“…be filled with the Spirit…,” “being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Ephesians 5:18, Philippians 1:11
The Lord Jesus Christ did not die on Calvary for the sins of men, that they should be saved partially. Nor did He die, and be raised from the dead, now seated at the Father’s right hand, that His servants, His children, should be “set apart,” or sanctified in some small measure. He declared in John’s gospel that He had come to give life, and that more abundantly, to be received and lived. In other words, Christ came and gave His all, and still does so by the Spirit according to His finished work, not that the believer, or disciple, should live in the wasteland of a wilderness in his experience of Christ, and communion with Him, but that he should know the “power of His resurrection.” This power is not just that which shall be revealed when Christ comes again, and the dead in Christ shall rise. It is a present power, ever quickening, strengthening the believer to appropriate Christ for every need, for everything that pertains to the honoring of the Father, the coming of HIs kingdom, and the doing of His will.
When Pentecost came, soon after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the Spirit was poured out upon all flesh. That outpouring was characterized by the manifestation of Christ’s power. In fact, He had specifically told his disciples before it occurred that they would “…receive POWER, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be My witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The outpouring of the Spirit, manifested by the receiving of the power of God, was proven and demonstrated by that same power of God the Holy Spirit communicated to the disciples of Jesus. Eventually, God would reveal that this power was not limited to a specific race or people, but for both Jew and Gentile alike. Nor was it limited to whether one was male or female, “sons or daughters,” “…servants or handmaids.” (Joel 2:28,29) The issue was not the clay but the Potter, His design, His new creations in Christ, made and fashioned to receive the very life of God by the Spirit, Christ dwelling in the heart. From the day of Pentecost on, the fundamental issue would be that of power, a power and strength given to men from heaven, that they should be enabled to live by faith, believing God for all that was possible to Him, according to His will and purpose.
On the day of Pentecost, the body of Christ was also formed, the bride of Christ being called at that moment, and ever since, to receive the fulness of the Spirit, the fulness of Christ by the Spirit, so that, not only would there be the powerful witness by mouth concerning the truth of who Christ IS and WAS, but there would be the revelation, the very manifestation of Christ’s life IN the church. Men would again begin to “taste and see” that the Lord is good, and worthy to be loved, worshipped, and served. The fall of man had destroyed in man every capacity to seek and find God. Every possibility to know God had been destroyed, for man died the very day that he sinned. The window of the soul was no more, so that light could not penetrate the dead darkness of man’s heart. Were it not for the sovereign goodness, and blessedness of God in His love and grace, there would be no hope for man to be saved from his lost condition, and certainly not fulfill the purpose for which he was created. However, by the singular act of Christ offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice to the Father for the sins of men, the singular way was made.
“How much does God desire to reveal His glory, His power, in His church? And will He do it?
Dear Father, Fill us this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.