The "Within Us" God Who Is Coming Again
by Robert J. Young


Summary

This is the God we wish to see, to know, to honor, to obey. This is the story of the revelation of God.

We come today to the end of our short series. Finally, the promise of God was centered in the Holy Spirit who is the seal and testimony of the promise. The Promising God Who is With Us to Save in Jesus Christ will be also the Saving God Who is Within Us as Promise. His continuing presence is mediated through the Comforter, Holy Spirit.
This Promising, Blessing God does not give up on us. His promises and blessings proceed first from his own nature, and are part of his revelation of himself, so we might know his nature and person and character. This promising God has come among us, and will not remain among us (the kingdom of God is among you/within you) and will remain with us as pledge of our future.

Introduction
Lk 17:21, kingdom is among you. Enigma, mystery, until scriptures make clear that God desires his kingdom become a part of us, and God himself is willing to share our lives. God gives spirit, Acts 5:32, Rom. 5:5, et.al.
Purpose today not to affirm the promising God. Purpose today not to affirm the saving God. Question is focused as we conclude this series. What about now? Once Jesus has done his work, left this earth, and we await his return. What about now?

Eph. 3:16. Ever wondered if there is more to the Christian life than you are experiencing? When see eternal plan of God, creating, claiming, calling, recreating; when hear of his desire to bless, based on his nature not ours; when see him fulfill all his promises ultimately in the yes of Jesus Christ. Even see his coming to this earth to be with us, to make salvation possible, then returning to heaven, leaving the Holy Spirit as comforter.
Suggests God has put within us his power, presence beyond ourselves.

Further, according to Phil. 1:19, Gal. 3:5, the supply of the spirit is lavish, abundant. Abundant power. If miss abundant life and promises of God, perhaps is because we are missing the power, presence, and place of the Holy Spirit, the power of God within us. We will not use the power until we recognize it. Must know Spirit's presence.
Bro. Laurence, practicing the presence of God. Do we know how near God is? He has put some part of himself within us. Knowing this, we can never be the same. Some question to Holy Spirit? Is he real? And some what to see the Holy Spirit in special effect. But the Holy Spirit is best seen by his effects. We need not speculate about how of indwelling. God's spirit has been given to those who obey him. We should seek to see and understand the effects of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

  • Salvation--Spirit is proof of God's personal promise of fulfillment to you. The presence of the Spirit in our lives is assurance that God is present, 1 John 3:24; 4:13. Through the spirit, we have access to the father (Eph. 2:18-22). Because of the spirit's dwelling, we are God's temple, a place of God's dwelling (1 Cor. 3:16). Jesus promised the spirit (John 16:7; 14:18). But the HS is not merely to supply the absence of the Son, but to complete his presence. This is how he will be with us always (Mt. 28:18-20).
  • Position--Spirit is proof of relationship to God as son or daughter, Gal. 4:6. The presence of the Holy Spirit within me assures me that I must be saved, for God could not dwell in uncleanness. While I may fall, I by grace have been saved. The HS is signature, seal, promise on my salvation. Eph. 1:13, 4:30. Seal is authenticity, ownership, guarantee of genuineness. God is indicating that we are his.
    May we never live as though defeat is certain or imminent. Why guilt? Why insecurity and depression? Gal. 4:6. Rom. 8:15,16.
  • Worship--Spirit is reminder of our nature and connection to God. Is worship empty? Prayer powerless? Trouble hooking in in church? Worship is best for those who understand and celebrate the presence of God in their lives. John 4:24. Worship is by the Spirit of God, Phil. 3:3. Singing comes from Spirit filled hearts, Eph. 5:18,19; prayer is dependent upon the Spirit, Eph. 6:18, Jude 19-20. Worship is not for the hurried, the carnally minded, the physical man. Worship is in the spirit, by the spirit, for the spirit within us. 1 Cor. 3:16. The need for clamor and noise is comment on our lives. Praise will pulsate with power when we know we are worshiping one who is near, and the challenge of whether we should return is easier when we listen to the one who walks beside us.
  • Prayer--Intercedes in prayer. This may be one of the best known works of the HS, Rom. 8:26-27. In our moments of confusion, grief, anxiety, difficulty, the HS speaks in wise, understandable appeals the thoughts and intentions of our heart.

    CHRISTIAN LIVING

  • Spirit has role in communicating word of God. Eph. 6:17, inspiration of Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21.
  • Spirit is incentive to holiness. What a great incentive it is to think that God is within us through his spirit, the divine dwells within. Are you not aware, there are things you cannot say, places you cannot go, things you cannot see, things you cannot do. Such was Paul's argument against immorality, 1 Cor. 6:19-20. When sin is overcome, the victory can be attributed to the power of the HS. Gal. 5:16.
  • Spirit is powerful to resist and overcome temptation. Alexander Campbell wrote that without the gift of the HS none could be saved or ultimately triumph. In our civil war within, God provides power through the spirit. Perhaps this is in view in Rom. 7. How shall we be delivered (Rom. 7:24). It is of God. Notice the sharp contrast as Rom. 8 continues. We are saved positionally, powerfully, personally. We have a new person and a new position. By the spirit we put to death the deeds of the body, Rom. 8:1-14.
  • Spirit provides power to produce spiritual fruit. Not only is spirit a shield, but it is key to our godliness, to our participation in divinity. Rom. 5:5, the HS within sheds abroad the love of God. We in the HS find righteousness, peace, and joy in the kingdom (Rom. 14:17). Our lives are changed by this present HS, 2 Cor. 3:17,18.

    PROBLEMS OF LIFE

  • Spirit comforts and encourages. This is Jesus' distinctive description of the Holy Spirit-- Comforter. We may not understand it, but it is Luke's description of the way of life of the early church, Acts 9:31.
  • Power for unity. There is a unifying power and force in the presence of the Spirit. Notice it in 1 Cor. 12:13. Our fellowship is in the HS, 2 Cor. 13:14. Ours is a fellowship of the Spirit, we stand fast together, Phil. 2:1; 1:27. The unity that is ours is of the HS (Eph. 4:3). Such is the nature of our life (Gal. 5:25,26).
  • The spirit provides something of the power for providence. Paul writes that we are led by the Spirit, and certainly this is through the word, but notice also Rom. 8:28. God's spirit is a part of his control of the affairs of our world, even though in ways we cannot fully understand.

    Conclusion
    All of these are great and precious promises, but the greatest is likely that the Spirit is God's guarantee of our future. 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5, Eph. 1:14. Here is the earnest, here is the guarantee. The experience we have here of the HS is the first installment of our eternal life.
    "Blessed Assurance." Here is the kingdom of God within us (Lk. 17:21). Rom. 15:13.


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    Last updated November 11, 2002.