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#775 / Relationship through Revelation / June 29, 2011
By Susan G. McIntosh / susan@actsfoundation.com
When we no longer seek just the blessings and benefits of God but seek His Person, all Heaven breaks through into us. The very Spirit of Christ was placed in us when we gave our heart to Jesus. The Holy Spirit’s job is to reveal Him to us. The Spirit came to take the things of Jesus and show them to us (John 16:15). Where are those things of Jesus? In the Word and in the very Spirit of Christ that resides in us. When the Life of Christ comes alive in us by the Spirit, then Christ Himself, flowing through us, manifests the presence of God in our lives and others are drawn to Him. God’s Goodness and Blessing become our experience daily.
Recently Ralph and I were in a little convenience store in Richmond, Virginiaordering two hamburgers for our lunch. While waiting for our hamburgers to be cooked, we watched one person after another come to the check-out counter to buy cigarettes, beer, or lottery tickets and most of the time, all three. I was shocked at how much money was spent on these vices just while we were standing there waiting on our lunch order! What really saddened me was the fact that we were in a low income neighbourhood. Instead of buying food for their families, these adults were spending money and lots of it, on things no one could eat!
Earlier I was buying a bottle of water in another convenience store and the same thing was happening in that store. Later the manager told us that his store clears $60,000 a month just on the lottery sales! What really surprised me was one customer bought cigarettes, beer, and lottery tickets for 30 some dollars. She handed the man at the register $40 and only $10 of it went for fuel for her car. Considering the cost of gas per gallon is nearly $4 right now, that $10 was not going to take her far. The raw facts of society’s value system are really hard to see in action up close. How the devil blinds people! He is a thief.
I know Jesus is the answer to life and seeing this kind of activity confirms all the more to me that we as believers need to out telling people, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life...” God created every person for the purpose of relationship with Him. He is goodness and love personified. Adam and Eve were privileged to enjoy God walking with them every day in a Garden He created just for them. Jesus died on Calvaryto restore sweet communion with God for all of mankind. Yet, millions of people continue on spiritually blind, attempting to find satisfaction in life on their own. (A soul winning script is available to download and use today— www.revival.com– look at soul winning tools for script in different languages.)
It is only when revelation of God’s way and truth comes through the work of the Holy Spirit is the blindness removed. Paul said, “Christ in you, the HOPE of Glory” (Col. 1:27). We as believers carry the answer—the HOPE of God, His Glorious self, Christ Jesus, in our hearts. It is the role of the Holy Spirit to reveal God to us and teach us of this Christ who lives in us once we invite Him to be our Lord and Saviour. Without the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, the tendency is to try whatever comes along to satisfy the emptiness within us. We were created for God and to fellowship with Him. The Holy Spirit is the One who can make this happen. When a person invites Jesus to forgive their sins and come and live within them, Christ Jesus Himself moves in but it is the Holy Spirit would reveals Jesus to the believer. He is the Teacher, the Communicator, the very POWER of God’s Kingdom Life deposited in the believer. The devil robs us. God pours goodness and grace/favour into our lives abundantly!
I cannot comprehend God’s love for me, the finished work of Christ for me, nor do I have a passion for others to come to know Jesus without the Holy Spirit making these real in me. I know a lot of people raised in the church have not been introduced to the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit of God. However, revelation is absolutely necessary for us to enter into the type of relationship with God that He intended His children to enjoy, Amen. Webster’s dictionary says the word reveal means to “unveil or make known through divine inspiration.” This is the work of the Holy Spirit of God and it available to each of us!
Join me in once again inviting the wonderful Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to each of us in a mighty way this week MORE of who God is, how His Word relates to everyday living, who this Jesus is that has come to dwell in our hearts through Salvation. The apostle Paul’s prayer is mine for us all this week, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17).
Paul teaches that only when the Spirit is free to fill and lead us can we KNOW the HOPE of God’s calling on our lives. It is through His revelation n that the Word of God itself comes alive in us. It is through the Holy Spirit we are able to comprehend and receive the promises and provisions of God that are available for all of His Children. It is only through His Truth that joy and peace are ours to enjoy. When the Holy Spirit is at work in us we care about sharing Christ with the world around us. Full of HOPE, we can share the God of HOPE (Romans 15:13). It is the Holy Spirit who actives every aspect of the Kingdomof Godin and through us. Welcome, Holy Spirit. Be Yourself in us! Glory. SMc
