Understanding the plan of God for the establishment of his kingdom is crucial. One question that comes to mind is why does the new covenant include the outpouring of His spirit upon all flesh? There must be a reason why God has decided to reside in man.
Man is a Host
In my little years, I have had the opportunity to witness hatred and extreme ruthless behaviour of man. When I inquired as to why, I discovered it is the spirit in man that decides his actions. If a man hosts the spirit of the prince of this world, his actions will be to steal, kill and destroy. Everything he does will be towards the pursuit of material things at the expense of love, peace and good moral standards. Someone possessed with witchcraft will always want control. Someone with a mermaid spirit will always lure men for sex. On the other hand, someone possessed with the Holy Spirit will show the fruits of the spirit – love, joy ….. (Galatians 5:22-23). Jeremiah puts it more clearly: I know, O LORD that a man’s way is not his own: no one walks to direct his steps ( Jeremiah 10:23). Check the spirit it is that which defines a man.
2 Corinthians 5:17
We often misjudge what it means to be in Christ. The popular scripture is from 2 Corinthians 5:17. The verse that precedes this verse is the important part: Paul wrote: Now we know no man after the flesh (in other words we do not look at man from the outward appearance anymore but by the spirit in him). verse 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things have passed away behold all things have become new. He is a new creature because he now possess the spirit of Christ – anyone without the Spirit of Christ is none of his (Romans 8:9). To be in Christ is more than just believe (demons also believe and tremble) or the sinners prayer. It is the replacement of the spirit inside man with the spirit of Christ. Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8 is an example of a man who believed but not in Christ.
The apostles were not indifferent about the replacement of the spirit in man as the basis for any man to be in christ. The story of cornelius is an example (Acts 10), the apostles descension to samaria (Acts 8:4-40), Paul’s meeting with a group of believers (Acts 19). All instances of belief were always succeeded with the receipt of the Holy spirit. It marks the transition of the believer from the kingdom of darkness being ruled by the prince of this world to the kingdom of Light to be ruled by the spirit of christ.
Perhaps it is this reason why we have hybrids among us – people who believe but are citizens of kingdom of darkness. The one who prophesies among you, does he do it by the spirit of Christ or by the prince of this world? Evidence is shown in the manner of life – doctrine of the children of light or doctrine of the children of darkness.
The plan of God in regards to the establishment of the kingdom of God will be that for man to perform His will, He himself will have to dwell in man. When you are thinking of anyone in Christ, perhaps let us think again.
