Let’s look at the different ways the Holy Spirit will guide us to all truth. The Person of the Holy Spirit receives and declares…
JN.16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. The Holy Spirit guides by SPEAKING to us the Truth. Our Lord had many things to say but they were not able to “bear” them. However, our Lord would share these hidden truths later through the Person of the Holy Spirit. The Father tells the Son what He desires and what He wants to reveal, the Son tells the Spirit, and the Spirit tells us. This should cause our hearts to leap with joy and have incredible confidence knowing that the full Godhead is actively engaged in our lives daily. (See Jn.14:17; Rom.8:14; Ps.23:1-2; 48:14; 73:24; Is.30:21; 42:16; 48:17). For more information on the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, click on the link and get my book "THE FOUR POSITIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT"
0 Comments
The main reason why our Lord must return to the Father was so that the Holy Spirit would come to be with us and within us. John spoke a lot about the Person of the Holy Spirit and His role in the world and in the life of the believer. There are many roles or works of the Person of the Holy Spirit within the Word of God, but I want to point out a few from the Book of John.
For more information on the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, click on the link and get my book "THE FOUR POSITIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT" I am somewhat shocked about how the Person of the Holy Spirit is treated and neglected in some circles. In some traditional or conservative churches He is neglected and ignored like He doesn't exist. There seems to be a fear if someone talks to much about the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit they might be branded or mistaken as Pentecostal or Charismatic. One particular group does not have a market on the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
However there are those who treat the Person of the Holy Spirit like He is a force they can exercise in, or a toy they can play with at their convenience. They fail to remember that He is God, has always been God, and will always be God, and should be approached as so. The Person of the Holy Spirt was promised by our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, He is a MUCH MORE gift from our heavenly Father to come beside us, within us, upon us, and fill us. The gift of the Person of the Holy Spirit is a MUCH MORE promise. Luke 11:9-13 ESV And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (10) For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (11) What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; (12) or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? (13) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! John 6:63 ESV It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
The Words of our Lord Jesus Christ are Spirit and Life. This Book called the Bible breathes. This is a Book were every promise is ours. We don’t need more polished sermons. We need men who know God and know the Person of the Holy Spirit. We need to be more than just the letter of the law, we need the Spirit. This is so vital to the principles of prayer. John 4:23-24 ESV But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." God created us like Him. Let me say that again. God created us like Him. Back to John 4:24. We are a spirit being, we have a soul, and we live in a body. Our soulish man consists of three areas. It is the mind or thoughts, the emotions or feelings, and the will or choices. Once saved, your spirit is alive unto God. Your spirit is your inner-most man, your soul is your inner man, and the body is your outer man. Let’s look at some Scriptures concerning the spirit, soul, and body of man. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV (23) Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Proverbs 20:27 ESV The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. Job 32:8 ESV But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. When we desire more power. what is it that we want, how do we get it, and why do we want it?
If we think we need more power to live the Christian life we have missed it. If we think we need more power to perform miracles, signs and wonders, again we have missed it. It we think we need more power to witness for Christ, that is true. It talks Christ in me to live a Christian life. I can't do it. Any attempt would be a form of religion. It takes Christ in me to preform miracles, signs and wonders. It is not a matter of more power, but faith in our Lord to work His Word in and through us. But He said that we would receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon us. This is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. Our Lord told us Himself what the evidence of that Holy Spirit baptism would be. He told His disciples and followers to go to Jerusalem and wait until they were clothed with power. Luke 24:49 ESV And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” The baptism with the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. Acts 1:4-5 ESV And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; (5) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Again our Lord said that power would be the end result when they received the promise of the Father, which is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Then He told them why they would receive the power. First came the what, which is power. Second came the when, after the Holy Spirit came upon them which is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Third came the why, they would take the power and be bold witnesses in the area of their influence and then spread out to everywhere they went. Acts 1:8 ESV But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Paul understood why he needed the power to preach. 1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 ESV (4) and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (5) so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 ESV (8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (9) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Many people are trying through human striving to do a job that can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. In our own power all that can be achieved is a form of religion that may reach church acceptance and respectability. The results many times produce a sense of personal security and contentment. In all of the efforts of mankind we cannot change the gnawing realization that the church suffers from spiritual powerlessness. May believers are asking, “Where is the abundant life that Jesus promised?” “Where is the radiant joy filled life Paul spoke about?”, and “When do we start doing the things that Jesus did and greater things?” It is evident that the joy and thankfulness of the believer at the point of conversion still lingers years later but there is a gnawing in his heart for more. The songs that have echoed the walls and halls of large Churches across the nations have addressed the cry for “More Lord.” Anyone reading the Book of Acts can see by comparison with the present church that the early Christians had something in their lives which gave them manifestations of power that we do not see in our churches today. Anyone reading the books of first and second Corinthians will see that Paul did not try to come with great words and fancy speeches, but in the power of God. Oh Lord stir up faith in Your body today to trust You to do what You long to do! Let the church arise and let You be glorified in her. |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
Categories
All
|