WHO AM I (GOD) ???

                                         Part 2

Just to give you a quick summary of Part 1 concerning the “Who am I (God)?” blog, I focused on the Holy Spirit and will continue to do so, and why would I, you could rightly inquire?  Hopefully as I do so, you will come to appreciate just who the Holy Spirit is and His place in each of the lives of who surrender to Him and ask Him to!   

After Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit (as written in the Book of Acts) to baptize (placing people into His church) those who invite Him into to their lives i.e., those who have a desire and seek to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and where did this “desire” come from - the One whose desire is for all His beloved to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Tragically, too many in and out of the church were/are infested by the Satanic “spirit of ignorance” and consequently, people believed and continue to believe to this day,  that they were and are Christians – however, it is in name only because first of all, they never invited Jesus into their lives i.e. being “born again” (John 3:3) and in addition, are so very unaware of just Who the triune God is - Elohim (Genesis 1:1 & 26),  “in the beginning”.

Thus, the Trinity: “the executive is the Father, the architect is the Son, and the contractor is the Holy Spirit.” (Holy Spirit Gifts and Power – Paul Walker NKJV Bible). Jesus as He was preparing to ascend, told the disciples that the Holy Spirit’s task here on earth is to be “another” Helper, Comforter, Teacher, Wisdom and the One Who empowers those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ place.  The Holy Spirit is also our “Potter Who makes us and molds us”. It is crucial that we keep in mind that “to baptize those who invite Him” is a must in order to be spiritually empowered for the ministry which the Holy Spirit has ordained for His disciples – then and now! The scripture in Matthew 9:37-38 fits nicely here: “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” Thus, the question…. are you one of His laborers empowered by the Holy Spirit? 

It behooves us to consider just what is meant to be “empowered” by the Holy Spirit. Consider this as written in American Dictionary of English Language, Noah Webster 1828 – in our world a legal term - one who is “authorized and given power” to do what and by whom?  The Holy Spirit is the One who guides us with His power and wisdom to “go do”.  It is crucial at this point to add “a spirit - filled believer must operate under the ‘gift of discernment’, otherwise he could well be operating and being deceived by the devil who so wants us to ‘go do’”! The gifts/fruit of the Holy Spirit will be discussed in the next blog.

Keep in mind that a Christian who is not Spirit-filled can indeed be a laborer, but sadly, such labor is not very effective because it is of the flesh and not under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit!

Consider that Jesus as man, was baptized in water by John the Baptist as recorded in Matthew 3:16; and then baptized immediately afterward by the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:17 in order to begin His “empowered” (i.e. “authorized and given power”) ministry of “setting the captives free” – those who will, that is!

Jesus was 30 years old when this took place and the beginning of His ministry for 3-and one-half years before He gave His life on the cross for “those who would accept Him as their Lord and Savior.”

After His resurrection, He remained on earth for 40 days. Why? So, He could prepare His disciples for their ministry. At the point in time when Jesus was confident that the disciples understood just what their assignment was, he ascended into the spirit-world. In so doing, He released them to fulfill His greater assignment which was, for them, to “go do” to the ends of the earth as He had commanded them.  This assignment was not only for those disciples of the past, but those who have been ever since including present day disciples - “go do”!

This was known as the “Great Commission” which is found in Matthew 28:16-20:

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go there and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

To clarify…God sent Jesus to earth to be the Sacrificial Lamb who would bring salvation (being set free from) for “those who will”.  To repeat, He lived for 30 years preparing Himself for the 3½ years of ministry and training of the disciples.  Then He was crucified and rose from the dead to spend 40 days with the disciples, making sure they were spirit-filled (empowered) and understood the ministry for which they were commissioned.  Jesus shared with them as written in John 14:12,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Keep in mind that the “greater works” meant in quantity, not quality. Just who is the instigator of the multitude of people not understanding/ accepting being “born again and filled with the Holy Spirit” as written in the Book of Acts (actually the Acts of Jesus/Holy Spirit)?

The Adversary/Accuser/Deceiver/Destroyer (Satan) who fell because of his pride was created by the Triune God. Satan was part of the heavenly council and whom God had to punish by sending him and his demons to earth where their mission was to destroy man.  Satan’s mission was also to keep the world in the dark and thus ignorant concerning the Triune God. Satan has been very successful in deluding the Body of Christ into believing that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a necessity!  Tragically, the devil is very good at doing so – as I stated in the previous blog, consider just how many churches over time, have been “divided/destroyed” because of the battle in welcoming the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the One who empowers, comforts, teaches, convicts Christians of sin and empowers the flock in serving the Lord God Almighty and His desires to see mankind set free from the snares/bondages of the devil, especially for those whose churches who are under the power of man instead of the Holy Spirit (to be discussed in a later blog revealing just who Satan is)!  

The questions must be asked at this time, where are you in your relationship concerning the Holy Spirit, and where is your church in this battle?  Is your church ministerial staff under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, or under the leadership of man?

“How will I know?”, you rightly ask.

Consider this –

·       You will know once you have been born again, and baptized with the Holy Spirit – as were the 120 disciples gathered together in the Upper Room in one accord awaiting the Holy Spirit to come upon them so as to empower them for the beginning of God’s Church by “setting surrendered hearts ablaze”. (Acts 2:1-4)

·       To repeat, Jesus received the Holy Spirit when John the Baptist baptized Him in water in Matthew 3:13-17. Again, keep in mind that Jesus as man, was baptized in the Holy Spirit in order to begin His Church and to empower those who have surrendered to God’s TRUTHS.

·       Ask the Holy Spirit for His wisdom concerning your church….is it under the power of man or under the power of the Holy Spirit?

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) Please ask, for your spiritual life, your ministry and that of your church depends upon your answer…it truly does!

·       Are there spiritual gifts/fruit of the Spirit at work in your church? These will be discussed in Blog 3.

Years ago, I was driving past a church where I had served and looked over to it, remembering those days and said to the Lord – “Your church is in trouble!”  As soon as I got that out of my mouth…the Holy Spirit spoke within, declaring….”MY CHURCH IS NOT IN TROUBLE” meaning, there is God’s Church and there is man’s church!  My prayer has been and is “Lord God Almighty, may Your Church reign.”

Watch for Blog 3 of “WHO AM I?”



           BE GLORIFIED, OH LORD, BE GLORIFIED