Being born again is not just an experience. It is receiving the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit—a Divine Personality—to come and make His home in us.
There is no need for any believer to feel comfortless, deprived, or hopeless. Christ’s purpose in sending the Holy Spirit was for Him to live in us and be in us.
However, few Christians are aware of the Holy Spirit living in them. If they were, they wouldn’t talk and act as they sometimes do. Instead of always talking about their lack of power and ability, they would know nothing is impossible to them.
The Bible says “all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). There is a reason all things are possible to him who believes. Our Heavenly Father planned that the believing one should have God Himself living in him through the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. And with God in the believer, nothing is impossible!
Greater Is He That Is in You
First John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Satan—the god of this world—is the “he” that is in the world. But the “He” in us—the Holy Spirit—is greater! All that God could be to us and do for us, the Holy Spirit through His indwelling Presence is to us, for us, and in us.
If we were conscious of the Greater One in us, we would not fear the devil. We would not fear “he that is in the world” because “He that is in us” is greater.
A Thousand Times Bigger on the Inside!
Smith Wigglesworth, a man of God who was used mightily of the Lord to preach faith and perform miracles of healings, said in his book, Ever Increasing Faith,* “I am a thousand times bigger on the inside than I am on the outside.”
I hadn’t been among the Pentecostals very long when I read that statement. It was hard for me to understand because my mind wasn’t renewed sufficiently with the Word. I wondered how that could be.
During the night, the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance the statement Wigglesworth made. So I reread that chapter and asked the Holy Spirit to give me insight into what he was saying.
As I was reading, I came upon First John 4:4. I saw it then. With this enlightened understanding, I felt Wigglesworth should have said, “I am a million times bigger on the inside.” That still wouldn’t have done it justice because God is infinitely bigger than we can think or imagine.
That scripture doesn’t belong only to preachers. John was writing to lay members. We are never without help in life because the Greater One is in us!
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All that God could be to us and do for us, the Holy Spirit through His indwelling presence is to us, for us, and in us.Kenneth E. Hagin
Our Helper and Comforter
Many believers have missed the reality of what the Holy Spirit came to do in us. In John 14:16 (AMPC), Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be a Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby.
Too often when some people need help, they run around frantically trying to find someone to pray for them. They cry on one person’s shoulder and then on another’s, shed a few “crocodile” tears, and quote scripture. But when they’re alone, they are in the same mess they were in to begin with. They forget they have a Helper on the inside. They don’t have to pray for a helper because they already have the Helper in them.
Our Guide in the Affairs of Life
The Holy Spirit is also our Guide. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit will guide us in all the affairs of life. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). No one can be guided or led, however, without placing themselves in the hands of the Guide.
For example, it’s useless to pray, “Lord, guide me. Give me directions,” unless we allow ourselves to be guided. That is the reason Christians have gotten into some messes—they were not following the Guide. The Holy Spirit will lead us, but we have to put ourselves into His hands.
When we receive direction from Him, we can be prepared ahead of time. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. If we learn to listen and look to Him, He will also instruct and lead us in every situation.
Many times things will happen in our lives—good and bad—and afterward, we will say, “I knew what to do all the time.” Where did we know it? On the inside. It would save us many problems if we learned to listen to our spirit.
He Testifies of Jesus
In the Book of John, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit’s role as He resides within believers. The Holy Spirit always lifts up the Word of God and the Name of Jesus. John 15:26 says, “But when the Comforter is come . . . he shall testify of me.” In other words, the Holy Spirit will make Jesus and the things of God real to us. He will bring to remembrance the Word of God that we have hidden in our hearts.
He will also cause us to bear fruit. One of the Holy Spirit’s main purposes for inhabiting the believer is for fruit bearing. As we yield to God and obey His Word, the life of the Holy Spirit within will cause us to grow in love, joy, and peace, as well as the other fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22–23).
The Holy Spirit, our Helper, has made His home in us as believers. He is everything we need Him to be. If we know Who lives in us and if we believe God’s Word, then no matter what or whom we face in life, we will have no fear. The Greater One Who lives in us is greater than he who is in the world! He will put us over in life!
[Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from Kenneth E. Hagin’s study course The Holy Spirit and His Gifts.]
*Smith Wigglesworth, Ever Increasing Faith (1924; Springfield, Missouri: Gospel Publishing House, 1971). p. 95.
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Kenneth E. Hagin
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One Comment on “The Greater One Lives in You!”
Amen!