The Holy Spirit

"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all. . . And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him" 1 John 2:20,27

Devotion #2 of 14

THOSE IN CHRIST HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Word of God is clear on this point. Those that are in Christ Jesus have received the Holy Spirit. The recollection of these affirmations is sufficient for this segment of our lesson. "He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His holy Spirit" (1 Thess 4:8). "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor 1:22). "Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, Who also hath given unto is the earnest of the Spirit" (2 Cor 5:5). "In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory" (Eph 1:13-14). "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal 4:6). "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (Rom 5:5). "Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, Who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit" (2 Cor 5:5). "And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us" (1 John 3:24). "Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13). The possession of the Holy Spirit is the mark of sonship. This is what identifies us as the children of God. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Rom 8:9). The point of this lesson is that the Spirit performs His ministry from within the believer; and it is a marvelous one!

AN INFLUENTIAL INDWELLING

The Holy Spirit influences the believer in unparalleled ways. His ministry is described as a flood of life-giving water. "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:38-39). The "belly" is the innermost person; the seat of our feelings and expressions. Notice that, from this perspective, the rivers flow "out," not "in." John, several decades after Jesus uttered these words, declared He was speaking of the Holy Spirit that would be given to those believing on Him. Life- giving influences would flow out from the people of God, due to the presence of His Holy Spirit!

-- TOMORROW: THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE --