Thursday, November 19

The Spirit in the Church - Part 4

Intro:
I can imagine that being adopted might feel weird at times. I would guess that I might feel like a cat among a group of meerkats! Similar but different.

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we are adopted into God's family where we fit right in.

Read:
Galatians 3:1-7

1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Think:
Knowing God is relational. We were not saved to rote religion or to some legalistic adherence to rules. We were saved to be sons and daughters of a King.

Because we are sons and daughters of God God sent the Spirit to us. What do we learn about this Spirit?
1. This is the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of His Son. Sometimes we can be tempted to think that the Holy Spirit is some mystical force or simply a power. The Bible makes clear that this is a Person. A Person not a power. The Spirit of Jesus Himself living on the inside. No wonder Jesus knew it was good that He go away and send the Spirit. He wanted to live on the inside of us.

2. This Spirit is in our hearts. We share incarnation with Jesus ... God in man. Jesus was incarnated, God took on a body. Now in the Church, God takes a body once again. It is YOUR body! The Spirit of God came to live in people. In our hearts.

"To all who've been born of the Spirit, and who share incarnation with Him. Who belong to eternity stranded in time and wearing of struggling with sin. Forget not the hope that's before you and never stop counting the cost. Remember the hopelessness when you were lost. There is a joy in the journey, there's a Light we can love on the way. There is a wonder and wildness to life and freedom for those who obey."

Michael Card
3. This Spirit seeks intimacy with the Father. This relationship with the Spirit enables us to approach God in ways no one but Jesus had ever known. Before Jesus no one ever called God "father" or related to Him in such ways. The Spirit seeks intimacy with the Father and we are the benefactors of that intimacy. Please pay attention to the words in the passage:

"the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

Who is crying out "Abba, Father"? The Spirit is doing that on our behalf. He is our adoption agent! He is our casual link. He is our advocate.

This Spirit seals the deal, applies the payment Jesus bought for us and makes us sons and daughters of a King. That's relational!

Do:
If you are in Christ you are adopted into God's family. You have all the rights of a child in God's home. The Spirit guarantees this new standing and works to draw you closer to your Father.

Have you ever reflected on the truth that you are part of an incarnation? That God lives inside of you? That is a wild thought! You have all the rights and privileges of ownership. You are a child of the King. You are an heir to His estate.

Take time to pray to your Abba today. Thank Him for His desire to know you. He killed his own Son so He could have many more sons brought to glory. You are part of that story. You are adopted.

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.

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