“It is the Spirit that quickeneth (giveth life); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
When the angel of the Lord revealed Himself to Zacharias, he told him that Elizabeth his wife would have a son, whose name would be John. In describing the event to Zacharias, the angel spoke of the son’s character and mission. He said, “….he shall be filled with the Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” (Luke 1:15) He then added, “…And he shall go before Him in the Spirit and power of Elias (Elijah).” (v.17) Many years before this announcement, after Elisha had been chosen to succeed Elijah as God’s prophet in Israel, Elijah told Elisha: “Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.” (2 Kings 2:9) Elisha did not hesitate to respond: “I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” (v.9) Why did Elisha, above all else, desire that this Spirit and power of Elijah rest upon him? Was it not because of the impossible task which lay before him? How could he ever replace Elijah? There was but one way, and it had to do with the portion, or measure, of the Spirit of God given him for the task.
Many years later, when Paul was writing Timothy, he addressed the same issue. To succeed Paul, Timothy, his son in the faith, needed to know and be fully assured of one thing. Paul summarized it by saying, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) This was written to Timothy at the occasion of Paul’s admonition to him, to “…stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.” (v.6) The entire ministry of Timothy would depend upon this Spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind.
During the ministry of Jesus, He made the clear and massive distinction between that which is of the Spirit and that which is of the flesh. The one has nothing to do with the other. The “flesh” has not only the meaning of having its origin in the old nature, but also, in all that is of the natural man. The Spirit on the other hand speaks of God Himself, communicating to and through the life of an individual not only a knowledge of the truth according to Christ, but the very life and power of God.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he had a problem. The problem was that, though he had great knowledge of the Scriptures, and was immersed in the religious life of his day, he lacked one thing. The knowledge of the truth was absolutely necessary, for God will only work according to the truth. But truth is not enough. There must be the receiving of Life. Jesus clarified the matter to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of water, AND the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:5)
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he declared: “Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” (8:9) In other words, there is no entrance into the kingdom of God without the Spirit of God. There is no ministry of a prophet like Elisha unless it is by the Spirit of God. Nor is there the ministry to the church of one called and gifted of God, except by the Spirit of God.
Paul’s letter to the Romans reveals to us that TRUTH is absolutely necessary in order to truly believe. Paul, fervent Hebrew that he was, sought to obey the gospel as he had once sought to obey the law. His intense, disciplined efforts resulted in total failure. What was missing? It was the discovery that Christ, by His Spirit, was the actual POWER of the Gospel. He alone revealed truth, and He alone communicated the very Life of Christ to the believer, who wholly, and singularly trusts Him.
Dear Father, Fill us with Thy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.