The same Spirit is living in us that lived in the original Disciples of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Jesus promised that once He rose from the dead, He would send the Holy Spirit to mark His followers. This is not only a first century happening! The same Spirit is living in us, now.
The Holy Spirit has many purposes in our lives. One is to convict us of sin, so that we can return to our Creator.
In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias & Sapphira died instantly when they did not admit they had lied not only to people, but also to the all-knowing Holy Spirit.
Does God judge us like that in our day? Honestly, I have not seen or heard of it, however, this account must give us pause to consider that possibility. I suspect this historical event in Acts is here to inspire us to honesty, leading us to God’s mercy. When we agree with God, we are forgiven through Jesus.
Another reason for the Holy Spirit in us, is to empower us as we help expand the Kingdom of God. This can happen through signs, wonders, miracles and the preaching. The very next paragraph in Acts 5 says, “The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.”
The same Spirit is living in us.
Why are more of us not experiencing miraculous signs and wonders?
Do we question that they even happen in our day? Do we ask for creative miracles? What do we expect if we ask?
The same Spirit is living in us.
Why not us? God is not a lair and cannot mislead us.
Our God never changes.
Our Creator is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Our’s is the God of all eternity. He sees the entire meta-narrative of time, from the vantage point of eternity.
If we’re not attempting to hide sin from people and the Holy Spirit, let’s believe God can and will act.
Personally, God miraculously healed the hearing in my right ear.
My son is alive today by God’s intervention.
There are also emotional, and spiritual healings that I have received, witnessed, or helped bring about for others, thanks to the Spirit! Those are more than we have room for here.
Because the same Spirit is living in us that was in the first Century, let’s believe, and ask expectantly. Please let me know how it goes!
I focused in on the line that the same Holy Spirit is living in us …. now. God is the same past, present, future. No changes, no gray area…the same. Unending and unceasing. Ever present.
Yes! There are so many ways we can loose sight of those facts. I know I do. I suspect that most of the time I am writing to myself, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Just because these truths are in our head somewhere does not always equal livening them out.
Thanks for reading and the feedback!
Blessings,
Andrea
I agree with all of the comments above and appreciate the reminders from all of your blogs.
Many thanks, love and prayers, Bette