Tag Archive for holy-spirit at Zeal For Truth

Tag Archive for 'holy-spirit'

Overcoming Faith, Part II

Published by Chris A September 25, 2008 in Religion. 19 Comments

Esteeming God’s Word Above Experience
We know that faith can only be present where knowledge is present. In other words, one cannot believe what he does not know. Do you remember the rhetorical questions Paul asks in Romans 10:14?

“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”

The answers to these questions are obvious, because faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). When one hears, knowledge is revealed to him, creating an opportunity for faith.

Let us examine 1 John 5:4, 5 in light of what we have covered thus far:

4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. 5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

We know that these verses are the truth, but they do not always seem to agree with the life experiences of believers. Why? They must first know – by internalizing this reality – and then allow their words and actions to correspond with this belief. Knowledge gives way to thought; thoughts govern beliefs. Beliefs govern actions and words, and determine attitudes.

A common mistake many people make is to judge their success as a Christian on the basis how they feel. But the Bible never promised us that we would feel like overcomers; it says that we are – by nature of our Creator and Father – overcomers (1 John 5:4, 5). We are faith children of a faith God and we are to live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). If we act like victims it proves that we don’t believe we are victors, and we never will as long as we adopt this kind of attitude. This is how real faith can be identified apart from its counterfeit counterpart, simple mental agreement; one is active, the other is passive.

Fueled by Meditation
If someone lacks faith, the remedy is knowledge. However, such knowledge is not always cultivated apart from meditation. One cannot expect to obtain the knowledge of God by mere intellectual means – that is, by reading the Bible without carefully weighing its significance. The goal is not to learn more information, but to apprehend knowledge of the Holy. Not only is the quantity of time important, but the quality of time is important. One must free himself of competing distractions in order to give full attention to the word of power by which God upholds all things.

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (Joshua 1:8).

The Hebrew word translated meditate here literally means to mutter. Thus real biblical meditation also involves the use of one’s mouth as well as his mind.

The Spirit of Faith
If a survey was taken and Christians were asked what primary characteristic would demonstrate the spirit of faith, I would venture to say that precious few would be able to answer this question. However, the Bible makes the answer quite plain.

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13).

The spirit of faith is the attitude of confidence towards God evidenced by the spoken word. In fact, this is how a person initially gains entry into the kingdom of God because one must confess with his mouth and believe in his heart that God raised Christ from the dead to be born again (Romans 10:9, 10).

People often fail to receive from God because of a lack of the expression of their faith. When someone is thoroughly convinced that God cannot lie and he becomes fully persuaded of his promises towards him, he is in a position to see God work miracles on his behalf. But once knowledge comes, the faith produced by this knowledge must be expressed either through word or action. A person can have faith without expressing it, in which case he would be almost as well off if he was completely faithless. He will never tap into the reservoir of grace at his disposal (Romans 5:2). He will both shortchange himself as well as rob God of the glory he would otherwise receive as a result of the blessing.

David and Goliath
The use of words in connection with the release of faith is among the most underemphasized and neglected basic truths consistent throughout the entire Bible. Let us take, for instance, the story of David and Goliath. David’s name is listed among many of great people of faith in Hebrews 11, but how was David’s faith utilized in the slaying of the giant? The entire story is found in 1 Samuel 17, but here is an abbreviated version. Notice what David said.

45Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46″This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.” 48Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. 50Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand. 51Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

I think most Christians have a problem reconciling what David said in verses 46 and 47 with their theology. David literally said exactly what he believed God was going to do. In some people’s minds, this is presumptuous. They think, “How can one presume to know the will of God?” They fail to realize that the closer you get to God by prayer and meditation in his word, the less you have to presume because you know.

How Jesus Taught Faith
If Jesus ministered in churches today, he would be one of the most controversial teachers of our time – just like he was controversial in his own time. He would no doubt be heralded as a heretic. It is no wonder, then, that anyone who dares to teach what Jesus taught about faith is branded a false teacher by many modern-day Pharisees and doctors of the Law.

When it came to faith, Jesus took the spirit of faith to another level. What is perhaps most shocking about his teaching on the matter is the fact that he did not put himself in another faith class; on the contrary, his teachings were accompanied by examples he expected his disciples to follow. One such example and subsequent teaching is found in Matthew 21.

18Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.
19Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.
20Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?”
21And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.
22″And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

What was the mechanism of faith demonstrated here? It was Jesus’ spoken words to the fig tree. Yes, folks, Jesus spoke to inanimate objects! Am I saying that those who follow Christ should do the same thing? No, but Jesus did – his words, not mine. He told his disciples that not only could they do just as he did to the fig tree, but they could actually move mountains. Some have surmised that Jesus was speaking strictly in a figurative sense, but that cannot be the case. This was not a parable. Jesus literally spoke to a literal tree and in that same context told his disciples they could speak to a literal mountain. Could mountains represent other obstacles in life in some way? Yes, just as the barren fig tree was an obstacle to Jesus getting some food in his stomach. But that is different from drawing some kind of cryptic meaning from the passage. Mark’s account of this event sheds even more light on the emphasis of the spoken word to release faith. Mark 11:

21Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.”
22And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.
23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
24″Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

In this account, we see that the potential for this kind of demonstration of faith is extended beyond Jesus’ twelve disciples, because Jesus said, “whoever says to this mountain…” Essentially he said that anyone – not just Jesus or his disciples - who says something, and believes it is going to happen it will happen; and anyone who prays for something should believe that it is received prior to actual physical evidence. This is exactly what David and many other people in the Bible did.

Expectancy
Anyone who lives by faith must of necessity live in expectancy. If the Bible says the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth, we should believe and expect him to do so. If the Bible says that God gives wisdom liberally to all men, we should expect to become wise as we seek God for wisdom. If the Bible says that God’s words are health to all our flesh, we should expect to be healthy as we spend time meditating in the word.

What do you suppose David expected to happen after he said to Goliath, “This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you”? He expected to both kill and decapitate someone most people would have thought he had no business challenging in the first place.

Far too many pray as a last resort and expect nothing. They may think they are in faith, but they are sadly mistaken. They wait and see if something will happen, instead of expecting that something will happen. These are “que sera, sera” prayers. Many have thought that “if it be thy will” should accompany every prayer they pray. They fail to realize that Jesus only prayed that way in a time of great distress when he was consecrating himself to the will of God by laying down his life for humanity (see Mathew 26). In most instances where this phrase is used, it actually destroys faith. It promotes the idea that God is so far off as to remain mysterious to mankind, such that he may never really be known – even by his own offspring.

In matters where the will of God is completely unknown, certainly it would be appropriate to seek God by supplication; that too, is biblical. But pertaining to matters where God’s will is clearly revealed through his word, it makes no sense to pray as if we don’t know God’s will.

Overcoming Faith, Part I

Published by Chris A September 24, 2008 in Religion. 0 Comments

The Triumphant Faith Life
The Christian, by his very spiritual nature, is a triumphant being patterned after the triumphant Christ. This is the reality of his actual identity as seen through the eyes of God. As a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, his time of sojourning on earth is to be one of absolute mastery over the kingdom of Satan and his schemes. This does not mean we will not have problems, it just means that God will always cause us to prevail despite the problems. Christians were never intended to live as victims, but victors. Since God himself is for us, the idea that any adverse circumstance should hinder us from accomplishing his will for our lives is a completely bankrupt concept.

Although God has determined that his children be more than conquerors through Christ, sadly this is not the experience of many believers. Why is this? They are either ignorant of the thoughts God has towards them as revealed in his holy Word, or they have been taught otherwise, crippling their ability to grasp the knowledge of God that is sufficient to multiply the manifold grace of God to them. Consequently, many of them will live out their lives far below their Christian potential.

Identifying the New Creation
We would all do well to ask what qualities make up the spiritual substance of those who have been born by God’s Spirit. The answer to this question cannot be determined solely Christian experience. The experience of the new creation is only valid to the extent that it agrees with the word that proceeds from the mouth his Creator.

23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does (James 1:23-25).

Here James compares the word of God to a mirror that reflects actual Christian identity. This concept is laid out in John 1:12-16.

12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

True Christian identity, then, has its sole basis in the Christ himself – the incarnate word of God. By beholding the glory manifested forth from Jesus, we are transformed into the same image. Although this identity may be evident in the traditions that express Christian thought, the true characteristics of Christ’s followers can never really be derived from them. The church, being the body of Christ, is an extension of the thoughts, will, and purpose originating from the Head. As he is, so are we in this world. In truth, we are to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are representatives of a heavenly kingdom that operates by entirely different principles than the world where we presently reside.

The Second Transformation
Certainly the born again experience constitutes the spiritual resurrection of the dead – the translation from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, but it is also a part of a greater metamorphosis and is only the entrance into the faith life. It profits neither the believer nor the kingdom of God for those having been born of the Spirit of God to then nullify many of the benefits of this new life by failing to adopt the new manner of thinking consistent with this spiritual reality. A man thinks, so his he (Proverbs 23:7). He cannot manifest this new nature without thinking in concert with it. This is both a process of deprogramming and reprogramming – ridding our consciousness of impurity while internalizing Truth.

22That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Ephesians 4:22-24).

From this passage we can conclude that in order to “put on the new self” one must renew his mind. Here we see the possibility of one being a new creation and yet failing to manifest the godly characteristics he unknowingly possesses.

Next time: Esteeming God’s Word Above Experience

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Part IV)

Published by Chris A July 1, 2008 in Religion. 2 Comments

There are many benefits of the Holy Spirit afforded to those who are believers in Jesus Christ. However, the failure of many in receiving of these benefits has to do with ignorance of receiving the Spirit’s power. In fact, I dare say most Christians examine the power of God through a historical lens looking back to biblical times. Although most Christians acknowledge the miracles the early church experienced in the book of Acts, there is a disconnection in there minds between then and now.

This kind of thinking fosters within people an attitude of skepticism toward any claim of the miraculous. Those who display this attitude plainly show their lack of experience with the power of the living Christ. Some seem to think that the power experienced by the early church has to do with their extreme persecution. While there may be truth in the reasoning that opposition causes people to draw nearer to God and him to them, it is not correct to say that the totality of God’s power through the Holy Spirit cannot be accessed without opposition. There are some Christians who attribute the great power of the early church to the apostles. This too is erroneous and unscriptural.

The Voice of the One Crying in the Wilderness
Most of us understand that John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’ earthly ministry. What has received less attention, or at least has not been fully understood, was one key thing John said about Jesus’ ministry.

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 (John 3:11).

This ministry of baptizing with, or more literally, in the Holy Spirit has been misunderstood for centuries. Nevertheless it is a key part of the ministry of Jesus Christ and should be experienced by all believers. This baptism is the experience of being endowed with the same power Jesus was endowed with. Jesus’ own water baptism experience demonstrates what John meant by being baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience is recorded in Luke 3.

21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Here we see that following Jesus’ water baptism he was empowered by the Spirit. Just as the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, the book of Acts records similar instances in which the Holy Spirit descended on believers much the same way.

Then You Shall be Witnesses
Jesus did not baptize anyone in the Holy Spirit as part of his earthly ministry; rather this aspect of his ministry began to take place after his ascension to the right hand of the Father. Jesus alluded to this before ascended, as recorded in Acts 1.

4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Notice that Jesus said in verse 5 Jesus said they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit “in a few days.” This, of course, coincided with his instruction to remain in Jerusalem. The fulfilment of what Jesus said would happen took place after Jesus had ascended, for we read in verse 9, “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”

We should realize that Jesus predicated their being witnesses upon their being empowered by the Spirit, the implication being that they would not have been equipped to be effective witnesses prior to their receiving the power they were instructed to wait for. Notice also that verse 4 makes clear the fact that this was a command. This is particularly important in light of the fact that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts the unbeliever of their sin in order to reveal to them the grace of God through Jesus Christ. It only stands to reason that those who would be witnesses of Jesus be empowered by the Spirit whose function it is to draw men to the Father.

The Day of Pentecost
Jesus baptized the early believers in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost following his ascension.

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tonguesas the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:1-4).

What happened subsequent to this experience? Peter preached the Gospel and 3,000 people repented and professed Jesus Christ. This was made possible because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit worked in conjunction with the message preached by convicting the hearers of their sin. Notice the response of his audience after hearing the Gospel.

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ (Acts 2:37)

Notice the phrase, “They were cut to the heart.” This is evidence of the Spirit’s work.

The New Birth (Part III)

Published by Chris A June 19, 2008 in Essays, Religion and Theology. 0 Comments

As was mentioned in the previous article entitled Our Introduction to the Holy Spirit, following the experience of being convicted of sin such that we recognize that we need Jesus, the sinner is born again. This occurs when a conscious effort is made towards a profession of faith in the redemptive work of Christ. When a person receives Jesus by faith, he becomes a new creation spiritually (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is made possible by the Holy Spirit.

Born of the Spirit
Jesus explained the New Birth to Nicodemus in John 3:

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

4″How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spiritgives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘Youmust be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

In this passage, Jesus contrasts two very different kinds of birth, both of which are necessary for entrance into the kingdom of God – the natural birth and the spiritual birth. Spiritual birth is necessary because of the spiritual death that passed on all the sons of Adam (Romans 5:12, Romans 5:15, 1 Corinthians 15:22). The experience of being born again signifies the death of the spiritually dead man and the creation of a new man with a new spiritual nature, having the capacity to express the nature of God and overcome the world (Romans 6:4, Romans 6:6, Colossians 2:12, Ephesians 4:24, 1 John 5:4, 5).

Sonship
Anyone who has been born of the Spirit has become a son or daughter of God. Contrary to what some people often say, the whole of humanity is not included in the family of God; only those who have entered into the kingdom of God through the only way (Jesus) are recognized by God as his children. Being born again not only involves the process of adoption by God the Father, but naturally puts believers into a sibling relationship with Jesus.

11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises” (Hebrews 2:11, 12).

Because we have the same Father and are part of the same family, we receive the same degree of love from the Father as does Jesus. To put it another way, God does not love Jesus any more than he loves his other children.

22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24″Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world (John 17:22-24).

Spiritual Growth of the Newborn
Much the same way newborn babies have to grow and develop, those born of the Spirit must do the same. Growing spiritually involves the development of spiritual fruit. Jesus spoke of this in John 15.

4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5″I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

The food necessary to facilitate spiritual growth is the word of God. Jesus, who is the Word incarnate, said that it was impossible to bear spiritual fruit apart from him. 1 Peter 2:2 is in complete agreement with this concept.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

The passage most generally referred to with respect to spiritual fruit resulting from growth is found in Galatians 5.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Most Bible translations, including the New International Version which is quoted above, capitalize the word spirit. In one sense it is accurate to say that spiritual fruit is of the Holy Spirit because it occurs subsequent to one being born of the Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit is not the one bearing fruit – the believer is (John 15:4, 5). Therefore, it is more accurate to say that the fruit mentioned is the fruit of the human spirit having been recreated by the Holy Spirit.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Church Part I: The Holy Spirit is a Person

Published by Chris A June 3, 2008 in Religion. 4 Comments

Before embarking on an in-depth study of the Holy Spirit’s role in the New Testament church, it is necessary to identify who – not what – he is. He is, in fact, God. Rather than being some abstract power or force, he is an intelligent being. While I realize the English word “person” is somewhat inadequate in describing God, for lack of a better word, the Holy Spirit is a person in that he possesses the attributes of personality. Understanding the personality of the Spirit is key to comprehending his role in the church. If we fail to acknowledge him as a person, and instead view him simply as God’s power, we will never be able to understand his present-day function in the Body of Christ. Consider what Jesus said in John 14:

16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the 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. (NIV)

Notice his usage of the personal pronouns he and him. Therefore, we can reasonably conclude that the Holy Spirit is not an it. In verse 16 Jesus says that the Holy Spirit is “another Counselor”. Some Greek scholars have said that the original language carries the connotation of a counselor of the same sort as Jesus. That would make perfect sense because Jesus was communicating this to his disciples just before he was to be crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascend to heaven – a truth Jesus later expounded on in John 16.

5″Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Again, I want to reemphasize Jesus’ usage of the personal pronoun he in this passage. Here he tells his disciples that he would go away, but they would be visited by the Holy Spirit – the other counselor.

The Holy Spirit Thinks
One basic attribute of personality is the capacity to think. The Holy Spirit does exhibit this characteristic.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:27)

The Holy Spirit Hears and Speaks
There is no such thing as a counselor who does not speak. Jesus spoke about the Spirit’s ability to communicate in John 16:13.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

In Acts 13:2 we see an example of the Holy Spirit speaking.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Here the Holy Spirit is speaking on behalf of Jesus, revealing his calling of Paul and Barnabas.

The Holy Spirit can Experience Grief

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

What grieves the Holy Spirit? If we read the following verse, Ephesians 4:41, we get our answer.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.

The Holy Spirit can be Lied to
In the fifth chapter of Acts when Ananias and Sapphira sold land, and lied about giving all the money to the apostles, Peter said they lied to the Holy Spirit.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”

The Holy Spirit can Fellowship with Believers

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:1, 2).

Biblical Bodily Healing X: Some Final Thoughts

Published by Chris A April 17, 2008 in Religion. 14 Comments

It has been said that there are two sides to redemption – the legal side and the vital side. I believe that is true. On the one hand you have the word of God, his promises revealed to his people, and then you have the actual experiences of his people in relation to his promise. The latter does not prove the will of the Father; rather the former reveals his thoughts toward us. During this series I have done my best to explore the legal side to the best of my ability. Rather than summing up what I have already written, I would like to approach healing from the other, unexplored side.

Personal Experiences
True Christian faith is not based on experiences; it is based on the word of God. Therefore an experience is only relevant to the extent that it is agreement with God’s word. Even regarding experiences that are supernatural, the believer is cautioned not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to be sure they come from God (1 John 4:1).

However, having a record of all the experiences the early church had with the Holy Spirit, we too should expect that God might visit us in much the same way. As long as our experiences are biblical, we have every reason to conclude they are an expression of the same love and power that Jesus manifested. God does not change. When Jesus offered prayer for his disciples in John 17 before being crucified, he also extended that prayer to include those believers who would come after them.

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:18-24, NASB).

This prayer reveals that it was Jesus’ will that the same glory demonstrated in his ministry should belong to his church for all ages. There is no hint of generational bias. Although many have relegated the ministry of healing to the early apostles, Jesus said this sign would follow those who believed in his name (Mark 16:18).

My Own Healing
A few years ago I suffered with symptoms consistent with Crohn’s disease. (I cannot say it was definitely Crohn’s disease since I never went to a doctor.) These symptoms persisted for about a year. I had very frequent diarrhea and skin rashes that occurred during night sweats. Nearly every morning I woke up in a cold sweat that literally drenched my sheets and stained them.

I was convinced that I would be healed if I exercised faith, but I endured the discomfort for quite a while before ever approaching God for healing. One reason I did not seek healing was because I was using my illness as a crutch. Any time I did not want to go to work, it was easy to call in sick because I was basically always sick. I got into the destructive habit of feeling sorry for myself.

Although it seems logical that most people who are sick desire to be healed, the truth is that is not always the case. Do you remember that Jesus asked the man at the pool of Bethesda whether he wanted to be healed? Why would he ask such a question? Isn’t the answer obvious? Not exactly. Some people never got so much attention from others before they got sick, and they literally prefer to be sick and enjoy the attention. Despite the fact that they suffer, they enjoy a perverse power of victimhood – something they would have to give up if they got healed.

People like this get caught up in what I call “medical culture”. They constantly talk about their medications, their doctors, their surgeries, etc. It is impossible for people like this to be healed as long as they are consumed with being sick, especially if they get a sense of security from it. Such people prevent themselves from focusing on Jesus.

I was like that. Not to the extent that some people are, but the end result is the same. Eventually God got a hold of me. The Holy Spirit began to counsel me, and reveal to me areas that I needed to change. As crazy as this will sound to some, he showed me that I was heading toward an early grave before I reached my mid-fifties. That was a serious wake up call for me. I changed my direction, believed God for my healing, and was made completely well without the aid of medical science.
Continue reading ‘Biblical Bodily Healing X: Some Final Thoughts’

Bibilical Bodily Healing VI: Christ, the Anointed One

Published by Chris A March 11, 2008 in Religion. 1 Comment

The Anointing
Jesus Christ is uniquely totally God and totally man. He is not a mutant, but is the totality of divinity and humanity in one person. He demonstrated the love of God for humanity by reconciling man back to God. This reconciliation culminated with Christ redeeming mankind by offering his own body as a ransom.

However, prior to his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension - he manifested the Spirit of reconciliation by healing the sick and forgiving sin. It would behoove us to examine how Jesus was able to heal the sick. Many have assumed that Jesus was able to heal simply because he was the Son of God. However, the Bible does not support this position. In fact, Jesus made quite clear what enabled him to heal when he quoted Isaiah 61 in the fourth chapter of Luke.

14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

Jesus said he was able to heal the brokenhearted and open the eyes of the blind because he was anointed with the Spirit of God. Even the power of Jesus’ preaching should be attributed to the Holy Spirit. Up until this moment Jesus had been the Son of God. Yet he had not been anointed to work the works of God until after the Holy Spirit descended on him following his baptism by John. Peter also made clear the fact that Jesus healed by the power of the Spirit.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38).

Notice the emphasis on Jesus’ humanity in this verse. Peter referred to him as “Jesus of Nazareth”. If Jesus had been working miracles as God in the flesh, then he would not have needed to be anointed. Who would be qualified to anoint God?

Jesus himself even attributed his ability to cast out evil spirits by the Spirit of God.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (Matthew 12:28)

The Anointing to Heal in Demonstration
There are various passages that we could look at that show Jesus’ ministry to the sick. Some of them are more specific in terms of revealing to us how Jesus healed with the aid of the Holy Spirit. One such passage is found in Luke 6. For clarity we will examine this passage from the New International Version.

17He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evilspirits were cured, 19and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

Notice that verse 19 says that power was coming from him. What was that power? It was the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus was anointed with. When people touched Jesus that power was released and caused healing to take place in those that touched him.

The most overlooked part of what transpired here is found in verse 17. Why did people come to Jesus in the first place? They came first to hear him, and secondly to be healed. Faith comes by hearing, and that is directly linked to whether a person receives healing or not. Even though the Spirit of God was in manifestation, it took faith to receive as we see in Mark 5. Once again we will go to the New International Version.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood

25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31″You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Again, pay special attention to verse 27 which says, “When she heard about Jesus…” This is where faith is initiated. When she touched Jesus, Jesus felt the power of the Spirit go out from him. So we know that the anointing of the Spirit played a major role in the healing of this woman, yet Jesus attributed this woman’s healing to her faith. It is faith that gives action to the power.

Zeal For Truth