We Are Not Alone

During Jesus' last days on earth as the Son of Man, He gave His disciples some final instructions prior to His departure concerning their future relationship with Him, "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, 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. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:15-18) "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." (John 14:26) "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." (John 15:26) and...

 "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." (John 16:7) "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:12-15) "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8)

Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come after His departure to take His place on earth. Not only would the Holy Spirit be with them, but He would be in them. We see this fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4) Notice that the Holy Spirit not only filled the whole house where they were sitting, but also notice that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Unfortunately, various creeds and doctrines have either limited or prevented people from this wonderful experience. When the disciples exited the upper room and took to the streets of Jerusalem,  Peter explains what was taking place by quoting the prophetic scriptures that pointed to this event. He continues to tell them that what they were witnessing was a result of Jesus being raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God, which then released the promise from the Father, the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2: 5-33) Finally, Peter tells the people that God has made Jesus whom they had crucified both Lord and Christ. In response the people say to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2.37) "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2.38-39) 

Not only was the Holy Spirit poured out upon the apostles and those that were present in the upper room, but also we see that anyone who would be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Looking further into this experience, we note, "to your children" is a reference from the Prophet Joel, "your sons and daughters" (Joel 2:28); "to all" refers to, the whole race; not limited to Jews, "who are afar off" refers to, "those in other lands" and "as many" refers to, all those who hear the gospel and respond to it. There is no indication whatsoever that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was or is limited to a dispensation of time or a specific people group on the earth.

That very day, the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit entered them and recreated them. They were now new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17) What a miracle it is to have God the Holy Spirit immediately come into the person who confesses the Lord Jesus Christ and takes Him as their Savior. How wonderful it is to become instantly recreated becoming a partaker of the Divine Nature. (2 Peter 1:4) This means that we have the same creative ability of God in us, (Ephesians 3:20) and the same love of God also in us (Romans 5:5) No wonder the Apostle John tells us, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

There is so much that can be shared concerning the Holy Spirit, but for now, take some time and meditate on the truths above as well as the following. The Holy Spirit who is in us, is the same Spirit who participated in creation. (Genesis 1 - 2) The Holy Spirit who is in us, is the same Spirit who was in Jesus when He walked on the sea in Galilee. (Matthew 14:22-33) The Holy Spirit who is in us, is the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. (Ephesians 1:19-21) The Holy Spirit who is in us, is the same Spirit that enables the believer to do the same works that Jesus did and even greater. (John 1:12) Although we may not have taken advantage of the riches of grace that belong to us, it does not change the fact that the same Holy Spirit who did these things is with and in us, "For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13 AMP)

The Holy Spirit longs to be loosed in us to continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth today through each and every believer, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18) So remember, we are not alone. God Himself, that is, the Holy Spirit, is with us and in us, "strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." Hallelujah...