Do you realize there are things in those boxes that many are scared to have, believe it or not? And, they even warn people about reaching for them. In the not too distant past, I reached up and took something off one of those shelves that’s been available so many years that I didn’t even know I didn’t really have: The Holy Spirit. Yes, His death allowed for the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It also opened up the availability of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Jn. 14:26
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But, if I go, I will send him to you. Jn. 16:7
While this isn’t directly saying that His crucifixion brought about the coming of the Holy Spirit, it is evident that as long as He walked on earth, the Holy Spirit would not be necessary nor sent. He was sent after His ascension. And, when He was sent, oh boy, what a transformation! After the crucifixion and resurrection, all 12 disciples were still a fearful bunch. But, after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they received power and boldness that astonished many. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, they had greater power to work miracles, signs and wonders, discern hearts, spoke in new tongues, and through all these, the gospel spread throughout the entire known world!
All this is available to us as well…..and it’s bought and paid for! We cannot receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit if we have not accepted His atoning sacrifice. Once we have received this baptism, it opens up a number of other boxes, gifts that Jesus has purchased that the Holy Spirit desires us to have….if we earnestly desire them.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empower by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Cor. 12:7-11
All those gifts, specially prepared for us by the Holy Spirit, which was given to us because of His sacrifice. And, all those gifts are left unused and unclaimed…..because we are afraid of them. And so, we don’t seek them. We are quite content to leave the gifts He has purchased with His blood, sitting on the shelves. We warn people to stay away from those aisles where the gifts are!! I would think that would break the Father’s heart! These gifts that cost Him so dearly….yet we are content to live without them….because of fear of the Holy Spirit.
But, they’re yours! They were all bought and paid for with His blood! Search for them, earnestly desire them! He wants you to have His Spirit and the gifts His Spirit brings.