When we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, the ultimate purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives is that Jesus would be revealed in us (Galatians 1:16). Just as Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), so too the work of God’s Spirit in our lives is that we might be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).
First the Spirit of God reveals Jesus to us, and then His Holy Spirit begins to reveal Jesus through us. The miracle of the new birth (John 3:3-7) is that God takes fallen men, who lived in rebellion against Him, and turns them into His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20)! Paul was once one of the most vicious enemies of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:13), but when he met Jesus on that Damascus road (Acts 9:1-6), he became a vessel of honor, fit for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2:21).
May each and every one of us have eyes to see the mighty hand of God providing us with opportunities today to reveal Jesus in us, both individually and as a church family.
As the Holy Spirit revealed His Son, Paul set out to preach the gospel to gentiles. Galatians 1 also mentions that instead of going to Jerusalem along with the apostles, Paul headed out to Arabia. His actions undoubtedly surprised (and disappointed) many.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit guides us in ways that makes no sense to ourselves or to others. Not politically correct, not easy, not popular, not logical to our fleshly brains. But ultimately His will be done, not ours. Thank God for that.
Blessings,
JoseM