Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 187
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life Ministries
International
Littleton, Colorado
Notice: this email is part of a
BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”. Why a
blog? So that many can receive these thoughts
in an easy manner.
I’ve
said this a thousand times, at least…I will never forget the first time I heard
Romans 8:11, that the Holy Spirit was living inside me as a Christian, and that
He was there to “quicken” life in my body.
I am still learning all there is to know about His “quickening”!!! Well, amen.
DAY 126
Holy Spirit
But when He, the
Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not
speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will
disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine
and will disclose it to you. –John 16:13, 14
A model of man is often shown using three concentric circles
representing body, soul, and the spirit, which is the innermost circle. Without
any one of the three, man would not exist; the three elements must exist
together in a constant intimate exchange. Man is made in the image of God,
so we can apply the model to
God. The innermost circle could represent the Father, the Source of the
Source. The middle circle would stand for the expression of the Source, or thought
and word. Hence, Jesus said He viewed the Father as the greater, because He is
the Source of the thought and word; and yet, it is also true that neither
operates alone, and thought and word are equal to the source. Jesus is the Word
and the Father is the Source of the Word. The Word and Source are One. The
activity of the Source and Word would be the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit
(Activity) is birthed from Source (Father) and Expressed Thought (Son). The intimacy between the Father
(Source) and the Son (Expression of the Source) reveals the third part of the
Trinity, the Person of the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus said that man could
slander the Father or the Son, but it was blasphemy to speak ill of the Person
of the Holy Spirit, the best that can be produced from the intimacy between the
Father and Son.
We think of a spirit in terms of
angels and demons, yet in the language of the Bible, spirits also bring with them atmospheres.
When visiting a house that has a spirit of conflict, it makes sense to enter
into conflict. When visiting a house with a spirit of joy, it is easy to be
happy. Joseph Stalin carried with himself an atmosphere of fear and murder. The Holy Spirit is not found in
heaven, sitting on a throne to be worshipped. Rather, the Spirit that emanates from the
Father and Son is a Holy Spirit, a Person with an atmosphere whose presence and
power is so great that for those under His influence, being Holy makes sense
and becomes possible. The
Holy Spirit, when He comes, invades the world, pushes the world away, and
brings a heavenly contrast. When a person finds himself in the presence of the Holy Spirit, that
one’s life is immediately contrasted with the atmosphere of holiness.
A woman had been married five times
and was currently having an affair. She also had moved her son's homosexual
boyfriend into her home and encouraged their relationship. One day when driving
home, she stopped to ponder the mountains, and the Holy Spirit with His
Atmosphere fell on her. At that moment she could see the evil in her life and
was so ashamed that she was completely undone; her lifestyle no longer made
sense, and she sought change. The
Holy Spirit brings contrast. We can see why David said, "Take not
Thy Holy Spirit from me." When the Holy Spirit’s Atmosphere, exuding from
the presence of the Father and Son, encompassed him, he found power to live in
holiness, power to seek wisdom for God's people, assurance that his kingdom
must be God's kingdom, and loss of worry, doubt, and fear. Jesus said to the disciples in John
14 that this same Holy Spirit had walked with
them, but it would come into them.
The atmosphere created in the intimacy of God, the best of His love, would now
dwell in them.
It is not ludicrous for us to believe that Thought/Word could become a
flesh-and-bones person in Jesus. The people came to see the Word,
and the Word was dressed in swaddling clothes. The people’s attention was not
consumed with the clothing but with the Word that had become flesh. Why would it surprise us that an
atmosphere of holiness would describe the Person called the Comforter? This Holy Spirit--with His
Atmosphere that brings the presence of God to men, gives men power, renders
irrelevant worry, doubt, and fear, and makes change natural--came clothed in
tongues of fire. The clothes are not to be worshipped, but the
awe-inspiring fact is that coming from the intimacy of the Father and Son, a Spirit has come that makes the
life of the Father and Son possible and sensible. We can see why the people were
praying "in the Spirit," why so much can be done "in the
Spirit." The
proof of the Spirit cannot be condensed to miracles, gifts, or fruit, all of
which can be duplicated by the enemy. Two proofs that the Spirit has come in a person are that
Jesus will be lifted up and men will be drawn to Him, and there will be a
conviction of anything that is against Christ. These are things that the enemy never copies.
We are to be filled with the
Spirit, filled with His atmosphere that comes from the Father and Son. We see
why the terms Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Father, and Holy Spirit can be used interchangeably.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
Foundational truths and principles undergird Christianity. When possible, some sort of diagram helps us
to “see” and “understand” WHAT the truths are and HOW they operate in our
lives. Michael’s description of the
three concentric circles illustrates the great creation of man by God that
coincides with the Triune God Himself.
It is very important for correct teaching, adequate study, and pertinent
application of the truths presented in Scripture regarding man and God in the
three circles to be part of life as a Christian. Without such, a Christian will flounder in
understanding and wisdom as life goes on around them.
Michael gives us two excellent points of recognizing the indwelling of Holy
Spirit in someone. Yet it is possible
for a Christian to “grieve” or “quench the Spirit” in such a way that His activities
are hindered and negligible, thereby noticeable.
But Michael pointing out the tremendous positives God intended for each
and every Believer to benefit from having the indwelling Holy Spirit are really
the focus of this day’s writing…”This Holy
Spirit--with His Atmosphere that brings the presence of God to men, gives men
power, renders irrelevant worry, doubt, and fear, and makes change natural…” WOW!
Why then, are so many Christians afraid
(notice this is in direct contradiction to what Holy Spirit
brings to a Christian!) to embrace, speak to, and call upon
Holy Spirit to act in their life?
Remember what the Apostle Paul said about the work of the Holy Spirit in
his life? “But by the grace of God I am
what I am…” Well, amen. Understanding “grace” as being the work of
Holy Spirit is part of the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom Solomon was
speaking of as being so important to us as Christians.
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital
“C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com
NOTICE: another blog on
Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the
Wilderness. You can access by logging onto
www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P.O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
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