The Spirit Life...No Compromise

Post date: Jan 8, 2020 10:22:25 PM

Once I was young but now, I am older. When I was young, I met Jesus and now that I am older, I am a follower of Jesus. Surrender came slowly but salvation was timely. Jesus said; “come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30) At the appropriate time Christ died for me. Scripture teaches; “...The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart: (that is, the word of faith, which we preach): that if you confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10: 8-10)

1 Corinthians 3: 4-5 “For when one says I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed…?”

As a new born Christian with no previous church experience, it had never occurred to me how many Christian churches there were, each having a different doctrine. Naively, I had assumed that each church was teaching similar messages but I quickly discovered that the preaching I heard did not reflect the gospel message that I had experienced. This put me at a cross roads as I searched for a church. Then came this thought; it was through the power of the Spirit that I got saved, so, it would be through the teaching of the Spirit that I would learn and so it would only be a church which was in submission to the Spirit of God that I would attend. The Apostle Paul writes “…that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1: 12-13) It occurred to me, while studying the scriptures, that it was the Spirit of God who had been speaking to me and urging me to follow in His footsteps.   

John 14: 14-15 “If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever.”

In the days preceding His crucifixion, Jesus spent part of this time assuring His disciples of the necessity for His earthly departure while reassuring them that they would not be spiritually abandoned. Jesus said; “…It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I go not away, the Helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send him to you.” (John 16: 7) The Helper, who was also referred to by Jesus as the Spirit of truth, is the Holy Spirit of promise. (John 14:26) He has been sent by God to abide with the believer forever, (John 14:16) to enlighten the believer spiritually by teaching them all things, (John 14: 26) to testify to the believer of the person of Jesus, (John 15:26) and to guide the believer into all truth. (John 16:13)  

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved of God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) His kingdom is spiritual, and His word is spiritually inspired. Mankind has been created body, soul, and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23) but most people fail to acknowledge their spiritual/eternal existence. The apostle Paul explains, “… the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2: 14) The spiritual man differs from the natural man by his/her willingness to actively believe in the existence of God. A disciple named Judas asked Jesus “Lord how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word: and My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.” (John 14: 22-23)

Romans 10: 17 “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

The child of God is described by the Apostle Paul as “…a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2: 22) God dwells in the believer by his Spirit and communicates to him/her through his Spirit to their spirit. The book of Romans states; “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God…” (Romans 8: 16)  It is by faith that we believe we are the children of God and “…without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.”(Hebrews 11: 6) Hearing came as I studied the Word and faith came as I obeyed the Word I heard.

Matthew 7: 13-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few that find it.

Jesus developed both the spiritual and human aspects pertaining to His earthly existence. The scripture says; “the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” (Luke 2: 40) As a youth he astonished his spiritual leaders by his knowledge and understanding of the scriptures. (Luke 2: 46-48) As an adult he successfully refuted the devil by quoting scripture. (Luke 4: 1-15) Jesus had an exceptional prayer life as well as being sensitive toward the leading of the Holy Spirit. He never hesitated to employ the spiritual gifts in order to to complete in fullness His earthly assignment. Jesus dedicated his life to serving God. At the conclusion of his earthly ministry Jesus prayed; “and this is eternal life, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given me to do.” (John 17: 3-4)   The word says “the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10: 10-11) Jesus demonstrated to us how to live and experience life in its fullness.

1 Corinthians 6: 2 “Do ye not know the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge the angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”

This, to me, is the abundant life; health for the body, happiness/joy for the soul and life to the human spirit. During our short earthly existence and as the citizens of Heaven let us without hesitation or compromise prepare for our Heavenly destination.