The idea of not earning favor and experiencing the benefit of wonderful things is very foreign to us in the natural.  Under the system of this world good things are earned and require diligent effort and sacrifice to obtain.

Whether we like it or not, we often carry this ideology into the kingdom when we are born again.  Our minds are not instantaneously and totally renewed to agree with the ways of God and of His kingdom.  We need to hear Him speak and have our minds washed with the water of His word.

Take, for instance, the availability of the Holy Spirit and the blessing of miracles.  Many in churches believe this is obtained by way of sacrifice and diligence.  They are, for whatever reason, unaware of what it says in the Scriptures about this.

Galatians 3:1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely, it was not in vain, was it?

5  I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

Paul is clearly instructing these believers to return to the foundation of faith that first brought them the experience of the power of transformation and the Holy Spirit working among them.

I did not have it all together when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  I was still unaware of some things, and bit by bit, He was working them out of my life. There are still things He reveals and removes from me to this day, and he replaces them with what is Christ-like and kingdom-based.  But amazingly, He was and is still powerfully moving in and through my life.

The gift of the Spirit is not a law-based conditional matter.  As long as someone is born again and believes they can receive what was promised by the Father, they will receive it.  Belief is the key.

When Paul says the meaning of Christ’s death was made clear to them, He is saying they were made to understand they did nothing to earn anything from God.  Jesus did it all at the cross. He took their sin at the cross and gave them His righteousness.  Our receiving from God all the things promised are premised on this foundation of work accomplished by Christ.  Nothing is received based on keeping the law of Moses.  False teachers had ventured into Galatia and were teaching that in order to complete their salvation, they needed to keep the Law of Moses.  They were being deceived into embracing false instructions, which hindered their continuing transformation according to the work of the Holy Spirit.

When we get back to the real gospel, the right gospel, the Holy Spirit is free to work in and through us as He wishes.  We then get to experience all that He brings with Him.  Miracles, healing, gifts of the Spirit, revelation concerning Jesus, and so much more are a part of the package.  Believing the right gospel is the key to it all.  Faith in Jesus, as it is meant to be, unlocks everything Heaven offers.  Heaven has been open since the cross, but it seems closed to those who doubt that Christ took care of everything for us.  The law will strengthen doubt every time.  Look to the cross and understand what was done on it by Jesus.  Believe He completed the work needed, and it is applied to you. Then, let your faith come alive to receive all the Holy Spirit is and desires to do in and through you!