I Think I Have The Spirit Of God

Why would Paul make such a statement in the middle of this book and at the end of such a difficult chapter? Was he implying doubt? No. I do worry when someone says "I think I'm saved." In the middle of talking about all the domestic problems of this chapter Paul says "I think I have the Spirit of God." Can we make this statement without the presumption of doubt? Do you find yourself saying "I'm saved. I don't need all that church. I don't need that fellowship. I think I'm all right with God." Are you? After looking at the problems of the church at Corinth every which angle he could, Paul concluded this chapter by saying "I think I have the Spirit of God." Can you do the same?

There is no greater friend than the Spirit of God. We have friends here at the church and in life but the very best friend is Jesus through the Spirit. It's hard to comprehend the Trinity, but believers experience it all at once–but separately as it moves over their being. "God" in Hebrew is plural. The Three in One and the One are Three. The Spirit has proved to be our friend. Remember the place He has in us; he helps us, molds us, and guides us in the best way possible. The Spirit helps us in every conceivable way. Paul wanted the church at Corinth, and us, to know and not assume that the Lord is directing our judgments.

The Spirit chose us as His dwelling place. It's more than God with us; it is God in us. It may be more comfortable for us to have God with us, but it's another thing to think of Him in our heart. He is the infinite, all powerful God who fills heaven and earth. It's beyond what our finite minds can comprehend to think that He can be in us. This is no less a miracle than God entering Mary's womb. That very presence of God can be in us as well. Romans 8:9 says but ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if
so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of his. It is of necessity that the Spirit of the Lord be in our heart. It's not just believing Jesus died; it's not a mental assent. It is nothing less than a miracle.

Nicodemus came to Jesus knowing He was a teacher come from God. If anyone could get to heaven on goodness, this man could. However he knew something was lacking. Jesus told him he had to be born again. Nicodemus didn't understand this. How could he be born again in his mother's womb. He was speaking in the natural. Jesus spoke in the spiritual. Our soul must be made alive or reborn. We become a new creation born by the Spirit of God. Who dealt with us to be saved–Jesus, yes, but the Spirit of God was the convicting power that made the regeneration take place. The Spirit of God came in as life in us. Paul said "I think I have the Spirit of God in me." Can we say it without doubt?

Don't tell the Lord He can be with you but not in you. That is being presumptuous and is an insult to God to say something like this. But, can we think that way? Can we think it so? We can think it through the Spirit. With all the battles that go on in life, our loyalty is pulled apart. But if we have the Spirit there will be evidence of it. Galations say the fruit, or the evidence of the Spirit, is love, joy, peace, gentleness….There is no way to bear this fruit if we don't have the Spirit in us. We can know He is in us. If we know He's there we can sure enough think He is.

We can never trust ourselves 100% until we have the Spirit of God in us. It's scary isn't it. If we don't have the Spirit we are not of Him. The Lord respects what we want. He can only be with us if we allow Him to be in us. If He is not in us, the devil will get into our mind and heart. We will have envy, strife and discord. The devil will destroy us. There is no way to keep the devil out unless the Spirit is in.

After this long and difficult chapter Paul says "I think I have the Spirit of God in me." They didn't have to second guess what he said. Can you without a doubt say "I think I have the Spirit in me?" Is the evidence there? Do you live in His fullness? We need to ask Him to change us; we need to welcome Him into our heart. As He shines a light in our pathway, let's walk in that path and follow the Lord; we can if we have the Spirit in our heart.

We can make Him leave. We may not know it at first, but we will soon. Samson taxed the patience of God; one morning he woke up and he didn't know the Spirit had left him. I want to know everyday that the Spirit is in me. Don't treat the Lord wrong. Ask Him to stay so that you can say at all times "I think I have the Spirit of God in me."