That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through Faith. Galatians 3:14
Some years ago, one of our little granddaughters would lift up her voice and scream at the supper table for some of what was in a bowl at the other end of the table. What she failed to realize was that if she were to drop her eyes to her own plate, she would see plenty of what was in that bowl. She screamed because she was unaware that she already had what she was screaming for. She was just like some of the Pentecostal groups around us who make a great show of praying for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. Some of those poor folks, of course, are not saved at all. They have some form of religion, and they are caught up in the emotionalism of their services. But they are lost. But, some others among them are truly saved. And as they pray for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they are ignorant that what they seek is already theirs. The same faith that saved them is the same faith that has brought them into the blessing of Abraham, the promise of the spirit, through faith.
This is amazing, that you and I have received something that faithful Abraham was denied in His lifetime: a Person of the Godhead dwelling within. God spoke directly to Abraham. God led him and directed him and communed with him frequently. God dealt with Abraham in ways that we have never experienced. God even speaks of Abraham has His friend, His personal friend. But Abraham never had the Spirit within. So we look at Abraham and are amazed that he was able to achieve as much and to be as faithful as he was. But then, we look at ourselves, and are amazed that we are able to achieve as little and to be as lacking of faith as we are. We have the Spirit; why do we fall so short of what Abraham achieved?
Yes, Abraham was a special man, God’s man for his time. But he was a man, just like us. And in all his long years of faithfulness to God, he did not have the Comforter that you and I have. He did not have the Encourager that you and I benefit from (or should). He did not have the ever-present Teacher, the ever-necessary Sustainer, the ever-available Enabler. As we think of what we have, in terms of the Holy Spirit dwelling within, we should be ashamed that we are so small in our life of devotion and service.
We have what Abraham was promised. Can we tap into the Spirit’s resources today and, by faith, serve as a friend of God? -Jim MacIntosh