2Corinthians 1:18-20 (Amplified) says, "As surely as God is trustworthy and faithful and means what He says, our speech and message to you has not been yes (that might mean) no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus (the Messiah) Who has been preached among you by us, by myself, by Silvanus, and Timothy, was not yes and no; but in Him it is (always the divine) yes for as many as are the promises of God, they all find their yes (answer) in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him (in His person and by His agency) to the glory of God."
We, the Church, are supposed to see the true heart of God through Jesus as the Holy Spirit reveals Him to us. Jesus couldn't reveal certain things while He remained on earth, but the Holy Spirit can now reveal it all. Jesus said that, "When you see Me, you see the Father." They responded to Him in John 8:9 (Amplified), "Then they said to Him, where is this Father of Yours. Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also."
We have struggled with this concept in the Church for many years. For whatever reason, we think of God as the Old Testament God of Moses and the Law, rather than actually seeing Jesus as God. We make a separation between God and Jesus, although Jesus said many times, and in many ways, that "It is the Father in Me Who does the works" and "I only do what the Father instructs Me to do." He also said that, "When you see Me, you have seen the Father in Me." Still, we have an uncertain Image of God in our minds.
The biggest problem we've had concerning walking in faith has been this uncertainty about God and what He would do. We knew He could do anything, we just didn't know if He would do it. The Holy Spirit has been sent to bring Jesus and our Heavenly Father into the same "will and deed" in our spirit. As He reveals Jesus as Who He is, by the Holy Spirit, we will begin to actually see God. We won't see them as separate, but will actually bring into focus, the Three as One and the very same God and Father.
In the Gospels, we see Jesus as a Man of love, mercy, grace, emotion and feeling of compassion. When we see God, we see One of power, judgment, anger, smoke, fire and the Laws of rigidity and unwilling to yield. Jesus came to show the world the true heart of the Father and not just the God of Law. Jesus showed us the way God wished to always be, but couldn't because sin still stood in His way. Through Jesus, the Holy Spirit can now reveal the true and intimate heart of our Father.
As the Holy Spirit brings these Two Figures of the God-Head into the same Spirit and Image, we can learn the Person of the Father towards His children. The Church's lack of faith has been because of our lack of the Father's identity. We've almost viewed Him as being a dual personality. As the Holy Spirit brings the Father into focus by the actual figure of Jesus, we've given a real live, flesh and blood vision of our Heavenly Father.
No man has ever seen God, but the One Who was sent by God, which is the Son, Jesus. Hollywood has portrayed God with fire and brimstone preaching that is frightening and unapproachable. Jesus brought a whole new outlook on this seemingly unreachable Being, when He revealed Him as Father.
The Holy Spirit has to bring Jesus, the Father and the family into one body and one Spirit, by His Divine presence in our spirit. We've become one even as Jesus and the Father are One. John 17:21-22 (Amplified) says,"That all may be one, (just) as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One."
As we read the Words Jesus uttered, we continue struggling to accept them in our hearts. As flesh and blood beings (or at least, still in this flesh and blood world), we have trouble seeing ourselves like Jesus and the Father see us. We have a strong awareness of our faults and weaknesses and this brings Images of the God of Law and Punishment, which is the very Image we held before our new birth.
The Holy Spirit's work is to reveal Jesus the world as Savior and reveal the heart of the Father to the Church through Jesus. It's always been that "No one has seen the Father, but the Son." We must still see God through Jesus, not by religion or Law. We must see Him by the Blood of the new covenant that allows Him into our hearts, because sin is no longer a barrier dividing us. This Awesome God is now Abba Father.
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