◄ What Does 2 Timothy 1:14 Mean? ►

Amazing things happen to the one who is saved by faith in the Person and work of Christ. The moment we are born of the Spirit, we are positioned in Christ and baptised into His Body. We are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, and declared righteous by God because we are identified with Christ's death and Resurrection.

We become heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, and have an inheritance that is kept for us in heaven. We are spiritually sealed by the Spirit of God, unto the day of Christ. There are many such functional ministries that occur the moment a man believes. More often than not, we are unaware of the changes that take place at the point of regeneration. Only as we move forward in our Christian life, do we learn of the glories that are ours in Him. One such non-experiential ministry is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the body of each believer.

Days before His crucifixion and during His post-Resurrection ministry, Christ promised His Holy Spirit would not only be with His disciples, as their Comforter, but would dwell inside them. The indwelling Spirit in New Testament believers, is a ministry unique to Church age believers and is permanent. Before the Cross, the Spirit came upon a few selected individuals for a specific reason and for a limited time.

David's prayer in Psalm 51: "Take not Your Holy Spirit from me," can never be uttered by Christians, for we have the permanently indwelling Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit began to take up permanent residence in the heart of believers on that special Day of Pentecost.

Pentecost was a unique, non-repeatable event, that marked the beginning of the post-Cross dispensation of the grace of God. The day of Pentecost was the day the Church was formed. From then on, the moment someone trusts in Christ for salvation, the Spirit of God takes up His permanent residency within the regenerated person. He indwells everyone who has been born-again. He lives inside all who are part of God's New Creation in Christ.

When writing to Timothy, Paul is speaking of this wonderful, indwelling ministry when he says, "Guard, through the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you." The mystery of the Spirit of God indwelling our mortal bodies staggers the understanding of mortal man. But at the point of salvation, He moves into His new residence. The human body of a born-again believer is that dwelling place. The Spirit of God comes to permanently dwell in the body of someone who believes that Jesus died for their sin, was buried, and rose again, according to the Scripture. Praise His holy name.

God first created us and fashioned us inside our mother's womb. He loved us while we were dead in trespasses, and convicted us of sin, righteousness, and judgement. He bought us with the precious blood of His dear Son and then chose to move into His new purchased possession. He resides there permanently, from the moment we first believed. He also places the priceless treasure of the gospel of God deep within our heart.

God is not in the real estate business of selling or renting out His purchased possession. He has chosen to use each of us as Ministers of Reconciliation in His perfect plan of redemption, and His indwelling Spirit provides the power we need to fulfil the mission and ministry He has for each of His children.

No wonder Paul charged Timothy, and all who are purchased by the blood of Christ to: "Guard, through the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you." Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are to protect, safeguard, preserve, and garrison the truth of the glorious gospel of God and share it with those with whom we come in contact, and so we will fulfil our ministry.

The Holy Spirit Who began a good work in each of us, is the same Spirit Who guides us into all truth and teaches us all things. He is the One Who guards and protects, and He is the One who chastens and corrects us. The same Spirit Who indwells us at the point of salvation and empowers us throughout our life, will enable us to guard the precious treasure that has been entrusted to us, as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Praise His holy name.

Heavenly Father, I stand amazed when I realise all that You have done for me. Thank You for my salvation and secure position in Christ. Thank You for the indwelling Spirit and the stunning work He is carrying out in my life. Thank You for entrusting me with the glorious gospel of grace and for the privilege of being used by You as a minister of reconciliation in Your ongoing plan of redemption. Take my life and use me as You will, for Your greater praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' precious name, AMEN.