What It means t be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 17

"Out of His Belly Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water" (continued)

"Upon that Great Day of the Feast ... (continued)

Now we want to examine this closely because John 7:37 tells us that the Glorification of Christ, through His Cross, His Resurrection, His Ascension, is the ground upon which we who believe receive the Spirit. The Glorification of Christ is the ground on which we, the Church His Body, receive the power, the enabling "Power from on High," to become the Fullness of Christ.

In the gospel of John, the Word of God declares:

The Father Glorifies Christ (John 8:54): and
Christ Glorifies the Father (John 17:4): and
The Holy Spirit Glorifies Christ:

"for He [the Holy Spirit] shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine [of ALL that Christ is], and shall disclose it to you [to all who believe]" (John 16:14)

In John 8:54, we are told that it is the Father Who glorifies Christ: "Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father Who glorifies Me".  It is My Father Who Extols, Who Exalts, Who Honors, Who Magnifies ALL that I AM. Hence, in John 12:23, we find Jesus saying, "The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified." And it is clear from the context of these Scriptures, that this "Hour," that this Eternal Hour in God's Purpose, includes the Cross, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, for Jesus said: "I lay down My Life, that I might take it again ... I have power (authority) to lay it down, and I have power (authority) to take it again ..." (John 10:17, 18). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:24).

Beloved, even the betrayal of Judas speaks of the sacrifice, and the power, and the authority of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. For after "satan entered into him (into Judas)," the Lord commanded Judas, which means that He commanded satan, "That thou doest, do quickly" (John 13:27-31). It was the Lord Jesus Who had power to lay down His life, and power to take it again. Therefore, when Judas "was gone out" to betray Him, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man Glorified, and God is Glorified in Him."

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 18)