“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” Revelation 1:10,11
It was the Apostle Paul who wrote that there is, “…one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:4-6) In this declaration, Paul is speaking of the unity found in God, that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the manifestation of that unity in the revelation of Himself to men. This is very important, as when we consider God, and faith in God, we are not just dealing with one member of the Trinity, but all three. When the great commission was given to the church to go into all the world and make disciples, we find that these new disciples were to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Why all three? Because God is one, and in the salvation found in Christ the Son, is also found the working of the Father to reveal His glory, as well as the Holy Spirit ever pointing to the exaltation of the Son, all three being One. What does this have to do with the individual’s faith in God, wherever he may find himself on the face of the globe?
When the apostle John was exiled to Patmos because of his testimony and witness of Christ, one would have thought that he would be absolutely put into a position where the effect of his witness would have been reduced to almost nothing. And yet, in that far corner of the world, so separated and isolated, we find John writing: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” (Rev. 1:10) There was with John that day, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, enabling him to worship in Spirit and truth. He was enabled also that day to hear the voice of the exalted, and glorified Christ, the Son. It was the Son who declared to him, “I am Alpha, and Omega, the first and the last.” And yet, it was God who gave to John the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 1:1) The Trinity is present with John, as the Father is giving, the Son is declaring, and the Spirit is working in and through John, to enable him to receive the revelation of Christ, to be sent to the seven churches of Asia Minor, and then to the entire world unto our very day. John was not alone. On the contrary, John was “in the Spirit,” being filled with the Spirit, anointed and quickened by this Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, of God. Again, from a human standpoint, John was cut off from the then known world, isolated, and existing in a deserted place. It would be in that place of utter quietness, and aloneness, that the Spirit of God would give to him the Revelation, in such clear and precise terms, that throughout history the church would see unfolding before her very eyes, the hand of the God of history bringing about His perfect purpose, according to His perfect will. Again, what does this knowledge have to do with the faith of the individual believer?
It is one thing to belong to Christ, to have been baptized by and with the Spirit into Christ, so that union with Christ is the great truth and reality of his life. It is quite another to know the fulness of the Spirit of Christ, the fulfilment of the Father’s promise that the Spirit would indwell, lead, teach, keep, and reveal the things of Christ to the believer. That very present ministry of the Spirit that John came to know is for every believer in Christ. To be “in the Spirit” is first to be indwelt by Him. Then it means true, profound communion with Christ.
Dear Father, Dwell in us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.