And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (Jn 14:16-17)
As the disciples lived with Jesus for three years they were also living with the Holy Spirit and getting to know him. But Jesus gives them a promise of an even more amazing relationship with the Spirit – he “will be in you.” This was fulfilled at Pentecost and now is the marvelous privilege of every believer, to have the Spirit of God living in our hearts. Jesus calls him the Counselor, the Spirit of truth. Through him we can have certain knowledge of things that otherwise we might not know at all. There are a lot of things I think are true based on evidence, there are some things I have concluded based on reasoning and there are many things I accept based on what I hear. But through the witness of the Holy Spirit in my heart there are some things I know. Through him I know God is real, I know God loves me, I know I am saved, I know the Bible is true, and I know I will live with him forever.
The world cannot accept these things because the world does not know him. In philosophy, epistemology is the study of how we know what we know. The witness of the Holy Spirit is a new type of epistemology that secular philosophers cannot accept. Oddly, while it is the most suspect to them it is the most certain to me. But because of this, I cannot expect to argue someone into agreeing with the Bible. I must point them to God and trust his Spirit to soften their hearts. I may often be able to offer evidence or reasoning or testimonies that can help my unbelieving friends see the reasonableness of Christianity, but only the Holy Spirit can make them believe it. Then they, too, will know it with the same certainty that I know it.
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Monday, October 18, 2010
What Happened to Peter?
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31b)
After he received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter seemed to become fearless. He was bold to preach, bold to heal, and bold to stand up to the Sanhedrin. What happened to the fear? He knew the truth of his message and the power of the Spirit. He was a man with a mission. Lord, give me the boldness of Peter. I know your Word is true. I know you have all power. I know I have a mission. Make me bold!
After he received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter seemed to become fearless. He was bold to preach, bold to heal, and bold to stand up to the Sanhedrin. What happened to the fear? He knew the truth of his message and the power of the Spirit. He was a man with a mission. Lord, give me the boldness of Peter. I know your Word is true. I know you have all power. I know I have a mission. Make me bold!
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Secret to Sanctification
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (Ps 18:32)
We make much of obedience, and rightly so. Sanctification is the process of being conformed to his image and obedient to his will. But we must not forget that it is God who sanctifies us. It is the Holy Spirit who gives me strength to face each challenge and trains me in righteousness. The secret to sanctification is utter dependence on him.
We make much of obedience, and rightly so. Sanctification is the process of being conformed to his image and obedient to his will. But we must not forget that it is God who sanctifies us. It is the Holy Spirit who gives me strength to face each challenge and trains me in righteousness. The secret to sanctification is utter dependence on him.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Water, Spirit and Fire
I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Mt 3:11)
Baptism with water is for cleansing. When we repent we are baptized with water and symbolically the guilt of our sins is washed away. Jews in biblical times practiced this ritual cleansing regularly. John the Baptist connected it with repentance and made it a foreshadowing of the Messiah’s saving work. But John also said that the one who comes after him would baptize with the Spirit and with fire. The removal of guilt of sin doesn't change who we are. I will just sin again tomorrow. But the baptism with the Holy Spirit represents our empowerment by the Spirit, and the baptism of fire is sanctification. God’s plan for us is far more than just the removal of guilt. He wants to transform and empower us for his glory and the work of his kingdom. If we stop with water baptism we will never fulfill God’s purpose in saving us. We must go on to sanctification and a life lived in his service by the power of his Holy Spirit.
Baptism with water is for cleansing. When we repent we are baptized with water and symbolically the guilt of our sins is washed away. Jews in biblical times practiced this ritual cleansing regularly. John the Baptist connected it with repentance and made it a foreshadowing of the Messiah’s saving work. But John also said that the one who comes after him would baptize with the Spirit and with fire. The removal of guilt of sin doesn't change who we are. I will just sin again tomorrow. But the baptism with the Holy Spirit represents our empowerment by the Spirit, and the baptism of fire is sanctification. God’s plan for us is far more than just the removal of guilt. He wants to transform and empower us for his glory and the work of his kingdom. If we stop with water baptism we will never fulfill God’s purpose in saving us. We must go on to sanctification and a life lived in his service by the power of his Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Live by the Spirit
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Gal 5:16)
The Holy Spirit is the key. This verse echoes Romans 8. “The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom 8:6 NASB) The message in both places is that the flesh is corrupt and draws us away from God, but the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will empower us to live a righteous life if we turn our hearts and minds to Him.
The Holy Spirit is the key. This verse echoes Romans 8. “The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom 8:6 NASB) The message in both places is that the flesh is corrupt and draws us away from God, but the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will empower us to live a righteous life if we turn our hearts and minds to Him.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Heavenly Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)
No matter grim our prospects here on earth might seem, we have an eternal hope that far outweighs the suffering of this life. The reason the persecuted church thrives, in fact, may be that those who clearly see they have no hope in this life are set free from it to rejoice in the hope of the life to come. As we trust him for eternity we have joy and peace in the here and now. That hope which we enjoy is from the Holy Spirit, with whom we were sealed as a sign of the certain hope to come. If we also find in this life reasons for hope and rejoicing, we are doubly blessed. And God does pour out blessings here and now, even in the midst of trial. Thank you, Lord!
No matter grim our prospects here on earth might seem, we have an eternal hope that far outweighs the suffering of this life. The reason the persecuted church thrives, in fact, may be that those who clearly see they have no hope in this life are set free from it to rejoice in the hope of the life to come. As we trust him for eternity we have joy and peace in the here and now. That hope which we enjoy is from the Holy Spirit, with whom we were sealed as a sign of the certain hope to come. If we also find in this life reasons for hope and rejoicing, we are doubly blessed. And God does pour out blessings here and now, even in the midst of trial. Thank you, Lord!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Heaven Bound
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose [to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, v4] and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Cor 5:5)
I have true knowledge, true confidence, of the resurrection to come by the presence of God’s Spirit in my heart. The more tangibly I experience his presence and his activity in my life, the more certain I am. This is why we can say that we know it is true and not just that we think it is true.
I have true knowledge, true confidence, of the resurrection to come by the presence of God’s Spirit in my heart. The more tangibly I experience his presence and his activity in my life, the more certain I am. This is why we can say that we know it is true and not just that we think it is true.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Extravagant Love
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Rom 8:16)
This is a way of knowing that the world does not recognize – that we can know something to be true not by reason or by physical experiences but by the witness of the Holy Spirit. And what a truth it is! We who have accepted the Lord into our hearts and trusted him as our Savior are children of God! What an inheritance we have in him! We are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” (v17) That’s pretty hard for me to wrap my head around. The extravagance of God’s love – his generosity. I do not even understand what it means to be heirs of God, but I know it is wonderful. Thank you, Lord, for your extravagant love and grace that you have poured out on us.
This is a way of knowing that the world does not recognize – that we can know something to be true not by reason or by physical experiences but by the witness of the Holy Spirit. And what a truth it is! We who have accepted the Lord into our hearts and trusted him as our Savior are children of God! What an inheritance we have in him! We are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” (v17) That’s pretty hard for me to wrap my head around. The extravagance of God’s love – his generosity. I do not even understand what it means to be heirs of God, but I know it is wonderful. Thank you, Lord, for your extravagant love and grace that you have poured out on us.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Reflecting His Glory
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18)
The veil which blinded us to Christ has been removed, and we now reflect his glory, as Moses’ face reflected God’s glory coming down from Mt. Sinai. So we have already been transformed – we already reflect the Lord’s glory. But wait, there’s more! The transformation – the sanctification – continues and we continue to become more like him. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not something we can do, but God alone. Our part is to yield, to receive. Lord, teach me to yield. Thank you that my sanctification does not depend on my strength. Thank you that you are faithful. I will follow you, and let you do your work in me. Amen.
The veil which blinded us to Christ has been removed, and we now reflect his glory, as Moses’ face reflected God’s glory coming down from Mt. Sinai. So we have already been transformed – we already reflect the Lord’s glory. But wait, there’s more! The transformation – the sanctification – continues and we continue to become more like him. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not something we can do, but God alone. Our part is to yield, to receive. Lord, teach me to yield. Thank you that my sanctification does not depend on my strength. Thank you that you are faithful. I will follow you, and let you do your work in me. Amen.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
How to Stand Firm
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. (2 Cor 1:21)
There is nothing I can do in my own flesh to live the Christian life. It is only God’s Spirit indwelling, directing and empowering me that will produce a life of godliness.
There is nothing I can do in my own flesh to live the Christian life. It is only God’s Spirit indwelling, directing and empowering me that will produce a life of godliness.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Let It Shine
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Mt 5:16)
Lord, I want to be so full of your Spirit that people will see the glow of your light and be drawn to you.
Lord, I want to be so full of your Spirit that people will see the glow of your light and be drawn to you.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Let's Speak Up
Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. (Jn 18:27)
I can so easily see myself doing just what Peter did. I may not have actually, verbally denied Christ, but I have often remained silent when several guys are standing around, joking and making statements that I know are contrary to God’s truth. Rather than risk alienation from the group, rather than being thought prudish, unsophisticated or foolish, I remain silent and give tacit consent to sin and falsehood.
Yet Peter didn’t stay like this, and what changed him? Pentecost! Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on them like fire and Peter preached to thousands. Now I know I have the Holy Spirit already because I am already saved. What I need is to be filled with the Spirit, not to quench the Spirit. Lord, I surrender to the control of your Spirit today. Fill me, take control of me, and make me bold for you as I yield control to you.
I can so easily see myself doing just what Peter did. I may not have actually, verbally denied Christ, but I have often remained silent when several guys are standing around, joking and making statements that I know are contrary to God’s truth. Rather than risk alienation from the group, rather than being thought prudish, unsophisticated or foolish, I remain silent and give tacit consent to sin and falsehood.
Yet Peter didn’t stay like this, and what changed him? Pentecost! Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on them like fire and Peter preached to thousands. Now I know I have the Holy Spirit already because I am already saved. What I need is to be filled with the Spirit, not to quench the Spirit. Lord, I surrender to the control of your Spirit today. Fill me, take control of me, and make me bold for you as I yield control to you.
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