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Musings on Faith #24 The Magnificent Holy Spirit | |
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Why do so many Christians pay so little attention and heed to the Holy Spirit? God Himself sent the Holy Spirit to us, to help us after Christ’s ascension into Heaven! Just before the ascension Jesus said " wait for the gift my Father promised . . . in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5, NIV)." The Lord sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, both filling us from within (1st Corinthians 6:19; Acts 13:52, NIV) and enveloping us from without (Acts 10:44; Acts 1:8, NIV). And the Scriptures are replete with references to the Holy Spirit and not only His dwelling with us, but also His blessings and guidance upon us. The Holy Spirit is a comforter, and one of His names is Comforter (KJV) or Counselor (NIV), as Jesus said, in John 14:26. "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (NIV)." In this same passage, we also discover that the Holy Spirit is a Teacher, and one who Reminds us of the teachings of Christ!
If we are in right relationship with God, we have communion or fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2nd Corinthians 13:14). Another way of saying this is that the Holy Spirit is our Friend. And as our indwelling Friend, He brings us righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17)! Not only this, but the Holy Spirit is a Witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and of His death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 5:30-32). He is a Gift to us from God (Hebrews 2:4), but He is |
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also God in us and the vessel by which the Lord pours His love into us, that we may have the love of God in our hearts (Romans 5:5) and thereby love with the love of God! He is also a Sign of God’s acceptance of us, as believers (Acts 15:8,). And we, our bodies, are His Temple - the Temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (1st Corinthians 6:19), and thereby the Temple of God, because the Holy Spirit is of God, and is God. Paul even teaches that the elders of the Church are made overseers of the flock by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), and how else could the Holy Spirit do so but for the fact that He is God with us? The Holy Spirit also, in His Power, brings us overflowing Hope (Romans 15:13). It is the Holy Spirit who washed and renewed us in our rebirth as Children of God (Titus 3:5). It is the Holy Spirit who brings men to prophesy and to write out the Word of God (2nd Peter, 1:21). He is the Truth, and brings men to the truth (1st John 5:6-7). We are even to pray to God in the Holy Spirit (Jude, verse 20)! How then can anyone who claims Christ fail to recognize the Holy Spirit? He is our Comforter and Friend; He is God within us; He is the Spirit who communes with our spirit, who calls us to discipleship and obedience to God’s Word (Acts 5:32). He is the precious Gift the Lord sends us when we accept Christ as our Savior (Acts 2:38)! He is all this and more! Embrace Him! Yours in Christ, Tom Woodard |
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