July 23, 2010

And since we are his children, we will share his treasures-for everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

-Romans 8:17

The Holy Spirit has come to dwell within us as the “first installment of everything he will give us” (2 Corinthians 1:22), or as the guarantee of our eternal inheritance (2 Corinthians 5:5). He is the “down payment” of our heavenly inheritance, where we will receive the full manifestation of our sonship and adoption (Romans 8:19).

All that happens to us in this life is “training for reigning,” mere preparation for the time when we will rule and reign with Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit within us is our Helper, the One preparing us to reign with Christ. When we encounter spiritual attacks, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray and overcome. Therefore, everything we are going through now is simply maturing us and preparing us for dominion in eternity.

If we have identified with Christ’s sufferings and fought life through, the eternal day will come when we will share His glory. We will be seated on thrones with Him. “I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21).

Daily Readings: 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19 • Romans 8:9-25
• Psalm 18:16-36 • Proverbs 19:26

The One Year Devotional used by permission from Bethany World Prayer Center and Pastor Larry Stockstill . For more information, please see www.bethany.com or www.bccn.com.