by David Brenneman
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
But 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 that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:16-18, 26-27.
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1.
Those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross of calvary to save them indeed have the Holy Spirit of God within them.
With this promise of the Spirit of God comes one that we're not under condemnation but under grace and mercy.
Jesus promised in this same passage to return and receive all who are saved to Himself.
We're not going to be here when the judgments of God, fall upon this world. Jesus will return and with a shout...take us out of this world while the 70th week of Daniel as further defined by the book of Revelation and other places, plays out.
While the world passes through those fires, we will be safe in the arms of Jesus Christ. Quite possibly watching it all while standing at His side in robes of white.
While in this world we've got the Helper. The very Spirit of God.
Much true understanding comes from a right relationship with Jesus because of listening to the Spirit.
There are some who hold to a belief that the Church will still be here during the Great Tribulation we referred to earlier. Why would those who do not stand condemned be put through those horrific events? Why would Jesus Christ the Righteous, put His Bride, through all that if they indeed were His Bride?
While in this world we who are saved are Ambassadors to Jesus and are considered joint heirs of Him. Jesus paid the penalty of our condemnation in full on the cross.
Scripture shows this in the interactions between Abraham and the Lord Jesus. Read what is said between them when the Lord was there to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. The righteous would not share in the condemnation of the guilty.
With our Helper we learn to use our spiritual eyes and ears. With our Helper we learn what the Disciples learned on how to be living examples of Christ. We learn the truth about sin and how to avoid it.
We grow in Christ, through the sanctification of the Spirit of God, throughout our days on the Earth.
The day we step into eternity our sanctification is complete in Christ Jesus because of our being His workmanship.
Oh the hope we have of the promises of God!
We sang a song in church recently. It still resonates with me this morning.
I love You, Lord
Oh, Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah
And all my life You have been faithful, oh
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah
'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now
I give You everything
'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me, oh-oh
'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now
I give You everything
'Cause Your goodness is running after, it keeps running after me
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
I'm gonna sing, I'm gonna sing
Oh, 'cause
'Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
Goodness of God lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
The goodness of God is embodied in the life and work of the Spirit of God in His people.
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established."
I am one who certainly longs for the Lord to return. While awaiting that day, He has work for me to be doing. He has work for all who call upon Him as their Lord and Savior.
There are none who should be thinking they've arrived an can go on living life as if they now have a free pass to sin.
There should be none who think that there's nothing for them to be doing. Every single part of the body of Christ has a purpose. We know by way of communion that we are shown to be part of the body of Christ when we are saved.
Life should be lived with the purpose of God for us in mind.
Me, personally, I do not want to be asked by my Savior, "What were you thinking?" or "Why didn't you?...".
The Helper indeed is here to help those who are saved in Christ...but it's on us to listen and to obey.
Are you going about life struggling every way you turn? Have you considered you might just be found fighting God's plan and purpose for your life?
Stop and take the time to listen to God not psychology. Listen to the voice of God by way of the Spirit of God within you.
If you haven't made Jesus Christ the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...all you have is less than crickets to listen to. In truth all you can hear from God is the invitation to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
The person of God, the Spirit of God, rests upon all who call upon Jesus Christ for salvation.
That promise was made and kept for billions of people throughout the last 2000 plus years.
Where do you stand today?
What time will you spend today with Jesus?
Will you listen when He speaks to you? He doesn't teach through osmosis people. He teaches us the Word of God. He speaks. It's on us to listen, to trust and obey.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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