The Holy Spirit Series #2 Part 3 Kathryn Kuhlman Part 3 of 10

Remember something. God the Father is not Jesus Christ the Son. Neither is the Son the Holy Spirit. The three comprise the Godhead. But the Holy Spirit is a person. God the Father is a person. Jesus Christ the Son is a person. each with a very definite personality, a distinctive work to be done, and yet one does not work separate and apart from the other. They work in conjunction with each other, but not separate and apart one from the other. Yet there are three persons working as one in such perfect harmony and unison. The fact has been established in previous messages that the Holy Spirit has been in existence from all of eternity. And when the great plans were made, for the redemption of man. And these plans were made way back there, even before the foundations of the world. The Holy Spirit was there. For the Word says, in the ninth chapter of Hebrews, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God. Therefore, we see that when plans were being made, for the redemption of man that Jesus offered Himself through the Holy Spirit to God the Father. Going a little further, we see that the Holy Spirit was present at the creation of this planet. He was also present when God made man. For the Scripture says, God said, let us make man in our own image and after our likeness, referring to his Son and the Holy Spirit. He was there at the time of creation, for Job says, by his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens. The fact has been established in... previous messages, that God the Father could not have carried out His plans for redemption without the aid and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit. For, remember, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was baptized by the Holy Spirit. Jesus performed all of his mighty works by the power of the Holy Spirit. He was anointed to preach by the Holy Spirit. He was raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit, quickened by the Holy Ghost. Now watch something. Before Jesus went away, he made something very clear. It was most important that those of us in the generations to follow would understand those important words that he spoke just before his ascension. It is expedient for you that I go away. In other words, it is absolutely necessary that I go away. Why? That the Holy Spirit, the third person of Trinity, might come unto you. And in that day, when the Holy Spirit came, after the ascension of Jesus, he came and took up residence here on this earth. But why? Why did the Holy Spirit come to take up residence here on this earth? I'll tell you why. He had a very definite work to do in this dispensation. What was it? The formation of the body of Christ. The church. Now, before I go further into this message, let's go back to something. Let's go back to the time when the three sat at the great conference table, away back there in the past, past eternity, before the very foundation of the world, when the three were making plans for the redemption of fallen man. When Jesus offered himself through the Holy Spirit to God the Father to come and give himself as a living sacrifice, to give himself as a lamb led to slaughter, that you and I might know redemption and have eternal life. When they sat at that great conference table, And we're making the plans for the future. An agreement was made between the three of them that if Jesus Christ carried out those plans, that you and I would be given to him as his inheritance for the work that he did. You want to know something? As Christians, you and I are constantly talking about our inheritance in Christ Jesus. Oh, that's thrilling. That's marvelous. There is a very definite inheritance for us. A marvelous inheritance. Let's go back to that prayer that Paul prayed and is recorded in the first chapter of Ephesians. Here it is. 18th verse, he is speaking under the anointing of the Holy Spirit of our inheritance as Christians, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory. Now, go down further in that prayer, and you'll see in the 18th verse, there's another inheritance that's spoken of. and it's not ours. Paul prayed that the eyes of their understanding should be enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance is in the saints. Whose inheritance is he talking about? Not ours. He is talking about the inheritance of Jesus Christ. And his inheritance is the saints. As they sat at that great conference table, the three of them, making plans for man's redemption, God the Father made an agreement and said, All right, son, if you'll carry out these plans, and come through victoriously, I promise you that as your inheritance, I will give you those who accept you as their savior, as their redeemer. You know how I know those plans were made? Jesus. talked about those plans, referred to them, when he prayed that prayer as recorded in the 17th chapter of John. This is the Lord's prayer. In that 24th verse, he is saying, Father. He's talking to the Father. He's addressing the Father. Father, I will that they, Also, whom thou hast given me. They both had an understanding. The father knew exactly what Jesus was referring to. And Jesus was talking about his inheritance that had been promised to him of the father when plans were being made before the foundations of the world for the redemption of man. Father. I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me. For thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. Father. I'm reminding you of our agreement. You loved me even before the foundation of the world. You loved me so much when I offered myself through the Holy Spirit to you to give to the world that in exchange you promised the saints, you promised to me. As my inheritance, those who would accept my plan, those who would accept me as their Savior, those who would accept me as their Redeemer. Is it an inheritance for you? There is an inheritance for Jesus. Watch something that to me is very thrilling. as an inheritance and it works both ways ours and his jesus said father i want that they should be heirs with me to the richest in glory i want that as my inheritance that they shall share equally with The father says, son, the only way that that can be done. For you are the only son I have. I have but one son. You are that son. The only way that I can make them joint heirs with you is by adoption. through adoption, make them my sons. That's why, beloved, at the time of our conversion, at the time of our salvation, when we accept the Christ our personal Savior, automatically, when the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin, God Almighty, the glorious Creator, becomes our Heavenly Father. And we are adopted of the Father legally. And through legal adoption of the Father, we become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus. Oh, doesn't that do something to you? Isn't that thrilling? This marvelous plan of salvation is the most thrilling thing in the world. And it's way beyond our comprehension. But every once in a while, somehow the Holy Spirit just opens the crack a little bit and allows us to peek through that crack. And he gives us a glimpse of that which is rightfully ours and a part of God's wonderful plan for us. Oh, this is glorious. This is marvelous. Now then. Do you understand? Are you beginning to see why the Holy Spirit, after the ascension of Jesus, why the Holy Spirit came here to this earth and took up his residence here on this earth and will continue to reside here on this earth until the great catching up, until the rapture of the church? at which time he leaves and goes back again to the father from whence he came. He is here with a very definite work to be done. What is it? To continue to carry out those great plans that were made way back there at the great conference table, before the very foundation of the world. The purpose of this dispensation is not the conversion of the world, but the gathering out of the church. Watch something very carefully. While Israel is a called -out body, it is a national body composed exclusively exclusively of the descendants of Abraham. But the church is not a national body, for it is not composed of people of any one nation, but of individuals from every kindred, from all peoples, tribes, and nations. That Israel and the church are distinct and separate and cannot be blended, is clear from the fact that their election was made at different dates. Know that. And at different times. Believe me, Israel and the church are separate and apart, one from the other. Israel was chosen in Abraham from the foundation of the world, as recorded in the 25th chapter of Matthew, the 34th verse, while the church was chosen in him, Jesus, before the foundation of the world, as recorded here in the first chapter of Ephesians. Oh, that's marvelous. Let me continue to read from this first chapter of Ephesians. The 22nd, 23rd verses. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him, speaking of Jesus, to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body. And the context shows, in verse 20, that this headship was not possible until Jesus had been raised from the dead. and sit at the right hand of the Father. Because remember something, as I told you in a previous message, that it was absolutely possible for these plans someplace along the line to go wrong. It was absolutely possible when Jesus was here in the flesh, as much man as though he were not God, it was possible for him to have yielded to temptation. And one of the greatest battles that was ever fought and won was fought in the Garden of Gethsemane. Know that. The battle wasn't fought at the cross. No. The battle was fought and won before the body was ever nailed to the cross. in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus finally looked up with great beads of blood upon his forehead and said, Father, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done. was proof positive that Jesus had a will separate and apart from the Father. While he walked in the flesh here on this earth, he had a will, the will of a man, that was separate and apart from the Father, and that will had to be yielded To the will of God. Before he was ever nailed on that cross. We make much over the crucifixion. We make much over Golgotha. But I'll tell you something. The battle wasn't fought on the cross. The battle was fought and won there in the garden. And through the whole thing. From the time of his conception. To the time when he cried, it is finished. His every movement was watched very closely by God the Father and by the Holy Spirit. Waiting, watching breathlessly to see that the plans were carried out. For he could have failed. That's the reason the father looked down and said, this is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased. He was saying, In essence, son, up until now, you're carrying out every plan. The church, therefore, could not have been in existence before there was a head, and Jesus could not be the head until after he was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God the Father. Oh, that's marvelous. And now today, we are his church. We are a very part of his body. For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members that one body, being many, are one body, so also in Christ. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jew or Gentile. whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one spirit. Why then did the Holy Spirit come to take up residence here on this earth after the ascension of Jesus? And why will he continue until the close of this dispensation when we have the great catching up? I'll tell you why. Not for the purpose to convert the whole world, but the gathering out of the church and the church. is the inheritance of Jesus Christ. The part of the agreement that was made as the three sat at the great conference table. Jesus carried out the plan. to the dotting of every I and the crossing of every T. Therefore, as surely as you and I are a part of the great plan, as surely as we have an inheritance in Christ Jesus, as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus, never overlook the most important fact of it all, and that is the fact that through redemption's plan, we are his inheritance. And I pray that he shall be proud of his inheritance. Inherited. Amen.