HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Jesus came that we "might have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10) He came, to be our Passover Lamb, die for our sins, and take the blame, shame and condemnation we deserved. He also came to give us NEW LIFE - His Resurrection Life. The life born in Bethlehem had to die, but the Resurrection Life never dies. What is born of the flesh can die, but what we receive when we are BORN AGAIN is RESURRECTION LIFE, which lives forever.

This new life comes to us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is the Resurrection Life that Jesus gives. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as "the promise of the Father." He gives the Holy Spirit in two distinct and different ways:
Firstly to indwell us as the new source of inner life.
Secondly to come upon us as the Enabler and Anointing who equips us to participate in the powerful ministry of Jesus.

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessings of Abraham might come upon us gentiles in Christ Jesus that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith." (Gal 3:13-14)

Jesus' death cancels the curse of separation from God and the guilt of sin and penalty of sin. He gave up his life, however not only to pay for our sins but also that we could receive the Holy Spirit by faith.

The first part of the gift of the Holy Spirit gives us a share in the nature of Jesus The second part of the gift gives us a share in the ministry of Jesus.



THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN
When Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to His followers, breathed on them and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell within them. "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you". When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained."’ (John 20:19-23)

This breathing by Jesus on His disciples reminds us of the moment when God created man from the dust of the earth. He breathed on it and formed man from it. (Genesis 2:7) Now Jesus breathes a new life into earthly man - a life that Adam never had before the fall. This life that Jesus imparts is a share in His own Resurrection Life.

He gives it to all who receive it by faith and who by faith release themselves from the sin tainted part of their life. We have all inherited this sin driven part of us (which Paul calls our "old Man") from Adam and through the generations. However, it has been crucified, condemned and buried with Jesus in His tomb. (See Romans Chapter 6) We can therefore abandon and refuse to respond any more to the selfish sinful side of our nature. We can leave it at the cross of Jesus and receive His loving nature to replace it.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (Jn. 1:12-13)
The Spirit that was in Jesus and raised Him from the dead then comes into us to make us spiritually alive and to energize our lives. "The Spirit; who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit which dwells in you." (Rom 8:11) 'The first man, Adam, became a living soul, the last Adam Jesus became a life giving spirit' (1 Cor. 15:45)

When Jesus breathed on His disciples, they received into their spirits, the same life that was in Him. This then became the controlling force of their lives. Until then man was-controlled by his soul (his mind, intellect, will and emotions). Now the living Spirit and Life of God Himself could motivate and lead him from within. "He who is united with the Lord becomes one Spirit with Him. " (I Cor. 6: 17). The Holy Spirit develops nine virtues, "the fruit of the Spirit" within us. These virtues are deeper than any natural goodness. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

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