Manifesting Presence of the Holy Spirit

Some say that at conversion, we have been suddenly and completely equipped with everything we need to succeed in our earthly ministry. This is in part true and in part false. A close look at Scripture bears out the difference. 

There’s allot of confusion on this matter in the Body of Christ. And for a very dark demonic reason. If satan can confuse what is our Christian status and identity with God, he renders us powerless and ineffective in this world. For, whatever we believe, right or wrong, good or evil, of God or of the world… we empower. 

As to salvation and our status as “born again,” this is a finished work for all who believe. As for supernatural equipping after our salvation, God’s supernatural supply is ongoing and necessary! 

Let’s look first at what is finished. 

No doubt we HAVE BEEN crucified with Christ. Our old man no longer lives. 

No doubt we HAVE BEEN made a New Man Creation through Christ Jesus. No part of our old man has a right to a place in our new being. 

No doubt sin HAS BEEN completely done away with in us through Christ Jesus. I am no longer defined by sin. 

I am a completely New Man! These truths are past tense. These things are finished works. These things are complete! Only if you believe it! 

I am no longer defined by sin. Sin no longer has a hold on me. By Faith thru Grace. This is a done deal. It is finished. It needs no further action. Paul makes that abundantly clear in Ephesians 2 and Galatians 2:

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked (past tense), following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience…

…But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive (past tense) together with Christ-by grace you have been saved (past tense)- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (past tense), so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been (past tense) saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:1-2, 2:4-9

I have been (past tense) crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live (current and future tense) in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

If my old man self no longer lives, then that who I used to be must be fully dead. How can my old man self be brought back to life again lest I simply will not believe in who Christ says I am? 

How can your old man self still live, lest you don’t believe what Christ did at the Cross, this Gospel truth?

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh (their old man self). Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he IS (current and future tense) a new creation. The old HAS passed away (past tense); behold, the new HAS come (a COMPLETELY finished work). – 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

So then let this be set in stone in our hearts, like a stone that sets the foundation of a building! It is a done and settled thing that my old man is dead and that I am now and forever will be a new man creation. NO FURTHER WORK IS REQUIRED IN THIS REGARD!

There can be only one reason that sin can continue in a believer. The believer does not know his or her new person already established identity! It Is for this reason that Paul said: 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealedfrom FAITH to FAITH, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” – Romans 1:16-17

Dear Saint! Believe in who you ARE! 

Now then what about that which requires an ongoing equipping?

Once salvation has been established in the spirit and soul of a new believer, there remains a certain process of equipping that is provided by the Holy Spirit upon the believer and upon the Church. Indeed it can be said that without the express invitation of the Holy Spirit, there is no equipping and no spiritual growth. The church might be occupied by born again believers, but the equipping for the works of the Church into the nations is either lacking or nonexistent! The believer and the Church, though alive in Christ is all but dead as to the manifestations of Christ through the Church outward into this world! This is a grievous misunderstanding about the need for and the works of the Holy Spirit in our midst! 

In short, we have our salvation identity, but we need His equipping in an ongoing way! 

As to the equipping of the Saints to do good works on earth until the day of our entry into Heaven, we are constantly in need of whatever God chooses to supply to us in and of the power of the Holy Spirit. We are forever called into this wonderful place of dependence. 

Thus, through prayer, praise then worship, we forever seek His guidance and equipping to succeed on earth as He is in Heaven in Holy Spirit power. This is the part of our Christian walk that demands an ongoing need of Him! 

Do not confuse being in need of the Spirit with being in need of a Savior to re-save you! Do not confuse who God made you to be with who you used to be! That is finished! Likewise always remember your state of dependence upon the precious gifts of the Holy Spirit. So that by the Spirit, you can reap for Jesus the reward for His sufferings! 

Let’s look at some scriptural reference to our ongoing need of His equipping: 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. – Philippians 2:12-13

This scripture has nothing to do with eradication of ongoing sin! It has everything to do with the ongoing need for His help to will and then to work His plan for our lives into this world. A night and day difference. 

God working in me to manifest Christ into this dying world is an ongoing process. It doesn’t say God who worked in you. It’s says God who works in you. It’s a current and future statement, not past tense. 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (Current and future tense)- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

It doesn’t say “God who empowered.” It says God who empowers, again an ongoing manifestation. 

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. – Hebrews 13:20-21

Paul’s is praying for something vital here. If what Paul is praying for has already occurred, why pray for it as if it has yet to happen? May God… “equip you with everything good…” Yes, I might thank Him for having equipped me. But why pray for something unless it has yet to fully happen? Indeed we have been equipped in many regards. But we pray for His ongoing manifestation for what has yet to be given. 

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. – 1 Corinthians 15:10

Now here we understand that a particular supernatural Grace from God was with Paul from the beginning. Here, Paul defines Grace with His words! Grace is POWER! Paul, in power, was given His understanding through the Spirit and not of any man. Paul, in power, was placed in authority as an Apostle. Paul carried a measure of Grace power but he knew alsothat Grace is an ongoing need. Paul knew that we walk in Grace and that we always need more Grace! As Scripture says, from Faith to Faith. If Grace first requires Faith then so also we move from Grace to Grace! 

So Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit that permeates everything from start to finish, from the day of salvation to the day we go to Heaven! 

Yet in every letter, Paul starts with a greeting and a request of God for his readers that “Grace be with you.” And so as Paul prays always for more Grace, we understand our lesser condition without it! 

Through Paul, we learn that upon our conversion, a measure of Grace has been given.  “By Grace you have been saved.” But, we also understand that there is a future Grace for our successes on earth that is an ongoing necessary flow. Paul wouldn’t be praying for more Grace for his readers if there was no need for ever increasing Grace to remain successful in our earthly ministry. 

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:1-2

How mighty is the Grace of God! How mighty is the Holy Spirit who brings it! How mighty is His LOVE that provides it! 

And so our identity in Christ is complete, set in stone, a thing finished! But as for our life-walk after conversion, our works for Christ, we depend upon the Holy Spirit! 

One last thought to bring this discussion full circle. 

All that the Holy Spirit has for our equipping already has been made available to us through Christ Jesus. All we need do to gain our equipping is to be in relationship, to abide in the Vine, to reach out by FAITH and receive the Grace that Christ died for! 

Healing the sick. Casting out devils. Cleansing the lepers. Raising the dead. Prophesying Gods heart. Providing for the Church. Loving on the lost. Feeding the hungry. Our equipping is but an arms reach away. If we simply would believe and not doubt. When we believe, God sees our heart. He then sends the Grace we need to make what we believe so. 

Do not misunderstand this ongoing need! God bids us to seek His Face. It’s in those times that He provides all we need. Face to Face! Intimacy! MANIFESTING LOVE! That is what starts it, what provides it, and how He finishes it. 

Know who you are. Know what you need. Love your Lover! And then go out and love the lost! Tell them of Him! As you were saved, so save the world!