The Realm of the Holy Spirit

What is the realm of the Holy Spirit? Or where is it? You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9 Well obviously, the realm of the Spirit is spirit, not in the flesh.

That is not to say He does not affect the flesh or permeate it or even emanate or radiate from some believers, He comes from the inside, out. He heals the flesh in many instances, delivers from the power of the adversary. In Acts 16:7, when disciples tried to go to Bithynia, the Holy Spirit stopped them. One translation, which is accurate, says the Spirit of Jesus stopped them.

He is more than a conscience or the proverbial gut instinct or even woman’s intuition though. Even unbelievers have a certain amount of that understanding, and certainly the Holy Spirit is probably close to a lot of people urging them to come to Christ. He convicts of sin, but is not condemning. Though He is power, He is also love and the sound mind Timothy talks about.

It was the Holy Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, because Jesus had to overcome him in order be strong for His ministry. He was on a major fast, thankfully, I have not done that forty day one except as a partial. Most of us would want a roll and be ready to eat that rock, but would we knowing the devil was behind it? Thankfully too, he isn’t behind every rock. A lot of what we give him credit for is our own disobedience or that of others.

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”… Romans 8:13-15

Jesus calls Him the Spirit of  Truth and says He will guide us and teach us and show us things to come. I believe where we should and shouldn’t go, He may lead you to a school or ministry or even a blog, a certain verse, He will give you gifts to discern spirits. The gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12, though I believe there are others that are specific to each person, though they may be like someone else’s, music or art, even prophetic, they vary by individual, to make every one of us a masterpiece of His making, each with the unique signature of God. For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 Your gifts are forever yours.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.…Ephesians 4:4-6, so while are are to do the works He called us to do, being saved by grace, we can all work together and be in one accord in the Spirit, if we will yield to Him and not hinder or grieve Him.

His realm is everywhere and everyone, He can be in heaven and on earth. He even went to hell to bring Jesus back and raise Him. He  can surely lead us if we will follow. His realm encompasses everything and everyone if they would allow Him, but the world does not know Him like believers do, or at least should know Him.

Wherever you are, He is there, the psalmist says this in 139: 7-11 , Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? 8If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, ( or hell ) You are there. Even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast, If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me. Even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You. ”

I’d say that about covers the realm of the Spirit. So let’s start paying more attention and expecting good things from our Advocate, and we will never be led astray following Him for He knows all that goes on, He dispels spiritual darkness with glory, demons flee, angels and God’s love and peace show up, I want to be in that realm of the Spirit. Rebecca Jones / Jody Hong, Unsplash thanks.