Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT in our hearts. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
1. God assures you of His approval by the Holy Spirit’s presence.
The Holy Spirit’s presence in your life is a guarantee and a further assurance of His approval on your life. Read it for yourself: The presence of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee, the seal, the pledge and the assurance that you need. God has left the Holy Spirit in our midst so that He is present in all that we do. His presence is supposed to assure us and calm us down. His presence is supposed to be a guarantee that assures us in what we do. “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT” (2 Corinthians 5:5).
Are you approved? Does God like you? Is God happy with you? Is He happy with your songs? Does God agree with all that you are doing? You need some assurance, don’t you? That assurance comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit. The influence of the Holy Spirit will calm and reassure you when you are uncertain about whether you are walking in His will.
Why does your financial prosperity give you assurance? Where did you read that? Where do you learn these things? Are you now being tutored by the world’s system? How come you are looking at your financial status, your new job, your car and your house to give you an assurance that God is with you? When did these things become your guarantee? The Holy Spirit is the guarantee and not any earthly possession.
It is because you are a carnal man operating under an earthly influence that earthly things are assuring you of God’s love for you. It is secular businessmen who are assured and encouraged by their bank balances and financial incomes. You, as a spiritual person, must be assured by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Your convictions must be strengthened by the presence of God. The presence of the Holy Spirit must be your source of assurance. This is one of the most important functions of the Holy Spirit: to assure you.
Over and over, the Holy Sprit is called an earnest pledge or a guarantee. He guarantees that you are on the right way by His presence. You must always look for the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Moses would not go one step forward without the guarantee of the presence of the Lord. You must become like Moses who looked for guarantees and assurances in the presence of the Lord.
Then he said to Him, “If Thy presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.
For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Thy sight, I and Thy people? Is it not by Thy going with us, so that we, I and Thy people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:15-16 (NASB)
2. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit you develop convictions and assurances.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:6
The Holy Spirit influences your convictions by crying out about certain things in your heart.
Anyone who is under the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit will become sure of certain realities because the Holy Spirit will cry and repeatedly speak certain words in your heart. These words that the Holy Spirit speaks in your heart will become convictions that you hold onto. You will be sure of these things without having reasons why.
Are you beginning to form certain convictions in your heart? Are you becoming sure about certain things?
Is there a mysterious knowing in your heart? Is your soul mystically longing for certain things? Are certain spiritual desires growing and developing in you? Is your heart crying for certain things? These are all mystical works of the Holy Spirit.