Monday, April 13, 2015

Perceiving the Divine Gift of the Holy Spirit

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

 
He would have given you living water."
Jesus and Samaritan Woman by Guercino (PD)

Listening to God, John the Baptist, heard the purpose of the coming Messiah.
(John 1:33, All scriptures NKJV.) "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit'.”

To the Pharisee who came at night, Nicodemus, Jesus explains the need for the believer's divinely yielding life in the Holy Spirit.
(John 3:5-8) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

To the Samaritan woman he found at Jacob's well, the Messiah offers a special drink.
(John 4:10) Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

He tells her the wonderful qualities of this spiritual water.
(John 4:14) "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

At the Feast of Tabernacles, He identifies the living water to his disciples.
(John 7:38-39) "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The World will not perceive the followers' indwelling Spirit of Truth.
(John 14:16-17) "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
"the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

The Holy Spirit will teach and bring to memory all the instructions of the Messiah.
(John 14:26) "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

In the unity of the Godhead, the Spirit from the Father will testify to the Son
(John 15:26) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

The Son must return to the Father to send the Spirit.
(John 16:7) "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

The One Spirit will manifest various supernatural works in the Followers of Jesus. God, himself, gives the true anointings and ministries of the Holy Spirit, not man.
(1Cor 12:4-11) “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

The Spirit appoints unique supernatural positions of duties in the congregation of followers. No, these are not prescribed by scripture to the same person but throughout the body as God determines. Although, some may overlap as experienced.
(1Cor 12:28-30) “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?”

Not least are the godly behaviors of the believers empowered by the presence of the Divine Spirit.
(Gal 5:22-25) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Seek the Face of God,
Bill Hunt
Oral Robert's Graduate Seminar on the Holy Spirit