THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9
1 Corinthians 12:13
Isaiah 63:7-14

“…O LORD of hosts!”

THE SPIRIT’S INDWELLING OUR PRECIOUS HERITAGE (II)

The believer at regeneration is baptized by one Spirit, whether Jew or Gentile, and is made to “drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13). This verse expresses the intimate nature of the believer’s union with Christ in the receiving of His Spirit internally (by drinking). Receiving the Spirit into our bodies in a vital way, like life-sustaining water, we are nourished and sustained unto everlasting life. From this we see God’s amazing grace and matchless love to take us into closest union with Himself. Truly it is an intimate presence.

It is also a permanent presence. Our Lord’s promise is that the Comforter shall abide with us and be in us for ever (John 14:16-17). He comes not as the occasional visitor but as Lord Comforter to stay. He lives in you to guide, instruct, strengthen, inspire and encourage. Having begun a work of grace, He has a continuing interest to sustain and perfect our spiritual life till we arrive Home. By His Spirit we are “sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30). With Him as our life-long Comforter, of whom shall we be afraid?

It is also a unifying presence. The indwelling Spirit unites us to Christ our Redeemer. Our Lord prayed for us in these words: “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one…” (John 17:22-23). By the unifying presence of the Spirit we are joined to God the Father and God the Son, and also to the great family of believers. In this union is joy unspeakable, full of glory.

What a travesty of truth and corruption of Scripture for any so-called “church” to teach that tongues-speaking is “the sign” for receiving the Holy Spirit! And what sort of “tongues” but the babbling of senseless gibberish!

THOUGHT: Have I dabbled in tongues? If so, I must repent!
PRAYER: Lord, keep me from the snare of tongues.