy Spirit's revealing Jesus to Paul (and his recording it in the Epistles), we would have no idea Who He really is in our lives.  We sometimes believe that Jesus' ministry ended at the cross and His resurrection, but nothing can be further from the truth.  The cross was where Jesus took our place of judgment for Adam's transgression and upon His entrance into heaven is where He placed us with Himself.
     We believe we know everything there is to know about the cross.  Mostly, though, we still see it from an earthly viewpoint and not the spirit.  And, because we've failed to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus like He wishes too, we still identify more with the first Adam than with the Last Adam, Jesus.  Because one man, Adam, all have sinned and died.  Because of One Man, Jesus, all have been made righteous and alive again to God.  Read Romans 5 and allow the Holy Spirit to show you Jesus as He is now.
     If we would only allow the Holy Spirit reveal Jesus to us and in our lives today, then we would be able to walk in close fellowship with our Heavenly Father.  We speak about how Jesus will "never leave us or forsake us" and then act like He has gone to heaven and left us behind.  Ephesians 2:5-6 (Amplified) says, "Even when we were dead (slain) by (our own) shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ (He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him), for it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation)."  Verse 6 goes on, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint-seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of us being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
     The Holy Spirit doesn't only reveal Jesus as the Man Jesus in His earthly walk, but He reveals the Risen Jesus Christ Who is now seated in the heavenlies with the Father.  The Holy Spirit's ministry continues progressing and growing on earth as the revelation of Jesus the Christ is unveiled.  Each new revealing of Jesus to the believer requires more of the Holy Spirit's anointing come into play in our earthly walk.
    We can never grow to where we're supposed to be, until the Holy Spirit reveals that walk to us.  It's hasn't been an easy task for Him to accomplish in the Church.  When we don't really understand His ministry, we allow our carnal reasonings to leave God's Word void of power in our daily lives.  Instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal our righteousness by our faith, we set out to establish our own righteousness by works.  We can never make ourselves righteous, so we're always short of being where we wanted to be...in His presence.
\     Let's read 2Corinthians 6:1-2 (Amplified) in the context of the Holy Spirit's shedding light on the finished work of Jesus.  Thus, it says, "Laboring together (as God's fellow workers) with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain (that merciful kindness by which God exerts His Holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them-do not receive it to no purpose)."  Verse 2 says, "In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance (of you from God) behold, now is the day of salvation!"
     You've already been welcomed and accepted by God through Christ Jesus.  So, it's not "If" you are accepted, but it's "now you are" accepted by God.  Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the complete and masterful way in which Jesus has already made us holy, righteous, sanctified and always acceptable to God by His sacrifice.  Without the Holy Spirit's revelation, we will continue seeing ourselves as being "outside" of the righteousness and right standing with God.
     The greatest part of the Holy Spirit's ministry is revealing Jesus to the Church.  The Word says that, "We are changed from glory to glory as we behold Him."  Only the Holy Spirit can reveal Jesus in this glory to us.

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