Spirit of Life

The Spirit of God is invisible and in fact, so is the spirit of humans. When people say there is no God they are actually rejecting their own reality. The Creator tells us that he is the “I AM” and when he made us in his image we must have become small letter “i am’s”. The Scripture says:    The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. Genesis 2:7 (NLT). Most folks know that every human will live forever but the question is “where”. Spiritually blind people cannot see God or His plan but people of faith are given supernatural sight. 

We should be able to understand the absolute need we have for the Holy Spirit in our life. He is the only one that can restore any fallen man into the image of God. Paul tells us there is a veil over the natural mans eyes: So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18.  This is the only way a person can be transformed into a new being who wants to serve God in truth and righteousness. 

Christians have the privilege of telling the unsaved the Good News which is our potential new birth. Telling others the News is our primary work while on earth. The Lord gave us an example: Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water (naturally) and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. John 3:5-6 . There are many believers that try to “save” the lost with their own efforts and wisdom. This is certainly not possible when they can’t even save themselves. 

After a person has been transformed by God they will receive many gifts from the Holy Spirit. We are not talking about worldly things but spiritual gifts. One Old Testament prophet said that even Jesus would receive spiritual gifts from the Spirit. Of course this also applies to us: And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2. All these gifts are available to born-again people who have complete faith in Jesus Christ. 

All spiritual powers are intended to be used for others. This is totally different from “the world” of course, and causes many problems among believers. In another prophetic verse we read the purpose of spiritual gifts: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Isaiah 61:1. There is a great freedom that comes to us when we are released from our prison of the sin nature.  

There is only one Spirit of God although the Spirit does have many different jobs and brings many different gifts to earth for our benefit. Paul says it this way: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 1 Corinthians 12:4. For example our Christian fellowship is only possible, in the true sense, when we are together in the Spirit. Another proof a believer has is Galatians five where we read about the fruit we can produce but it is only possible in our fellowship with others when the Spirit helps us. 

The Spirit of Life is the only way that that we can ever live with God. He brings righteousness into what started out as our doomed sinful life. The Bible says that the power of righteousness can end the sentence of death that we were born with. Look what is working inside of us: But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:13-14. There is nothing more wonderful than God’s offer for us to become a part of his family. We must earnestly seek the help of the Spirit if we want to live with God.

God’s, rug of hope, will never be pulled out from under us. His promises are good forever. Here is a verse of great comfort to Christians: And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. Ephesians 1:13-14. Not only is the Spirit “life” to us but he guarantees us we will join the actual family of God. The Lord is certainly worthy of our praise and glory.

Anyone can ask God to make them a member of his family. Jesus told the people following him: So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Luke 11:13 (NLT). The Savior came to earth so that he could become “the way to Heaven”. Worldly people who insist that they can find their own way to Heaven are making a deadly mistake. There is only one way to life eternal and we must humbly yield our ways to Jesus and ask him to lead us home.
 

Prove It

In the “Bible Belt” of the south everyone claims to be a Christian on their way to Heaven. At the same time many live a life that is as worldly as Hollywood. The Word of God tells us to live a life of sacrifice yet the people remain extremely selfish. Of course the favorite religious saying is “once saved always saved.” They feel that baptism justifies their self-centered way of living. However genuine Christians are only interested in living a righteous life. All the Scripture has been given to direct us in the approved path. 

When Jesus called Paul on the road to Damascus he said “I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes… “. Of course we know that Paul had an amazing Christian life. Toward the end of his life Paul testified that he had preached to the Gentiles for years. He wanted everyone to know: … that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. Acts 26:20 (NLT). His experience had shown him that after people were born-again they had to prove it by their deeds. 

Our society continually tells people to live any way they desire. The only rule is not to hurt other people. This is an extremely selfish way to live. Salvation is turning our way of living around to live the way Jesus taught us while on earth. Many people are claiming to have accepted Jesus into their heart because they want the great reward of Heaven. Simply claiming to be saved will not work because our life is used to judge each of us. We must sincerely know and serve God because he is aware of our every thought. 

Today many Christians believe one verse is all they need to gain Heaven. It says: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8. They claim we can do nothing to gain salvation so this logically means that we should do nothing to live a righteous life. But the scripture continues: He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10. This passage clearly says God wants us to be godly. 

We are to be known as the “set apart” people. Even this name says we cannot live like the world around us. We are required to live a completely different type of life from the normal. The Bible says: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2. Everyone can understand what God is saying here. It is rebellion not to accept God’s words. 

Proving our salvation is a requirement and there are not many days left before all the born-again people will be taken away. Folks need to ask God for a totally different life right now. The Scripture warns us: Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. Matthew 25:11-13 (NLT). Satan has distracted people today and we must alert them now.