“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:2
Dear Ones:
There is a marvelous consistency in and about the word of God, the Bible, for it deals consistently with the One who is perfectly consistent! The meaning of the words written by the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, ring out throughout the entirety of the content, and history of the Scriptures: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) What about the Spirit of God? Is it not also true that He does not change in His person, ministry, and work? Does He not remain at every instant of every day that blessed third member of the Trinity, God the Spirit? What then should be the effect of this knowledge of the unchangeable, Eternal Spirit, in our existence, and specifically, in our daily lives?
It has been said that in the early church, the Ascension of Christ took a more prominent place of recognition than the birth of Christ. Why is the Ascension of Christ so very significant and life-changing? Jesus, before His trial and crucifixion, gave a promise to the disciples: “…If I depart, I will send Him (the Comforter, the Holy Spirit) unto you.” (Jn.16:7) Do we truly grasp the significance of that promise? He is declaring that He will send GOD the Holy Spirit, to not only be WITH His disciples, but to be IN them. In essence it means that Christ dwells in us by GOD the Holy Spirit. What then should be our expectation of His ministry and work in and through us?
When Isaiah wrote in the 8th century before Christ, the afore mentioned words: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, ” he was proclaiming the same immutable, Eternal Spirit for which the Apostle prayed: “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give YOU the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ).” (Eph. 1:17) He is that same “Spirit of wisdom and revelation…” that is in the heart of the believer today. Again, the question that we need to ask, and answer is this: “What is our expectation (or vision) of His ministry and work in us?” In addition, How great a reality is He to us?
Practically speaking, the Lord Jesus tells us that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father has sent, “…will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (Jn. 14:26) He goes on to say that the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, “…will testify of Me…and ye shall bear witness also.” (15:26-27) Paul even writes in Romans 8:16, “…The Spirit BEARS WITNESS with our spirit.” Lastly, but not conclusively, the Lord Jesus declared: “…When He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth…He shall glory Me.” (16:13) Do we truly believe that God the Holy Spirit, this Spirit of truth, can and will teach, guide, and bear witness to us of His presence, so that we can communicate the message and the life of Christ by Him to others? How much, and to what extent, will He do this? The answer resides in the purpose, desire, and will of God…all expressed in the all-encompassing question: “How much does God love the world?”
Dear Father, open our eyes to see the greatness of the blessing, that we should have this “treasure” in earthen vessels, the very Spirit of God, willing and waiting to fill, lead, teach, bless, and reveal Christ to, and through us, to the world. Open our blind eyes to see the greatness of Your purpose, desire,and will. Fill us with this love of God, so that, by the Spirit, Christ shall be honored and glorified in the greatest possible measure by our existence. We thank and praise Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad