I am reminded at the beginning of this new year of the great prophetic promises Jesus made concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. John records the teaching Jesus gave concerning this ministry. It is the ministry of overcoming. It’s us living in a divine relationship with God and serving His purposes though our weaknesses. John reminds us of the exclusive right that Jesus has to baptize all believers “with” or “in” the Holy Spirit, John 1:33. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit within us that we shall overcome.
Why is it so critical to review and understand these things?
Because the times in which we live are turbulent and challenging.
We have an enemy who knows his time is short and he would seek to rob us of our love, ministry and devotion to Christ. His principle tool is deception with which he seeks to neutralize us. How many of us have been confused, disillusioned and hurt because of our commitment to serve the purposes of God have been frustrated. We need to experience the truth of 1 John 4:4-5 which says, “You have already won a victory over those people (who hurt us, deceive us and reject us) because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world”.
This Jesus gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives:-
- grants us exclusive rights to enter the Kingdom of God, John 3:5.
- bestows upon us the gift of eternal life John 3:6 John 6:63
- brings us into a hitherto unknown relationship with God John 3:8
- opens our lives and ears to the Words of God John 3:23
- enables us to be the true worshipers of God John 4:23 John 4:24
- brings us the Words of Jesus which are in themselves Spirit and Life John 6:63
As a born again child of God we are unconditionally forgiven, accepted, commissioned and empowered.
The greatest challenge I faced was not so much the devil in the world but the conflict within my innermost being in which I could not forgive myself for letting God down!
The failure to forgive myself became the blockage that prevented the Holy Spirit’s ministry of healing and restoration.
The path to total restoration of my relationship with God begins within the deepest recesses of my being where only the love and power of the Holy Spirit can and must reside. I cannot and must not proportion blame to others. I throw myself upon the upon the mercy and grace of God seeking His face until I know that by faith in the Word that God speaks, I have obtained a fully restored relationship with my Lord and my God.
Come Holy Spirit and show me Jesus, restore the friendship, love and freedom I once knew that we might walk together in the Spirit.