Christ Lives in MeSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: God is love. He wants to transform us into His own image and follow the steps of our Lord Jesus in every walk of our lives. We have to admit that this is humanly impossible. But with God's Spirit, all things are possible. "God is love." (1 John 4:8,16)
The Lord is mighty to pour His divine love into your heart. A sinner washed in the blood shed on the cross by the Lord Jesus receives a clean and righteous life. So also, when the Spirit of the Lord is poured as a flood of love into you, your human nature becomes transformed as that of Jesus. This is what St.Paul implied when he declared, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).
Dear friend, you too can attain this exalted experience. Do not confuse yourself with unwanted teachings about the Holy Spirit. Do not deprive yourself of the divine love flowing into you and do not live indifferently of the power in His love. The life of our Lord Jesus alone is example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21). As soon as He was baptized by John in the waters of river Jordan and reached the shore, He received the fullness of the Holy Spirit (John 3:34). If He, the express image of the invisible God, received the Spirit of God in that manner, is not it very necessary that you and I should receive it?
Jesus received such an experience; So God the Father was with Him. "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38).
Make way for His divine love to flood into your life; discard at once your doubts and disagreements. Fall at the Lord's feet and plead Him to fill your heart with His love. The Bible says, "The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). So, the Lord will surely hear your persistent prayer. His promises are unchanging. Surely your life will be transformed as that of Jesus.
Even Mary, the mother of Jesus was there in the upper room with the disciples of Jesus, as they tarried with one accord in prayer and supplication for this exalted experience (Acts 1:13,14). The Lord filled them with His divine love. He has said, "I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts" (Revelation 21:6). He will surely give it to you as well (Isaiah 44:3; 55:1; John 7:37-39).
As soon as my husband received the fullness of the Holy Spirit, I was seized with a desire that I should also have that exalted experience; and I clung to the Lord persistently day and night. Today, there are many who think that they can receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit as if by magic; and very few indeed are those, who, with a genuine thirst for it, wrestle in prayer with the Lord. Yet, in these last days, the Lord is liberally granting His Spirit to everyone who asks (Matthew 7:7). So, if you have not yet received it, go down on your knees at once. Do not leave the Lord until He grants you His Spirit. Day and night, wherever you go, let that be your prayer. Without that experience you cannot achieve in your own strength the success you desire in life, but the divine strength received through the fullness of the Holy Spirit will surely bring you resounding victory.
Today, many people commit themselves to Christ, receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit and engage in the Lord's ministry. In my mother's home, we had neither the knowledge nor the desire of any of these. But He chose me, the unworthy, to realise the worth and the glory of the Lord's Holy Spirit. As a result, today, the lives of so many women have blossomed in the Lord. My dear friend, you must climb this first step by all means. The Lord Himself will grant you that grace.
Once a young lady came to our house. She had failed in her examinations and was very much depressed. Just then, she got hold of an issue of 'Jesus Calls' magazine and she read it. It contained a prayer for those who desire the fullness of the Holy Spirit. She read it with great interest. There was so great frustration in her mind that she could never have attained such a glorious experience. But the Holy Spirit prompted her to read that prayer again and again and implore before God. There was no one in the house. What a joyous experience it is for a young maid to wait in solitude and stillness at the feet of the Lord! The Lord heard her prayer, appeared to her at once and filled her with His Holy Spirit. Praise be to His holy name! What a great joy it was when she shared her experience with us!
My dear friend, are you undergoing a bitter experience? Seek the feet of the Lord Jesus. You would not get the peace and joy that they give anywhere else in the world.
"Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth." (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
"Now is the accepted time." (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Lock yourself in your room in solitude and talk to the Lord in fear and trembling. Then He will do all your tasks. Do not doubt! When I was a young girl, I had this blessed experience. Several years have passed since then. Yet, I can confidently say that whenever I am alone, the presence of Jesus enraptures me. The Lord is waiting to bless you as well. Discarding all care and frustration, ignoring undesirable, profane friends, come into the presence of your beloved Father and Friend, Lord Jesus.
We may have so many losses in life, but the Lord will turn them all into double measure of blessings. This will happen when our lives become transformed as He desires. Search yourselves, dear friend! Ask yourself if you have received the divine love in your heart? If your answer is no, then yearn for it and the Lord will immediately grant His Holy Spirit to you.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I praise You for Your incomparable, divine love that had kept me alive thus far. Be with me always. Never leave me, nor forsake me. I accept Your only Son Lord Jesus, as my example, and I will imitate Him in my life. You alone are my Father and my everlasting good Friend. I yearn for Your Holy Spirit to fill me now. In Jesus' mighty name, I plead.
Amen. |