1. I agree wholeheartedly and I believe it would be good if we would spend some time praying for a new move of the Holy Spirit in our midst. The Bible Inspired of the Holy Spirit . Even this short article presents ample evidence to answer, Because the Bible teaches that God is a Trinity of three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. The power to exercise the gifts of the spirit, they claim, comes initially when a believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit, a distinct experience from conversion and water baptism. As we look at the workings of the Holy Spirit, we see various ways that He has and continues to work in our lives and in the life of the Church. That there is more to reality than meets the eye — oh, so much more. The Jehovah's Witness New World Translation, for example, sometimes even omits the word "Spirit" and substitutes the phrase "God's active force" in its place (hardly a faithful translation! By the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the God-man, was conceived in a virgin’s womb (Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35). Many Christians today get caught in the same trap as the Galatians: we forget why the Holy Spirit is so important. The Holy Spirit is also important because he is the guarantee of your inheritance in heaven. Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. We Believe in the Holy Spirit, (Downers Grove: IVP, 2009), xxii. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. You believe in it because you see what it can do. Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus Through the Spiritual Disciplines. The Bible describes the Holy Spirit as being the special communication between GOD and us that DO beleive in GOD, believe that GOD sent Jesus, and believe in Obeying in GOD! The Holy Spirit is God Himself tangibly working in our hearts, minds and sometimes in our bodies to experience God's grace here on earth as it is in heaven. It is important to realise that this does not mean that Christians believe in three gods – they do not. The Holy Spirit has been described as the bond of love between God whom we call Father and Jesus Christ the Son, a love so strong and life-giving that it draws all that exists into the relationship between Father and Son; a love so strong that it is expressed in terms of personhood: the Spirit is called the third person of the Trinity. He can be lied to (Acts 5:3), resisted (Acts 7:51), grieved (Isaiah 63:10–11; Ephesians 4:30), blasphemed (Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10). We come to the Father by the Spirit, who unites us to Jesus, our mediator. Receiving the Spirit (another term for Baptism in the Spirit) is clearly linked to believing. Growing. The Holy Spirit is not an inanimate power, but rather the third person of the trinity, God Himself. We baptize in the singular name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). The Holy Spirit has all knowledge. 23 A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him. Most Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which is the idea that God consists of three parts: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It's through the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit that God works in us to allow us to be regenerated, reconciled, empowered, guided and strengthened for the work God calls us to do. Spiritual Gifts are individual and given by the Holy Spirit. “Of course you do,” said his father, “but you don’t believe in it because you see it. That’s not so. If we truly believe that Jesus is present ion the Holy Eucharist, then we will not treat Holy Mass like we do KFC – rush in and rush out. As such the role of the Spirit is multi-faceted. God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. Ephesians 1:13-14 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation for all those who believe: “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are … The disciples had to wait until the Spirit was given at Pentecost but now the Holy Spirit is available to all who believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. When we pray to GOD we have to pray only to GOD! The Holy Spirit was given to live inside those who believe in Jesus, in order to produce God's character in the life of a believer. Every Sunday, we proclaim that “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life.”I would love to hear some homilists unpack that text. They do believe the Holy spirit still imparts, for instance, the gifts of ministry, teaching, giving, leadership, and mercy. By the Spirit, he gave himself for us at the cross (Hebrews 9:14), was raised from the dead and vindicated (Romans 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:16), and having ascended to his Father’s right hand, he now has immersed his people in his Spirit (Acts 1:5; 11:16), pouring out the Spirit on the church (Acts 2:33; 10:45) — the elusive person of the Godhead whose mission is to glorify the Son (John 16:14). But still it is hard for us to think of the Holy Spirit as a third divine Person distinct from the Father and the Son. Three persons in one God — the Father who plans our eternal joy, the Son who purchased it, and the Spirit who preserves it. There is a big difference in these two views of the Spirit, and how we come to understand the Holy Spirit’s nature will definitely have an impact on how we live and worship as believers. He can become sad or angry, and others can insult Him and blaspheme against Him (Is 63:10; Mt 12:31; Ac 7:51; Eph 4:30; Heb 10:29). The next thing you should never do to the Holy Spirit is to grieve it. Fellowship Time. Every believer (verse 7) has been given at least one spiritual gift. If we truly believe that Jesus is totally present in the Holy Eucharist, then each day, we will become more and more like the priceless treasure (Jesus Christ) whom we receive at Holy … How would you describe your current experience as a Christian? ... We affirm that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the Scriptures, assuring believers of the truthfulness of God’s written Word. Stuck. We’re on a mission to change that. Fulfilled. (Micah 3:8; Luke 1: 35) God sends out his spirit by projecting his energy to any place to accomplish his will. Learn more about the importance of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. As mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, outpourings of the Holy Spirit can include healing, prophecy, exorcism, and speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit makes us who we are as Christians. One God in three persons. “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Ephesians 1:13-14). We believe in the Holy Spirit. Being a person, the Holy Spirit has feelings. Christians believe that it was the Holy Spirit whom Jesus mentioned as the promised "Comforter" in John 14:26, and that it is the Holy Spirit who leads people to faith in Jesus and the one who gives them the ability to lead a Christian life. So don’t let anyone “bewitch” you. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:12–13, CSB). The Holy Spirit is also the one who gives spiritual gifts to all followers of Jesus so that we all can play our … You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. As mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, outpourings of the Holy Spirit can include healing, prophecy, exorcism, and speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit is something that we must grasp and utilize 2. Satan wants to destroy your hope and tries to get you to doubt your Savior’s love. That reality is more than meets the eye. I have been on this site for a few yrs. Paul wrote, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit…. That is why we need to Holy Spirit. It is through these gifts of the Spirit that we function best as the Church, and it is through these gifts that we are able to proclaim the power of Jesus to people who desperately need to know our Savior. In a way that we cannot do on our own, the Holy Spirit will build into our lives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That an almighty, invisible Spirit powerfully brings the eternal purposes of God and his Son to bear in our realm, one day soon for all to see. It is through him that the character of Christ is revealed in you: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Holy Spirit, in Christian belief, the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit not only speaks the words of Jesus to you, but he actually is the one who leads and directs your steps into the abundant life that Jesus promised. The biblical record shows that miracles occurred during particular periods for the specific purpose of authenticating a … “I believe in electricity,” said Jim. Why do we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If you love Me, obey Me; and I will ask the Father and He will give you another Comforter, and He will never leave you. That if we, being evil, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father give us the greatest gift of all — himself in the person of his Spirit (Luke 11:13)? That an unseen Person prompts, protects, and provides for those who are Christ’s. We have received him (John 20:22; Acts 2:38; 8:15, 17, 19; 10:47; 19:2; Romans 5:5; 8:15; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:5; 1 John 3:24). Where Do We Meet the Holy Spirit? These gifts, some are big and some are small, but all are given to believers by the Holy Spirit so that we can be Christ’s soldiers in the world. Tamie Davis 14 October 2010 www.arthurandtamie.wordpress.com Christians are united with other believers in their own time or location but also with a family of believers across the world and over the ages. That is abundant life! That what counts most, and is most ultimate, is unseen. It was because the Galatians had the wrong idea about the importance of the Holy Spirit. I believe that the prevalence of these qualities in our day-to-day life is the most telling sign of being full of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is also associated with wind, fire and prophecy (see Acts 2). Memorizing the Apostle’s creed is not necessary but it is a helpful practice. The Holy Spirit was promised to all those who believe in Jesus, who accept Him as their Lord and their Master. They understood the role that the Spirit played in their conversion, but they were missing out on his role as Helper in the ongoing life of a believer. Up and down. The Spirit continually strengthens our inner person, making us holy. Verse 13 tells us that the Holy Spirit “will guide [us] into all truth.” We have a hint here of what we see even more plainly in texts like 1 Corinthians 2:11: Scripture indicates the Holy Spirit is The Bible says, “The Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). The book of Acts is a fascinating look into the change from the age of Judaism to the age of the Church. The holy spirit is God’s power in action, his active force. “Of course you do,” said his father, “but you don’t believe in it because you see it. We ask for gender and age to assign you the appropriate mentor. That God is alive and at work in our world, and in our lives. But the Spirit’s leading, teaching, gifting, and proclaiming is proof that you belong to God forever. He was sent by the Father in answer to the prayer of the Son, leading Him to seek me out in my utter blindness and ruin. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit . That when we pray, someone intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26–27). We believe not only in Father and Son, but Father, Son, and Spirit. In Romans 8, Paul describes how the Holy Spirit intercedes (or prays) for believers.He says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. It is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, who communicates all of that to you. He stands ready to help us change from the person we are today to the person we want to be, ever closer to the character of Christ. Though the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters at the moment of creation (Genesis 1:2), it was not He who commanded Fiat Lux (“Let there be light”). That an almighty, invisible Spirit powerfully brings the eternal purposes of God and his Son to bear in our realm, one day soon for all to see. Paul gave us a sampling of those gifts in his first letter to the Corinthian church: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Speaking in other tongues is a powerful sign to unbelievers of the reality of the Holy Spirit's power among God's people. In the Bible, the moment when a new believer receives the Holy Spirit is shown as a very distinct and memorable event. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. The disciples had to wait until the Spirit… The Catechism #688, spells those ways out like this. An even more fundamental question is whether we should believe in God. Definitely. Learn more about the importance of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. Share a potluck, coffee snacks as people are coming: Ask these mixing questions: What does your congregation believe about the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God Himself and has the power to grasp and utilize us. Why do Christians believe in the Trinity? As such the role of the Spirit is multi-faceted. We should examine one key phrase from John 16 more fully when considering the truth that the Holy Spirit is revealed not only as a person, but as a divine person—God himself. The answer to why we believe the Bible involves many facts that together provide an intelligent basis for believing the Bible to be a supernatural statement of truth. R. A Torry writes, “But what of the love of the Holy Spirit? Christians believe in the Trinity – that is, in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Would you like to discuss anything in particular? All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). They also believe the Holy Spirit plays a direct role in helping human beings to understand the meaning of the Bible. Simple? Amen. A New Testament scholar is tackling a subject that has confounded sincere Christians across the ages: the identity and function of the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. That we can have courage in conflict and joy in affliction (1 Thessalonians 1:6; Titus 3:5). I wonder if it isn’t because they are filled with other spirits? He not only works on us, and through us, but he dwells in us (Romans 8:9, 11; 2 Timothy 1:14). Frustrated. He will direct your steps through all the complicated paths of life and keep you from sin. If we do not believe in the verbal inerrancy of the original manuscripts, then we deny the doctrine of verbal inerrancy entirely, and impugn the doctrine of inspiration. You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. You believe in it because you see what it can do. “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.” Those words may have become stale or even cliché for some, but they represent the beauty and scandal of our confession. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Jesus was clear on the importance of the Holy Spirit: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth... he will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you” (John 16:13-14). What better way to move into the future than by asking God for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit. Drinking of the Spirit is a metaphor for receiving the Holy Spirit at salvation: “Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! He appoints leaders in the church (Acts 20:28), confirms God’s word with miraculous gifts (Hebrews 2:4), sanctifies our imperfect efforts (Romans 15:16), knits us together as a fellowship (2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 6:4), and fills us with praise (Acts 2:4) and with boldness for ministry (Acts 1:8; 4:8, 31; 6:5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9, 52). And now, standing in the very place where Jesus had been condemned, Peter accused these religious elite that they had crucified the Messiah. What hit home for you in this article? Jesus was a Jew. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:9, 11). Their new life in Christ had begun by responding to the Holy Spirit through faith, but they were now trying to maintain it by human effort, rather than relying on him. Easy? That is why we need to Holy Spirit. However, gifts like speaking in tongues and prophecy are areas where many baptists believe the Holy Spirit only moved in people until and through the … We do believe in the holy spirit, and if you read our Bible there are references to the holy spirit throughout it! Some false teachers and unbelievers, namely the Jehovah witnesses, teach that the Holy Spirit is merely God’s "force." Only believers have the Holy Spirit. And, he maintains, many Christians in the West remain closed to the Spirit and are hampered by fear when it comes to relating to Him and tapping into his power. Similarly in the West, though Tertullian introduced the important language of personhood, he appeared to subordinate the Son and the Spirit to the Father. What is your experience with the Holy Spirit? By the Spirit, he lived and spoke and healed and endured (Luke 3:22; 4:1, 14, 17–21; 10:21; Acts 10:38). We know the Holy Spirit… I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. —Psalm 104:30; 139:7. and I have not read where anyone speaks of what His Spirit has done for them and He is only mentioned when the Deity is brought up. He is no mere force. When Peter and John stood accused before powerful leaders, Luke reported that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaimed that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One they had crucified, was the only way to salvation (Acts 4:5-12). In him we are sealed, kept, and secured by God till the end (Ephesians 1:13–14). That God is alive and at work in our world, and in our lives. That an unseen Person prompts, protects, and provides for those who are Christ’s. Metaphorically the Holy Spirit is the invisible phone lines cell phones use, that we cannot see; yet between GOD and us. Here are five key roles that the Holy Spirit plays. We are his temple, both individually and collectively (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Likewise, you can believe in the Holy Spirit because you can see what He does in people’s lives when … Once we have repented, believed and been baptised in water, we are ready to receive the Holy Spirit. 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