The Spirit of God will engage your Life’s Energy.

by | Posted April 20th at 12:07am

When I say energy, I refer to the distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround, pervade and be generated by a person. Godly Christians have an influencing sensibility of a life evidencing that the Lord is present.

As we study the Holy Spirit we can be encouraged by the words of Jesus: “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13–14). Before Jesus’ crucifixion, he promised that the Spirit would come. He promised that conjointly with the Father he would send his church a personal replacement counsellor (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7).

The Counselor or Paraclete, from the Greek word parakletos, is an encouraging name for the Spirit who lives within you and guides you in life. Jesus referred to this as being enlivened by Living Water bubbling up in your life and reflected as joyousness, and kindness to others.

God’s Spirit is present in our everyday life if we will merely notice and listen. The Spirit is available to us as one who gives support. We are helped by a best friend; advised by an experienced mentor; guiding our mind and energising our bodies to get us through the rough and tough tumbles, strengthening us through conflict and adversity; radically shifting our focus from terrifying doom to jumping-for-joy encouragement — our sunshine-ally and on-call advocate.

Jesus, when He walked this earth, was a Counselor. He promised a replacement who, after he was gone, would carry on the teaching and testimony that he started (John 16:6–7). This Paraclete ministry, by its very nature, is a personal, relational and very rational ministry. The New Covenant teaching of the Spirit enlarges our view.

Though the Old Testament (meaning old covenant or old agreement between humanity and God) said much about the Spirit’s activity in Creation (e.g., Gen. 1:2; Ps. 33:6). The Spirit of revelation (e.g., Isa. 61:1–6; Mic. 3:8) enables for service (e.g., Exod. 31:2–6; Judg. 6:34; 15:14–15; Isa. 11:2). The Spirit causes mindfulness for inward renewal (e.g., Ps. 51:10–12; Ezek. 36:25–27). Nevertheless, the old testament never clarified that the Spirit is a distinct divine Person.

Conversely in the New Testament/Covenant Jesus teaches that the Spirit is a Person. He promised after His ascension that He would send ‘another Counselor’. In Acts the Spirit evidently speaks (Acts 1:16; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 28:25). In other texts, the Spirit teaches (John 14:26), witnesses (John 15:26), searches and determines (1 Corinthians 2:11, 12:11).

To widen the scope of our understanding of God’s active presence via the Spirit: he intercedes (Rom. 8:26–27); he can be lied to (Acts 5:3); and can be grieved (Eph. 4:30). Are we ready to envision God as our trustworthy friend and enter a personal relationship with Divinity? The divinity of the Spirit is evidenced by Peter’s statement that lying to the Spirit is, in fact, lying to God (Acts 5:3–4). If only politicians would understand this when they take the oath of office on behalf of the people!

The Spirit is seen as having a boundariless scope and divine influence over the multitudes who have listening hearts — when called “the seven spirits” in Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6. Seven is a symbolic number signifying divine perfection.

The Spirit witnesses to Jesus Christ glorifies him by showing his disciples who and what he is (John 16:7–15), and making them aware of what they are in him (Rom. 8:15–17; Gal. 4:6) is the Paraclete’s primary ministry. He enlightens us (Eph. 1:17–18). He regenerates us (John 3:5–8). Further to sanctify us and set us apart, he guides us into holiness (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16–18). Our transformation of mind is only possible as he leads us into the likeness of the character of Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18, Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:22–23).

The Spirit assures us (Rom. 8:16); and gifts us for ministry (1 Cor. 12:4–11). God’s work in us in our hearts and our characters and conduct is done by the Spirit, with directives of these processes often ascribed to the Father, and the Son, whose executive determinant function in our lives is achieved by the Spirit. We can see this from the linking of the Spirit with the Father and the Son in benedictions (2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4–6) and evidenced in baptism (Matt. 28:19).

The Spirit’s full Paraclete ministry began on Pentecost morning, following Jesus’ ascension (Acts 2:1–4). John the Baptist foretold that Jesus would baptise in the Spirit (Mark 1:8; John 1:33). This was in accord with the Old Testament’s promise of an outpouring of God’s Spirit in the last days (Joel 2:28–32; cf. Jer. 31:31–34). Jesus had repeated the promise (Acts 1:4–5). Pentecost morning marked the opening of the final era of world history before Christ’s return.

Article posted by Glen R. Jackman, founder of GraceProclaimed.org

Glen has optimized his eldership role to teach the full scope of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ without boundaries.
You can read his testimony.