20. NOW AND THEN. Too often the quickening of the body is relegate to the resurrection of the dead in the end of the age, which is the then, the future. Most assuredly something to look forward to. It will indeed be a most glorious moment of time. However, Paul had reference to a much more immediate work of the Spirit in the lives of the people of the Lord. The Holy Spirit, is also the Spirit of resurrection and new life. It was the Spirit which raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. Now, the promise is that if that same Spirit dwell in us He will also quicken our mortal bodies. That is, bring to life, refresh, awaken, revitalize the mortal body. Very definitely the Spirit of the Lord creates life in the spirit nature of man. This is a quickening that takes dominion over the weariness of the body refreshing and reviving it. Rom. 8:11 A
PROCEDURE NOW IN ORDER. That which the Lord has accomplished is readily made available now. Speaking in the present tense, that is the current time, this very moment, Paul makes it evident that the thrust of life giving power is for us now, at this present instant of time. He said that even when we were dead in trespasses and sin. That we were quickened and delivered from sin and death by the power of the Spirit. We then, have been quickened together with Christ. Eph. 2:5 We have been raised together with Him. He has caused us to sit in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 2:6 The scripture proclaimed it, now we have to affirm it for ourselves. The work has been finished. The promises of the Lord are yea and amen in the Lord Jesus. He is not a man that He should lie. The benefits are all here waiting for the person of faith to accept, believe and receive them.
IS IT POSSIBLE? Can there still be, hidden somewhere in the body of Christ, those who travail in the Spirit? The natural process of life is an example of the spiritual life that is to function in the body of Christ. As natural birth is by travail, so likewise is spiritual birth. It is written concerning Melchisedec [who is none other than the Lord Jesus], who in the days of His sojourn on earth offered up prayers. His prayers were not just words arranged in a manner that He thought would please His Father. He prayed, petitioning the Father, with strong cries, with agony of spirit. His prayer was not a pretty prayer but boisterous and clamorous. Heb. 5:7 With much anguish of body, soul and spirit Jesus prayed intently. The travail of His soul was greater than words can express. His entire being was involved in a prayer of travail. An awesome experience, exerting such great pressure that the pores of His skin discharged blood. That is the real example of the prayer of travail. Luke 22:44 The intensity of such a prayer can only be motivated by the cry of the Holy Spirit resident within the body, the church. Revival is born in travail. Souls are brought into the kingdom by means of travail. No one is born into the family of the Lord except, somewhere in the church there is travail. Where is it? As soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children. Isa 66:8.