Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 01.05.2000
He is here!
Came a gentle whisper and you awoke to see the facts of your life. His testimony lighted you. - At one moment you felt as if fire would burn your soul and your life seemed to be so vain. He witnessed you for the right and the wrong. - Came a loud command as a thunder and you shook with fear for the shocking future. He warned you strictly against your way. - At a fleeting moment somebody mentioned something about Jesus and at the same time you heard in your heart His voice: "Also you need Jesus." - His actions have an effect all over the world. Although all have had dealings with Him, only few know Him.
He speaks to everybody
Near you stands one you do not know! He has spoken to you. You have sometimes experienced clearly His presence. Maybe you felt uncomfortable and you filled your house with other voices and so you rejected His words. He spoke straight to you, but you did not consider it a speech of God, because you don't know Him. See to it that you do not refuse Him, when He knocks at the door of your heart. You can pass the happiness of your life!
Everybody, who says that God has not spoken to him, is a liar.
He operates all over the world. It has always been possible to experience God's presence through His Spirit. "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement." John 16:8 His very presence affects in conscience of people. He witnesses all people for their wickedness, for the goodness of God and for the fair judgement that belongs to wrongdoers, but also for God's grace that belongs to those who humble themselves and repent.
After the resurrection of Jesus He has had the mission to witness that Jesus has risen up from the dead and has been exalted to the throne of God. He glorifies the name of Jesus.
He is present in the situations where the gospel of Jesus is preached. "Things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven." 1Pet.1:12 When He pronounces that God has forgiven you, it really happens and you experience cleansing.
Near you stands one you do not know! He has spoken to you. You have sometimes experienced clearly His presence. Maybe you felt uncomfortable and you filled your house with other voices and so you rejected His words. He spoke straight to you, but you did not consider it a speech of God, because you don't know Him. See to it that you do not refuse Him, when He knocks at the door of your heart. You can pass the happiness of your life!
Everybody, who says that God has not spoken to him, is a liar.
He operates all over the world. It has always been possible to experience God's presence through His Spirit. "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement." John 16:8 His very presence affects in conscience of people. He witnesses all people for their wickedness, for the goodness of God and for the fair judgement that belongs to wrongdoers, but also for God's grace that belongs to those who humble themselves and repent.
After the resurrection of Jesus He has had the mission to witness that Jesus has risen up from the dead and has been exalted to the throne of God. He glorifies the name of Jesus.
He is present in the situations where the gospel of Jesus is preached. "Things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven." 1Pet.1:12 When He pronounces that God has forgiven you, it really happens and you experience cleansing.
God lives with me
After Jesus had been taken up to the heaven the Holy Spirit took His tasks on the earth. Jesus represented the Father. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus. When Jesus went away He said to His own: "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18
He meant the coming of the Holy Spirit when He said "I will come to you", because He said before: "He will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever - the Spirit of truth." John 14:16 Before this He had told that "anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." John 14:9
This is a great thing! When the Holy Spirit dwells in a believer all three persons are present: "And we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23
After Jesus had been taken up to the heaven the Holy Spirit took His tasks on the earth. Jesus represented the Father. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus. When Jesus went away He said to His own: "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18
He meant the coming of the Holy Spirit when He said "I will come to you", because He said before: "He will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever - the Spirit of truth." John 14:16 Before this He had told that "anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." John 14:9
This is a great thing! When the Holy Spirit dwells in a believer all three persons are present: "And we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23
Receiving the Holy Spirit
Man gets the fellowship of the Holy Spirit when he receives the testimony which the Holy Spirit gives about Jesus. "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession." Eph.1:13-14
This means that the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of a believer as the guarantee that he belongs to God. "And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Rom.8:9 Jesus says about the Holy Spirit: "He lives with you and will be in you." John 14:17
He is a believer's closest friend whose feelings are most important. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Eph.4:30 How lovely is the friendship with the Holy Spirit! When we feel His presence it means to us the presence of Jesus Christ.
Man gets the fellowship of the Holy Spirit when he receives the testimony which the Holy Spirit gives about Jesus. "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession." Eph.1:13-14
This means that the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of a believer as the guarantee that he belongs to God. "And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Rom.8:9 Jesus says about the Holy Spirit: "He lives with you and will be in you." John 14:17
He is a believer's closest friend whose feelings are most important. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Eph.4:30 How lovely is the friendship with the Holy Spirit! When we feel His presence it means to us the presence of Jesus Christ.
Church at Pentecost
It is said incorrectly that the church would have been born at Pentecost, though it is obvious that it was born then when Jesus rose up from the dead. Jesus said: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." John 2:19 The temple Jesus spoke of was His body, but the church is His body: "And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills everything in every way." Eph.1:22-23
When Jesus had risen up and He was with His disciples, He gave to His church the Holy Spirit: "'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that He breathed on them and said. 'Receive the Holy Spirit....'" John 20:21-22 In spite of the fact that they certainly had received the Holy Spirit to their hearts, Jesus said to them: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:4-5
The church of Jesus was baptised with the Holy Spirit, because it is the body of Christ. They were together praising God. The Holy Spirit rejoiced in their hearts. The Father in the heaven heard from the earth the voice of His beloved Son. He saw Jesus in the praising congregation and poured out His Spirit over His Son. This baptism was given to the church, not for itself, but for its mission. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts1:8
Nobody can get the baptism in the Holy Spirit, if the Holy Spirit doesn't first dwell as the seal in one's heart. Nobody can use his spiritual gifts correctly, if he has the grieved Holy Spirit in his heart. May He rejoice in you and may He be the cloth of power on you!
There are two advices in the Bible how to take care of the relationship to the Holy Spirit.: "be filled with the Spirit" and "do not neglect your spiritual gift, which is in you". The first one concerns the Holy Spirit as the seal and the second one concerns the Holy Spirit as the baptism.
It is said incorrectly that the church would have been born at Pentecost, though it is obvious that it was born then when Jesus rose up from the dead. Jesus said: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." John 2:19 The temple Jesus spoke of was His body, but the church is His body: "And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills everything in every way." Eph.1:22-23
When Jesus had risen up and He was with His disciples, He gave to His church the Holy Spirit: "'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that He breathed on them and said. 'Receive the Holy Spirit....'" John 20:21-22 In spite of the fact that they certainly had received the Holy Spirit to their hearts, Jesus said to them: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:4-5
The church of Jesus was baptised with the Holy Spirit, because it is the body of Christ. They were together praising God. The Holy Spirit rejoiced in their hearts. The Father in the heaven heard from the earth the voice of His beloved Son. He saw Jesus in the praising congregation and poured out His Spirit over His Son. This baptism was given to the church, not for itself, but for its mission. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts1:8
Nobody can get the baptism in the Holy Spirit, if the Holy Spirit doesn't first dwell as the seal in one's heart. Nobody can use his spiritual gifts correctly, if he has the grieved Holy Spirit in his heart. May He rejoice in you and may He be the cloth of power on you!
There are two advices in the Bible how to take care of the relationship to the Holy Spirit.: "be filled with the Spirit" and "do not neglect your spiritual gift, which is in you". The first one concerns the Holy Spirit as the seal and the second one concerns the Holy Spirit as the baptism.
Be filled with the Spirit
A believer can have fellowship either a little or much with the Holy Spirit who dwells in his heart. "Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms,... Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." Eph 5:17-20
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; ... He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." John 16:13-14 The Holy Spirit speaks so stirringly about Jesus that He makes our hearts sing. Be filled with His teachings.
A believer can have fellowship either a little or much with the Holy Spirit who dwells in his heart. "Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms,... Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." Eph 5:17-20
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; ... He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." John 16:13-14 The Holy Spirit speaks so stirringly about Jesus that He makes our hearts sing. Be filled with His teachings.
Do not neglect your gift of grace
Because a believer is not anymore a slave of sin, he is free to serve God in the Holy Spirit. For this purpose he brings himself to be baptised by Jesus. In the baptism with the Holy Spirit Jesus gives gifts of grace at His discretion. It might be that somebody doesn't want or doesn't dare to use his gifts. Paul encouraged Timothy: "Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you." 1Tim.4:14
The sign that you have got the baptism in the Holy Spirit, is obvious: "you will receive power, and you will be my witnesses". Your power to witness for Jesus comes from the Holy Spirit who appears in you at the moment when you just need that power. Under His effect it is easy to act and use your gift of grace.
Timothy had lost his power, but the gift remained. "I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.... For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2Tim.1:6-7
Because a believer is not anymore a slave of sin, he is free to serve God in the Holy Spirit. For this purpose he brings himself to be baptised by Jesus. In the baptism with the Holy Spirit Jesus gives gifts of grace at His discretion. It might be that somebody doesn't want or doesn't dare to use his gifts. Paul encouraged Timothy: "Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you." 1Tim.4:14
The sign that you have got the baptism in the Holy Spirit, is obvious: "you will receive power, and you will be my witnesses". Your power to witness for Jesus comes from the Holy Spirit who appears in you at the moment when you just need that power. Under His effect it is easy to act and use your gift of grace.
Timothy had lost his power, but the gift remained. "I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.... For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2Tim.1:6-7
Church in Feast of Tabernacles
God's people is the reap that He harvests from the earth. On that day God's children will get a new body, which is a heavenly tent instead of the earthly one. The Holy Spirit who dwells in us changes our body! "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Rom.8:16-18
Our bodies will be redeemed, because we have the seal of God in our hearts. The church of Jesus will get resurrection. "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." 1Cor.15:52-53
The next news report comes from the Feast of Tabernacles, because they are holding palm branches in their hands: "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." Rev.7:9
God's people is the reap that He harvests from the earth. On that day God's children will get a new body, which is a heavenly tent instead of the earthly one. The Holy Spirit who dwells in us changes our body! "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Rom.8:16-18
Our bodies will be redeemed, because we have the seal of God in our hearts. The church of Jesus will get resurrection. "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." 1Cor.15:52-53
The next news report comes from the Feast of Tabernacles, because they are holding palm branches in their hands: "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." Rev.7:9
The Bible version used in references is NIV