Gift And Gifts

Devotional #10

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God” John 3:3

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” John 3:5

“Know you not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1Cor 3:16

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4

Our Lord at the beginning of His teachings emphasized that Except a man be born again from above (that is the work of the Holy Spirit from outside to convict of sins) he cannot see the Kingdom of God.

God is Spirit. Man is a living soul. He cannot see and touch the things of the spiritual world. Those who are quickened by the Holy Spirit can see His Spiritual Kingdom. After being quickened by the Holy Spirit when they wanted to leave the world behind and follow the Lord, will be born of water (washing of water with the word) and of the Spirit (that is baptized in Spirit). They leave the old and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Holy Spirit dwells in those who are baptized in Spirit. These are those who identified with the Lord by faith, in His death and resurrection. Holy Spirit continually works in their inward nature to wash and empower them to live a life pleasing unto their redeemer. This sanctification work continues progressively in all those who do not grieve or quench the Spirit. Holy Spirit dwelling in a believer, will continue to teach what is the way in this world to walk without defiling ourselves as if we belong to the Heavenly sphere.

As instructed by the Lord, all one hundred and twenty disciples waited in Jerusalem and gathered in one place. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled all of them. He used them by filling with the Holy Spirit to speak with other tongues. Many Jews who were speaking other tongues were there in Jerusalem to celebrate the Pentecost festival.

Disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit to speak with the Jews in their tongues. Fill (Greek pimplemi) means as per the need of the work for the glory of God, He fills his servants with the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Holy Spirit is done each time as per the requirement of the work to be accomplished. Lord uses His faithful servants for this purpose.

A new birth from above to touch the spiritual world is a blessing from the Lord unto all those who are CALLED. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to dwell in, to see the process of inward sanctification work is a great blessing of the Lord unto those who were CHOSEN. Filled with the Holy Spirit to be used as He desires for His glory in His work is a privileged portion of the FAITHFUL.

Lord may help us to enable to reach the honorable and privileged portion of the FAITHFUL. (Rev 17:14)