Heavenly Father,
I am Your child. (See John 1:12) You love me with an intensity that refuses to be diminished. (Song of Solomon 8:7) Your plans for me are good. (See Jeremiah 29:11) You love me because you have chosen to and not because of what I do or don’t do. (See Ephesians 1:4) Your goodness and favor will chase me down every day I live. (See Psalms 23:6)
Every blessing in Christ Jesus is already mine. (See Ephesians 1:3) By faith, I will enter in to the grace-filled walk that you have prepared for me. (See Romans 5:2) I am everything you say I am. (See1 Corinthians 15:10) I can do everything you have called me to do. (See Philippians 4:13) I can have all that you have called me to have. (See Psalm 84:11)
My days will only grow brighter.(See Proverbs 4:18) Your favor is upon me and will never leave me.(See Lamentations 3:22-23) Nothing that comes my way can harm me. (See Isaiah 54:17) You orchestrate my circumstances so that everything works out for my good. (See Romans 8:28) Without wavering, I will hold tightly to the hope I say I have, because You can be trusted to keep your Promise. (See Hebrews 10:23)
Amen
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
God takes care of bumper bills
Just today, a good friend of mine gave testimony of two incidences where God came through for him.
1) He had recently, accidentally knocked into someones bumper. The very angry driver got out of his car to inspect the cracked rear bumper. My friend responded by quickly getting out of his car to apologize and to take full responsibility of the incident.The angry man immediately cooled down and told my friend to forget the incident and drove away.
2) In another similar incident, my friend had knocked someone from behind and the owner of the other car wanted $900 to get the bumper fixed. With some difficulty my friend somehow managed to make the payment. He told me that he was trying to figure out how to get by that particular month. The next day, he receives money from 2 persons as gifts amounting to $2000
These aren't just coincidences. Our God is truly concerned with more than just our bills. Praise God He has big plans for you & me.
My friend promises me more testimonies soon. I got to be running along for now. Bye.
JS 6
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Don't reject Jesus this time !
The learned scholars, who kept track of Jesus's movements in those days, were legalistic in their approach towards God. They were driven to keep the law perfectly. Every time they boasted about it, our Jesus who knew everything about them, would show them their faults and their incapability to keep the law perfectly. They had to acknowledge that they were imperfect and were sinners in need of a Savior, Jesus. Sad to say they would somehow not acknowledge this fact.
They could not stand ' this new teaching ' that our Master was revealing to them which seemed to interfere with their tradition and usual practices.Not only that, Jesus was also seen mixing around with a group of people who were sidelined in society those days. He was seen in the market place with tax collectors and others who were known to be living in sin. He actually came to seek and save the lost.
The temple chiefs rejected Jesus out-rightly and made every effort to put Him to death and succeeded in doing so.
Today that same rejection of Jesus is evident in many. There are people who find it impossible to believe that Jesus is God, and that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. They would rather stick to the traditions of their religious establishments, traditions of their fathers & fore-fathers rather than receive Jesus as Lord of their lives.
Friends, how is it with you ? Don't reject Jesus because of family tradition or religious obligations.There was only one man who ever lived who was fit enough or qualified enough to take the death penalty on your behalf. Jesus who once lived on this earth was the one, and only one who was without sin. The price for the sins of the whole world had to be an unblemished sacrifice. Someone with no sin and it was only Jesus who could do that and so became that sacrifice for us all .. Hindus, Buddists, Moslems, the Free Thinkers, Jews etc. If He did not do this, there would be doom looming over all of us - no chance at all for humanity to enter eternity with their Father.
Won't you receive Him tonight. He is just waiting to fellowship with you.He is waiting for your lips to utter those inviting word from the deepest recesses of your heart .... Say this simple prayer with me, Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and invite You now into my life. Hold my hands and walk with me through life and instruct me the way I should go. I thank you for sacrificing Your life for me and I believe you died for me and you are alive today. Because I have received you into my heart, I am now a new creation from this day onwards. Once again I thank you Lord Jesus. Amen. ( Amen means let it be )
Welcome to the family. Keep in touch with me for advice as to how to choose the right Church. Ok ?
JS 5
They could not stand ' this new teaching ' that our Master was revealing to them which seemed to interfere with their tradition and usual practices.Not only that, Jesus was also seen mixing around with a group of people who were sidelined in society those days. He was seen in the market place with tax collectors and others who were known to be living in sin. He actually came to seek and save the lost.
The temple chiefs rejected Jesus out-rightly and made every effort to put Him to death and succeeded in doing so.
Today that same rejection of Jesus is evident in many. There are people who find it impossible to believe that Jesus is God, and that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. They would rather stick to the traditions of their religious establishments, traditions of their fathers & fore-fathers rather than receive Jesus as Lord of their lives.
Friends, how is it with you ? Don't reject Jesus because of family tradition or religious obligations.There was only one man who ever lived who was fit enough or qualified enough to take the death penalty on your behalf. Jesus who once lived on this earth was the one, and only one who was without sin. The price for the sins of the whole world had to be an unblemished sacrifice. Someone with no sin and it was only Jesus who could do that and so became that sacrifice for us all .. Hindus, Buddists, Moslems, the Free Thinkers, Jews etc. If He did not do this, there would be doom looming over all of us - no chance at all for humanity to enter eternity with their Father.
Won't you receive Him tonight. He is just waiting to fellowship with you.He is waiting for your lips to utter those inviting word from the deepest recesses of your heart .... Say this simple prayer with me, Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and invite You now into my life. Hold my hands and walk with me through life and instruct me the way I should go. I thank you for sacrificing Your life for me and I believe you died for me and you are alive today. Because I have received you into my heart, I am now a new creation from this day onwards. Once again I thank you Lord Jesus. Amen. ( Amen means let it be )
Welcome to the family. Keep in touch with me for advice as to how to choose the right Church. Ok ?
JS 5
The best that you can offer
To a Friend - Your Loyalty
To an Enemy - Your Forgiveness
To your Boss - Your Service
To your Child - A good example
To your Father - Honor
To your Mother - Gratitude and Devotion
To your Spouse - Love and Faithfulness
To Yourself - Respect
To All Men - Charity
To God - Your Life!!
To an Enemy - Your Forgiveness
To your Boss - Your Service
To your Child - A good example
To your Father - Honor
To your Mother - Gratitude and Devotion
To your Spouse - Love and Faithfulness
To Yourself - Respect
To All Men - Charity
To God - Your Life!!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Whats your level of intimacy with Jesus ?
My findings from the bible about the different levels of intimacy one could have with Jesus are that as servants or friends, as brothers or as bride.
Desire to arrive at the highest levels of relationship as that between a husband and a wife.
The Holy Spirit today is doing a wonderful job in our lives, gradually molding our characters as we gladly & humbly let go and say, ... on my own, Lord I can't but with You, all things are possible. Yes, God has come to dwell in us so that we can be over-comers and fulfill the 2 greatest commandments given to us, i.e to love God and to love others.
Spend sometime alone with the Holy Spirit today. Lets not be looking at the clock when we do this, even if we could spend a good half hour with Him. Remember to spend time in quietness also, to hear His voice and leading.
Till we meet again, enjoy yourselves and be refreshed in His presence
JS 4
Desire to arrive at the highest levels of relationship as that between a husband and a wife.
The Holy Spirit today is doing a wonderful job in our lives, gradually molding our characters as we gladly & humbly let go and say, ... on my own, Lord I can't but with You, all things are possible. Yes, God has come to dwell in us so that we can be over-comers and fulfill the 2 greatest commandments given to us, i.e to love God and to love others.
Spend sometime alone with the Holy Spirit today. Lets not be looking at the clock when we do this, even if we could spend a good half hour with Him. Remember to spend time in quietness also, to hear His voice and leading.
Till we meet again, enjoy yourselves and be refreshed in His presence
JS 4
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Is 2012 the end ?
Is the world coming to an end in 2012 ? So whats the point of doing well ?
I keeping hearing many young people asking this question with great concern & anxiety. My answer to them would be to see what the bible has to say about 2012.
In fact Jesus says no one but the Father knows when exactly such things would happen.
My message to all of you would be to carry on doing the things you have to do as usual. Maintain a good worship life and enjoy your daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Don't be anxious or worry too much with such matters. Jesus is still in charge and in control of things and there is still much work for us in the harvest field.
Remember that nothing can saperate us from the LOVE of God. He is with us at all times and will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory
SO DON'T WORRY, BE BOLD AND BE COURAGEOUS ALWAYS !
JS 3
I keeping hearing many young people asking this question with great concern & anxiety. My answer to them would be to see what the bible has to say about 2012.
In fact Jesus says no one but the Father knows when exactly such things would happen.
My message to all of you would be to carry on doing the things you have to do as usual. Maintain a good worship life and enjoy your daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Don't be anxious or worry too much with such matters. Jesus is still in charge and in control of things and there is still much work for us in the harvest field.
Remember that nothing can saperate us from the LOVE of God. He is with us at all times and will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory
SO DON'T WORRY, BE BOLD AND BE COURAGEOUS ALWAYS !
JS 3
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Something happens to you when you begin to read the Bible
The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible.
His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.
One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water."
The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all.
The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean.
"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. That is the work of God in our lives... To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son."
Take time to read a portion of God's word each day.
His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.
One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water."
The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all.
The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean.
"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. That is the work of God in our lives... To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son."
Take time to read a portion of God's word each day.
The Story of the Prodigal Son ( Luke 15:11-32 )
Many of us today are confused in our efforts to identify the true character of our Heavenly Father. Is our God fierce or loving towards us, His children ?
Oftentimes Jesus explained God's nature being like that of His ... " No one has seen God. If you have seen me (Jesus explained) you have seen the Father " It is now, all sufficient and enough for us to know our Lord Jesus, in this quest of ours today, to know God.
Jesus is loving, caring, compassionate, forgiving always seeking and yearning to save the lost ones and to bring restoration and healing into their lives.
It is staggering to know how the Father in the story of the Prodigal son, waited with love, ever so eagerly and with much hope, day in and day out for the return of his son. When he finally spotted him coming home from a distance, he ran towards his son and embraced him in his filthy state.
Did the son get a good lecture before he was accepted into his father's house ? The father was overwhelmed with great joy, much to the surprise of family members and friends. Oh, what celebration, took place in that house that day !
Understand and take hold of the nature of Jesus today and be free in the Spirit.Those who realize and know the magnitude of the perfect & finished work of our Lord can now go on to a higher level in their love relationship (as opposed to religion) with Jesus. This is now made possible by the great work of the Holy Spirit, who is always with us.
Allow the Holy Spirit right now, to give you a warm embrace cause He loves you and rejoices over you with song !
JS 2
Oftentimes Jesus explained God's nature being like that of His ... " No one has seen God. If you have seen me (Jesus explained) you have seen the Father " It is now, all sufficient and enough for us to know our Lord Jesus, in this quest of ours today, to know God.
Jesus is loving, caring, compassionate, forgiving always seeking and yearning to save the lost ones and to bring restoration and healing into their lives.
It is staggering to know how the Father in the story of the Prodigal son, waited with love, ever so eagerly and with much hope, day in and day out for the return of his son. When he finally spotted him coming home from a distance, he ran towards his son and embraced him in his filthy state.
Did the son get a good lecture before he was accepted into his father's house ? The father was overwhelmed with great joy, much to the surprise of family members and friends. Oh, what celebration, took place in that house that day !
Understand and take hold of the nature of Jesus today and be free in the Spirit.Those who realize and know the magnitude of the perfect & finished work of our Lord can now go on to a higher level in their love relationship (as opposed to religion) with Jesus. This is now made possible by the great work of the Holy Spirit, who is always with us.
Allow the Holy Spirit right now, to give you a warm embrace cause He loves you and rejoices over you with song !
JS 2
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Finding Rest in His Love
The Apostle John, who was referred to as the Apostle that Jesus loved, knew and relaxed in one profound truth that the others then might not have experienced . He was overwhelmed or as we might say today 'blown-away' by the fact that Jesus was God and that God loved him despite all his short comings. A Grace revelation imparted to him before our Lord's death & resurrection.
The Apostle Peter on the other-hand was often heard confessing how he loved Jesus and when the hour of test came, stayed away from Jesus just like how we might have reacted also. But praise God, he became a true disciple and an extraordinary leader after the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a little while later.
Jesus loves me (John's understanding) vs I love Jesus (as Peter thought of his loving nature)
I personally take rest and find much strength and comfort in knowing that Jesus loves me and understands me like no one-else can.
I pray and know I would be more and more like Him with each passing day cause I have a fine Helper with me who will never leave me nor forsake me and be with me to the ends of the ages.
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us .... that we should be called the sons of God ! This song is playing in my ear just now.
JS 1
The Apostle Peter on the other-hand was often heard confessing how he loved Jesus and when the hour of test came, stayed away from Jesus just like how we might have reacted also. But praise God, he became a true disciple and an extraordinary leader after the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a little while later.
Jesus loves me (John's understanding) vs I love Jesus (as Peter thought of his loving nature)
I personally take rest and find much strength and comfort in knowing that Jesus loves me and understands me like no one-else can.
I pray and know I would be more and more like Him with each passing day cause I have a fine Helper with me who will never leave me nor forsake me and be with me to the ends of the ages.
Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us .... that we should be called the sons of God ! This song is playing in my ear just now.
JS 1
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
JESUS IS GOD ... He is alive: The Gospel in a Nutshell
JESUS IS GOD ... He is alive: The Gospel in a Nutshell: "The Gospel in a Nutshell! The day is over, you are driving home. You tune in your radio. You hear a little blurb about a little village in ..."
Monday, January 3, 2011
God The Holy Spirit
The Deity of the Holy Spirit
Christianity has traditionally taught that the Holy Spirit is the third Person or Hypostasis of the Godhead. Some, however, have taught that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force used by God. Is the Holy Spirit God, or simply a power of God? Let's examine the biblical teachings.
I. The Deity of the Holy Spirit
Scripture speaks repeatedly of the Holy Spirit, known also as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Scripture indicates that the Holy Spirit is of the same essence as the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is ascribed with the attributes of God, is equated with God and does work that only God does.
A. Attributes of God
1. Holiness: In more than 90 places, the Bible calls the Spirit of God "the Holy Spirit." Holiness is a basic characteristic of the Spirit. The Spirit is so holy that blasphemy against the Spirit cannot be forgiven, although blasphemy against Jesus could be (Matt. 12:32). Insulting the Spirit is just as sinful as trampling the Son of God under foot (Heb. 10:29). This indicates that the Spirit is inherently holy, holy in essence, rather than having an assigned or secondary holiness such as the temple had.
The Spirit also has the infinite attributes of God: unlimited in time, space, power and knowledge.
2. Eternality: The Holy Spirit, the Counselor, will be with us "forever" (John 14:16). The Spirit is "eternal" (Heb. 9:14).
3. Omnipresence: David, praising God's greatness, asked, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there" (Ps. 139:7-8). God's Spirit, which David uses as a synonym for the presence of God himself, is in heaven and in sheol (v. 8), in the east and in the west (v. 9).
God's Spirit can be said to be poured out on someone, to fill a person, or to descend — yet without implying that the Spirit has moved away from or vacated some other place. Thomas Oden observes that "such statements are grounded in the premises of omnipresence and eternality — attributes ascribed properly only to God" (Life in the Spirit, p. 18).
4. Omnipotence: The works that God does, such as creation, are also ascribed to the Holy Spirit (Job 33:4; Ps. 104:30). Miracles of Jesus Christ were done "by the Spirit" (Matt. 12:28). In Paul's ministry, the work that "Christ has accomplished" was done "through the power of the Spirit" (Rom. 15:18-19).
5. Omniscience: "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God," Paul said (1 Cor. 2:10). The Spirit of God "knows the thoughts of God" (v. 11). The Spirit therefore knows all things, and is able to teach all things (John 14:26).
Holiness, eternality, omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience are attributes of God's essence, that is, characteristic of the nature of divine existence. The Holy Spirit has the basic attributes of God.
B. Equated with God
1. Triadic formulas: Several passages discuss the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as equals. In a discussion of spiritual gifts, Paul puts the Spirit, the Lord, and God in grammatically parallel constructions (1 Cor. 12:4-6). Paul closes a letter with a three-part prayer: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Cor. 13:14). Peter begins a letter with this three-part formula: "who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood" (1 Peter 1:2).
Of course, the triadic formulas used in these and other scriptures do not prove equality (for example, Eph. 4:5 puts unequal elements in parallel construction), but they do suggest it. The baptismal formula has an even stronger implication of unity — "in the name [singular] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19). The Father, Son, and Spirit share a common name, indicating common essence and equality. This verse indicates both plurality and unity. Three names are given, but all three share one name.
2. Word interchanges. Acts 5:3 says that Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit; verse 4 says that Ananias lied to God. This indicates that "the Holy Spirit" and "God" are interchangeable and thus that the Holy Spirit is God. Some people try to explain this by saying that Ananias lied to God only indirectly, simply because the Holy Spirit represented God. This interpretation might be grammatically possible, but it would imply the personality of the Holy Spirit as a divine representative, for one does not lie to an impersonal power. Moreover, Peter told Ananias that he lied not to humans, but to God. The force of the passage is that Ananias has lied not merely to God's representatives, but to God himself, and the Holy Spirit is God to whom Ananias lied.
Another word interchange can be seen in 1 Cor. 3:16 and 6:19. Christians are not only temples of God, they are also temples of the Holy Spirit; the two expressions mean the same thing. A temple, of course, is a habitation for a deity, not a habitation for an impersonal power. When Paul writes "temple of the Holy Spirit," he implies that the Holy Spirit is God.
Another type of verbal equation between God and the Holy Spirit is seen in Acts 13:2: "The Holy Spirit said, `Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Here, the Holy Spirit speaks on behalf of God, as God. In the same way, Heb. 3:7-11 tells us that the Holy Spirit says the Israelites "tested and tried me"; the Holy Spirit says that "I was angry.... They shall never enter my rest." The Holy Spirit is equated with the God of the Israelites. Heb. 10:15-17 also equates the Spirit and the Lord who makes the new covenant. The Spirit who inspired the prophets is God. This is the work of God the Holy Spirit, which leads us to our next section.
C. Divine work
1. Creating: The Holy Spirit does work that only God can do, such as creating (Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4; Ps. 104:30) and expelling demons (Matt. 12:28).
2. Begetting: The Spirit begot the Son of God (Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:35), and the full divinity of the Son (Col. 1:19) implies the full divinity of the Begetter.
The Spirit begets believers, too — they are born of God (John 1:12) and equally born of the Spirit (John 3:5). "The Spirit gives [eternal] life" (John 6:63). The Spirit is the power by which we will be resurrected (Rom. 8:11).
3. Indwelling: The Holy Spirit is the way in which God lives in his children (Eph. 2:22; 1 John 3:24; 4:13). The Holy Spirit "lives" in us (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 3:16) — and because the Spirit lives in us, we are able to say that God lives in us. We can say that God lives in us only because the Holy Spirit is in some way God. The Spirit is not a representative or a power that lives in us — God himself lives in us. Geoffrey Bromiley gives a concise conclusion: "to have dealings with the Spirit, no less than with the Father and the Son, is to have dealings with God" ("The New Holy Spirit," in The New Life, edited by Millard Erickson, p. 23).
4. Sanctifying: The Holy Spirit makes people holy (Rom. 15:16; 1 Pet. 1:2). The Spirit enables people to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). We are saved "through the sanctifying work of the Spirit" (2 Thess. 2:13).
In all these things, the works of the Spirit are the works of God. Whatever the Spirit says or does, God is saying or doing; the Spirit is fully representative of God.
II. Personality of the Holy Spirit
Scripture describes the Holy Spirit as having personal characteristics: The Spirit has mind and will, speaks and can be spoken to, and acts and intercedes for us. All these indicate personality in the theological sense: The Holy Spirit is a Person or Hypostasis in the same sense that the Father and Son are. Our relationship with God, which is accomplished by the Holy Spirit, is a personal relationship.
A. Life and intelligence
1. Life: The Holy Spirit "lives" (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 3:16).
2. Intelligence: The Spirit "knows" (1 Cor. 2:11). Rom. 8:27 refers to "the mind of the Spirit." This mind is able to make judgments — a decision "seemed good" to the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28). These verses imply a distinct intelligence.
3. Will: 1 Cor. 12:11 says that the Spirit "determines" decisions, showing that the Spirit has a will. The Greek word means "he or it determines." Although the Greek word does not specify the subject of the verb, the most likely subject in the context is the Spirit. To find a different subject, one would have to backtrack through five verses and six mentions of the Spirit. But this grammatical leapfrogging is not necessary. Since we know from other verses that the Spirit has mind and knowledge and judgment, there is no reason to reject the conclusion in 1 Cor. 12:11 that the Spirit also has will.
B. Communication
1. Speaking: Numerous verses say that the Holy Spirit spoke (Acts 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 21:11; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:7; etc.). Oden observes that "the Spirit speaks in the first person as `I'; `It was I who sent them' (Acts 10:20).... `I have called them' (Acts 13:2). None but a person can say `I' " (The Living God,p. 200).
2. Interaction: The Spirit may be lied to (Acts 5:3), which indicates that the Spirit may be spoken to. The Spirit may be tested (Acts 5:9), insulted (Heb. 10:29) or blasphemed (Matt. 12:31), which implies personal status. Oden gathers additional evidence: "The apostolic testimony applied intensely personal analogies: guiding (Rom. 8:14), convicting (John 16:8), interceding (Rom. 8:26), calling (Acts 13:2), commissioning (Acts 20:28).... Only a person can be vexed (Isa. 63:10) or grieved (Eph. 4:30)" (Life in the Spirit, p. 19).
3. Paraclete: Jesus called the Holy Spirit the parakletos — the Comforter, Advocate or Counselor. The Paraclete is active, teaching (John 14:26), testifying (15:26), convicting (16:8), guiding (16:13) and making truth known (16:14).
Jesus used the masculine form of parakletos; he did not consider it necessary to make the word neuter or to use neuter pronouns. In John 16:14, masculine pronouns are used even after the neuter pneuma is mentioned. It would have been easy to switch to neuter pronouns, but John did not. In other places, neuter pronouns are used for the Spirit, in accordance with grammatical convention. Scripture is not finicky about the grammatical gender of the Spirit, and we need not be either.
C. Action
1. New life: The Holy Spirit regenerates us, giving us new life (John 3:5). The Spirit sanctifies us (1 Pet. 1:2) and leads us in that new life (Rom. 8:14). The Spirit gives various gifts to build the Church up (1 Cor. 12:7-11), and throughout the book of Acts, we see that the Spirit guides the Church.
2. Intercession: The most "personal" activity of the Holy Spirit is intercession: "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us.... The Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will" (Rom. 8:26-27). Intercession implies not only receiving communication, but also communicating further on. It implies an intelligence, a concern, and a formal role. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal power, but an intelligent and divine Helper who lives within us. God lives within us, and the Holy Spirit is God.
III. Worship
There are no scriptural examples of worshipping the Holy Spirit. Scripture talks about praying in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18), the fellowship of the Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14), and baptism in the name of the Spirit (Matt. 28:19). Although baptism, prayer and fellowship are involved in worship, none of these verses is a valid proof-text for worship of the Spirit.
As an opposite of worship, however, we note that the Spirit can be blasphemed (Matt. 12:31).
There are no scriptural examples of praying to the Holy Spirit. However, Scripture indicates that a human can talk to the Spirit (Acts 5:3). If this is done in reverence or request, it is, in effect, praying to the Spirit. If Christians are unable to articulate their desires and they want the Spirit to intercede for them (Rom. 8:26-27), they are praying, directly or indirectly, to the Holy Spirit. When we understand that the Holy Spirit has intelligence and fully represents God, we may ask the Spirit for help — never thinking that the Spirit is a separate being from God, but recognizing that the Spirit is the Hypostasis of God interceding for us.
Why then does Scripture say nothing about praying to the Spirit? Michael Green explains: "The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to himself. He is sent by the Father to glorify Jesus, to show Jesus' attractiveness, and not to take the centre of the stage" (I Believe in the Holy Spirit, p. 60). Or, as Geoffrey Bromiley puts it, "The Spirit is self-effacing" (p. 21).
Prayer or worship directed specifically to the Holy Spirit is not the scriptural norm, but we nonetheless worship the Spirit. When we worship God, we worship all aspects of God, including the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. A fourth-century theologian explained it this way: "The Spirit is jointly worshipped in God, when God is worshipped in the Spirit" (Ambrose, Of the Holy Spirit III.X.82, quoted in Oden, Life in the Spirit, p. 16). Whatever we say to the Spirit we are saying to God, and whatever we say to God we are saying to the Spirit.
IV. Summary
Scripture indicates that the Holy Spirit has divine attributes and works, and is spoken of in the same way that the Father and Son are. The Holy Spirit is intelligent, and speaks and acts like a Person. This is part of the scriptural evidence that led early Christians to formulate the doctrine of the Trinity. Bromiley gives a summary:
Three points that emerge from this survey of the New Testament data are: (1) The Holy Spirit is everywhere regarded as God; (2) He is God in distinction from the Father and the Son; (3) His deity does not infringe upon the divine unity. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune Godhead....
The divine unity cannot be subjected to mathematical ideas of unity. The fourth century learned to speak of three hypostases or persons within the deity, not in the tritheistic sense of three centers of consciousness, but also not in the weaker sense of three economic manifestations. From Nicaea and Constantinople on, the creeds sought to do justice to the essential biblical data along these lines. (pp. 24-25)
Although Scripture does not directly say that "the Holy Spirit is God," or that God is triune, these conclusions are based on scriptural evidence. Based on biblical evidence, we teach that the Holy Spirit is God in the same way that the Father is God and the Son is God.
Related Articles & Content:
Topics:
Articles by:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)