2021-01-22
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The subtitle of today’s devotion may be confusing, but it is true. Prior to the Pentecost (described in AC 2: 1-4), the Holy Spirit was present and inhabited only certain people of community responsibility in Israel before the split into two kingdoms and the good kings of Judah [1 SAM 10: 1, 9-10; 1 SAM 16: 13-14]. However, the Spirit could leave a person, as it did when Saul disobeyed God and David was made king of Israel. Things weren’t easy for David, because he might be playing the harp for Saul, and suddenly, an evil spirit would enter Saul and causing him to toss spears at David or necessitate David running from Saul over the countryside, when Saul pursued the former trying to take his life. (Today, one might suggest that Saul had Schizophrenia). Much later, David had an affair with the wife of Uriah, Bathsheba, who he first saw on the roof of her home near the palace. After a visit from the prophet, Nathan, David realized the error of what he had done and confessed his sin to God in PS 51. The familiar words of verses 10-12 contain David’s plea to God, “Do not take Your Spirit from me.” Remember that GN 2: 7 (part of the description of the Creation) when read in the original Hebrew, uses the word “Eloheim,” which in that language is plural. Both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are not described but are included).
Once the Pentecost had happened, things were quite different. When the Holy Spirit inhabits the soul of a believer in Christ, He remains with that person forever. We see this described in JN 14: 16. We are told that the Holy Spirit is a Counselor sent to us by Christ. RO 8: 39-40 puts the point across that “nothing can separate us from the love of God.” The AC 2: 1-4 description of the Pentecost in the upper room is quite supernatural and interesting. It sounded like a wind coming across the room, and tongues of fire touched each of the apostles there. The Hebrew words for the Holy Spirit are “Ruach HaKodesh.” Ruach is the same word used for “wind” (only not capitalized) in that language. The HaKodesh means from God (the Father). In EPH 4: 30, we are told how to act. “Do not make God’s Spirit sad, for He is God’s mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free.” Furthermore, we are told to get rid of all passion, anger, bitterness, and hate. We are to be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving, as God has forgiven us through Christ in verse 31. The ramifications of doing this are far-reaching.
Most of us grew up hearing about the Good Housekeeping magazine seal of approval. A reasonable standard for various products has been set, and these items are tested against it. We’ve learned to trust these products are of good quality. God’s seal is expressed as “sphragizo” in the original Greek is meant as the Holy Spirit. His presence in a person is a seal of authenticity or approval. It is a defense against the presence of an evil spirit which tries to inhabit one’s soul. REV 7: 13-17 gives us a peek into heaven and a deeper understanding. “One of the elders asked, ‘Who are these people dressed in white robes?’ God answered, ‘They are the survivors of terrible persecution. They have washed in the blood of the Lamb, making their robes white (meaning they are righteous). That is why they stand before the Lord, serving Him day and night. Never again will they know misery or be scorched by the sun, because the Lamb, Who is in the center of the throne, will be their Shepherd and guide them to springs of living water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.’”
The Scriptures, in REV 8: 1-2, describe the depth of God’s power when He stops the judgments for half an hour to give Himself time to place His seal on the believers. Then they resume with the seventh seal judgment. Our Lord loves us more than any human can and keeps His promises. Since the three personalities of the Trinity are equal and fair in their love of us, as well as being on the same page, we can always place our trust in our Abba [Hebrew: Daddy], Yeshua HaMeshia Adonai [Jesus, our Messiah], and the Ruach HaKodesh [the Holy Spirit or Spirit of God]. REV 8: 3-5 describes the work of the angels before the gold altar, who received the prayers of the people from the incense burned at the altars below on earth. God had already shouted, “Do not harm the earth or the servants of God until I have marked their foreheads with My seal” [REV 7: 3]. We can be assured that every word in the Scriptures is true. Now, all we must do is trust in God.
PRAYER: Dearest Father, we now understand that Your second personality, Jesus Christ, was the Firstborn of all creation and thus did the work of establishing the earth and everything on it [COL 1: 15]. As such, He deserves great reverence and awe. It was Your decision that He do these tasks, and then, You [the Father] commanded Him to save us. Before Christ appeared on earth as a Man, no human had the opportunity for salvation and eternal forgiveness. Few humans were like Abraham and could be truly justified in Your sight. Although Your Son’s name was never mentioned in the OT, He was there. The Holy Spirit was also there. We believe these things because You either inferred them or taught them outright in the Scriptures. We also understand that the Bible is Your Love-letter to us. Evidence of the work of both Christ and Your Spirit is seen indirectly in the OT and plainly in the NT. You have given us many lessons and messages of great importance, which allow us to know both Your will and Your remarkable love for us. We are left with a clear call to obey Your teaching and sufficient evidence for why should do this. You deserve our eternal thanks and praise for being the wonderful God You are. In Christ’s mighty and strong name, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’m commanded by the Holy Spirit to write about what God does when we yield to Him and what He deserves for us to do. God’s restraint of evil is only one manifestation of how He uses His power to do good. This idea that we can live forever, if we live by God’s teaching and the power of His Spirit over us is no small matter. It affects every aspect of our lives. Above, I mentioned that before the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would come and go from the people. I experienced this myself in the first 25 years of my life, but only understood what was happening in hindsight. That’s often but not always the case with seekers in the process of coming to faith in Christ. Naturally, I wish I had known that I was in God’s sight the whole time I thought He didn’t exist. At the time, I had a lot to learn. God alone knows the perfect time for things to happen. He maximizes the lessons/messages He has for us by choosing exactly the right time. PS 40: 1-3, one of my favorite passages, tells us that God will rescue us from the deep pit of our misery and place us on safe ground, teaching us a new song to sing about Himself. He did this for me and He will do it for anyone with a malleable heart. It made a huge change for the better in my life and it does for anyone going through a conversion to the truth. That’s my wish for each of you, and I’ll continue to pray you experience what knowing God’s love and being obedient to Him. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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