Our Confirmation

I apologize for my absence. I had some meeting in Richmond during the first part of this week. After my trip last week, and being gone during the first few days of this one, I'm looking forward to the routine of life. It's good to be back!

While I was in Richmond, I heard the testimony of a friend who is a worship leader. He talked about his life and growing up in the church. However, it was at the age of nineteen that something occurred in his life that made a huge impact. It was this event that led him into the ministry, and opened up a whole new experience in the Christian life. The difference maker? The Holy Spirit.

Roger was 19 years old and spending the summer in Yellowstone Park. There was a lady there ministering to the young people. She spoke about the Holy Spirit being real in our lives and His ministry in us. Roger grown up in church but had never heard anyone refer to the Holy Spirit in this way. He said, "I prayed that night that God would fill me with His Holy Spirit, and He did. I woke up the next morning in awe of God and His creation. As I looked around at my surroundings (the clean air, and purity of His creation) I realized that I was just as clean and pure on the inside."

1 John 3:24, "...And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." John made it very clear to the church that it was the Spirit of God that testified to who they were. Following His commands was important, loving our brothers/sisters in Christ a validation, but it was the testimony of the Spirit that sealed the deal. We could debate our religious service, and we could adhere to rules and principles, but the difference maker - the confirmation of our salvation - is the Holy Spirit of God.

I have wondered how we could miss this great truth. How could anyone, growing up in church, never hear about the Holy Spirit's reality in us? How could we not be told that He leads us, ministers to and through us, and longs to be the vital link between us and the Father? It is the Spirit that seals us, empowers us, and directs us in this life. It seems to me that we have built much of the Christian life upon OUR ability to follow, OUR ability to understand the Word, and OUR ability to live this things out. God had other plans. He had already went that route in the Old Covenant. It didn't work because the people couldn't do it. Sin was too powerful in their lives. That is why Jesus died - to break the yoke of sin and give us the opportunity to be free and filled with His Spirit. In this way, we can live out what God has planned for us. When Jesus told His disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit after His departure, He said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." {John 16:33} Just the knowledge of the Holy Spirit's coming was to bring peace to the disciples during the tribulation they would soon experience. Now that He has come, we have peace in believing. The Holy Spirit continually testifies that we are His. He is our confirmation.

Our confirmation was never meant to be a sacred ceremony in the church. It was never meant to be a "sacrament" to be held through religion. And regardless of how well we do through some classes, etc.; our confirmation comes through the Holy Spirit - not a church event. Our salvation is all about God from start to finish. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Holy Spirit is God's stamp of approval for our faith. When we confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, He comes and dwells inside every believer. Once we have His presence within us, then God can bring us to a greater experience than salvation; walking in the power of His kingdom. When you and I are completely immersed in that river of life that He has place within us, and living continually filled by His Spirit, we are awakened to a greater reality of our faith. We have gifts available, power for life, and the confirmation of our salvation. This is why I talk about the Holy Spirit. He is the presence of God within us, working through us, and working for us for the pleasure of God.

I invite you to know Him more intimately. Ask God to fill you with His presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about the reality of His work. Ask Jesus to reveal to you all that is available through the ministry of His Spirit. And be ready to experience a greater reality of God in your life. Allow His to confirm your faith in God and live as one who abides in Him.