THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Still on the subject of the Holy Spirit. He helps us to understand the Incomprehensible and equips and makes us worthy to serve the Perfect God. Here are my thoughts:
Q. How can we understand will of the incomprehensible God?
A. God, according to the unlimited riches of His grace, has "abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his His will, according to the good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." (Eph. 1:7- 9). God also provided us the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things so we may know God (who is beyond human comprehension) and His perfect truths. The Holy Spirit then is our Divine Teacher (for He is God), who enables us to understand God's Holy Word, the Bible. By our own efforts we cannot understand the things of God "for they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:14). "But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God...Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (I Cor 2:10,12,13).
Q. The Holy Spirit enables us to understand the deep things of God. But how can we apply them in our lives and perfectly obey God's Word?
A. We, on our own cannot perfectly obey the Lord's commands. But the Holy Spirit empowers us to live the Christian life and guides us into all the truth so that we can do what is pleasing to God. "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities." (Romans 8:26) He helps us in our weakness. He molds us so that we will be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. So now we are able to obey God through the Holy Spirit who is at work in us. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13).
Q. Having known the Holy Spirit's work among us, what then should we do in order to allow Him to do God’s will in our lives?
A. It is our duty to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that God can accomplish His purposes through us. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is in excess; but be filled with the Spirit." (Eph. 5:18). Any believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit is allowing the Holy Spirit to do mighty things in his life as He did in the lives of Stephen, Peter, Paul, and other great men of God. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means allowing Him full control of our lives-- desires, priorities, decisions, and actions. It is not only our duty but also our privilege for the Holy Spirit who dwells in us is Divine, God of very God, perfect, and holy. He chose to use us though we are unworthy vessels and dwelling places for such an honored Being.
Q. How can we know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit?
A. One thing common with Peter, Stephen, and other men of God who were filled with the Holy Spirit is that they "preached the Word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). Peter was not afraid to preach the gospel before the Jewish council (Acts 4:8-22). He was imprisoned for doing that. Stephen was also bold to declare the good news of salvation through Jesus before the Jewish religious leaders (Acts 6:9-7:60). He was murdered afterwards. The same is true with the other Spirit-filled believers (Acts 4:31).
The gifts of speaking in tongues and healing were manifested through Peter and Stephen but these gifts are not the sure signs of filling of the Holy Spirit. These signs were not manifested through the lives of other Spirit-filled believers (Acts 4:31). "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" (I Cor. 12:29,30). The obvious answer is no. Having spiritual gifts does not guarantee that a person is filled with the Holy Spirit. However, we can be sure that for those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, they exhibit an intense desire to study God's Word, to seek His will, to obey His commandments, and have the boldness to preach the gospel. Anyone who claims he is filled with the Holy Spirit and has no desire whatsoever to study and share God’s Word is not telling the truth.
Q. How can we understand will of the incomprehensible God?
A. God, according to the unlimited riches of His grace, has "abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his His will, according to the good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." (Eph. 1:7- 9). God also provided us the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things so we may know God (who is beyond human comprehension) and His perfect truths. The Holy Spirit then is our Divine Teacher (for He is God), who enables us to understand God's Holy Word, the Bible. By our own efforts we cannot understand the things of God "for they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:14). "But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God...Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (I Cor 2:10,12,13).
Q. The Holy Spirit enables us to understand the deep things of God. But how can we apply them in our lives and perfectly obey God's Word?
A. We, on our own cannot perfectly obey the Lord's commands. But the Holy Spirit empowers us to live the Christian life and guides us into all the truth so that we can do what is pleasing to God. "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities." (Romans 8:26) He helps us in our weakness. He molds us so that we will be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. So now we are able to obey God through the Holy Spirit who is at work in us. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13).
Q. Having known the Holy Spirit's work among us, what then should we do in order to allow Him to do God’s will in our lives?
A. It is our duty to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that God can accomplish His purposes through us. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is in excess; but be filled with the Spirit." (Eph. 5:18). Any believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit is allowing the Holy Spirit to do mighty things in his life as He did in the lives of Stephen, Peter, Paul, and other great men of God. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means allowing Him full control of our lives-- desires, priorities, decisions, and actions. It is not only our duty but also our privilege for the Holy Spirit who dwells in us is Divine, God of very God, perfect, and holy. He chose to use us though we are unworthy vessels and dwelling places for such an honored Being.
Q. How can we know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit?
A. One thing common with Peter, Stephen, and other men of God who were filled with the Holy Spirit is that they "preached the Word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). Peter was not afraid to preach the gospel before the Jewish council (Acts 4:8-22). He was imprisoned for doing that. Stephen was also bold to declare the good news of salvation through Jesus before the Jewish religious leaders (Acts 6:9-7:60). He was murdered afterwards. The same is true with the other Spirit-filled believers (Acts 4:31).
The gifts of speaking in tongues and healing were manifested through Peter and Stephen but these gifts are not the sure signs of filling of the Holy Spirit. These signs were not manifested through the lives of other Spirit-filled believers (Acts 4:31). "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" (I Cor. 12:29,30). The obvious answer is no. Having spiritual gifts does not guarantee that a person is filled with the Holy Spirit. However, we can be sure that for those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, they exhibit an intense desire to study God's Word, to seek His will, to obey His commandments, and have the boldness to preach the gospel. Anyone who claims he is filled with the Holy Spirit and has no desire whatsoever to study and share God’s Word is not telling the truth.
posted by Pids Nogales | 8:12 AM
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