Believing Without Seeing
I often wish I could see Jesus, but Jesus said that my relationship with Him is even more "advantageous" than the disciples who walked with Him, saw Him perform numerous miracles, and even learned directly from Him how to hear God, cast out demons, heal the sick, and preach the truth! Jesus said I am more "advantaged" in my relationship with Him now, than His disciples were:
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. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
I don't often feel like it is more advantageous to have Jesus "gone", but Jesus said this is true. He said this because Jesus ascending to His throne meant that the Holy Spirit would come and take up residence in my Spirit. Although I didn't necessarily feel it, the day I chose Jesus for salvation and leadership, my Spirit became the Holy of Holies, or the dwelling place of God. The Holy Spirit is God, just as Jesus and the Father are. In fact, the Holy Spirit is the power of God on earth. God lives in me via the Holy Spirit.
The implications of this fact are huge! Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self control, faithfulness, goodness...the knowledge of God, healing power, miraculous power, creative power, understanding, revelation...the fullness of all these reside WITHIN me! They are not mine, they are God's, but the are within me by His presence.
The disciples were in near proximity to Jesus, the person of God. I am in a better proximity than "near." The person of God, the Holy Spirit, is closer than near, He is within! Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are so perfect in love, communication, and fellowship that they are One God, and by the presence of the Holy Spirit, I am drawn into that fellowship by choosing the be under the leadership of Jesus...by committing to live in agreement with God to the best of my ability.
There is the fullness of joy in my spirit. The peace of God is fully present...closer than my skin. Miraculous healing power, in full, is nearer than the hair on my head. The same power and person of God that raised Lazarus from the dead resides in my spirit!
How often do I spin in my own thoughts without drawing on the One who is nearer than even my thoughts? Because He is so gentle, because He has committed to love, which requires I start the conversation, He will not barge into my thoughts. He refuses to intrude uninvited into what has been given to me: my mind, will, emotions, and body. When I chose salvation, I invited Him into my spirit, but, because of love, He refused to take one step further uninvited. However, He is attentively waiting for an invitation to be more involved!
Jesus said the strangest thing in this passage:
John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in me is supposed to convict the world?! Jesus didn't mean that I would go around accusing others. He was saying that when I extend the invitation to the Holy Spirit to be more involved, I should appear very different...to a degree that other people notice! With the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit, the lack of sin due to my belief in Jesus should be obvious and convicting. The righteousness I choose because of the enabling of the Spirit should be noticeable, and my love should demonstrate judgment in contrast with the lack of love found in those living under the temporary ruler of this world.
What Jesus was saying is that if I really connect with the fact He is MORE present to me through the Holy Spirit than He was even walking down the road with the disciples, my life should look radically different than those who don't know Him!
Inviting the Holy Spirit into my thoughts only requires that I talk to Him. " Holy Spirit, thank you for perfect joy! I invite you to move the power of that joy into my heart, where I can feel it!" "Holy Spirit, you know the deep things of God, I invite you to reveal them to me. I want more, God!"
When I acknowledge his presence and invite Him in, I begin to experience the feeling of His presence. This begins the process of training my heart to "abide in" (talk to) Him and Him in me. This has the power to change everything about the way I live.
John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
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. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
I don't often feel like it is more advantageous to have Jesus "gone", but Jesus said this is true. He said this because Jesus ascending to His throne meant that the Holy Spirit would come and take up residence in my Spirit. Although I didn't necessarily feel it, the day I chose Jesus for salvation and leadership, my Spirit became the Holy of Holies, or the dwelling place of God. The Holy Spirit is God, just as Jesus and the Father are. In fact, the Holy Spirit is the power of God on earth. God lives in me via the Holy Spirit.
The implications of this fact are huge! Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self control, faithfulness, goodness...the knowledge of God, healing power, miraculous power, creative power, understanding, revelation...the fullness of all these reside WITHIN me! They are not mine, they are God's, but the are within me by His presence.
The disciples were in near proximity to Jesus, the person of God. I am in a better proximity than "near." The person of God, the Holy Spirit, is closer than near, He is within! Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are so perfect in love, communication, and fellowship that they are One God, and by the presence of the Holy Spirit, I am drawn into that fellowship by choosing the be under the leadership of Jesus...by committing to live in agreement with God to the best of my ability.
There is the fullness of joy in my spirit. The peace of God is fully present...closer than my skin. Miraculous healing power, in full, is nearer than the hair on my head. The same power and person of God that raised Lazarus from the dead resides in my spirit!
How often do I spin in my own thoughts without drawing on the One who is nearer than even my thoughts? Because He is so gentle, because He has committed to love, which requires I start the conversation, He will not barge into my thoughts. He refuses to intrude uninvited into what has been given to me: my mind, will, emotions, and body. When I chose salvation, I invited Him into my spirit, but, because of love, He refused to take one step further uninvited. However, He is attentively waiting for an invitation to be more involved!
Jesus said the strangest thing in this passage:
John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in me is supposed to convict the world?! Jesus didn't mean that I would go around accusing others. He was saying that when I extend the invitation to the Holy Spirit to be more involved, I should appear very different...to a degree that other people notice! With the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit, the lack of sin due to my belief in Jesus should be obvious and convicting. The righteousness I choose because of the enabling of the Spirit should be noticeable, and my love should demonstrate judgment in contrast with the lack of love found in those living under the temporary ruler of this world.
What Jesus was saying is that if I really connect with the fact He is MORE present to me through the Holy Spirit than He was even walking down the road with the disciples, my life should look radically different than those who don't know Him!
Inviting the Holy Spirit into my thoughts only requires that I talk to Him. " Holy Spirit, thank you for perfect joy! I invite you to move the power of that joy into my heart, where I can feel it!" "Holy Spirit, you know the deep things of God, I invite you to reveal them to me. I want more, God!"
When I acknowledge his presence and invite Him in, I begin to experience the feeling of His presence. This begins the process of training my heart to "abide in" (talk to) Him and Him in me. This has the power to change everything about the way I live.
John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
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