Where God is, where Jesus is, and where the Holy Spirit is ...
03-01-2008

Column 928, February 29, 2008

“Provoking Christian Insights” series



Part 28

Where God is, where Jesus is, and where the Holy Spirit is …

“… that they might seek mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven,” (Daniel 2:18,19) NKJV.



Where God is …

I have to do devotions for Upward Basketball tomorrow and, like Daniel, I feel impressed by a dream “preach” to the kids about where God really is, where Jesus is, and where the Holy Spirit is. The reason for this passion is the fact that there is so much bad communication out there it would be easy to believe a “Jesus story” that just isn’t true!



Out side of the Bible there are virtually no religions books that tell the true story of Jesus. There are at least a half-dozen religions, most who come knocking at your door, who accept Jesus on face value but print books that deny that He is the Christ. If Jesus isn’t the Christ and can’t save us from our sins, then what good is their religion other than works?



Daniel, a boy of 16 was taken to Babylon in present day Iraq. King Nebuchadnezzar liked Daniel. Daniel had a dream about a God made of gold, silver, bronze, iron and feet of clay no one could interpret. He was going to kill all the wise men and the young Jewish boys in his court. Daniel prayed to God in heaven to interpret the dream. God gave Daniel the interpretation of the dream and Daniel immediately praised God and wrote “Daniel’s song” of praise.



God is in heaven.



Where Jesus is …

There is no secret to whom the person of Jesus is in the Bible. If you have ever seen a ball game on television you have certainly seen someone holding up a sigh that reads “John 3:16.” It refers to a verse that says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16). However, this doesn’t tell us where Jesus is today.



The Bible tells us that Jesus “ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of his Father, interceding for us, because God can’t look upon sin.” Jesus further said, “I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, you may be also,” (John 14;1-4) This place He is preparing is in heaven. Jesus added, “I will send you a ‘comforter,’ who is the Holy Spirit.” Then His disciple Paul wrote long after Jesus ascended in to heaven; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13). Obviously Christ strengthens us through His Holy Spirit.



Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of God.



Where the Holy Spirit is …

The Apostle Peter told Jesus’ followers how their Lord would help them. Doctor Luke wrote down every word to the first converts in Acts 2:38 that holds just as true today as it did then; “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, your children and all who are far away, everyone our God calls to Him.” He added; “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”(Acts 2:38,39,40).



Anyone who tells you that you don’t have to be baptized is mistaken. You will note that Peter is telling Jesus’ followers that God “calls us to Him.” It is important for us to want and pray for God’s calling.



Back in the 1980’s Graham Kendrick wrote a song “Shine Jesus Shine,” which was the theme for “The March for Jesus” which were held in cities all around the world including Bucyrus, Columbus, Galion and Marion. Soon after Bob Fitts sang “He will come and save you” a wonderful lyric about God’s redemption plan through Jesus and His Holy Spirit. This movement of God set off a whole set of “New Songs” throughout the Christian community. Soon Contemporary Christian music was born. Some people didn’t understand it, but like Daniel praising His God in heaven, we began following suit praising our Lord Jesus and Our God in heaven. I’m sure that it was and is “an aroma pleasing to Him.”



Some people believe they can be saved from their sins just by “being good.” Some cults believe that you have to work your way to heaven … not so. Jesus made it clear, “No one comes to the Father except through me!” (John 14:6). Not by, not around, not because of, but through Jesus. “Jesus is the only mediator between God and man,” the Bible says it is so. I can picture Jesus sitting next to God in heaven and saying to His Father, “Billy wants to repent of his sins. His heart is right. I would like to call him into the kingdom,” and God approving of Jesus’ request. Billy’s heart has been pricked and he is on the fast track to having his name written in the book of life.



In John 14:15 Jesus outlines what we have to do and where the Holy Spirit resides. “If you love me you will keep my commandments and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows Him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” NRSV.



The Holy Spirit is in the believers.



Let us pray a contemporary version of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray: “Our Father, who is in heaven. Holy is Your Name. Your kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread (food for body and spirit), and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but keep us from evil. In Jesus’ name we pray, for yours is the power and the glory forever. Amen.”



INSPIRATION: This is what was spoken to the profit Joel: “In the last days itwill be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh … then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Acts 2: 16, 17, 21).

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Write: croneis@embarqmail.com