A Note from Michael Gossett
“Consider the Indwelling”
Under the Lord’s guidance and inspiration, the Apostle Paul was masterful at making shocking reveals. One of those shocking reveals, especially to a Jewish person or someone familiar with the mysticism of Greek gods, was the idea, “The Spirit of God dwells in you.”(Romans 8:9) In their first-century minds, this was impossible. They couldn’t imagine that a god would ever take on the covering of lowly and humble human skin. This tent that we call our bodies is not a suitable dwelling place for a god. To be fair, that is true. Our bodies do not seem to be a suitable dwelling place for the Creator of all things, the most powerful, the most–high, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Yet, the biblical statement from Paul is true. He made this abundantly clear in Romans 8:9 so that there is no misunderstanding as to the nature of our lives which represents the magnificent shift from the Old Testament Covenant to the New Testament Covenant. Is this something you have ever deeply considered?
When Paul says, “in you,” he is using the language of intimacy. This can also be quite confusing. If the Lord is omnipresent, how can He dwell in you or in me? Wouldn’t the admission of His dwelling automatically limit His omnipresence? This is where the great Puritan Thomas Manton wrote: “He is in them as He is nowhere else.”This is well said and simply put. Just as God once dwelt within the holy of holies in a special, unique way, so now He dwells in those who have been transformed by Him and are being transformed day by day. It is intimate.
Paul also uses the language of steadiness. The Lord is steadily and intimately dwelling in you. The Holy Spirit comes upon you at the point of conversion. There is no waiting or wishbone miracle that must take place. Conversion is the miraculous work of the Spirit of God whereby full atonement in Christ can be given freely to those who trust in Him. It is at the point of conversion (the truly saved) that one experiences a new, transformed life because God’s Spirit indwells the individual. However, the Spirit does not come on you or in you for the hour of your self–produced righteousness or self–induced faith. Instead at the point of conversion, the Spirit of God indwells you in the most permanent way. This indwelling is now unbreakable.
Paul also kindly uses the language of communion. This indwelling Spirit brings about the union (conversion) and communion (fellowship) with God Himself. God’s own Spirit is what provides the pathway to fellowship with Himself. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” This Spirit is transforming you day by day so that you may continue to grow in the likeness of Jesus for your everlasting enjoyment and God’s everlasting glory. What a thought to consider!
KIDS’ PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATION is THIS Sunday, March 24th. We will get to experience a reenactment of the Triumphal Entry which will include a live donkey and biblical cast during all three connect group hours. All kids, preschool-5th, will get to enjoy the parade with their class, wave palm branches, and learn about the significance of the Triumphal Entry. Parents, we would love for you to read Luke 19:28-40 and Matthew 21:1-11 with your kids in preparation. Invite your friends!
– Be sure to pick up your copy of the GABC Holy Week Devotional in the foyer this Sunday. This is a great way to prepare our hearts as we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday!
Speaking of GOOD FRIDAY… I hope that you will join us on Friday, March 29, at 6PM as we worship together, participate in the Lord’s Supper, reflecting on the sacrifice that Jesus made, and anticipate the celebration of Easter.
On EASTER Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, we will have MANY opportunities to CELEBRATE together – starting with our annual Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00am at the Cathedral in the Pines Memorial Garden. For Easter Worship Services, we have 3 options at Tyler and Flint Campuses: 8am, 9:30am, and 11am. Then, GABC Español will worship together at 11am. There will be NO Connect Groups at any of our campuses.
Be praying about who you will invite to join you for Easter services. The Lord may be prompting someone to attend church for the first time, or the first time in a long time, but they don’t have the courage to attend on their own. A simple invitation from YOU might be exactly what they need to help them take that first step!
THIS SUNDAY is PALM SUNDAY!
This week, we continue our study in the book of Hebrews. We will look specifically at Hebrews 6:1-8 and learn about “A Greater Danger.” Here is the text so you can read the passage and begin to pray for God to speak to us through His word.
“Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, 2 teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And we will do this if God permits. 4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt. 7 For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned.” (Hebrews 6:1-8, CSB)
Begin reading, praying, and anticipating the Lord’s teaching about a greater danger that the writer is warning all of us about.
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett