GOD’S PRESENCE THAT IS ALWAYS WITH YOU
It is necessary to understand some basic information about God and what he has provided for mankind. God is represented to man through three individual beings: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost); referred to as the Holy Trinity.
Matthew 28:19 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Believers often fail to recognize that all three are spirit entities. First, God the Father is a Spirit being:
John 4:24 – “God is a spirit: and they that worship must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Most Christians recognize the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, who is frequently referred to as the third person of the trinity:
Luke 11:13 – “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
What Christians fail to recognize is that Jesus also has and is a Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Word that was part of God became flesh and dwelt on earth as a man. As a man he was made in the image and likeness of God – a triune, or three part being; he had a body, a soul and a spirit. His spirit was and still is HOLY.
It was Jesus Spirit that he committed back into his Father’s hands upon his death on the cross.
Luke 23:46 – “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
It was Jesus Holy Spirit that preached to those who were in paradise after his body was placed in the grave:
Ephesians 4:9 – “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?”
1 Peter 3:18-19 – “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;”
It is the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ that is received at salvation:
Romans 8:9 – “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
His Holy Spirit enters into your spirit making it alive unto God in righteousness – it’s called being born of the spirit.
John 3:3-8 – “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit”.
When were Jesus disciples “born again”?......when they received His Holy Spirit of regeneration;
John 20:19-22 – “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
Whose Holy Spirit did they receive? …. Jesus’ Spirit when he breathed on them. It is interesting to note that the word “spirit” is translated from the word “pneuma” which also means “breath” or “current of air”. Jesus “pneuma” or breathed His spirit on them and as they received His spirit, they were born again by His Spirit at this time.
This was not the baptism in the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, was not given them until the day of Pentecost which occurred fifty days after Passover, when Jesus was crucified.
So we see that it is Jesus’ Spirit that dwell in us who have accepted Him. He promised to always be with those who receive Him:
Matthew 28:20 – “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Because it is His Holy or divine Spirit that resides in His people:
Galatians 4:6 – “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
In addition to His Spirit being in us and with us, He also promised another divine presence to assist, comfort, teach, aid and guide us:
John 14: 15-18 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
This third person of the trinity is the Holy presence of God in the form of the Holy Ghost that is to be given to every believer who accepts the baptism in the Holy Ghost. It’s a promise of God:
Luke 3:16 – “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”
Acts 1:5 – “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Acts 2:1-4 – “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:38-39 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
The purpose of this second experience of receiving a Holy or Divine Spirit is to empower every believer to be a true representative of Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Therefore we need to recognize that there are two specific experiences of receiving a Holy or divine Spirit: Jesus’ Spirit which brings the “born again” experience, and the Baptism in the Holy Ghost which brings the divine ability to represent Jesus and His Kingdom to the world as well as to assist and be with you.
This second receiving of the Spirit gives you supernatural gifts or abilities as described in 1 Corinthians 12:
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 – “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
Certain sects of Christians believe that these gifts and abilities given by the Holy Spirit are not for today; but Paul specifically addresses this when he says these gifts are in effect until Jesus returns.
1 Corinthians 1:6-8 – “Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Some believers who accept the Spirit of Jesus for salvation have never experienced the empowerment provided by the baptism in the Holy Spirit; this is mostly because they were never informed of the second divine experience.
Acts 19:1-6 – “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
Have you received all that God has provided for you? Is God’s presence both in and upon you? Both divine experiences are accepted by faith, believing that He will do what He said He will do. He wants you to experience the fullness of His presence so that you can have the fullness of His joy, peace and righteousness.
Psalm 16:11 – “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness
of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Therefore you shall fear no evil presence that still exists in this world because He has given you power and victory over the enemy.
Luke 10:19 – “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
It is necessary to understand some basic information about God and what he has provided for mankind. God is represented to man through three individual beings: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost); referred to as the Holy Trinity.
Matthew 28:19 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Believers often fail to recognize that all three are spirit entities. First, God the Father is a Spirit being:
John 4:24 – “God is a spirit: and they that worship must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Most Christians recognize the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, who is frequently referred to as the third person of the trinity:
Luke 11:13 – “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
What Christians fail to recognize is that Jesus also has and is a Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Word that was part of God became flesh and dwelt on earth as a man. As a man he was made in the image and likeness of God – a triune, or three part being; he had a body, a soul and a spirit. His spirit was and still is HOLY.
It was Jesus Spirit that he committed back into his Father’s hands upon his death on the cross.
Luke 23:46 – “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
It was Jesus Holy Spirit that preached to those who were in paradise after his body was placed in the grave:
Ephesians 4:9 – “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?”
1 Peter 3:18-19 – “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;”
It is the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ that is received at salvation:
Romans 8:9 – “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
His Holy Spirit enters into your spirit making it alive unto God in righteousness – it’s called being born of the spirit.
John 3:3-8 – “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit”.
When were Jesus disciples “born again”?......when they received His Holy Spirit of regeneration;
John 20:19-22 – “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
Whose Holy Spirit did they receive? …. Jesus’ Spirit when he breathed on them. It is interesting to note that the word “spirit” is translated from the word “pneuma” which also means “breath” or “current of air”. Jesus “pneuma” or breathed His spirit on them and as they received His spirit, they were born again by His Spirit at this time.
This was not the baptism in the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, was not given them until the day of Pentecost which occurred fifty days after Passover, when Jesus was crucified.
So we see that it is Jesus’ Spirit that dwell in us who have accepted Him. He promised to always be with those who receive Him:
Matthew 28:20 – “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Because it is His Holy or divine Spirit that resides in His people:
Galatians 4:6 – “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
In addition to His Spirit being in us and with us, He also promised another divine presence to assist, comfort, teach, aid and guide us:
John 14: 15-18 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
This third person of the trinity is the Holy presence of God in the form of the Holy Ghost that is to be given to every believer who accepts the baptism in the Holy Ghost. It’s a promise of God:
Luke 3:16 – “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”
Acts 1:5 – “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Acts 2:1-4 – “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:38-39 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
The purpose of this second experience of receiving a Holy or Divine Spirit is to empower every believer to be a true representative of Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Therefore we need to recognize that there are two specific experiences of receiving a Holy or divine Spirit: Jesus’ Spirit which brings the “born again” experience, and the Baptism in the Holy Ghost which brings the divine ability to represent Jesus and His Kingdom to the world as well as to assist and be with you.
This second receiving of the Spirit gives you supernatural gifts or abilities as described in 1 Corinthians 12:
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 – “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
Certain sects of Christians believe that these gifts and abilities given by the Holy Spirit are not for today; but Paul specifically addresses this when he says these gifts are in effect until Jesus returns.
1 Corinthians 1:6-8 – “Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Some believers who accept the Spirit of Jesus for salvation have never experienced the empowerment provided by the baptism in the Holy Spirit; this is mostly because they were never informed of the second divine experience.
Acts 19:1-6 – “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
Have you received all that God has provided for you? Is God’s presence both in and upon you? Both divine experiences are accepted by faith, believing that He will do what He said He will do. He wants you to experience the fullness of His presence so that you can have the fullness of His joy, peace and righteousness.
Psalm 16:11 – “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness
of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Therefore you shall fear no evil presence that still exists in this world because He has given you power and victory over the enemy.
Luke 10:19 – “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
