Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us; for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given us."
The much quoted scripture of John 3:16 (Amplified) says, "For God so love the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son." It was God's love that sent Jesus to do the work of being our eternal sacrifice. He was, and is, the love of God in action. Once Jesus ascended back to the Father, that same love that sent Him, was sent to us in the form of the Holy Spirit. He is the full manifestation of God's love for us. He is not Someone or something that we can see like Jesus was, but He is the power of the love that sent Jesus to us and back to the throne. This power is alive in the hearts of God's people and is present for all to partake of by faith in Jesus.
God's power is in His love. God has power but God is love and His power is released in His love. Until we realize His love for us and in us, His power is diminished. Our faith in Jesus is based on how much we believe in His love. We struggle with condemnation, even after receiving Jesus as our Sacrifice Lamb. Many Christians still believe that some calamity was brought upon them by God, because of something they did. In a sense, we're still awaiting the punishment we feel we deserve. All these beliefs happen because we don't allow God's love to manifest to its full potential within us, by the Holy Spirit.
The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is based on how we understand the love He placed in us from the Father. The Holy Spirit is capable of doing anything in us that He did in Jesus. It's the same love, after all. If this love gave up Jesus for us and this unconditional love is now poured out in us by the Holy Spirit, then why would it not be the same outward show of His power?
Jesus knew and understood why He came. He knew that only love could offer this kind of sacrifice. Love didn't only set us free by Jesus' sacrifice, but now this love that Jesus was and had within Him, could be in and for us. Through the outpouring of love on the Day of Pentecost, grace replaced Law, mercy set aside judgment, righteousness replaced lambs and bulls, and peace expelled fear. Now that the Holy Spirit was poured out from heaven, He Who is love can live and reign in our own lives, like it did with Jesus.
The Holy Spirit spoke through John, expressing the very essence of His presence and His ministry in our lives. Thus, 1John 4:18 (Amplified) says, "There is no fear in Love (dread does not exist), but full grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love (is not yet grown into loves complete perfection)."
In other words, the Christian who is still fearful, still awaiting judgment and still dreading facing the Father, is not acquainted with the Holy Spirit and is not mature in His salvation. When the Holy Spirit was poured out into our hearts, Love was literally poured out in our lives. The life of God is the love of God and the two things cannot be separated. God is love.
The very work and ministry of the Holy Spirit is to bring the very power that raised Jesus from the dead into the hearts of God's family. The Holy Spirit's ministry is to take the love that our eyes had seen in the Man Jesus walking the shores of Galilee and place it in our hearts. Through the Holy Spirit, we can know that the love that healed the sick, now lives in us. There is no condemnation to the ones who actually know the Holy Spirit as He really is.
Isn't the Holy Spirit God's Spirit and the Spirit of the Lord? Isn't God Love? Of course, we know He is. Why then, can't we know this love by His presence in our lives and be at peace with God? Didn't Jesus say that He was giving His peace to us? Jesus' peace was with the Father and now, through the Holy Spirit, He intended for us to be at peace with the Father like He is.
Until we realize that the Holy Spirit is actually the full manifestation of God's Love enveloping us and keeping us, we will continue walking in the bondage of fear and dread and fear of punishment. When we do this, then we only show our Father and the world how spiritually immature and child like we are in our faith.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Lesson 17 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
I realize that we've spent a considerable amount of time here on speaking in tongues or praying in the Holy Spirit. The reason is that this subject has become one of the most important role of the Holy Spirit in the Church today. Through Him we have direct contact and intimate fellowship with the Father.
We find the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:5-8 (Amplified) and what the Lord Himself says about this incident is very interesting. Thus, it says, ""And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built." Verse 6 says, "And the Lord said, Behold, they are of one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible to them." Verses 7-8 go on, "Come, let Us go down and there confound (mix up, confuse) their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from the place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city."
It has always seemed strange to me how the Lord only changed their communication to stop the building of the city. God Himself said that now they are of "one language" and of "one people" and "now nothing will be impossible for them to do." So, in order to stop their building, God stopped their communication.
When the Lord gave birth to the Church and was in the process of building a new city (the New Jerusalem), He restored communication and made us "one people" and "one language" again. Acts 2:16-18 (Amplified) says, "But (instead) this is (the beginning of) what was spoken through the Prophet Joel. And it shall come to pas in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy (telling forth divine counsels) and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances) and your old men shall dream (divinely suggested) dreams. Yes, and on My men servants also and on My maid servants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit and they shall prophesy (telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God's Kingdom."
This one language and one people were meant to return the communication in which God Himself said would cause "Now nothing they have imagined will be impossible to them." 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) says, "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God. For no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Spirit (Holy Spirit) he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
Through the Holy Spirit, we have now become one people (the Body of Christ) and we are all in one accord in the building of God's Kingdom. And, we're all speaking in one language, which is the language of Spirit. Now, nothing we have imagined is impossible to us.
Satan has fought ferociously against the language of the Spirit because nothing is impossible to us with it. He has built "doctrines of devils" concerning it and has tried to shut down the communication line between God and the Church. We can only speak things we know if we depend only on our own language, but our wisdom is unlimited in the Holy Spirit;. We can pray prayers that our spirit can only understand through the Holy Spirit.
If you're praying only in your native,natural tongue, then satan's first attack is to tell you that your prayers aren't working. If you are praying in tongues, then he can't bring doubt concerning what you've prayed because he doesn't know what you prayed. When a man speaks in unknown tongues, "he speaks not unto men, but unto God and in the spirit he speaks mysteries" that even satan cannot fathom.
This is a weapon that satan has no deference for other than to stop it altogether with his lies about it's origin. I've been praying in Spirit to the Lord on many occasions and have seen things in my town, state and country change. We mighty not be able to change our government by voting, but we can it by praying in the Spirit. Paul didn't speak only about the breastplate and helmet when speaking about the whole Armor of God in Ephesians 6:18 (Amplified) which says, "Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people)."
The weapon of praying in the Holy Spirit is the whole covering of the man of God and not only yourself, but the rest of the Body too because we are one Body. Before taking this message as controversial, go to the Word of God first and see for yourself what it says. If God woke you at two in the morning to pray for me, then what would you pray? Would you pray, "O Lord, heal Brother Jim?" I didn't need healing. What would you pray? Romans 8:26-27 (Amplified) says, "So too the Holy Spirit came to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings (too deep) for utterances. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the Mind of the Holy Spirit (what His intent is) because the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will."
You might not know what to pray or how to pray, but the Holy Spirit does and He will pray the "perfect will of God." This is such a powerful weapon, that satan has fought hard to discourage it among God's people. Once the Church returns to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we can pray in the Spirit about our country and God will change the hearts of people with and awakening once more to Him. Don't allow satan to keep you from the amazing ability to speak directly to the Father in His Own language, which is the "Language of the Spirit." God can move upon this kind of praying like no other. Satan can't interfere with this kind of prayer because he can't even understand what is being said. "You speak not to men, but unto God."
We've spent much of our prayer life speaking in our natural tongue, so that when we pray, satan hears what we're saying as well. And, satan will immediately set about trying to overthrow what you've said. But, when you pray in tongues, satan doesn't know what you're praying and thus, can't go against it. Jesus gave a discourse on fatherhood and how fathers would do good to their own children in Luke 11:13 (Amplified) saying, "If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts (gifts that are to their advantage) to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him?" We must be continually filled with the Spirit as we grow in Christ Jesus.
Praying in the Spirit has nothing to do with hair, make-up, jewelry or clothing. It has to do with Who and what you ask. Ask Him to be filled with or be baptized in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
We find the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:5-8 (Amplified) and what the Lord Himself says about this incident is very interesting. Thus, it says, ""And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built." Verse 6 says, "And the Lord said, Behold, they are of one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible to them." Verses 7-8 go on, "Come, let Us go down and there confound (mix up, confuse) their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from the place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city."
It has always seemed strange to me how the Lord only changed their communication to stop the building of the city. God Himself said that now they are of "one language" and of "one people" and "now nothing will be impossible for them to do." So, in order to stop their building, God stopped their communication.
When the Lord gave birth to the Church and was in the process of building a new city (the New Jerusalem), He restored communication and made us "one people" and "one language" again. Acts 2:16-18 (Amplified) says, "But (instead) this is (the beginning of) what was spoken through the Prophet Joel. And it shall come to pas in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy (telling forth divine counsels) and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances) and your old men shall dream (divinely suggested) dreams. Yes, and on My men servants also and on My maid servants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit and they shall prophesy (telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God's Kingdom."
This one language and one people were meant to return the communication in which God Himself said would cause "Now nothing they have imagined will be impossible to them." 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) says, "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God. For no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Spirit (Holy Spirit) he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
Through the Holy Spirit, we have now become one people (the Body of Christ) and we are all in one accord in the building of God's Kingdom. And, we're all speaking in one language, which is the language of Spirit. Now, nothing we have imagined is impossible to us.
Satan has fought ferociously against the language of the Spirit because nothing is impossible to us with it. He has built "doctrines of devils" concerning it and has tried to shut down the communication line between God and the Church. We can only speak things we know if we depend only on our own language, but our wisdom is unlimited in the Holy Spirit;. We can pray prayers that our spirit can only understand through the Holy Spirit.
If you're praying only in your native,natural tongue, then satan's first attack is to tell you that your prayers aren't working. If you are praying in tongues, then he can't bring doubt concerning what you've prayed because he doesn't know what you prayed. When a man speaks in unknown tongues, "he speaks not unto men, but unto God and in the spirit he speaks mysteries" that even satan cannot fathom.
This is a weapon that satan has no deference for other than to stop it altogether with his lies about it's origin. I've been praying in Spirit to the Lord on many occasions and have seen things in my town, state and country change. We mighty not be able to change our government by voting, but we can it by praying in the Spirit. Paul didn't speak only about the breastplate and helmet when speaking about the whole Armor of God in Ephesians 6:18 (Amplified) which says, "Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people)."
The weapon of praying in the Holy Spirit is the whole covering of the man of God and not only yourself, but the rest of the Body too because we are one Body. Before taking this message as controversial, go to the Word of God first and see for yourself what it says. If God woke you at two in the morning to pray for me, then what would you pray? Would you pray, "O Lord, heal Brother Jim?" I didn't need healing. What would you pray? Romans 8:26-27 (Amplified) says, "So too the Holy Spirit came to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings (too deep) for utterances. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the Mind of the Holy Spirit (what His intent is) because the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will."
You might not know what to pray or how to pray, but the Holy Spirit does and He will pray the "perfect will of God." This is such a powerful weapon, that satan has fought hard to discourage it among God's people. Once the Church returns to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we can pray in the Spirit about our country and God will change the hearts of people with and awakening once more to Him. Don't allow satan to keep you from the amazing ability to speak directly to the Father in His Own language, which is the "Language of the Spirit." God can move upon this kind of praying like no other. Satan can't interfere with this kind of prayer because he can't even understand what is being said. "You speak not to men, but unto God."
We've spent much of our prayer life speaking in our natural tongue, so that when we pray, satan hears what we're saying as well. And, satan will immediately set about trying to overthrow what you've said. But, when you pray in tongues, satan doesn't know what you're praying and thus, can't go against it. Jesus gave a discourse on fatherhood and how fathers would do good to their own children in Luke 11:13 (Amplified) saying, "If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts (gifts that are to their advantage) to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him?" We must be continually filled with the Spirit as we grow in Christ Jesus.
Praying in the Spirit has nothing to do with hair, make-up, jewelry or clothing. It has to do with Who and what you ask. Ask Him to be filled with or be baptized in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Lesson 16 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
One of the greatest works of the Holy Spirit on behalf of the Church is one that satan has fought forcefully and with ferocity for centuries. The ministry of the Intercessor is one of the greatest works for the Kingdom of God and for the individual Christian in the Church.
Satan has been very successful in quelling the level of faith in the finished work of Calvary and silencing the teaching about the Holy Spirit and His ministry over decades. As the teaching and revealing of the Holy Spirit has declined, so has the power in the Church.
Jesus told His disciples to,"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every living creature" in Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified) saying in Verse 20, "Jesus said, that He went out with them confirming the Word by the attesting signs." Jesus confirms the Word through the ministry of the Holy Spirit Who is now in the world and in power. No Word means no confirmation.
Jesus didn't confirm the disciples, but He confirmed what they preached. Since we , the Church, haven't been preaching the ministry of the Holy Spirit, there has been very little movement of His Own presence in power.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit as our Intercessor has been nearly extinct in many churches. Most Christians are aware of Romans 8:28, but have neglected the previous verse. These two verses must be paired together or they lose their power.
Paul hadn't been speaking about how "You never what God will do," but in Verse 25, he spoke about the hope given to the Church through Jesus. Then in Verse 26 Paul speaks about the Holy Spirit in connection with that hope, saying, "So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weaknesses, For we do not know what prayer to offer, nor how to offer it worthily as we ought." Paul speak her about the "manifestation" of "hope" in our lives. Hope isn't always fulfilled because we don't know how to pray or what we need to bring it to pass.
The remainder of Romans 8:26 (Amplified) says, "But, the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads on our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance." Verse 27 goes on to tell us what these "deep utterances" are, saying, "And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit (what His intent is), because the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) on behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will."
The Holy Spirit is the Intercessor and the One Who "speaks in tongues with "groans and utterances. He speaks the perfect will of God on our behalf. Verse 28 says, "And we are assured and know that (God being a partner in their labor) all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to (His) design and purpose."
We have used Verse 28 to justify "all things" to include such things as car accidents, cancer, child abuse and other things and as being the "all things are working together for our good." This is not what He said!
1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) tells us, "For one who speaks in and unknown tongue, speaks not to men but to God for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding."
The ministry of intercession is exactly what we found in Romans 8 which says, "When we don't know how to pray as we ought." This too is the "mysteries and hidden things not obvious to our understanding." This is why we're not speaking to men, but to God. We can pray in the Holy Spirit and pray about things we don't understand or pray about matters we cannot articulate on our own. We are trying to bring the "hope" into manifestation by faith in our lives or the lives of others. Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things (we) hope for and the proof of things we do not see, and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)."
Through the Holy Spirit's interceding through us, we have the ability to pray the very heart and will of God and to bring forth faith in things our natural mind cannot even comprehend. Your natural mind can't conceive "healing" in your body by simply praying and believing God for it. It's a "hope," but may not be faith. The Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues) can transmit this "hope" before God and build the faith in what we hope for.
Jude 1:20-21 (Amplified) says, "But you beloved, build yourselves up (founded) on your most holy faith (make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher), Praying in the Holy Spirit. Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God, expect and wait patiently for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) (which will bring you) unto life eternal."
The "praying in the Holy Spirit" above, is the same "praying by the Holy Spirit" we read about in both Romans 8 and 1Corinthians 14. This is your spirit, through and by the Holy Spirit, praying things that only the spirit can know and receive. When we "Don't know how to pray as we should," we pray in the Holy Spirit. I don't know about you, but I find myself in that place many times.
Thank God for the Intercessor's praying through us with "groanings that cannot be uttered" in an articulate language. You might ask, "Why can't we just pray in English?" Because, you don't know how to pray in English as we ought. Our prayers are limited to our own vocabulary, but His are unlimited.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is one of the most crucial ministries of God's entire purpose to the Church. When the devil fights so hard against the speaking in tongues, I want to know why. This applies to the message in Romans 8:14 (Amplified) which says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God!"
Only "sons" (children of God's family) have the ability and privilege of being led by the Spirit of God. The world can't be led by the Spirit of God until they are born of the Spirit of God. When we pray in and through the Holy Spirit, we can learn how to pray before something happens instead of waiting for the devil to tear something up and praying to repair it. This is being led by the Holy Spirit.
Both 1Corinthians 14:4 and Jude 1:20 teach about "speaking in tongues (unknown tongues)" and praying in the Holy Spirit. Both speak about building up the one who is praying or speaking in tongues. The purpose is for revelation of things we don't understand or "secret truths and hidden things." The other purpose of speaking in tongues is the building up your most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. 1Corinthians 14:4 (Amplified) says, "He who speaks in a (strange) unknown tongue, edifies and improves himself." Jude 1:20 (Amplified) says, "Building up your most holy faith (like an edifice) praying in the Holy Spirit." Romans 8:26 (Amplified) says, "When we don't know how to pray as we ought to, He (the Holy Spirit) will pray through us." This presents the perfect prayer and reveals things that we don't know in our natural minds into our spirits to be revealed by God.
Satan has been very successful in quelling the level of faith in the finished work of Calvary and silencing the teaching about the Holy Spirit and His ministry over decades. As the teaching and revealing of the Holy Spirit has declined, so has the power in the Church.
Jesus told His disciples to,"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every living creature" in Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified) saying in Verse 20, "Jesus said, that He went out with them confirming the Word by the attesting signs." Jesus confirms the Word through the ministry of the Holy Spirit Who is now in the world and in power. No Word means no confirmation.
Jesus didn't confirm the disciples, but He confirmed what they preached. Since we , the Church, haven't been preaching the ministry of the Holy Spirit, there has been very little movement of His Own presence in power.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit as our Intercessor has been nearly extinct in many churches. Most Christians are aware of Romans 8:28, but have neglected the previous verse. These two verses must be paired together or they lose their power.
Paul hadn't been speaking about how "You never what God will do," but in Verse 25, he spoke about the hope given to the Church through Jesus. Then in Verse 26 Paul speaks about the Holy Spirit in connection with that hope, saying, "So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weaknesses, For we do not know what prayer to offer, nor how to offer it worthily as we ought." Paul speak her about the "manifestation" of "hope" in our lives. Hope isn't always fulfilled because we don't know how to pray or what we need to bring it to pass.
The remainder of Romans 8:26 (Amplified) says, "But, the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads on our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance." Verse 27 goes on to tell us what these "deep utterances" are, saying, "And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit (what His intent is), because the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) on behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will."
The Holy Spirit is the Intercessor and the One Who "speaks in tongues with "groans and utterances. He speaks the perfect will of God on our behalf. Verse 28 says, "And we are assured and know that (God being a partner in their labor) all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to (His) design and purpose."
We have used Verse 28 to justify "all things" to include such things as car accidents, cancer, child abuse and other things and as being the "all things are working together for our good." This is not what He said!
1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) tells us, "For one who speaks in and unknown tongue, speaks not to men but to God for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding."
The ministry of intercession is exactly what we found in Romans 8 which says, "When we don't know how to pray as we ought." This too is the "mysteries and hidden things not obvious to our understanding." This is why we're not speaking to men, but to God. We can pray in the Holy Spirit and pray about things we don't understand or pray about matters we cannot articulate on our own. We are trying to bring the "hope" into manifestation by faith in our lives or the lives of others. Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things (we) hope for and the proof of things we do not see, and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)."
Through the Holy Spirit's interceding through us, we have the ability to pray the very heart and will of God and to bring forth faith in things our natural mind cannot even comprehend. Your natural mind can't conceive "healing" in your body by simply praying and believing God for it. It's a "hope," but may not be faith. The Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues) can transmit this "hope" before God and build the faith in what we hope for.
Jude 1:20-21 (Amplified) says, "But you beloved, build yourselves up (founded) on your most holy faith (make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher), Praying in the Holy Spirit. Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God, expect and wait patiently for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) (which will bring you) unto life eternal."
The "praying in the Holy Spirit" above, is the same "praying by the Holy Spirit" we read about in both Romans 8 and 1Corinthians 14. This is your spirit, through and by the Holy Spirit, praying things that only the spirit can know and receive. When we "Don't know how to pray as we should," we pray in the Holy Spirit. I don't know about you, but I find myself in that place many times.
Thank God for the Intercessor's praying through us with "groanings that cannot be uttered" in an articulate language. You might ask, "Why can't we just pray in English?" Because, you don't know how to pray in English as we ought. Our prayers are limited to our own vocabulary, but His are unlimited.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is one of the most crucial ministries of God's entire purpose to the Church. When the devil fights so hard against the speaking in tongues, I want to know why. This applies to the message in Romans 8:14 (Amplified) which says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God!"
Only "sons" (children of God's family) have the ability and privilege of being led by the Spirit of God. The world can't be led by the Spirit of God until they are born of the Spirit of God. When we pray in and through the Holy Spirit, we can learn how to pray before something happens instead of waiting for the devil to tear something up and praying to repair it. This is being led by the Holy Spirit.
Both 1Corinthians 14:4 and Jude 1:20 teach about "speaking in tongues (unknown tongues)" and praying in the Holy Spirit. Both speak about building up the one who is praying or speaking in tongues. The purpose is for revelation of things we don't understand or "secret truths and hidden things." The other purpose of speaking in tongues is the building up your most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. 1Corinthians 14:4 (Amplified) says, "He who speaks in a (strange) unknown tongue, edifies and improves himself." Jude 1:20 (Amplified) says, "Building up your most holy faith (like an edifice) praying in the Holy Spirit." Romans 8:26 (Amplified) says, "When we don't know how to pray as we ought to, He (the Holy Spirit) will pray through us." This presents the perfect prayer and reveals things that we don't know in our natural minds into our spirits to be revealed by God.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Lesson 15 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Paul shares the revelation and the truth of the new covenant in Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) saying, "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not a man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standards) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but (it came to me) through a (direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
This revelation, that we call the New Testament, is a direct revelation from Jesus to Paul and from Paul to us, by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit's revealing this great truth, we would once again begin to make it a "human standard" and a man's gospel. Once man gets involved, without the Holy Spirit, it once again becomes the Law of works.
Man is determined to make a place of works in order to be justified before a Holy God. Man always centers in on the negative instead of the positive. That's the human nature without the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We have had man-made religions for thousands of years and in every one of them, man had to prove himself to his god in order to obtain blessing. Many centered around human sacrifice to a demon spirit that demanded blood for restitution. Others required the disfiguring or degrading of the worshipers as a form of holiness.
Even some in Christianity who were without the Holy Spirit's teaching and giving revelation, would wear underclothing made from harsh materials that caused pain, while others beat themselves in order to pay for their uncleanliness. Man has always had the need to worship and has always known that whatever god he worshiped, that god was greater and mightier than he. The only question was how to appease and approach that god.
When man grabbed onto the new covenant without the Holy Spirit, he did what he had always done and tried being his own savior. Paul said in Galatians 1:11 that this revelation came directly from Jesus into his spirit and wasn't from man at all.
A revelation is not something that is taught, but is something that is revealed. The Holy Spirit can show you something or reveal something to you in an instant, but might take you years to properly articulate to someone else. It wasn't taught to Paul, but was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. We can only teach what we know, while the Holy Spirit can reveal mysteries that we have no knowledge of, into our spirits. In Galatians 1:16-18 (Amplified) Paul says, "To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood (did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone)." Verse 17 says, "Nor did I (even) go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia and afterward I came back to Damascus."
This revelation was so strong and so direct in Paul's spirit that he dare not go to any man and seek advice on it. He traveled to Arabia and preached what he heard and gathered a congregation of Gentiles before any of the other Apostles knew that salvation through Jesus included all men. If Paul had sought counsel from the others, then they would surely have disagreed with him.
When the Holy Spirit infuses Himself into your spirit with revelation, it's more real and alive than anything else you have ever known. Galatians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "Now (note carefully what I am telling you, for it is the truth) I write this as though I were standing before the bar of God; I do not lie." Verses 21-22 go on, "Then I went into the districts (countries, regions) of Syria and Cilicia. And so far I was still unknown by sight to the Churches of Christ in Judea (the country surrounding Jerusalem)."
Here was a man who was so completely in the Spirit of revelation that he simply went forth in the power of it and created an entirely new kingdom fro God in the Gentile nations. Paul didn't hesitate about his call or his message, but went to the world proclaiming it. The majority of the persecution Paul suffered came from the religious people and their man-made theories about God. At that time, even Peter was trying to tell the gentiles that they must be circumcised and abstain from certain meats and days to be saved.
There were many arguments among the leadership of the early Church, which continue today. Paul said in Galatians 2:21 (Amplified), "Therefore (I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and the unmerited grace of God that was given for the forgiveness of sin and the gift of righteousness. There is no other way."
We try adding our own ideas and opinions to the Gospel in order to bring the people back into submission. We use fear tactics, Law practices, threats of sickness and disease and in some cases, rejection if we ever fail. These are all man-made religion and not God-made relationship. Many have no peace in their Christian walk because they're preached under condemnation continuously. We've been made more aware of the sin than the Sin Bearer.
As I finish this teaching in the Holy Spirit, I want to reach (by revelation), into the ministry that Jesus spoke about when He introduced Him. Jesus called Him, "Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Stand-by." In John 14:26 (Amplified) Jesus called the Holy Spirit, "The Spirit of Truth." In the King James Version of the same verse, "He is called the Guide (to lead and guide us into all the truth)." In John 16:13 (Amplified) He is also called, "The Guide."
If you've ever hunted or hiked in a vast, unfamiliar territory, then you know the value and importance of a skilled and knowledgeable guide. If you go to Alaska or Montana hunting for the first time, then it's paramount that your most valuable equipment would be a guide. That's true when you're going to any uncharted waters, unfamiliar territory or any unknown place. Without having a guide to lead you there and back, you might not come back at all.
Never forget that the Holy Spirit is the One Who will "Lead and guide you into all truth." He will lead you into All Truth and not just some of it. We know some of the truth, but He wishes to reveal the rest of the truth to us. You can never know too much about Jesus. When we neglect the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are limited to the natural mind and there is no revelation in it.
This revelation, that we call the New Testament, is a direct revelation from Jesus to Paul and from Paul to us, by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit's revealing this great truth, we would once again begin to make it a "human standard" and a man's gospel. Once man gets involved, without the Holy Spirit, it once again becomes the Law of works.
Man is determined to make a place of works in order to be justified before a Holy God. Man always centers in on the negative instead of the positive. That's the human nature without the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We have had man-made religions for thousands of years and in every one of them, man had to prove himself to his god in order to obtain blessing. Many centered around human sacrifice to a demon spirit that demanded blood for restitution. Others required the disfiguring or degrading of the worshipers as a form of holiness.
Even some in Christianity who were without the Holy Spirit's teaching and giving revelation, would wear underclothing made from harsh materials that caused pain, while others beat themselves in order to pay for their uncleanliness. Man has always had the need to worship and has always known that whatever god he worshiped, that god was greater and mightier than he. The only question was how to appease and approach that god.
When man grabbed onto the new covenant without the Holy Spirit, he did what he had always done and tried being his own savior. Paul said in Galatians 1:11 that this revelation came directly from Jesus into his spirit and wasn't from man at all.
A revelation is not something that is taught, but is something that is revealed. The Holy Spirit can show you something or reveal something to you in an instant, but might take you years to properly articulate to someone else. It wasn't taught to Paul, but was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. We can only teach what we know, while the Holy Spirit can reveal mysteries that we have no knowledge of, into our spirits. In Galatians 1:16-18 (Amplified) Paul says, "To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood (did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone)." Verse 17 says, "Nor did I (even) go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia and afterward I came back to Damascus."
This revelation was so strong and so direct in Paul's spirit that he dare not go to any man and seek advice on it. He traveled to Arabia and preached what he heard and gathered a congregation of Gentiles before any of the other Apostles knew that salvation through Jesus included all men. If Paul had sought counsel from the others, then they would surely have disagreed with him.
When the Holy Spirit infuses Himself into your spirit with revelation, it's more real and alive than anything else you have ever known. Galatians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "Now (note carefully what I am telling you, for it is the truth) I write this as though I were standing before the bar of God; I do not lie." Verses 21-22 go on, "Then I went into the districts (countries, regions) of Syria and Cilicia. And so far I was still unknown by sight to the Churches of Christ in Judea (the country surrounding Jerusalem)."
Here was a man who was so completely in the Spirit of revelation that he simply went forth in the power of it and created an entirely new kingdom fro God in the Gentile nations. Paul didn't hesitate about his call or his message, but went to the world proclaiming it. The majority of the persecution Paul suffered came from the religious people and their man-made theories about God. At that time, even Peter was trying to tell the gentiles that they must be circumcised and abstain from certain meats and days to be saved.
There were many arguments among the leadership of the early Church, which continue today. Paul said in Galatians 2:21 (Amplified), "Therefore (I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and the unmerited grace of God that was given for the forgiveness of sin and the gift of righteousness. There is no other way."
We try adding our own ideas and opinions to the Gospel in order to bring the people back into submission. We use fear tactics, Law practices, threats of sickness and disease and in some cases, rejection if we ever fail. These are all man-made religion and not God-made relationship. Many have no peace in their Christian walk because they're preached under condemnation continuously. We've been made more aware of the sin than the Sin Bearer.
As I finish this teaching in the Holy Spirit, I want to reach (by revelation), into the ministry that Jesus spoke about when He introduced Him. Jesus called Him, "Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Stand-by." In John 14:26 (Amplified) Jesus called the Holy Spirit, "The Spirit of Truth." In the King James Version of the same verse, "He is called the Guide (to lead and guide us into all the truth)." In John 16:13 (Amplified) He is also called, "The Guide."
If you've ever hunted or hiked in a vast, unfamiliar territory, then you know the value and importance of a skilled and knowledgeable guide. If you go to Alaska or Montana hunting for the first time, then it's paramount that your most valuable equipment would be a guide. That's true when you're going to any uncharted waters, unfamiliar territory or any unknown place. Without having a guide to lead you there and back, you might not come back at all.
Never forget that the Holy Spirit is the One Who will "Lead and guide you into all truth." He will lead you into All Truth and not just some of it. We know some of the truth, but He wishes to reveal the rest of the truth to us. You can never know too much about Jesus. When we neglect the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are limited to the natural mind and there is no revelation in it.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Lesson 14 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit gave the revelation of the new covenant, through Jesus, neither the Jew nor Greek received it very well. Even the Apostles didn't wish to believe what Paul said. After the Lord gave Peter a vision about Cornelius and the clean versus unclean things, the revelation finally overrode the Law that Peter knew and he began seeing what the Holy Spirit was saying.
Peter initially discounted what Paul was preaching. Here was a man who walked with Jesus in the flesh and saw the miracles Jesus performed, but this was only head knowledge and not the knowledge the Holy Spirit gave to Peter, according to 2Peter 3:15-16 (Amplified) which says, "And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord (His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world) is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul's safety) even as our beloved brother Paul also to you according to the spiritual insight given him." There are some things in the Epistles of Paul that are difficult to understand. The unstable and ignorant people twist and misconstrue these scriptures to their own advantage, just like they distort and misinterpret the rest of the scriptures.
After Peter received revelation from the Holy Spirit, he began referring to Paul's writings as scripture. Only the Holy Spirit can take salvation to the Gentiles and reveal it to the Jews and have them receive it as Holy Scripture.
John 14:26 (Amplified) says, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by) the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me, and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things, and He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
We don't know everything Jesus might have told His disciples, we only know what the Holy Spirit told them to record in the four Gospels. Whatever teachings Jesus gave them, it is only the Holy Spirit Who could give it life and bring it to remembrance. And, until the Holy Spirit gives revelation of the scriptures, they remain only head knowledge to the believer.
We, the Church, are believers or we would not be the Church. So, it's not a matter of "are we believers," but are we willing to believe what the Holy Spirit is presenting to us? Once we allow the Teacher to reveal the truth of scripture, everything will change and it will become easier to understand and better truths for our Christian walk. When we no longer are afraid of God or feel unworthy of His answering our prayers, then the harvest will come into the barn in record time.
You will never see you like God sees you, apart from the Holy Spirit's revealing the truth of your salvation. We must remember Jesus' Words about the Holy Spirit in John 16:14 (Amplified) which says, "He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine, and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."
Jesus is honored and glorified in the world when the Church receives and declares what and Who He is and what He has, to the world. Sometimes, I feel as though the Holy Spirit is revealing so much to us, that we cannot soak it all up. I've discovered with growth in my Christian walk, that the things the Holy Spirit showed me in my infancy seem so childish now. He didn't take the revelation He gave me away, but He expounded on it so that I feel like the scriptures have opened to me with a new revelation.
Then, I came to realize that it wasn't a new revelation, but more revelation than I had before. Paul speaks about going to the Third Heaven in 2Corinthians 12:2 (Amplified). Paul said he knew a man [Saul,before God changed his name to Paul] who was taken to heaven fourteen years ago and given this revelation. He said he didn't know if he was taken in the flesh or in the spirit.
Paul spoke about this also in Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) saying, "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made know by me, is not man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but (it cam to me) through a a(direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." In Galatians 2:1 (Amplified) Paul said, "Then after (an interval) of fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem, this time I went with Barnabas, taking Titus along with (me) also. These are two separate events and not to be confused.
This gospel is a direct revelation given by Jesus Himself. It is not man's gospel and cannot be received in man's understanding. It must be given by revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Peter initially discounted what Paul was preaching. Here was a man who walked with Jesus in the flesh and saw the miracles Jesus performed, but this was only head knowledge and not the knowledge the Holy Spirit gave to Peter, according to 2Peter 3:15-16 (Amplified) which says, "And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord (His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world) is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul's safety) even as our beloved brother Paul also to you according to the spiritual insight given him." There are some things in the Epistles of Paul that are difficult to understand. The unstable and ignorant people twist and misconstrue these scriptures to their own advantage, just like they distort and misinterpret the rest of the scriptures.
After Peter received revelation from the Holy Spirit, he began referring to Paul's writings as scripture. Only the Holy Spirit can take salvation to the Gentiles and reveal it to the Jews and have them receive it as Holy Scripture.
John 14:26 (Amplified) says, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by) the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me, and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things, and He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
We don't know everything Jesus might have told His disciples, we only know what the Holy Spirit told them to record in the four Gospels. Whatever teachings Jesus gave them, it is only the Holy Spirit Who could give it life and bring it to remembrance. And, until the Holy Spirit gives revelation of the scriptures, they remain only head knowledge to the believer.
We, the Church, are believers or we would not be the Church. So, it's not a matter of "are we believers," but are we willing to believe what the Holy Spirit is presenting to us? Once we allow the Teacher to reveal the truth of scripture, everything will change and it will become easier to understand and better truths for our Christian walk. When we no longer are afraid of God or feel unworthy of His answering our prayers, then the harvest will come into the barn in record time.
You will never see you like God sees you, apart from the Holy Spirit's revealing the truth of your salvation. We must remember Jesus' Words about the Holy Spirit in John 16:14 (Amplified) which says, "He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine, and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."
Jesus is honored and glorified in the world when the Church receives and declares what and Who He is and what He has, to the world. Sometimes, I feel as though the Holy Spirit is revealing so much to us, that we cannot soak it all up. I've discovered with growth in my Christian walk, that the things the Holy Spirit showed me in my infancy seem so childish now. He didn't take the revelation He gave me away, but He expounded on it so that I feel like the scriptures have opened to me with a new revelation.
Then, I came to realize that it wasn't a new revelation, but more revelation than I had before. Paul speaks about going to the Third Heaven in 2Corinthians 12:2 (Amplified). Paul said he knew a man [Saul,before God changed his name to Paul] who was taken to heaven fourteen years ago and given this revelation. He said he didn't know if he was taken in the flesh or in the spirit.
Paul spoke about this also in Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) saying, "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made know by me, is not man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but (it cam to me) through a a(direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." In Galatians 2:1 (Amplified) Paul said, "Then after (an interval) of fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem, this time I went with Barnabas, taking Titus along with (me) also. These are two separate events and not to be confused.
This gospel is a direct revelation given by Jesus Himself. It is not man's gospel and cannot be received in man's understanding. It must be given by revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Lesson 13 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
One of the greatest works of the Holy Spirit is revealing the new creation to the Church. We seem to hold onto the "dead man," instead of identifying with the new man. It's the Holy Spirit's job to reveal Jesus in all His glory to the Church (the Body of Christ) so that the Head (Jesus) has full control over the body. Imagine the natural body suffers a stroke and the Head is still telling the body what it needs and wants, but the body isn't responding to the given communication. If the communication lines are severed or out of order, then the commands of the head don't reach the limbs. There is nothing wrong with the transmitter, only the receiver.
John 16:13-15 (Amplified) says, "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole, full truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him), and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)." Verse 14 says, "He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you." Verse 15 says, "Everything that the Father has is Mine; That is what I meant when I said that He (the Spirit) will take the things that are Mine, and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."
Everything the Father has is His (Jesus') and the Holy Spirit is to transmit the wisdom and knowledge of what the Father has, to the Church. We've learned so very little about what really occurred at Calvary throughout the years, that the Holy Spirit is exceedingly busy bringing revelation to the Church. We've mostly only allowed Him to transmit the fact of going to heaven when we leave this life.
There is so much that must be learned in these last days. Jesus said in John 16:14 (Amplified), "He (the Holy Spirit) will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."
The revealing of what Jesus has, will be shown through the Holy Spirit and will glory and honor the Lord Jesus Christ. The new revelation is not given to "puff up" the Church, but is to glorify Jesus by it.
We've lost so much over the years by walking in what we think about Jesus, instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal more of Him. It's good that we haven't lost the truths that we have, but we need to allow the Holy Spirit to transmit the depth of this truth to us.
I'm not sure we will ever understand the fullness of what Jesus did, but we can understand much, much more than we currently do. Thank God for the revelation we have now concerning Calvary, but also Thank God for the further revelation we can have. Paul declared in 2Corinthians 12:1 (Amplified) that, "He will go on to visions and revelation of the Lord."
Even with the revelation Paul received about the new birth, the righteousness, the grace, the son-ship, the rapture and the other things he received from the Holy Spirit's revelation, he still expected to "go onto more vision and to more revelation about Jesus."
Only the Holy Spirit can bring the true revelation that Paul wrote to the Church about. We can read the Words that he wrote and agree that the Bible is true, but still not have the true revelation in our Christian walk and lives. Only the Holy Spirit can transmit this truth into our spirit. We can have a "head knowledge" of what the Word says and still not have it "revealed to our spirit."
Most of the world's population (at least in America) have heard about Jesus. We have church buildings on every corner. We have a head knowledge about Jesus, but the revelation of Him hasn't become truth in the heart or spirit of many. Again, there is nothing wrong with the transmitter, it's the receiver that isn't working.
Only the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of truth), the truth giving Spirit, can reveal Jesus to us. The revelation of the new birth and the Church that Paul received wasn't given to everyone simultaneously, only to him. When the Holy Spirit took him to the "Third Heaven," the Lord Himself transmitted directly into his spirit these truths and revelation.
2Corinthians 12:1-4 (Amplified) says, "True there is nothing to be gained by it (boasting), but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-was caught up to the third heaven." Verses 3-5 go on, "And I know that this man-whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows. Was caught up into paradise and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter. Of this same (man's experiences) I will boast, but of myself (personally) I will not boast, except as regards my infirmities (weaknesses)."
Paul speaks in these few verses, about his experiences after the road to Damascus. He was blinded by the glorious light of the appearing of Jesus and then he was healed of that blindness by Ananias in Acts 9:10-20. Let's read Acts9:8-9 (Amplified) which says, "Then Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing, so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. And he was unable to see for three days, and neither ate nor drank (anything)."
It was during this time of blindness that Paul was fasting and taken to the Third Heaven and given the revelation we are still preaching today. He wasn't sure if he was actually taken bodily and said that only God knew that. He was given (by Jesus or God Himself) this revelation of the cross and resurrection and the full truth of what happened then.
We still struggle over what Paul wrote in the Epistles, but he said that what he heard was "beyond the power of man to put into words that which man is not permitted to utter." They crucified Jesus for the blasphemy of saying "God was His Father." What do you think they would say at Paul's revelation?
The Holy Spirit continues to bring light and revelation to the Epistles Paul wrote. And, men continue to not believe it and are angry when some declare to be "righteous before God" even today. We can say we believe what is written is the Word of God, then act like it isn't real to us. This is failing to allow the Holy Spirit to transmit what Jesus did for us, to us. It glorifies Him and honors Him when we believe. Only the Holy Spirit can transmit this truth to us without our boasting in our own self-righteousness.
The entire plan of redemption is only revealed by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. His ministry as the One True Teacher of the Church, is where we're heading in these last days. Before the return of Jesus, we still have those even in the Church who don't recognize where we are in God's plan.
John 16:13-15 (Amplified) says, "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole, full truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him), and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)." Verse 14 says, "He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you." Verse 15 says, "Everything that the Father has is Mine; That is what I meant when I said that He (the Spirit) will take the things that are Mine, and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."
Everything the Father has is His (Jesus') and the Holy Spirit is to transmit the wisdom and knowledge of what the Father has, to the Church. We've learned so very little about what really occurred at Calvary throughout the years, that the Holy Spirit is exceedingly busy bringing revelation to the Church. We've mostly only allowed Him to transmit the fact of going to heaven when we leave this life.
There is so much that must be learned in these last days. Jesus said in John 16:14 (Amplified), "He (the Holy Spirit) will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."
The revealing of what Jesus has, will be shown through the Holy Spirit and will glory and honor the Lord Jesus Christ. The new revelation is not given to "puff up" the Church, but is to glorify Jesus by it.
We've lost so much over the years by walking in what we think about Jesus, instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal more of Him. It's good that we haven't lost the truths that we have, but we need to allow the Holy Spirit to transmit the depth of this truth to us.
I'm not sure we will ever understand the fullness of what Jesus did, but we can understand much, much more than we currently do. Thank God for the revelation we have now concerning Calvary, but also Thank God for the further revelation we can have. Paul declared in 2Corinthians 12:1 (Amplified) that, "He will go on to visions and revelation of the Lord."
Even with the revelation Paul received about the new birth, the righteousness, the grace, the son-ship, the rapture and the other things he received from the Holy Spirit's revelation, he still expected to "go onto more vision and to more revelation about Jesus."
Only the Holy Spirit can bring the true revelation that Paul wrote to the Church about. We can read the Words that he wrote and agree that the Bible is true, but still not have the true revelation in our Christian walk and lives. Only the Holy Spirit can transmit this truth into our spirit. We can have a "head knowledge" of what the Word says and still not have it "revealed to our spirit."
Most of the world's population (at least in America) have heard about Jesus. We have church buildings on every corner. We have a head knowledge about Jesus, but the revelation of Him hasn't become truth in the heart or spirit of many. Again, there is nothing wrong with the transmitter, it's the receiver that isn't working.
Only the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of truth), the truth giving Spirit, can reveal Jesus to us. The revelation of the new birth and the Church that Paul received wasn't given to everyone simultaneously, only to him. When the Holy Spirit took him to the "Third Heaven," the Lord Himself transmitted directly into his spirit these truths and revelation.
2Corinthians 12:1-4 (Amplified) says, "True there is nothing to be gained by it (boasting), but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-was caught up to the third heaven." Verses 3-5 go on, "And I know that this man-whether in the body or away from the body I do not know, God knows. Was caught up into paradise and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter. Of this same (man's experiences) I will boast, but of myself (personally) I will not boast, except as regards my infirmities (weaknesses)."
Paul speaks in these few verses, about his experiences after the road to Damascus. He was blinded by the glorious light of the appearing of Jesus and then he was healed of that blindness by Ananias in Acts 9:10-20. Let's read Acts9:8-9 (Amplified) which says, "Then Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing, so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. And he was unable to see for three days, and neither ate nor drank (anything)."
It was during this time of blindness that Paul was fasting and taken to the Third Heaven and given the revelation we are still preaching today. He wasn't sure if he was actually taken bodily and said that only God knew that. He was given (by Jesus or God Himself) this revelation of the cross and resurrection and the full truth of what happened then.
We still struggle over what Paul wrote in the Epistles, but he said that what he heard was "beyond the power of man to put into words that which man is not permitted to utter." They crucified Jesus for the blasphemy of saying "God was His Father." What do you think they would say at Paul's revelation?
The Holy Spirit continues to bring light and revelation to the Epistles Paul wrote. And, men continue to not believe it and are angry when some declare to be "righteous before God" even today. We can say we believe what is written is the Word of God, then act like it isn't real to us. This is failing to allow the Holy Spirit to transmit what Jesus did for us, to us. It glorifies Him and honors Him when we believe. Only the Holy Spirit can transmit this truth to us without our boasting in our own self-righteousness.
The entire plan of redemption is only revealed by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. His ministry as the One True Teacher of the Church, is where we're heading in these last days. Before the return of Jesus, we still have those even in the Church who don't recognize where we are in God's plan.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Lesson 11 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
In John 14:26 (Amplified) Jesus says, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by), The Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf), He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
One of the names Jesus calls the Holy Spirit is Counselor. We must always remember that the Father, Jesus (the Word) and the Holy Spirit are all One and the same Almighty God and are part of the Triune character of God, but still God. When Jesus ascended to the Father after His resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and bring the Church into the full knowledge of what His sacrifice brought to mankind.
Jesus Himself is seated at the right hand of the Father on High, according to Ephesians 1:19-21(Amplified) which says, "And (so that you can know and understand) what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength. Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His (Own) right hand in the heavenly (places) Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is name (above every title that can be conferred) not only in this age and in this world, but also into the age and the world which are to come."
We see how Jesus is still seated in the heavenlies with the Father. The work that is being done on earth today, is by the Name of Jesus as our authority and the presence of the Holy Spirit Who performs the manifestation of God's will by His Word.
The Counselor is the mind of Christ being made manifest in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We see the promise of His coming into the world as Counselor in Isaiah 9:8 (Amplified) which says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty god, Everlasting Father (of eternity) Prince of Peace."
I cannot help but wonder, how many of us ever call upon Him as Counselor. We go to marriage counselors, medical counselors and even Christian counselors, but how often do we actually seek the Holy Spirit as our own Counselor? Maybe it's because we don't hear His voice or aren't familiar enough with His presence to accept what we hear in our spirit, as the Holy Spirit. We, as the Church, haven't familiarized ourselves with Him to where we accept what we hear as the counsel of the Holy Spirit.
It's imperative that in these last days, we learn to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit. After all, He is God in our midst. Isaiah 40:13-14 (Amplified) says, "Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, that instruction might be given Him? Who taught Him the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?"
Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified) says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool." As we "reason" with Him and take counsel from Him, we find that are sins are like crimson and scarlet. What happens to crimson sin when it is mixed or blotted out by crimson blood? It is no longer visible. His counsel will always remind us of this and remove the guilt of our past.
There is no problem we cannot approach the throne of grace and receive counsel for and grace to deal with. Isaiah 58:8-9 (Amplified) says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My way higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."
The Holy Spirit is our Counselor Who gives us counsel from on high. The Father said that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. The Counselor can counsel us on a much higher realm than any other counsel we can ever hope to receive here on earth, because "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways." There is no other way for us to be elevated into this realm of counsel, other than the Holy Spirit.
So often, we do what we think is right or what we think God is telling us, only to mess things up. It's true that God can and does, unravel the messes we make, but if we will only learn to listen to the Counselor, then we won't keep repeating serial mistakes.
John 10:3-4 (Amplified) says, "The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to His voice and heed it; and he culls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out." Verse 4 goes on, "When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice." John 10:27 (Amplified) says, "The sheep that are My Own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me."
The Father fully intended for His children to know and recognize His voice. He would speak to us through the same Holy Spirit Who communicated with Jesus during His earth ministry. Jesus says in John 5:30 (Amplified), "I am able to do nothing from Myself (independently, of My Own accord, but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders) Even as I hear, I judge (I decide as I am bidden to decide, As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision) and My judgment is right (just, righteous) because I do not seek or consult My Own will (I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My Own aim, My Own purpose) but only to the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me."
I believe this is where we miss it sometimes. The Counselor (the Holy Spirit) will always tell us what is God's will for our lives or the lives of someone else. Many times, His counsel isn't something we wish to hear or do. We might hear the voice of the Counselor, but still not heed it.
When I was on the radio broadcast of W.W.J.S., many people knew my voice without ever seeing or knowing my face. The more they listened to the broadcast, the more they became so familiar with my voice that when they heard me in public venues, they would stop and ask, "Are you Cowboy Jim on the radio?" Then they would tell me, "I knew as soon as I heard your voice, that it was you."
This is the place we need to be with our Counselor. We need to become so familiar with His voice, that we know Him anywhere. His counsel is always right and always meant to elevate us into the realm of the Father. There have been many times in my ministry, where people ask me, "Oh, God speaks to you, does He?" Our answer to that question should always be a resounding, "Yes." There is nothing wrong with the Transmitter, only the receiver.
Psalm 1:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walk and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly (following their advice, their plans, and purposes) nor stands (submissive and inactive) in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down (to relax and rest) where the scornful (and the mockers) gather. But his delight and desire are in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponder and studies) by day and by night."
The Holy Spirit's ministry is the most blessed time we will ever enjoy. The Father has made this counsel available to all who will accept it and believe it. Learn to hear and identify His voice and counsel for your life. You are a unique being and His counsel for you is solely for you.
One of the names Jesus calls the Holy Spirit is Counselor. We must always remember that the Father, Jesus (the Word) and the Holy Spirit are all One and the same Almighty God and are part of the Triune character of God, but still God. When Jesus ascended to the Father after His resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and bring the Church into the full knowledge of what His sacrifice brought to mankind.
Jesus Himself is seated at the right hand of the Father on High, according to Ephesians 1:19-21(Amplified) which says, "And (so that you can know and understand) what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength. Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His (Own) right hand in the heavenly (places) Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is name (above every title that can be conferred) not only in this age and in this world, but also into the age and the world which are to come."
We see how Jesus is still seated in the heavenlies with the Father. The work that is being done on earth today, is by the Name of Jesus as our authority and the presence of the Holy Spirit Who performs the manifestation of God's will by His Word.
The Counselor is the mind of Christ being made manifest in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We see the promise of His coming into the world as Counselor in Isaiah 9:8 (Amplified) which says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty god, Everlasting Father (of eternity) Prince of Peace."
I cannot help but wonder, how many of us ever call upon Him as Counselor. We go to marriage counselors, medical counselors and even Christian counselors, but how often do we actually seek the Holy Spirit as our own Counselor? Maybe it's because we don't hear His voice or aren't familiar enough with His presence to accept what we hear in our spirit, as the Holy Spirit. We, as the Church, haven't familiarized ourselves with Him to where we accept what we hear as the counsel of the Holy Spirit.
It's imperative that in these last days, we learn to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit. After all, He is God in our midst. Isaiah 40:13-14 (Amplified) says, "Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, that instruction might be given Him? Who taught Him the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?"
Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified) says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool." As we "reason" with Him and take counsel from Him, we find that are sins are like crimson and scarlet. What happens to crimson sin when it is mixed or blotted out by crimson blood? It is no longer visible. His counsel will always remind us of this and remove the guilt of our past.
There is no problem we cannot approach the throne of grace and receive counsel for and grace to deal with. Isaiah 58:8-9 (Amplified) says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My way higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."
The Holy Spirit is our Counselor Who gives us counsel from on high. The Father said that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. The Counselor can counsel us on a much higher realm than any other counsel we can ever hope to receive here on earth, because "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways." There is no other way for us to be elevated into this realm of counsel, other than the Holy Spirit.
So often, we do what we think is right or what we think God is telling us, only to mess things up. It's true that God can and does, unravel the messes we make, but if we will only learn to listen to the Counselor, then we won't keep repeating serial mistakes.
John 10:3-4 (Amplified) says, "The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to His voice and heed it; and he culls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out." Verse 4 goes on, "When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice." John 10:27 (Amplified) says, "The sheep that are My Own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me."
The Father fully intended for His children to know and recognize His voice. He would speak to us through the same Holy Spirit Who communicated with Jesus during His earth ministry. Jesus says in John 5:30 (Amplified), "I am able to do nothing from Myself (independently, of My Own accord, but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders) Even as I hear, I judge (I decide as I am bidden to decide, As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision) and My judgment is right (just, righteous) because I do not seek or consult My Own will (I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My Own aim, My Own purpose) but only to the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me."
I believe this is where we miss it sometimes. The Counselor (the Holy Spirit) will always tell us what is God's will for our lives or the lives of someone else. Many times, His counsel isn't something we wish to hear or do. We might hear the voice of the Counselor, but still not heed it.
When I was on the radio broadcast of W.W.J.S., many people knew my voice without ever seeing or knowing my face. The more they listened to the broadcast, the more they became so familiar with my voice that when they heard me in public venues, they would stop and ask, "Are you Cowboy Jim on the radio?" Then they would tell me, "I knew as soon as I heard your voice, that it was you."
This is the place we need to be with our Counselor. We need to become so familiar with His voice, that we know Him anywhere. His counsel is always right and always meant to elevate us into the realm of the Father. There have been many times in my ministry, where people ask me, "Oh, God speaks to you, does He?" Our answer to that question should always be a resounding, "Yes." There is nothing wrong with the Transmitter, only the receiver.
Psalm 1:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walk and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly (following their advice, their plans, and purposes) nor stands (submissive and inactive) in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down (to relax and rest) where the scornful (and the mockers) gather. But his delight and desire are in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponder and studies) by day and by night."
The Holy Spirit's ministry is the most blessed time we will ever enjoy. The Father has made this counsel available to all who will accept it and believe it. Learn to hear and identify His voice and counsel for your life. You are a unique being and His counsel for you is solely for you.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Lesson 10 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The most rejected part of the life of the believer is reliance on the Holy Spirit. He is the One Who Jesus said, "The Father would send to us another Comforter" after His ascension. The Holy Spirit's title is really much more than a Comforter, He is the One to Whom the Father has entrusted the growth and maturity of His family.
The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to point people to salvation by revealing the redemptive work of Jesus at the cross and resurrection. Once He has revealed salvation through the Blood and grace of Jesus, the Holy Spirit has to reveal to the Church what all that really means to us.
Jesus said in John 14:26 (Amplified), "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things, and He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." In John 16:13 (Amplified) Jesus said, "He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Remember how the things we know now about the Church, the new birth, the sonship rights, the return of the Lord, the redemption from the curse, the covenant of grace and the time of the end, had not yet happened and were for the future. It's been the Holy Spirit's ministry to reveal all these things we now know, to the Church. He has been ever busy about the appointment the Father has sent Him to do.
The Holy Spirit has brought the Love of God into the hearts of God's family, according to Romans 5:5 (Amplified) which says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." We've failed in so many aspects about having His presence in our lives and it continues today.
The Holy Spirit is the One Who the Father has entrusted His family to. The promise of the resurrection has even been given over to Him. Romans 8:11 (Amplified) says, "And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you."
For many in the Church,the Holy Spirit has been and remains a mystery or at least Someone Who isn't personable or Someone with Whom one could actually have a relationship with. The Holy Spirit was inspiring men to write down what the Father was speaking to His children. 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action)." Verse 17 says, "So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
It requires the Holy Spirit's presence and His ministry, to reveal to the hearts of Christians, the fullness of what Jesus has done. Romans 8:15-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For (the Spirit which) you have now received (is) not a Spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry, Abba, (Father) Father. The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are children of God. And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him) Only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory."
When man read this scripture without the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, he always centers in on the phrase of "Sharing in His sufferings." This gives us leave to justify whatever goes on in our lives as "God's will" and the "suffering we must endure." Although it's true that there has been much suffering since the Church was breathed to life, this scripture isn't about focusing on suffering, but on being children of God and heirs of His glory and majesty.
We will suffer persecution for being Christians because of the Name of Jesus, but through all of these things, we are "more than conquerors through Christ" Who loves us. Without the Holy Spirit's revealing the spiritual things of God's Word, we bring the spiritual truth into a carnal "religion" that brings us once more, into bondage to the world.
This is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. God established the old covenant and the Law through Moses, but before that, there was a covenant of grace that came through Abraham. The only way to return to this grace covenant, was to destroy sin and not just cover it up through animal sacrifice. The ministry of Jesus had to come to earth. He was to be born without sin, fulfill the Law, die as a sinner or in the place of sinners, pay the Full penalty for our transgressions, be separated from the Father, buried in death and raised as Lord and Savior of the Church, ascend into the heavenlies on our behalf and take upon Himself the ministry of the High Priest over the covenant people and to be our intercessor before the throne of God for all time. His earthly ministry was completed and now would come the next part of God's work, which was bringing man back to Himself.
The Holy Spirit was now God poured out in the hearts of man, to live in them and walk with them (through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit). No longer would God have to deal with man in the flesh, but in the spirit. Now, the inside of the cup would be clean by sacrifice, instead of just the outside. Matthew 23:25-26 (Amplified) says, "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites) for you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self0indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so the outside may be clean.?
No matter how we kept the Law and how hard we tried, we were still under the sentence of "spiritual death" from the Garden. The only way to "be clean" was from the inside out and only the Holy Spirit of the Life of God, could do this. Once the inside was clean, the outside would then conform to the new life within us by His presence.
The Holy Spirit was now to reveal to us what this new life in Christ was really all about. He was to show us all things and cleanse the vessel of all things not from God. As he began unveil Jesus to the spirit of the believer, we were to be changed "from one glory to another glory, from glory to glory."
The Holy Spirit would reveal the power of this sacrifice and the completeness of it for the removal of sin in our lives. He would show us, by His ministry in us, that through Jesus, we are completely in right standing with God and righteous in His eyes. The Holy Spirit would teach us about the mystery that had been hidden before the foundation of the world and we would have this mystery revealed to us through Him. The Holy Spirit isn't just for the Upper Room or for speaking in tongues. He is living in us as the Guide, Teacher and God Himself.
The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to point people to salvation by revealing the redemptive work of Jesus at the cross and resurrection. Once He has revealed salvation through the Blood and grace of Jesus, the Holy Spirit has to reveal to the Church what all that really means to us.
Jesus said in John 14:26 (Amplified), "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things, and He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." In John 16:13 (Amplified) Jesus said, "He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Remember how the things we know now about the Church, the new birth, the sonship rights, the return of the Lord, the redemption from the curse, the covenant of grace and the time of the end, had not yet happened and were for the future. It's been the Holy Spirit's ministry to reveal all these things we now know, to the Church. He has been ever busy about the appointment the Father has sent Him to do.
The Holy Spirit has brought the Love of God into the hearts of God's family, according to Romans 5:5 (Amplified) which says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." We've failed in so many aspects about having His presence in our lives and it continues today.
The Holy Spirit is the One Who the Father has entrusted His family to. The promise of the resurrection has even been given over to Him. Romans 8:11 (Amplified) says, "And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you."
For many in the Church,the Holy Spirit has been and remains a mystery or at least Someone Who isn't personable or Someone with Whom one could actually have a relationship with. The Holy Spirit was inspiring men to write down what the Father was speaking to His children. 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action)." Verse 17 says, "So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
It requires the Holy Spirit's presence and His ministry, to reveal to the hearts of Christians, the fullness of what Jesus has done. Romans 8:15-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For (the Spirit which) you have now received (is) not a Spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry, Abba, (Father) Father. The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are children of God. And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him) Only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory."
When man read this scripture without the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, he always centers in on the phrase of "Sharing in His sufferings." This gives us leave to justify whatever goes on in our lives as "God's will" and the "suffering we must endure." Although it's true that there has been much suffering since the Church was breathed to life, this scripture isn't about focusing on suffering, but on being children of God and heirs of His glory and majesty.
We will suffer persecution for being Christians because of the Name of Jesus, but through all of these things, we are "more than conquerors through Christ" Who loves us. Without the Holy Spirit's revealing the spiritual things of God's Word, we bring the spiritual truth into a carnal "religion" that brings us once more, into bondage to the world.
This is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. God established the old covenant and the Law through Moses, but before that, there was a covenant of grace that came through Abraham. The only way to return to this grace covenant, was to destroy sin and not just cover it up through animal sacrifice. The ministry of Jesus had to come to earth. He was to be born without sin, fulfill the Law, die as a sinner or in the place of sinners, pay the Full penalty for our transgressions, be separated from the Father, buried in death and raised as Lord and Savior of the Church, ascend into the heavenlies on our behalf and take upon Himself the ministry of the High Priest over the covenant people and to be our intercessor before the throne of God for all time. His earthly ministry was completed and now would come the next part of God's work, which was bringing man back to Himself.
The Holy Spirit was now God poured out in the hearts of man, to live in them and walk with them (through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit). No longer would God have to deal with man in the flesh, but in the spirit. Now, the inside of the cup would be clean by sacrifice, instead of just the outside. Matthew 23:25-26 (Amplified) says, "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites) for you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self0indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so the outside may be clean.?
No matter how we kept the Law and how hard we tried, we were still under the sentence of "spiritual death" from the Garden. The only way to "be clean" was from the inside out and only the Holy Spirit of the Life of God, could do this. Once the inside was clean, the outside would then conform to the new life within us by His presence.
The Holy Spirit was now to reveal to us what this new life in Christ was really all about. He was to show us all things and cleanse the vessel of all things not from God. As he began unveil Jesus to the spirit of the believer, we were to be changed "from one glory to another glory, from glory to glory."
The Holy Spirit would reveal the power of this sacrifice and the completeness of it for the removal of sin in our lives. He would show us, by His ministry in us, that through Jesus, we are completely in right standing with God and righteous in His eyes. The Holy Spirit would teach us about the mystery that had been hidden before the foundation of the world and we would have this mystery revealed to us through Him. The Holy Spirit isn't just for the Upper Room or for speaking in tongues. He is living in us as the Guide, Teacher and God Himself.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Lesson 9 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Jesus spoke much concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit. When He spoke about the Holy Spirit, Jesus spoke about the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit that would come to men after Jesus went to the Father. That work and ministry has mostly been neglected by the Church. We haven't been taught to "listen" to His leadings or how to yield to His voice.
When Jesus was near the completion of His earthly ministry, He told the disciples that He would not leave them without Someone to replace Him. John 14:25-26 (Amplified) says, "I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by) the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things; And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
Jesus tells them in Verse 27 that He was "leaving or giving" His peace to them. This peace is a work of the same Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, alone, can bring the peace of God into your heart (spirit) in the midst of the world's turmoil. Remember how Jesus said the Father would sent the Holy Spirit to earth in His stead. The Holy Spirit was to be our Comforter. The comfort Jesus received in the face of adversity, came from the same Holy Spirit the Father sent to us.
How many people and how many times have you seen them seeking comfort in this world, when there's none to be found? Whether you're concerned about your finances, job, children or any other thing, it can bring dis-comfort to you. After telling His disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit, He said in John 14:27 (Amplified), "Peace I leave with you; My Peace (My Own peace) I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts (spirits) be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
The Holy Spirit came as a direct order from the Father on our behalf. He is the One Who will "bring to remembrance" the things Jesus said and to bring boldness and comfort to the Church. Too many times, we forget what Jesus said about the earthly ministry and work of the Holy Spirit. When we learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, we will always be comforted in our walk with the Father. The flesh only desires to condemn and accuse us before ourselves over our past. The Holy Spirit comes to encourage and convince us of the finished work of Christ.
We won't find comfort from listening to the flesh or the world. The "accuser" of the Church is the devil and he won't let you remember what Jesus says about you, only what the world and the unrenewed mind says about you. How can one live in peace and comfort and in the presence of a Holy God by only remembering who he used to be before Jesus made him new? Remembering those past things would only make us be "cowardly" in His presence.
The Word tells us in Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified), "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners) that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well times help, coming just when we need it)."
The only way we can "Come boldly to God's throne of grace," is when we allow the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to bring Christ's Own peace in our hearts. If we try approaching His throne of grace through our own efforts, then it is no longer grace. And, when it's not grace, then it is works, which will always cause us to fall short in our flesh. We cannot do enough good works to qualify in His throne room. It must be grace.
When we allow the Holy Spirit into our lives, we can walk in the life of the new man leave behind the old man, dead and buried in baptism. Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of sin and death."
Only when we allow the Comforter and Counselor to counsel us in our "new man," can we be free from the condemnation of the dictates (reminders) of the flesh. The old man will always remind you of who you were. The Holy Spirit will remind you of who you are now through Christ.
As Christians, we seem to struggle with this the most in our walk with God. We remain cowardly and intimidated in the presence of our Father. Without the working of the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, we can never be comfortable in the presence of our own Heavenly Father. We grieve the Holy Spirit by going back to the carnal mind instead of allowing Him to bring forth the mind of the Spirit to us.
Romans 15:13 (Amplified) says, "May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing (through the experience of your faith) that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope."
1Corinthians 1:6-7 (Amplified) says, "In this way (our) witnessing concerning Christ (the Messiah) was so confirmed and established and made sure in you that you are not (consciously) falling behind or lacking in any special spiritual endowment of Christian grace (the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in your souls by the Holy Spirit) while you wait and watch (constantly living in hope) for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and (His) being made visible to all."
There are things that cause some to "fall behind in" and "lack in," because we don't allow the Holy Spirit to work the "Peace that passes all understanding" in us. When we're more conscious of who we were instead of who we are in Christ, we can never be bold before the throne of grace or be at ease in the Father's house.
I can imagine how this must be the most difficult part of the Holy Spirit was dispatched to do. It's only when He can make us confident in this, can He begin revealing what Jesus has truly done for us. Even when we're minister and preaching God's Word, but without the Holy Spirit giving life to our words, our words can only bring remorse and not repentance.
1Corinthians 2:4-5 (Amplified) says, "And my language and message was not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power (a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them) So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy) but the power of God."
When Jesus was near the completion of His earthly ministry, He told the disciples that He would not leave them without Someone to replace Him. John 14:25-26 (Amplified) says, "I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by) the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things; And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
Jesus tells them in Verse 27 that He was "leaving or giving" His peace to them. This peace is a work of the same Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, alone, can bring the peace of God into your heart (spirit) in the midst of the world's turmoil. Remember how Jesus said the Father would sent the Holy Spirit to earth in His stead. The Holy Spirit was to be our Comforter. The comfort Jesus received in the face of adversity, came from the same Holy Spirit the Father sent to us.
How many people and how many times have you seen them seeking comfort in this world, when there's none to be found? Whether you're concerned about your finances, job, children or any other thing, it can bring dis-comfort to you. After telling His disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit, He said in John 14:27 (Amplified), "Peace I leave with you; My Peace (My Own peace) I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts (spirits) be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
The Holy Spirit came as a direct order from the Father on our behalf. He is the One Who will "bring to remembrance" the things Jesus said and to bring boldness and comfort to the Church. Too many times, we forget what Jesus said about the earthly ministry and work of the Holy Spirit. When we learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, we will always be comforted in our walk with the Father. The flesh only desires to condemn and accuse us before ourselves over our past. The Holy Spirit comes to encourage and convince us of the finished work of Christ.
We won't find comfort from listening to the flesh or the world. The "accuser" of the Church is the devil and he won't let you remember what Jesus says about you, only what the world and the unrenewed mind says about you. How can one live in peace and comfort and in the presence of a Holy God by only remembering who he used to be before Jesus made him new? Remembering those past things would only make us be "cowardly" in His presence.
The Word tells us in Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified), "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners) that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well times help, coming just when we need it)."
The only way we can "Come boldly to God's throne of grace," is when we allow the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to bring Christ's Own peace in our hearts. If we try approaching His throne of grace through our own efforts, then it is no longer grace. And, when it's not grace, then it is works, which will always cause us to fall short in our flesh. We cannot do enough good works to qualify in His throne room. It must be grace.
When we allow the Holy Spirit into our lives, we can walk in the life of the new man leave behind the old man, dead and buried in baptism. Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of sin and death."
Only when we allow the Comforter and Counselor to counsel us in our "new man," can we be free from the condemnation of the dictates (reminders) of the flesh. The old man will always remind you of who you were. The Holy Spirit will remind you of who you are now through Christ.
As Christians, we seem to struggle with this the most in our walk with God. We remain cowardly and intimidated in the presence of our Father. Without the working of the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, we can never be comfortable in the presence of our own Heavenly Father. We grieve the Holy Spirit by going back to the carnal mind instead of allowing Him to bring forth the mind of the Spirit to us.
Romans 15:13 (Amplified) says, "May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing (through the experience of your faith) that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope."
1Corinthians 1:6-7 (Amplified) says, "In this way (our) witnessing concerning Christ (the Messiah) was so confirmed and established and made sure in you that you are not (consciously) falling behind or lacking in any special spiritual endowment of Christian grace (the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in your souls by the Holy Spirit) while you wait and watch (constantly living in hope) for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and (His) being made visible to all."
There are things that cause some to "fall behind in" and "lack in," because we don't allow the Holy Spirit to work the "Peace that passes all understanding" in us. When we're more conscious of who we were instead of who we are in Christ, we can never be bold before the throne of grace or be at ease in the Father's house.
I can imagine how this must be the most difficult part of the Holy Spirit was dispatched to do. It's only when He can make us confident in this, can He begin revealing what Jesus has truly done for us. Even when we're minister and preaching God's Word, but without the Holy Spirit giving life to our words, our words can only bring remorse and not repentance.
1Corinthians 2:4-5 (Amplified) says, "And my language and message was not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power (a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them) So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy) but the power of God."
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Lesson 8 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The work and ministry of the Holy Spirit began after Jesus ascended to the Father in heaven. He is the One Who reveals the finished work of Jesus, to the Church and the world. Even the life of the believer is dependent upon the Holy Spirit according to John 6:63 (Amplified), which says, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
Without the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we simply take the Spirit of the Word and create another man-made religion from it. Even though the Word is Spirit, it can only be discerned through the Holy Spirit. His work is cut-out for Him and is an ongoing thing in the world and the Church. Everything in the new covenant must be revealed by the Holy Spirit in order to have it "profit" the family of God or the world.
Most of us can recall trying to read the Bible at one time or another and having it make no sense at all. But, when the Holy Spirit began moving in our lives, the Word became alive. This is the work that He is charged with in this dispensation. Without His illuminating and revealing the Life in the Word, it seems like simply any other book to us. We still struggle with miracles, tongues, healing and prophecy, as though they are "passed away." Until we allow the Holy Spirit His place in the ministry, we will simply not see everything Jesus has actually done for us.
We've mostly limited what Jesus has done for us, to forgiveness of sin and going to heaven. A limited few have gone a little further to the knowing of His voice and fellowshipping with Him in the Spirit. By failing to recognize the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, we've missed most of what the Father wants in our lives. We've focused more on what we can't do rather than on what we can do. We've dwelt more on the suffering rather than the victory the suffering gained for us.
Many Christians stopped at the cross, instead of being raised together and "Seated together with Jesus at the right hand of the Father in heavenly places," like Ephesians 2:6 says. We've believed that these were future things instead of things that Jesus has already done. Only the Holy Spirit can make these things real in the believer's heart. We've accepted the death on the cross, but haven't always accepted the Life of His resurrection for ourselves.
The Church's thought life and actions have mostly centered on our past life as sinners. Most of our sermons have been about abstaining from sin. Although it is true we should abstain from sin, our life shouldn't be consumed by this. Our life should be consumed by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "But I say, walk and live (habitually) in the Holy Spirit (responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit) then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh of human nature without God)."
For centuries, the awareness of the flesh has dominated the awareness of the Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit's job to bring forth the revelation of who we are now and not who we used to be. The Holy Spirit has received from the Father, the work and ministry of bringing the Family of God into completeness and maturity. What a frustrating job that would be for anyone but Him. As He reveals a new light on the works of Jesus, we in turn, fight over it because it conflicts with what the flesh relationship with Jesus has conditioned us to believe.
1Corinthians 2:7-10 (Amplified) says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) now revealed to us by God - (that wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us into the glory of His presence). None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory." Verses 9-10 say, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says; What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man (all that) God has prepared (made ready and keeps ready) for those who love Him (who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed). Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit. For the Holy Spirit searches diligently, diligently exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine councils and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny)."
The above scripture tells us that the work of the Holy Spirit is to (by His Own self), reveal the hidden mysteries and counsels and profound things of God to His people and to the world. Things that man could never know on his own, are now available to the Church by the Holy Spirit. All of the mysteries of God are revealed to us by His Spirit.
As the God's family matures and the End of the Age is being reached, all the things the Father has desired for His children are ready to be revealed. Only the Holy Spirit can show us these things. We must begin to recognize and appreciate His ministry in these last days.
For most of the Church, we have only acknowledge Him in a very limited way. Most of us have been so very unfamiliar with Him that we considered His presence as our "having a hunch" or "something tells me" or "I feel like I was told to do this." We were afraid to even believe that the Holy Spirit was the One Who was dealing and speaking into our lives, lest someone would mock us or disassociate with us. We need to come to know Him.
Without the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we simply take the Spirit of the Word and create another man-made religion from it. Even though the Word is Spirit, it can only be discerned through the Holy Spirit. His work is cut-out for Him and is an ongoing thing in the world and the Church. Everything in the new covenant must be revealed by the Holy Spirit in order to have it "profit" the family of God or the world.
Most of us can recall trying to read the Bible at one time or another and having it make no sense at all. But, when the Holy Spirit began moving in our lives, the Word became alive. This is the work that He is charged with in this dispensation. Without His illuminating and revealing the Life in the Word, it seems like simply any other book to us. We still struggle with miracles, tongues, healing and prophecy, as though they are "passed away." Until we allow the Holy Spirit His place in the ministry, we will simply not see everything Jesus has actually done for us.
We've mostly limited what Jesus has done for us, to forgiveness of sin and going to heaven. A limited few have gone a little further to the knowing of His voice and fellowshipping with Him in the Spirit. By failing to recognize the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, we've missed most of what the Father wants in our lives. We've focused more on what we can't do rather than on what we can do. We've dwelt more on the suffering rather than the victory the suffering gained for us.
Many Christians stopped at the cross, instead of being raised together and "Seated together with Jesus at the right hand of the Father in heavenly places," like Ephesians 2:6 says. We've believed that these were future things instead of things that Jesus has already done. Only the Holy Spirit can make these things real in the believer's heart. We've accepted the death on the cross, but haven't always accepted the Life of His resurrection for ourselves.
The Church's thought life and actions have mostly centered on our past life as sinners. Most of our sermons have been about abstaining from sin. Although it is true we should abstain from sin, our life shouldn't be consumed by this. Our life should be consumed by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "But I say, walk and live (habitually) in the Holy Spirit (responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit) then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh of human nature without God)."
For centuries, the awareness of the flesh has dominated the awareness of the Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit's job to bring forth the revelation of who we are now and not who we used to be. The Holy Spirit has received from the Father, the work and ministry of bringing the Family of God into completeness and maturity. What a frustrating job that would be for anyone but Him. As He reveals a new light on the works of Jesus, we in turn, fight over it because it conflicts with what the flesh relationship with Jesus has conditioned us to believe.
1Corinthians 2:7-10 (Amplified) says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) now revealed to us by God - (that wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us into the glory of His presence). None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory." Verses 9-10 say, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says; What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man (all that) God has prepared (made ready and keeps ready) for those who love Him (who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed). Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit. For the Holy Spirit searches diligently, diligently exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine councils and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny)."
The above scripture tells us that the work of the Holy Spirit is to (by His Own self), reveal the hidden mysteries and counsels and profound things of God to His people and to the world. Things that man could never know on his own, are now available to the Church by the Holy Spirit. All of the mysteries of God are revealed to us by His Spirit.
As the God's family matures and the End of the Age is being reached, all the things the Father has desired for His children are ready to be revealed. Only the Holy Spirit can show us these things. We must begin to recognize and appreciate His ministry in these last days.
For most of the Church, we have only acknowledge Him in a very limited way. Most of us have been so very unfamiliar with Him that we considered His presence as our "having a hunch" or "something tells me" or "I feel like I was told to do this." We were afraid to even believe that the Holy Spirit was the One Who was dealing and speaking into our lives, lest someone would mock us or disassociate with us. We need to come to know Him.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Lesson 7 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
When Jesus rose from the grave and was seated at the right hand of the Father, the new covenant was just beginning. Jesus fulfilled the old covenant by becoming the perfect and last sacrifice. He had become the law and the penalty and the curse of the Law by His Own Blood and death. Jesus was now to take His place in the Heavenlies and take on the ministry of the High Priest over the new covenant. In His stead here on earth, Jesus was to send down the Holy Spirit Who was and is, to bring about the new birth and the new covenant.
Jesus ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit's ministry began. This ministry was no longer one of works, but one of grace and faith in that grace. The Holy Spirit began revealing to the hearts of men, the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf. They would then believe, by faith in His finished works, and the Holy Spirit could now bring the very life of Christ into their spirits and they could be born again from on high. We could be transformed and raised with Him from death unto the Life of God. By our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit can bring the righteousness of God into the place of sin and separation.
It's only the Holy Spirit Who could reveal this new revelation to mankind and it's only He Who can show us the way unto salvation in Christ. If we allowed the Holy Spirit to unveil Jesus as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world and we believed what He showed us, then we could be saved. Mankind still must choose to believe or not to believe.
Romans 3:23-5 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus." Verse 25 goes on, "Whom God put forward (before the eyes of all) as a mercy seat and propitiation by His Blood (the cleansing and life giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received through faith." This was done to show God's righteousness, because His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.
The Holy Spirit was responsible for bringing to light, this sacrifice and cause faith to arise for the salvation of the new birth. His job was not only to reveal what Jesus had done, but also reveal what Jesus continues to do for those who would believe.
This is no small matter to be responsible for, because man had been spiritually dead and separated from God since the fall of man in the Garden. Man only knew God by the works of the flesh and the Law. Now, we'd be required to put aside the works of the flesh and trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Romans 4:4-5 (Amplified) says, "Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation (something owed to him). But to one who, not working (by the Law) trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God)."
Without the ministry of the Holy Spirit, man continues struggling to become righteous by his own works and deeds. Only the Holy Spirit can bring this revelation into man's heart. Even some into today's Church still struggle to achieve right standing with God by dressing a certain way, attending the "right" church, observing certain days or eating certain foods or donating money in the offering a certain way.
The Holy Spirit is constantly in the process of revealing deeper things in man's hearts and is never content with leaving the revelation of the our Lord unfinished. To be sure, this must be as difficult, if not more so, than it was when Jesus was on earth as a Man. People could at least see and hear Jesus when He walked among them. Many did believe then, but many did not.
We must trust fully in the truth of God's Word as the Holy Spirit reveals it to us, because we cannot see Him like they did. John 16:13-5 (Amplified) says, "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole, full truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority), but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father, He will give the message that has been given to Him) and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Keep in mind that at this point, the death, burial, resurrection, and the new birth and the Church were still to come when Jesus made this statement. He goes on in Verse 14, "He will honor and glorify Me because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you." Verse 15 says, "Everything that the Father has is Mine." The Holy Spirit will take the things of Jesus and will reveal, declare, disclose and transmit them to you.
Can you see here, the ministry of the Holy Spirit as the Teacher and Guide of the Church? Everything the Father has, is Jesus'. And, it's the Holy Spirit's ministry to transmit these things in our spirit. We keep hoping for a "sign" or some kind of tangible thing to grasp hold of. We are still holding back the revelation that the Holy Spirit has come to give us.
Each time He reveals more of the things He holds to give us, some of us would rather cling to what we think we know instead of what He does know. Jesus lists the work of the Holy Spirit in John 16:7 (Amplified) which says, "However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it, is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Stand-by) will not come to you (into close fellowship with you) but if I go away, I will send Him to you (to be in close fellowship with you)."
The Holy Spirit's ministry is revelation to the lost man and working on behalf of the born again man. His ministry is revealing Jesus to all the world. The work of the Holy Spirit is to be our Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener and Stand-by and to work on behalf of the Church. We can see His work in the lives of many people, but fail to recognize that it's Him Who is at work in the Church.
For some reason, the Church seems afraid to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit, because we believe we are "dishonoring" the Lord Jesus Christ. We just read, though, in John 16:13 (Amplified) that, "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole, full truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father, He will give the message that has been given to Him)."
If God is truly Three in One, like we believe, then how can we think we're being disloyal to Jesus when we receive the very Spirit Who worked through Jesus when He was here as a Man? Jesus said that, "It wasn't Him, but the FATHER in Him Who was doing the work."
Jesus ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit's ministry began. This ministry was no longer one of works, but one of grace and faith in that grace. The Holy Spirit began revealing to the hearts of men, the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf. They would then believe, by faith in His finished works, and the Holy Spirit could now bring the very life of Christ into their spirits and they could be born again from on high. We could be transformed and raised with Him from death unto the Life of God. By our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit can bring the righteousness of God into the place of sin and separation.
It's only the Holy Spirit Who could reveal this new revelation to mankind and it's only He Who can show us the way unto salvation in Christ. If we allowed the Holy Spirit to unveil Jesus as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world and we believed what He showed us, then we could be saved. Mankind still must choose to believe or not to believe.
Romans 3:23-5 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus." Verse 25 goes on, "Whom God put forward (before the eyes of all) as a mercy seat and propitiation by His Blood (the cleansing and life giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received through faith." This was done to show God's righteousness, because His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.
The Holy Spirit was responsible for bringing to light, this sacrifice and cause faith to arise for the salvation of the new birth. His job was not only to reveal what Jesus had done, but also reveal what Jesus continues to do for those who would believe.
This is no small matter to be responsible for, because man had been spiritually dead and separated from God since the fall of man in the Garden. Man only knew God by the works of the flesh and the Law. Now, we'd be required to put aside the works of the flesh and trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Romans 4:4-5 (Amplified) says, "Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation (something owed to him). But to one who, not working (by the Law) trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God)."
Without the ministry of the Holy Spirit, man continues struggling to become righteous by his own works and deeds. Only the Holy Spirit can bring this revelation into man's heart. Even some into today's Church still struggle to achieve right standing with God by dressing a certain way, attending the "right" church, observing certain days or eating certain foods or donating money in the offering a certain way.
The Holy Spirit is constantly in the process of revealing deeper things in man's hearts and is never content with leaving the revelation of the our Lord unfinished. To be sure, this must be as difficult, if not more so, than it was when Jesus was on earth as a Man. People could at least see and hear Jesus when He walked among them. Many did believe then, but many did not.
We must trust fully in the truth of God's Word as the Holy Spirit reveals it to us, because we cannot see Him like they did. John 16:13-5 (Amplified) says, "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole, full truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority), but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father, He will give the message that has been given to Him) and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."
Keep in mind that at this point, the death, burial, resurrection, and the new birth and the Church were still to come when Jesus made this statement. He goes on in Verse 14, "He will honor and glorify Me because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you." Verse 15 says, "Everything that the Father has is Mine." The Holy Spirit will take the things of Jesus and will reveal, declare, disclose and transmit them to you.
Can you see here, the ministry of the Holy Spirit as the Teacher and Guide of the Church? Everything the Father has, is Jesus'. And, it's the Holy Spirit's ministry to transmit these things in our spirit. We keep hoping for a "sign" or some kind of tangible thing to grasp hold of. We are still holding back the revelation that the Holy Spirit has come to give us.
Each time He reveals more of the things He holds to give us, some of us would rather cling to what we think we know instead of what He does know. Jesus lists the work of the Holy Spirit in John 16:7 (Amplified) which says, "However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it, is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Stand-by) will not come to you (into close fellowship with you) but if I go away, I will send Him to you (to be in close fellowship with you)."
The Holy Spirit's ministry is revelation to the lost man and working on behalf of the born again man. His ministry is revealing Jesus to all the world. The work of the Holy Spirit is to be our Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener and Stand-by and to work on behalf of the Church. We can see His work in the lives of many people, but fail to recognize that it's Him Who is at work in the Church.
For some reason, the Church seems afraid to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit, because we believe we are "dishonoring" the Lord Jesus Christ. We just read, though, in John 16:13 (Amplified) that, "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole, full truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father, He will give the message that has been given to Him)."
If God is truly Three in One, like we believe, then how can we think we're being disloyal to Jesus when we receive the very Spirit Who worked through Jesus when He was here as a Man? Jesus said that, "It wasn't Him, but the FATHER in Him Who was doing the work."
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Lesson 6 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood part of the entire new covenant. He is the One Who was sent to be the Administrator and Counselor of the finished work of Christ. We've had a very limited view of what the Holy Spirit has been sent to do in and through the Church. Mostly, we only viewed Him in connection with the Gifts of the Spirit and the speaking of tongues and not His ministry as the Teacher and guide of the Church.
It's through the Holy Spirit that the Love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts, according to Romans 5:5 (Amplified) which says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given us." That bears repeating: The Holy Spirit has been given us! This isn't something that only a few chosen Christians have nor is He Someone Who must be earned by good works. The Holy Spirit is a gift, just like righteousness is a gift and justification is a gift. All these gifts came through your salvation, when you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
We've never truly allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal these gifts by His ministry. His ministry to revealing to the Church what Jesus gave us in His resurrection. Many in the Church have been waiting to receive these things when they get to heaven. The Holy Spirit's ministry is to bring the power and presence of heaven to earth. The first step to receiving these things is to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is God. He is not Casper the ghost or something spooky and weird. He is God!
We consider ourselves "supernatural" people, but then get upset over supernatural things. I know some Christians who believe that healing is of the devil and that speaking in tongues is foolishness. How can we ever hope to know our Father if everything He is doing is rejected by His people?
Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "For the law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the law of sin and death." We still seem to focus more on the Law of sin and death than we do with the Law of our new being. We mouth words like new people and then judge ourselves by the old order. It's almost like we don't dare speak or believe that what the Holy Spirit came to do, is real.
Romans 8:15-17 (Amplified) says, "For (the Spirit) which you have NOW received (is) not a Spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing Sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry, Abba (Father) Father!" Verses 16-17 says, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are children of God. And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (sharing His inheritance with Him) only we must share in His suffering if we are the share His glory."
We've seemed to have gleaned only the last part of Verse 17 about Jesus' suffering. Only the Holy Spirit can show us "His suffering." We think the cross was Jesus' suffering. If this is true, then Jesus' death on the cross is what we must share. The Word says that Jesus did this for us and not to us. We couldn't suffer the death on the cross, because we were never sinless or righteous enough to die for the world. This isn't suffering that we share with Him. This was the suffering He bore for us. The suffering He bore that we're to bear is the rejection of the people, the misunderstanding of the world and sometimes the Church, the separation from the flesh, and the sorrow over the unsaved.
Let me show you some of the sufferings we are supposed to be sharing as He did. There was a certain man in the Gospel of John 5:5 (Amplified) who suffered from a deep seated disorder for thirty-eight years. Jesus told the man to "Take up your bed and walk." The man did what Jesus told him to do and walked. The religious order, feeling as though Jesus was outside their authority, began persecuting Him, saying in Verse 16, "For this reason the Jews began to persecute (annoy, torment) Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath."
You will find that throughout Jesus' ministry, not all His sufferings happened on the cross. This suffering was on our behalf and the persecution was from our pride and disbelief. If you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the difference to you between suffering as He did and suffering the cross, then it will be easier for you to distinguish the difference in suffering.
I've witnessed how in my Christian walk, that whenever you dare go deeper in realm and understanding with the Holy Spirit, then you begin to suffer by being put our of fellowship and being abandoned by others. There are currently many false prophets and ungodly men preaching lies and false doctrines. Many people are being caught up in these things because we haven't allowed or accepted the Holy Spirit as the Teacher of the Church. This is the time for the Church's greatest glory and the time for the world's greatest deception. Only the Holy Spirit can show us the truth of Christ.
Somehow, we've allowed the enemy to steal many things from our inheritance. Many have been deceived into receiving the world's idea of truth. Jesus said that, "When the Holy Spirit comes, He will lead, guide and show us all things that He (Jesus) has taught." Many believe that only includes the four gospels, while others read only the Epistles because Jesus spoke through and to the apostles. Only the Holy Spirit can show us the truth of Christ.
There's a big difference between man's idea of what Jesus has done and the Holy Spirit's idea of what Jesus has done. Man still wants to live under the Law and atone for his own sin by works. The Holy Spirit wants man to live by faith in His grace and receive the gift that Jesus granted to all who will believe. He wants us to understand that the old, religious order isn't always grace.
I know Christians who believe that if someone wears make-up or certain types of clothing, then you cannot receive the Holy Spirit. This is man's idea of "earning" the gift of the Holy Spirit by works. Acts 2:39 (Amplified) says, "For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away (even) to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself."
Notice how this verse says nothing about how or if you wear make-up or if you "earn" or deserve the gift of the Holy Spirit. It says that the Holy Spirit is to as many as the Lord bids and invites to come to Him. How can we continue quoting John 3:16 and then tell others that it must be done on our own terms? As I read about Paul's suffering for the gospel and the uproar that came against the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in Acts 23, I realize how we still seem to live more by what we want rather than what He teaches.
It's through the Holy Spirit that the Love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts, according to Romans 5:5 (Amplified) which says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given us." That bears repeating: The Holy Spirit has been given us! This isn't something that only a few chosen Christians have nor is He Someone Who must be earned by good works. The Holy Spirit is a gift, just like righteousness is a gift and justification is a gift. All these gifts came through your salvation, when you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
We've never truly allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal these gifts by His ministry. His ministry to revealing to the Church what Jesus gave us in His resurrection. Many in the Church have been waiting to receive these things when they get to heaven. The Holy Spirit's ministry is to bring the power and presence of heaven to earth. The first step to receiving these things is to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is God. He is not Casper the ghost or something spooky and weird. He is God!
We consider ourselves "supernatural" people, but then get upset over supernatural things. I know some Christians who believe that healing is of the devil and that speaking in tongues is foolishness. How can we ever hope to know our Father if everything He is doing is rejected by His people?
Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "For the law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the law of sin and death." We still seem to focus more on the Law of sin and death than we do with the Law of our new being. We mouth words like new people and then judge ourselves by the old order. It's almost like we don't dare speak or believe that what the Holy Spirit came to do, is real.
Romans 8:15-17 (Amplified) says, "For (the Spirit) which you have NOW received (is) not a Spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing Sonship) in (the bliss of) which we cry, Abba (Father) Father!" Verses 16-17 says, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are children of God. And if we are (His) children, then we are (His) heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (sharing His inheritance with Him) only we must share in His suffering if we are the share His glory."
We've seemed to have gleaned only the last part of Verse 17 about Jesus' suffering. Only the Holy Spirit can show us "His suffering." We think the cross was Jesus' suffering. If this is true, then Jesus' death on the cross is what we must share. The Word says that Jesus did this for us and not to us. We couldn't suffer the death on the cross, because we were never sinless or righteous enough to die for the world. This isn't suffering that we share with Him. This was the suffering He bore for us. The suffering He bore that we're to bear is the rejection of the people, the misunderstanding of the world and sometimes the Church, the separation from the flesh, and the sorrow over the unsaved.
Let me show you some of the sufferings we are supposed to be sharing as He did. There was a certain man in the Gospel of John 5:5 (Amplified) who suffered from a deep seated disorder for thirty-eight years. Jesus told the man to "Take up your bed and walk." The man did what Jesus told him to do and walked. The religious order, feeling as though Jesus was outside their authority, began persecuting Him, saying in Verse 16, "For this reason the Jews began to persecute (annoy, torment) Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath."
You will find that throughout Jesus' ministry, not all His sufferings happened on the cross. This suffering was on our behalf and the persecution was from our pride and disbelief. If you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the difference to you between suffering as He did and suffering the cross, then it will be easier for you to distinguish the difference in suffering.
I've witnessed how in my Christian walk, that whenever you dare go deeper in realm and understanding with the Holy Spirit, then you begin to suffer by being put our of fellowship and being abandoned by others. There are currently many false prophets and ungodly men preaching lies and false doctrines. Many people are being caught up in these things because we haven't allowed or accepted the Holy Spirit as the Teacher of the Church. This is the time for the Church's greatest glory and the time for the world's greatest deception. Only the Holy Spirit can show us the truth of Christ.
Somehow, we've allowed the enemy to steal many things from our inheritance. Many have been deceived into receiving the world's idea of truth. Jesus said that, "When the Holy Spirit comes, He will lead, guide and show us all things that He (Jesus) has taught." Many believe that only includes the four gospels, while others read only the Epistles because Jesus spoke through and to the apostles. Only the Holy Spirit can show us the truth of Christ.
There's a big difference between man's idea of what Jesus has done and the Holy Spirit's idea of what Jesus has done. Man still wants to live under the Law and atone for his own sin by works. The Holy Spirit wants man to live by faith in His grace and receive the gift that Jesus granted to all who will believe. He wants us to understand that the old, religious order isn't always grace.
I know Christians who believe that if someone wears make-up or certain types of clothing, then you cannot receive the Holy Spirit. This is man's idea of "earning" the gift of the Holy Spirit by works. Acts 2:39 (Amplified) says, "For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away (even) to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself."
Notice how this verse says nothing about how or if you wear make-up or if you "earn" or deserve the gift of the Holy Spirit. It says that the Holy Spirit is to as many as the Lord bids and invites to come to Him. How can we continue quoting John 3:16 and then tell others that it must be done on our own terms? As I read about Paul's suffering for the gospel and the uproar that came against the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in Acts 23, I realize how we still seem to live more by what we want rather than what He teaches.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Lesson 5 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
As we begin studying the Holy Spirit, I have spent much time searching out scriptures on the speaking of tongues and praying thusly. The reason is, this seems to be one of the most misunderstood parts of His Ministry. There have been many things taught with misunderstanding about the speaking of tongues. To simplify this teaching, let me reveal the two different types of tongues the Holy Spirit directs in the Church.
We find the prayer language that is given when one is baptized in the Holy Spirit, in 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified), which says, "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the (Holy) Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
No one can give interpretation of this language and say, "Thus says the Lord..." to the people. This is not God speaking to men, through the Holy Spirit, but it is the Holy Spirit speaking through your spirit to God and revealing mysteries to you through the Holy Spirit.
1Corinthians 14:27-8 (Amplified) says, "If some speak in a (strange) tongue, let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one (taking his) turn, and let one interpret and explain what is said. But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in church and talk to himself and God."
One language is to be interpreted in edifying the Church and the other language has one interpreter because it's your spirit seeking wisdom from God. 1Corinthians 14:2 speaks about an unknown tongue and 1Corinthians 14:27 speaks about a strange tongue with an interpreter. One is unknown because it's the language of the spirit realm and the other is a strange tongue because it's strange to the hearer and is spoken in tongues from the Father to an individual. The gift of interpretation is also "Given by the Holy Spirit as He chooses, to edify the Body of Christ."
Both are gifts of the Spirit (if you will), because until you were filled with or baptized in the Holy Spirit, you could do neither. Unknown tongues is simply the new language of the new man given to speak to God. The other language or "strange tongue" is God speaking to His family through the Holy Spirit and man's born again spirit.
Paul said in 1Corinthians 14:18-19 (Amplified) that, "I thank God I speak in (strange) or unknown tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together. Nevertheless, in public worship, I would rather say five words with my understanding and intelligently in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a (strange) tongue (language)." The reason for Paul's saying this is found in Verse 2 which says, "For one who speaks in and unknown tongue, speaks not to men but to God."
Paul didn't say we're not to speak in the unknown tongue, but if we do so, then no one would understand us. Paul said he'd rather speak five words with his understanding, rather than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. If he was speaking to God in an unknown tongue, then he would be edified, but no one else would be. In Verse 4 Paul says, "He who speaks in a strange tongue edifies and improves himself."
If a man stood up in church and said (in the language of the people or country), "Jesus dies for your sins," then these five words would edify the whole church and not himself alone. Don't confuse the difference in the prayer language of the born again spirit and the gift of tongues with interpretation of tongues to the people. You will rob yourself of one the greatest parts of the new birth if you misunderstand the difference between the two. You will be robbed of the ability to speak mysteries to God and to receive the answer to some of your most complex trials in life. These are obviously not mysteries to God, but to you. The Holy Spirit will give you insight and wisdom in your spirit (that will be revealed to your mind) to walk in.
This new language is for the new man who has been born again in the Holy Spirit. It bypasses your intellect and reaches into the realm of the Spirit Who has all the answers for your walk here on earth. We've been able to only pray according to our own intellect and now by speaking in tongues, we can reach beyond that and actually pray with the Mind of Christ.
The same is true concerning other things in the Holy Spirit's ministry and works. He is the One Who gives or distributes these gifts as He will in order to profit and benefit the whole Church. Mark 16:17-18 (Amplified) says, "These attesting signs will accompany those who believe, in My Name, they will drive out demons, they will speak in "new languages" they will pick up serpents, and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well."
Although these are "signs" of the Holy Spirit living in people, they are not the "gifts" of the Spirit listed in 1Corinthians 12. These are what Paul wrote through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saying, are for "Those who believe." The question then, is, DO YOU BELIEVE?
I know people who don't believe in speaking in tongues, but they do believe in laying hands on the sick. I also know people who don't believe in laying hands on the sick, but do believe in casting out devils. All these supernatural signs are the work of the Holy Spirit Who now lives in the new born man's spirit. Even Jesus said, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me that does the work." Isn't the Holy Spirit the Father? Of course, He is. Why then would it be any different for Him to work through you?
Don't confuse the work of the Holy Spirit with the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit. He gives these gifts (and all are gifts), as He wills for the profit or help of everyone. It's simply God's nature to help all who need help. He doesn't always wait for an Apostle to who up in order to heal someone. He is capable of using anyone who "Will believe in His Name," according to Mark 16:17.
We find the prayer language that is given when one is baptized in the Holy Spirit, in 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified), which says, "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the (Holy) Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
No one can give interpretation of this language and say, "Thus says the Lord..." to the people. This is not God speaking to men, through the Holy Spirit, but it is the Holy Spirit speaking through your spirit to God and revealing mysteries to you through the Holy Spirit.
1Corinthians 14:27-8 (Amplified) says, "If some speak in a (strange) tongue, let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one (taking his) turn, and let one interpret and explain what is said. But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in church and talk to himself and God."
One language is to be interpreted in edifying the Church and the other language has one interpreter because it's your spirit seeking wisdom from God. 1Corinthians 14:2 speaks about an unknown tongue and 1Corinthians 14:27 speaks about a strange tongue with an interpreter. One is unknown because it's the language of the spirit realm and the other is a strange tongue because it's strange to the hearer and is spoken in tongues from the Father to an individual. The gift of interpretation is also "Given by the Holy Spirit as He chooses, to edify the Body of Christ."
Both are gifts of the Spirit (if you will), because until you were filled with or baptized in the Holy Spirit, you could do neither. Unknown tongues is simply the new language of the new man given to speak to God. The other language or "strange tongue" is God speaking to His family through the Holy Spirit and man's born again spirit.
Paul said in 1Corinthians 14:18-19 (Amplified) that, "I thank God I speak in (strange) or unknown tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together. Nevertheless, in public worship, I would rather say five words with my understanding and intelligently in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a (strange) tongue (language)." The reason for Paul's saying this is found in Verse 2 which says, "For one who speaks in and unknown tongue, speaks not to men but to God."
Paul didn't say we're not to speak in the unknown tongue, but if we do so, then no one would understand us. Paul said he'd rather speak five words with his understanding, rather than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. If he was speaking to God in an unknown tongue, then he would be edified, but no one else would be. In Verse 4 Paul says, "He who speaks in a strange tongue edifies and improves himself."
If a man stood up in church and said (in the language of the people or country), "Jesus dies for your sins," then these five words would edify the whole church and not himself alone. Don't confuse the difference in the prayer language of the born again spirit and the gift of tongues with interpretation of tongues to the people. You will rob yourself of one the greatest parts of the new birth if you misunderstand the difference between the two. You will be robbed of the ability to speak mysteries to God and to receive the answer to some of your most complex trials in life. These are obviously not mysteries to God, but to you. The Holy Spirit will give you insight and wisdom in your spirit (that will be revealed to your mind) to walk in.
This new language is for the new man who has been born again in the Holy Spirit. It bypasses your intellect and reaches into the realm of the Spirit Who has all the answers for your walk here on earth. We've been able to only pray according to our own intellect and now by speaking in tongues, we can reach beyond that and actually pray with the Mind of Christ.
The same is true concerning other things in the Holy Spirit's ministry and works. He is the One Who gives or distributes these gifts as He will in order to profit and benefit the whole Church. Mark 16:17-18 (Amplified) says, "These attesting signs will accompany those who believe, in My Name, they will drive out demons, they will speak in "new languages" they will pick up serpents, and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well."
Although these are "signs" of the Holy Spirit living in people, they are not the "gifts" of the Spirit listed in 1Corinthians 12. These are what Paul wrote through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saying, are for "Those who believe." The question then, is, DO YOU BELIEVE?
I know people who don't believe in speaking in tongues, but they do believe in laying hands on the sick. I also know people who don't believe in laying hands on the sick, but do believe in casting out devils. All these supernatural signs are the work of the Holy Spirit Who now lives in the new born man's spirit. Even Jesus said, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me that does the work." Isn't the Holy Spirit the Father? Of course, He is. Why then would it be any different for Him to work through you?
Don't confuse the work of the Holy Spirit with the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit. He gives these gifts (and all are gifts), as He wills for the profit or help of everyone. It's simply God's nature to help all who need help. He doesn't always wait for an Apostle to who up in order to heal someone. He is capable of using anyone who "Will believe in His Name," according to Mark 16:17.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Lesson 4 The Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Many of the things we've learned about the Holy Spirit in today's churches, have been incomplete. Somehow, the Holy Spirit has taken a backseat to other teachings we receive after being saved. Many believe that His job is done. But, nothing can be further from the truth. Before and after we are saved, the Holy Spirit is the One Who has been entrusted with out new birth and growth as Christians.
John 14:26 (Amplified) says, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by), The Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit was being sent in Jesus' stead and will represent and act on His behalf. 1Corinthians 12:11 (Amplified) tells us, "All these (gifts, achievements, abilities) these gifts of the Spirit, are inspired and brought to pass by One and the same (Holy) Spirit; Who apportions to each person individually (exactly) as He chooses."
The Holy Spirit is the One Who decides what gifts and which person, or persons, He will manifest the gifts through. As He indwells you, then you, at anytime, will have the potential for one or all of the gifts to flow through you (at His will).
Through revelation given him, Paul says that we should make ourselves candidates for the gifts to function in and through us. Thus, he says in 1Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified), "But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces) And yet I will show you a still more excellent way (one that is better by far and the highest of them all-Love."
Here, the great Apostle was revealing the very thing the Holy Spirit uses when "apportioning to each person (exactly) as He chooses." The Holy Spirit is in charge of these gifts and He is in charge of who receives them. Paul said that seeking love is better than seeking these gifts. Love makes you available and trustworthy for any and all of these gifts to flow through.
Some of seek the gift we think is the "best" gift, while others believe that if God would simply perform one great miracle, then we would have more people to minister to and that their church would fill up. By the authority of Jesus, Paul spoke saying that when we love to the point that it hurts us to see someone who is lost, maimed, blind or crippled, then Love will flow through the Holy Spirit to set them free.
After the beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus went to be alone in Mark 6:33-4 (Amplified) which says, "Now many (people) saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead of those (Jesus and His disciples) in the boat." Verse 34 says, "As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, And He was moved by compassion for them." This is what the Holy Spirit is looking for the believer's heart. When God's love becomes your love, you will "be moved by compassion" to set the captives free. Whatever it takes to free them, the Holy Spirit will move through you, exactly as He chooses, and free them.
We are to yield only to the Holy Spirit and He is to teach and instruct us both in wisdom and love. We can make ourselves candidates for the gifts of the Spirit to flow through us, when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us."
Even the "Love of God" must come through our fostering knowledge and a relationship with the Holy Spirit. There are so many things in the heart of a Christian that never get released into the world, because we will not allow the Holy Spirit to manifest in our lives.
There is a gift of tongues that flows from the Holy Spirit and there is also the language of the new creation that allows us to pray in tongues. 1Corinthians 14 tells us that, "The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet." This simply means that it's up to you whether or not you speak or are silent. God won't choke this new language out from you or force you to speak. It all comes from trusting and yielding to the Holy Spirit.
Instead of our being one of those people who always says, "This isn't for everyone" or "not everyone does these things or speaks in tongues," we should learn to "desire, seek after and pursue" these gifts through love. How many people are seeking someone who will finally manifest God into the dying world?
The Holy Spirit is the Teacher of the Church. We all need the five fold ministry from Ephesians 4, but we should not discard the Holy Spirit as the Teacher in our lives. 1John 2:20 (Amplified) says, "But you have been anointed by (you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from) the Holy One, and you all know (the truth) or you know all things." We also read in 1John 2:27 (Amplified) which says, "But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him, abides (permanently) in you; (So) then you have no need that anyone should instruct you, But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him (being rooted in Him, knit to Him) Just as (His anointing) has taught you to do."
This doesn't mean we don't need the five-fold ministry or the fellowship of the Church. It does mean that we are still must listen to the Holy Spirit on our own. We shouldn't rely solely on what someone else has said, without seeking from the Word and the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 (Amplified) says, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by), The Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit was being sent in Jesus' stead and will represent and act on His behalf. 1Corinthians 12:11 (Amplified) tells us, "All these (gifts, achievements, abilities) these gifts of the Spirit, are inspired and brought to pass by One and the same (Holy) Spirit; Who apportions to each person individually (exactly) as He chooses."
The Holy Spirit is the One Who decides what gifts and which person, or persons, He will manifest the gifts through. As He indwells you, then you, at anytime, will have the potential for one or all of the gifts to flow through you (at His will).
Through revelation given him, Paul says that we should make ourselves candidates for the gifts to function in and through us. Thus, he says in 1Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified), "But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces) And yet I will show you a still more excellent way (one that is better by far and the highest of them all-Love."
Here, the great Apostle was revealing the very thing the Holy Spirit uses when "apportioning to each person (exactly) as He chooses." The Holy Spirit is in charge of these gifts and He is in charge of who receives them. Paul said that seeking love is better than seeking these gifts. Love makes you available and trustworthy for any and all of these gifts to flow through.
Some of seek the gift we think is the "best" gift, while others believe that if God would simply perform one great miracle, then we would have more people to minister to and that their church would fill up. By the authority of Jesus, Paul spoke saying that when we love to the point that it hurts us to see someone who is lost, maimed, blind or crippled, then Love will flow through the Holy Spirit to set them free.
After the beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus went to be alone in Mark 6:33-4 (Amplified) which says, "Now many (people) saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead of those (Jesus and His disciples) in the boat." Verse 34 says, "As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, And He was moved by compassion for them." This is what the Holy Spirit is looking for the believer's heart. When God's love becomes your love, you will "be moved by compassion" to set the captives free. Whatever it takes to free them, the Holy Spirit will move through you, exactly as He chooses, and free them.
We are to yield only to the Holy Spirit and He is to teach and instruct us both in wisdom and love. We can make ourselves candidates for the gifts of the Spirit to flow through us, when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us."
Even the "Love of God" must come through our fostering knowledge and a relationship with the Holy Spirit. There are so many things in the heart of a Christian that never get released into the world, because we will not allow the Holy Spirit to manifest in our lives.
There is a gift of tongues that flows from the Holy Spirit and there is also the language of the new creation that allows us to pray in tongues. 1Corinthians 14 tells us that, "The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet." This simply means that it's up to you whether or not you speak or are silent. God won't choke this new language out from you or force you to speak. It all comes from trusting and yielding to the Holy Spirit.
Instead of our being one of those people who always says, "This isn't for everyone" or "not everyone does these things or speaks in tongues," we should learn to "desire, seek after and pursue" these gifts through love. How many people are seeking someone who will finally manifest God into the dying world?
The Holy Spirit is the Teacher of the Church. We all need the five fold ministry from Ephesians 4, but we should not discard the Holy Spirit as the Teacher in our lives. 1John 2:20 (Amplified) says, "But you have been anointed by (you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from) the Holy One, and you all know (the truth) or you know all things." We also read in 1John 2:27 (Amplified) which says, "But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him, abides (permanently) in you; (So) then you have no need that anyone should instruct you, But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him (being rooted in Him, knit to Him) Just as (His anointing) has taught you to do."
This doesn't mean we don't need the five-fold ministry or the fellowship of the Church. It does mean that we are still must listen to the Holy Spirit on our own. We shouldn't rely solely on what someone else has said, without seeking from the Word and the Holy Spirit.
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