He Has You

The Seven Spirits of the Lord represent the fullness of the Holy Spirit that was prophesied in the imagery of the Lampstand with seven lamps. This lampstand was placed just outside the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle.

Later the prophet Isaiah prophesied the anointing of the Seven Spirits of God that would rest upon the Lord Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2 NKJV).

The Lord Jesus promised us we too could receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, which was first released in fullness after He promised: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8 NKJV).

Many years ago, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and started to become so blessed by all that entails. I was starting to operate in spiritual gifts and saw the fruit that came from it in the ministries I served in. I was completely in awe of all that God was doing with someone as low as me.

We all go through hills and valleys in our faith journey. There was one time where I found myself in a valley. I was not walking on the high ground that the Lord had called me to. I was serving Him faithfully, but I was not living for Him as I should. He wants us to live higher than we imagine possible.

We hurt the Lord when we walk beneath our calling. “…walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…” (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV).

I was set to preach at a service in prison. I put together a message that touched on Isaiah 11:2 that spoke of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The morning of this message, the Lord led me to add one and a half verses at the end of the message: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Revelation 2:4-5a NKJV).

I gave the message, and then after I read from Revelation 2:4 and the first part of 2:5. But then my eyes went to the rest of 2:5, which read: “or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5 NKJV).

It was then that I realized the verses the Lord had given me to add for the message to them, that He was turning these verses around and directing them right at me. I looked out to the chapel before me, and it was as if the Lord Jesus was standing right there looking at me with His eyes. It was a piercing look that says more than words could ever say. It was as if His eyes were saying, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4 NKJV).

I knew right then that the Lord Jesus was laying down an ultimatum for me. Go for high ground or lose the fullness of the Holy Spirit. If you want to serve God mightily in ministry, you must go for high ground. Don’t minister from the platform of mediocrity or compromise, but from holy ground, high ground. If you’re called to more, He expects more.

You need to live higher than you preach, not the other way around. “In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching” (Titus 2:7 GNT).

I’ll never forget how I felt that day. What a sight I must have been to look at. I was literally frozen there behind the pulpit. Where I had been calling the men up, the Lord was turning that message right back at me. Oh, how His eyes are piercing. How one look from the Lord can change you.

Jesus didn’t rebuke His disciples to put them down but to draw them up. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5 NKJV).

Confess your sin. Yield to Jesus. Turn from anything that comes between you and the Lord. Return to your first love, the Lord Jesus. Let Him restore you. Let Him rule in your heart. Let today be the day you start anew. Let today be the day you’re going to give your entire life to Jesus.

The first step is to turn to Jesus, and then begins the journey. “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith…” (Colossians 2:6-7 NASB).

Know this, the Lord Jesus came to save you from your sin, and then He sent the holy Spirit to give you power over that sin. He doesn’t condemn you in your sin, He calls you out of it. His grace is not to let you stay in your sin, rather His grace will receive you back from your sin.

Begin on good ground, then go for high ground. “But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 GNT).

Return to your first love. Go for high ground.

Blessings to you,

Paul Balius