Focus: The Transforming Presence Of The Holy Spirit

Text: Jh.14:17

"Even the Spirit of truth… for he dwelleth WITH you, and shall be IN you."

The Spirit's presence is both an inward and an outward reality to the believer in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ promises to send the Holy Spirit to reside and preside in us and to take us with Him everywhere. He keeps us company as we go about discharging our sacred roles on the earth. He is IN us and WITH us. The presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit transform our whole being into God's original design. He makes it possible for us to look like Christ. He shapes us into the image of Christ.

Let us see four effects of the Spirit's presence in our lives.

*Firstly, the Spirit FILLS us with the fullness God.

The Spirit fills us to overflowing. We brim with life and bubble with energy. Paul says, "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be FILLED WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD" (Eph.3:19). Read from verse 16 to verse 19 and see that the Spirit of God is fully involved. And again, he says, "And be not drunk with wine… but be FILLED with the Spirit." 

We need constant and continuous filling of the Spirit. There should be no void or vacuum in our lives. He wants to occupy every space and hold sway in every corner of our lives.

*Secondly, the Spirit FLOWS through us like a river to others.

The Lord Jesus Christ declares, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall FLOW rivers of living water" (Jh.7:38). Before getting to this point of the flow and the overflow of the rivers of the Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (Jh.7:37). The Holy Spirit is first the WATER that the thirsty soul drinks, and then He becomes RIVERS that flow through the believer in Christ. The Spirit flows in and out of the believer in Christ. The Spirit is both the drinking water that quenches the thirst to the refreshing rivers that overflow the banks of our lives. He fills us until we overflow.

*Thirdly, the Spirit SHOWS us Christ and His cross so that as we behold Him we become more and more like Him. 

Jesus Christ says concerning the Spirit, "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall SHEW it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall SHEW it unto you" (Jh.16:14-15). The word 'shew' here means telling. It has to do with the announcement or declaration of a messenger or an angel. The Spirit shows us things by sayings. He turns words into pictures. He makes it possible for us to see what He says. He turns audibility into visibility. 

In Jh.15:26, Jesus Christ says that the Spirit who proceeds from the Father "shall testify of me." A testifier is one that has evidence to show. He has proofs. It is the kind of proof that is known in legal terms as 'Exhibit A.' A testifier is a firsthand witness. He gives a firsthand account of what he saw, and he is so sure of what he says that he is willing to die for it. The word is martureō in the Greek. The word 'martyr' is derived from it. Every testimony of the Spirit concerning Jesus Christ is absolutely true and reliable. John tells us that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

The Spirit unveils to us the things of Christ. He exposes Christ to us in all facets of His grace, goodness, greatness, and glory. He helps us to see the beauty of the cross of Christ. He brings to life things that seem deactivated in our eyes, He brings to light things that seem hidden away from sight, and He makes attractive things that seem dim, dull, or lackluster to our senses.

The Spirit is the true magnifier of Christ. Take for example the book of Acts of the Apostles, known also as the Acts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is mentioned about 50 times in it, but Jesus Christ in His various names appears about 200 times. What does that tell us? It tells us that the Holy Spirit is everywhere in the book of Acts announcing and showing Christ to us. And it is by beholding Christ that we become increasingly like Him.

*Lastly, the Spirit FORMS Christ in us so that we become conformed to the image of Christ.

The inward work of Christ is being done by the Holy Spirit. Paul says, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT MAN, unto the measure of the STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST" (Eph.4:13). Paul also talks about travailing in birth "until Christ be FORMED in you" (Gal.4:19). In Romans 8, he says, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom.8:29). 

The indwelling presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit makes our total transformation possible. He originates our spiritual rebirth. He regenerates our spirit, renews our mind, and quickens, revitalizes, or resurrects our mortal body. He commences and consummates our salvation.

Allow the Spirit to FILL you up with the fullness of God! Let Him SHOW you the things of Christ. Let Him FLOW in you like a river and overflow through you to others in godly living, goodly words, and good works. Let Christ be fully FORMED in you by the Holy Spirit! Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter