He Did It All For You (3 page)

No man knows the things of God because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:10). These deep things of God can enter into the heart of man only by the Spirit of God.

His Word must be revealed to you by His Spirit before you can walk in it because your spirit alone cannot comprehend or see into these deep things. But Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would teach you all things (John 14:26). He told the disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (John 16:12-13).

Remember, Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit was
with
them now, but later would be
in
them? He told them He had many things to say to them that they could not bear, or grasp, now, but when the Spirit of truth came, He would open all things to their understanding. Without the Holy Spirit living in their spirits to reveal the truth to the disciples, even Jesus could teach them no more.

They were limited in their ability to understand spiritual things.

He was telling them now that when the Holy Spirit came there would be no limit to spiritual knowledge. He said the Holy Spirit would show them all things that the Father has—even things to come.

Now can you see the limitless knowledge and understanding available to Spirit-filled believers? The Holy Spirit has been given to teach you how to be a success in this life. In the light of these truths from the Word of God, it is unthinkable for anyone to refuse God’s offer of His Spirit.

I Will Send Him Unto You

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7). Jesus has personally sent the Holy Spirit to you. He arrived in the fullness of His ministry on the Day of Pentecost and is still here.

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Jesus told His disciples to wait until they were furnished with power. When you made Jesus Lord, you became His disciple, and you should not do another thing until you are endued with the same power that was in and upon Him.

Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16).

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter told the people, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear…. For 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” (Acts 2:32-33, 39).

This promise of receiving the Holy Spirit is to all. It is to you and your children. God has already given the Holy Spirit to the Body of Christ. You, as a member of the Body, must individually receive what He has already given. He has been sent to endue you with power. You don’t have to be a weak Christian. Provision of power has been made for you.

If there has ever been a day when believers need the power of God manifest in their lives, it is today. Don’t try to get by on your own strength any longer. Set your faith to receive this enduement of power without delay.

You can have hands laid on you by a believer or by someone in the ministry, or you can receive in your own place of prayer alone with God.

Study the following scriptures about receiving the Holy Spirit so that you will believe and act in line with God’s Word.

Be Filled With the Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 simply says, “…be filled with the Spirit.” Since you know that the Bible is God speaking to you and the Word of God is the will of God, then it is God’s will for you to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit!

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 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? (Luke 11:9-13).

First, we see that you, as a son, are to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit. Even though He has already been given to the Church, you are inviting Him to come upon you and endue you with power. Ask for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

We are told that if we ask, we will receive. The Word assures you that you will receive the good gift—the Holy Spirit—and not a counterfeit. Therefore, ask expectantly and without fear, knowing that your Father gives only good gifts to His children. Jesus said ask and you would receive the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look at more instances where believers received the Holy Spirit:

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God…(Acts 10:44-46).

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:6).

In each account of believers receiving the Holy Spirit, they began to speak with other tongues. Nowhere in the New Testament does it say the Holy Spirit does the speaking. The believer speaks as the Holy Spirit gives him utterance.

You supply the sounds as the Holy Spirit supplies the words. These words will be unknown to you. The Scripture teaches that in the spirit we speak mysteries to God. “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries…. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church” (1 Corinthians 14:2, 4). You are not speaking to man but to God.

One translation says we speak divine secrets. You can pray beyond your natural knowledge when you pray in other tongues.

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will (Romans 8:26-27,
The Amplified Bible).

The Holy Spirit comes to our aid to help us in prayer when we don’t know how to pray as we ought to and gives us utterance in other tongues, praying the perfect will of God. We need this help. So much of the time we know so little. We may only see a symptom of a much deeper problem, but the Holy Spirit goes right to the root and prays the perfect will of God for us in each situation.

Look at Jude 20,
The Amplified Bible:
“But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit.” Praying in tongues edifies you. It builds you up or charges you as you would charge a battery.

I am so grateful to be able to pray in the spirit by the Holy Spirit. This will be a great blessing to you, too. After you receive your prayer language, pray in the spirit every day. This helps your spirit to be strong and to keep rule over your life.

First Corinthians 14:14 says, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”
The Amplified Bible
says, “…my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays.” The Holy Spirit gives your spirit the prayer or praise. Your voice is giving sound to this spiritual language.

The Amplified Bible
says that Cornelius and his household spoke in unknown languages, extolling and magnifying God.
Extol
means “to praise enthusiastically.”

When you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, your spirit will immediately have a desire to express itself in praise to God. How could you help but pour forth praise after having the Holy Spirit, who proceeds directly from the Father God, come upon you in power? Your well begins to overflow and rivers are the result! (John 4:14, 7:37-39).

There may be no unusual feeling physically. Spiritual blessings are received by faith—not by sight or feeling. Your lips may flutter and your tongue feel thick, or you may hear supernatural words forming down inside your being. Or none of the above may be evident.

The lips and tongue are the organs we use to form words. Your physical instruments of speech—lips, tongue, vocal cords—must cooperate with your spirit to give sound to prayer or praise that the Holy Spirit has given. Immediately upon receiving, spiritual language is ready for you to speak.

Remember, you have nothing to fear. God has already said you would receive the real thing. Isaiah 57:19 tells us that God created the fruit of the lips. Do not be concerned with what it sounds like to you. God will perfect your praise. Matthew 21:16 says, “…Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.”

Mark 16:17 says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall speak with new tongues.” Jesus said that the believer would speak with new tongues. You are a believer.

When you pray in tongues, you are praying in the spirit. Just as your native language, such as English, is the voice of your mind, praying in tongues is the voice of your spirit. Therefore, after you ask, speak no more in your native language. You cannot speak two languages at once.

Expect the Holy Spirit to come on you just as He came on the believers on the Day of Pentecost, then at Samaria, Cornelius’ home and at Ephesus. You will begin to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gives
you
the words.

Ask and Receive!

Lord Jesus, I come to You in faith to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. I ask You to fill me to overflowing with the Holy Spirit—the same enduement of power that happened on the Day of Pentecost. Cause rivers of living water to flow out of me as I give utterance to my spiritual language. I receive now in Your Name. (Now begin to speak in tongues in praise and adoration as the Spirit gives you words.)

Rely on Your Comforter

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter (John 14:16). The word used for
comforter
means “counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener, standby.” Learn to rely on the Holy Spirit in all these areas of His ministry. He is the Great Enabler!

Jesus said the Holy Spirit is given to teach you, not just some things, but
all
the truth.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Meditate on this verse and confess it with your lips until your spirit sings with its reality.

There is One on the inside to guide you who knows everything from beginning to end.

Rely on His guidance and direction in every decision. Expect His power to aid you in everyday life as well as in crisis. He is more powerful than the enemy. Satan is no match for Him.

This Great One has been instructed to lead you into all the truth. He will lead, so be quick to follow. He will not only tell you what to do, but will also help you to do it. He will empower you.

The Spirit who created the universe now dwells in you. Allow your mind to grasp what your spirit is telling you. Remember, this Great One lives in you!

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). Something wonderful has happened to you today. Power! Power! Power! You have been endued with God’s power and ability! “And ye shall be witnesses unto me….” Dare to believe for this truth and power to be displayed in your life and you will be a witness to men that JESUS IS ALIVE!

As you read the next chapter, allow the Holy Spirit, the Great Teacher who now lives in you, to teach you the truth of who you are in Christ Jesus. He will reveal what the Word has to say about your inheritance in the kingdom. You have been delivered out of the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). This Great One, the God of the universe, has given you His righteousness and made you a king and a priest—a joint heir with Jesus!

by Kenneth Copeland

Now Are We in Christ Jesus

I…cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:15-18, 2:10-13).

When you made Jesus the Lord of your life, something happened to you. You were re-created in Him. You were given an inheritance. Now, you are in Christ Jesus. You are born of God.

In the physical realm, you weren’t created, you were born of your mother. But in the spiritual realm, when you were “born of God,” you were re-created by Him. A change took place. You were
re
born. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that you became a new creature—a new creation. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” One translation says that any man who is in Christ Jesus is “a new species of being that never existed before.”

When you accepted Jesus as your Lord, an actual creation took place. The old man—your unregenerated spirit man—was replaced by a new man, created in Christ Jesus. Old things passed away and all things became new. The new birth that took place in you was done by the creative power of God. It took place inside you—in your spirit.

The “creation” that occurs at the new birth is the same type of “creation” that took place in Genesis 1. The word translated
created
in Genesis 1:1 gives the impression that before God brought heaven and earth into existence, there was nothing like it anywhere else. The same is true with the “new creation in Christ Jesus.” You are a “new species of being that never existed before.”

Being in Christ

You are a unique individual. There has never been, and never will be, another person just like you. When you received Jesus as Lord, God brought you into existence by His creative power. You were born of the Spirit of God. A seed was sown in your heart—the incorruptible seed of God’s Word—and you were placed
in Christ Jesus
.

You need to know and understand the reality of being in Christ. It is an outstanding revelation from God’s Word that will affect your thinking, your believing, your actions and your speech.

Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” When?
Now
. When are you in Christ Jesus? The moment you make Jesus your Lord.

Who is in Christ Jesus? Ephesians 1:10 says, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” So it’s not just those who have died and gone to heaven who are in Christ Jesus, but also believers who are here on earth.

Notice, this scripture says, “…all things
in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even
in him.
” Verse 13 says,
“In whom
ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:
in whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”

The most effective way I have found to develop the reality of being in Christ is to begin with the book of Romans and search through all the letters of the New Testament for the phrase, “in Christ.” For example, as we have read in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be
in Christ,
he is a new creature.” Scriptures that refer to being “in Christ,” “in Him” or “in whom” occur 134 times in the Bible. Find those scriptures and read them carefully. Study them and run cross-references on them. You can be sure that whatever the Word says about being “in Christ,” belongs to you because you are in Christ Jesus.

Being in Christ means that you are “the saved.” Why? Because you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and have believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Being in Christ means that you are “the healed.” Why? Because Jesus went to the cross, bore the curse of the Law, and broke the power of sickness and disease. He was made sick with your sickness; but He didn’t stay sick. Today, He is healed; and because you are in Him, you are healed, too!

Being in Christ means you are “the delivered.” Why? Because Colossians 1:13 says God has delivered you from the power of darkness and has translated you into the kingdom of His dear Son. Jesus said He was sent to preach deliverance to the captives (Luke 4:18).

All the power it takes to save any human being, to heal any human being, to deliver any human being, came into this earth on the Day of Pentecost. When Jesus walked into a place, the power was there to heal the people. Why? Because the power was in Him. He said, “The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10). Now, that power is in you because you are in Him. Because you are in Christ Jesus, you can live like Him, talk like Him and act like Him. The Word of God will change you—spirit, soul and body.

The Bible says that God sent Jesus that He might become the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29). God planted the seed of His Son, Jesus, in order to get a harvest, and He reaps that harvest as new souls are added to the kingdom of God. The hundredfold principle is now in operation.

You are called a joint heir with Christ Jesus. The Word says that when you made Jesus your Lord, you became one spirit with Him. God sees you in Jesus. He not only came inside you, but you went inside Him. We have preached that Jesus comes inside a person, but we have thought very little about the fact that we have entered into Him. You are the Body of Christ. Jesus said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). You are abiding in Him.

Ephesians 1:4 says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

You are holy and without blame before Him in love. Jesus provided for God to be your own heavenly Father. You are no longer without hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12). You have been accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). The letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians was also written to you because you are in Christ Jesus. It’s a letter from God to you saying, “I have accepted you in My Son. You are in the Beloved. You are Mine.”

Have you ever heard the phrase: “But I’m so unworthy”? That was true before you got saved. You were not worthy to receive what Jesus did for you. But He did it anyway! Because He died for you, you can live in Him. He
made
you worthy. You have been created in Christ Jesus and there is nothing unworthy in Him. You are not worthy because of anything
you
did, but because of Jesus and what He did for you.

Some people say, “Brother, I know we’re in Christ Jesus, but I just can’t stand up and say that I’m healed. I don’t deserve to be healed.” None of us deserve it in ourselves, but God knew that. If you have sin in your life, get it out. If you can’t receive healing from God because of the way you have been living, quit living that way! Repent and get rid of it! The Word says that God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins when we confess them (1 John 1:9). When you confess the sin, He will forgive you. Don’t rebel against God. Don’t run
from
God when you sin, run
to
Him! If you have to rebel, then rebel against the devil, not God. The Bible says, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not” (1 Corinthians 15:34).

As a born-again believer, sin has no dominion over you. It can’t dominate you. It has to leave you. Satan is a defeated foe—he is not your god. James 4:7 says if you resist him, he will flee from you.

You need to see yourself “in Christ” and know the reality of it. If you ask some people today, “Are you a son of God?” they’ll say, “Who, me? Certainly not!” When you ask, “Are you saved?” they’ll say, “Oh yes, thank God, I’m just an old sinner, saved by grace.” No, you are not! You
were
a sinner; you got saved by grace! You can’t be both at the same time. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. You have been born into the kingdom of His love. As far as God is concerned, you are holy, blameless and beyond reproach. So quit thinking, speaking and acting like the world. Let go of all those religious “sin tags.” Begin confessing that you are the righteousness of God in Christ.

Your Inheritance

What does it mean to obtain an inheritance? Acts 20:32 says, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” The Word will build you up and give you your inheritance.

Ephesians 1:11 says, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” This doesn’t say you are going to obtain your inheritance. It says you have already obtained it. This verse of scripture is past tense. You
have obtained
an inheritance. You
have been accepted
in the beloved. Part of your inheritance includes your family position with God in heaven after you lay down your body, but you have entered into your inheritance in Him right now here on this earth. You have the right to operate in that inheritance today.

Colossians 1:12 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” The word
meet
is an Old English word that means “able.” God has made you able to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Verses 13-14 say, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood.” You are “the redeemed.” Jesus has made you able to be a partaker of that inheritance. It’s yours! You are able to receive it and walk in it because God has said you are able. A literal translation of verse 12 is: “Who has made us able to enjoy our share of the inheritance.” You are to give thanks to the Father, who has made you able to enjoy your share of the inheritance. So thank God for it! Praise and thanksgiving to the Father play a big part in receiving your inheritance.

What did you inherit in Him? Did you just inherit heaven as your home? No. Hebrews 1:4 says, “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” You have inherited Jesus’ Name as well as His authority. You have inherited the kingdom of God. Colossians 2:9-10 says, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” There is embodied in you all that is in the Godhead—Jesus, the Spirit of God, the heavenly Father, the mind of Christ, the faith of God, the love of God. You have in you the very life of God, because you are in Christ Jesus.

Everything Jesus received when He was raised from the dead and everything that has happened to Him since then is yours—not just part of it, all of it!

When Jesus was raised from the dead, He received a glorified body. You will get one, too.

Where did Jesus go when He was raised? To the right hand of the Father. That’s where you are now! Ephesians 2:6 says, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Jesus was raised from the dead by the mighty power of God and was seated at God’s own right hand in the heavenly places. That same mighty power of God worked in you when you made Jesus the Lord of your life, raising you up and seating you in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

He is in you and you are in Him.
His inheritance and your inheritance are one and the same.
You are a joint heir with Him.

The Apostle Paul prayed that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened to know the glory of our inheritance in the saints and the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19).

The exceeding greatness of His power.
What does His power mean to the believer? Let’s read on in Ephesians 1:20-23:

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The Body of Christ is “the fullness of Him.” He is not full and complete without you and you are not full and complete without Him.

Colossians 1:21-23 says, “And you…hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard.” Don’t be moved away from the gospel. Don’t be moved away from the things the Word is telling you. Don’t think:
That couldn’t be for me.
Don’t allow the devil or anyone else to move you away from the inheritance that rightfully belongs to you in Christ Jesus. When the Word says you are holy, unblamable and unreprovable in the sight of God, then receive it.

We see from God’s Word that
in Him
you are holy and without blame before God. Philippians 2:15 says, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” We shine as lights. Where?
In the world
.