YOU CANNOT LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

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When the Holy Spirit enters you these seven major things will happen. Your life will never be the same. In this powerful and eye-opening teaching, Building Godly Mindsets reveal seven major things that happen when the Holy Spirit fills your heart. You’ll learn how the Spirit transforms your mind, ignites spiritual gifts, deepens your prayer life, and gives you boldness to witness. Discover how the presence of God breaks chains, produces the fruit of the Spirit, and draws you closer to Jesus Christ. Through biblical truth, inspiring scripture, and real-life examples, we explore the supernatural change that comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Whether you’re seeking spiritual growth, revival, or a deeper relationship with God, this message will empower your faith and open your eyes to the power of the Holy Spirit in your daily walk. Prepare to experience transformation, divine guidance, and an unshakable passion for God’s Kingdom.

Building Godly Mindsets aims to construct a stronger, wiser, and more resilient self. As a community, we delve into various aspects of personal growth, leadership, and development, using a solid foundation of godly teachings.

ARE YOU EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT?

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The risen Lord instructed His disciples: “And now I am sending down to you what the Father had promised. Stay in the city then until you are clothed from on high” (Luke 24:49).

The disciples gathered in the Upper Room and waited for the fulfilment of the Lord’s promise. This occurred on Pentecost day. The promise must have seemed mysterious to them. Yet we know that the Lord spoke about His intention no less than three times during the Last Supper discourse. The Lord said that He would send them an Advocate, a helper: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

The promise was that they would receive the Holy Spirit. His presence, among other things, would strengthen and deepen their faith and understanding of it. This reminds us that an important role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life is to enlighten the mind, guiding it in the way of truth.

“But when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learned.”  John 16:12–13

It is the Holy Spirit that produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:16, 22-23

It is the Holy Spirit that provides the gifts of the Spirit for ministry: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues,

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. “For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.: 1 Corinthians 12: 4, 8-10

As we walk in the Holy Spirit and not according to our own strivings, we will fulfil His plan for our lives.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

WE CAN KNOW THE TRUE HISTORY OF THIS WORLD

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The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released the latest installment of its American Worldview Inventory series, which documents Americans’ views on the Bible and the Trinity. The research is based on responses collected from 2,100 adults in January.

An overwhelming majority of Christians reject the basic Christian teaching of the Trinity, prompting new concerns that Americans are living without the influence of “the truths and life principles of God.” 

Overall, just 40% of respondents believe that God exists and affects people’s lives. That figure rises to 53% among self-identified Christians, 60% among theologically-identified born-again Christians, and 100% among Integrated Disciples. The latter term refers to those who have a biblical worldview. While a majority of those surveyed (59%) believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, a significantly smaller share of adults (29%) believe in the Holy Spirit. 

“These results are further evidence of the limited or lack of trust Americans have in the Bible, the limitations we place on the authority and influence of God, and our refusal to cooperate with God by living in harmony with His ways and purposes,” said CRC Director of Research George Barna in response to the survey results. “Even the statistics for the groups that are most in-tune with biblical teachings, such as belief in the nature and impact of the Trinity, are shockingly low for a nation in which most people claim to be Christian.”

Barna identified “these findings about America’s ignorance or rejection of the Trinity” as “simply another in a long list of examples of people living without the truths and life principles of God shaping their life.”

Why is this the case? The teaching of evolution and billions of years has been one of Satan’s most successful strategies. It totally undermines the foundational book of the Bible, Genesis, where the important doctrines are established.

  1. Man was made in God’s image to be in charge of the world God had made in six days. Why six days? It was a pattern for man’s working week: six days he will work, and the seventh day will be a sabbath rest day (Exodus 20:9).
  2. Woman was made out of man’s rib to be a help mate for him.
  3. God established marriage to be between a man and woman for life and to be the foundation block of society, the family.
  4. Genesis teaches that Adam and Eve rebelled against God, which resulted in their immediate spiritual death when the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) departed Adam and Eve’s spirit. Physical death followed some 900 years later.
  5. Genesis teaches that God had made spiritual beings called angels, and the lead angel, Lucifer/Satan, had rebelled against God and was instrumental in leading Eve and Adam astray.
  6. Satan was successful in leading one-third of the angels (now demons) to rebel against God. Some desired the beautiful women on earth and were able to come down and mate with them to produce hybrid beings called Nephilim.
  7. Because of these hybrid beings and the fact that lawlessness was rampant on the earth, God destroyed all mankind except one righteous and untainted man, Noah and his family. The flood of Noah’s day completely destroyed all mankind and the animals that were not on Noah’s Ark.
  8. Just several generations from Noah, mankind was in rebellion again, and God established the nations by confusing their language at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). The different language groups were scattered throughout the world.
  9. God established his own nation with one man, Abraham. It became the nation of Israel.
  10. Jesus entered the world at God’s preordained timing to provide a way back for mankind into a right relationship with God. Jesus literally changed history BC & AD.

God has given us the true history of this world in His revealed Word, the Bible, and its timeline to date is 6000 years. The proof of its accuracy is fulfilled prophecy. He has given us the entire history of this world from its beginning to its end, which is following Jesus’s Millennial reign, which is next on God’s agenda. The world is not billions of years old as Satan has led the world to believe with the theory of evolution. Its entire timeline is 7000 years.

WALKING WITH JESUS

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“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

What an amazing Scripture: Jesus says, all things have been handed over to Him by His Father and Jesus makes the decision as to who will get to know our Heavenly Father (anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him). Also, look at the invitation Jesus gives us:

  • Come to Me
  • Recover your life
  • Real rest
  • Walk with Me and work with Me
  • Watch how I do it
  • Keep company with Me

I feel odd about writing this, but it looks like Jesus wants to hang out with us. At the same time, I am reminded of the Scripture: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” Psalms 111:10. A healthy respect, knowing Jesus is God, is required.

Also, understanding the role of the Holy Spirit as our counsellor, teacher, comforter, and helper is important in understanding our relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to indwell our spirit. Without the Holy Spirit it is impossible to live the Christian life. If we allow Him to guide our steps each and every day, we will be in a good relationship with Jesus and our Heavenly Father. The apostle Paul gives us good advice:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

WAITING FOR THE LATTER RAINS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET JOEL

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We are told prophetically in Joel that the latter rains will be greater than the former rains. The “latter rain” or the spring rain is interpreted as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on God’s children. Biblical writers used the terms “latter rain” and “former rain” to describe the visitation of the Holy Spirit upon the church in a dispensational sense. The “early rain” came at Pentecost to give power to the witness of the gospel. And another outpouring of rain will be coming at earth’s final soul harvest before the second coming of Christ.

The “latter rain” and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will be to qualify the Saints for witnessing. This power for witnessing gives power within, power to proclaim the truth and power to lead sinners to God. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and transformed them from fearful men to brave warriors for Christ. They spoke the truth with boldness despite threats, persecution, and even death.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” Joel 2:28-29

This latter-day outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurs before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. It is the time when Jesus comes to raise the dead in Christ and rapture the Saints that are alive but also to pour out His wrath upon the unrepentant with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. There are spectacular celestial signs signalling the event.

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” Joel 2:30-31

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.” Joel 2:32

At the sixth seal in Revelation 6, we read about the celestial signs in the heavens that Joel talks about and the awesome day of the Lord that has come.

“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:15-17

It is at the trumpet blast at the opening of the seventh seal that the resurrection and rapture of the Saints occur as well as the beginning of the trumpet and bowl judgements being poured out on the unrepentant.

“When the Lamb (Jesus) opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour (Jesus has gone to resurrect and rapture the Saints). Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets (Trumpet Judgements) were given to them.” Revelation 8:1-2

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A SOMEONE NOT A SOMETHING.

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This post follows my previous post “Is God a Trinity“. If you have not read it but are interested in looking at the arguments for and against God is a Trinity then I suggest you do so before you read this testimony of Dr Walter Wilson.

The testimony of Dr Walter Wilson is powerful. Converted on December 21st, 1896, Walter had a deep love for the scriptures yet it bothered him that his life did not seem to bear spiritual fruit. In 1913 he was challenged by a missionary with the question, “What is the Holy Spirit to you?”

Wilson answered, “He is one of the persons of the Godhead, a Teacher, a Guide; the third person of the Trinity.

The missionary responded with: “He is just as great, just as precious, just as needed as the other two persons of the Trinity. But you still have not answered my question, What is He to you?”

“He is nothing to me”, Wilson said, surprised at his own candour. “I have no contact with Him, no personal relationship, and get along quite well without Him,” Wilson replied.

“It is because of this that your life is so fruitless even though your efforts are so great“. The missionary’s words taunted Wilson into the next year. He wanted to bear the fruit of the Spirit but feared becoming a fanatic, giving an inferior place to Jesus Christ. On January 14th, 1914 everything changed when Wilson heard a sermon preached by Dr James Gray (he became President of Moody Bible Institute) on Romans 12:1

SERMON BY DR JAMES GRAY
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

Notice this verse does not tell us to whom we should give our bodies? It is not the Lord Jesus…..He has his own body. It is not God the Father….He remains upon His throne. Another has come to earth without a body….God gives you the privilege and indescribable honour of presenting your bodies to the Holy Spirit, to be His dwelling place on earth. 

After hearing this sermon Walter Wilson prayed the following prayer:

“My Lord, I have mistreated You (HOLY SPIRIT) all my Christian life. I have treated you like a servant….I shall do so NO more. Now I give you this body of mine ; from my head to my feet……………., I hand it over to YOU for YOU to live in it the life that YOU please.”

Walter Wilson, the beloved physician often testified, “Concerning my own experience with the Holy Spirit, I must say the transformation of my life on Jan 14th, 1914 was greater, much greater than the change that took place when I was saved Dec 21st 1896.

Make sure you do not treat the Holy Spirit as a “something”. He is a “someone”.

IS GOD A TRINITY?

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I am convinced that God is a trinity of three persons. There is no dispute about God the Father and God the Son as persons but there is certainly dispute about the Holy Spirit.

The United Church of God is one church denomination that believes the Holy Spirit is something not someone. Their main arguments include the following:

If God were a Trinity, surely Paul, who was taught directly by the resurrected Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12) and who wrote much of the theological underpinnings of the early Church, would have comprehended and taught this concept. Yet we find no such teaching in His writings (which I will dispute). Moreover, Paul’s standard greeting in his letter to the churches, as well as individuals to whom he wrote, consistently mentions “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” And in each of his greetings, he never mentions the Holy Spirit! (The same can also be said of Peter in the salutations of both his epistles.) The same greeting, with only minor variations, appears in every epistle with Paul’s name. Notice how consistent he is in not including the Holy Spirit in his greetings: Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3.

The Holy Spirit is always left out of these greetings—an unbelievable and inexplicable oversight if the Spirit were indeed a person or entity coequal with God the Father and Christ! Paul’s epistles record no attempt on his part to explain the Trinity or Holy Spirit as a divine person equal with God the Father and Jesus Christ. However, in 2 Corinthians 13:14, we have “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

They would argue that in visions of God’s throne recorded in the Bible, although the Father and Christ are seen, the Holy Spirit as a third person is completely absent.

They also argue that Scripture reveals the Holy Spirit not as a person, but as something much different—the divine power through which God acts.

They also claim no theological or biblical justification for referring to the term “Holy Spirit” with masculine pronouns, even in Greek. The Greek word pneuma, translated “spirit” (but also translated “wind” and “breath” in the New Testament) is a grammatically neuter word. So, in the Greek language, pronouns equivalent to the English “it,” “its,” “itself,” “which” or “that” are properly used in referring to this word translated into English as “spirit.”

This information was extracted from the book: Is God a Trinity? United Church of God.

The Scriptures they have difficulty with are the following:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus told the disciples and therefore us that He must go so His Father could send the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, teacher, comforter, and helper.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

“When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11

It is difficult to understand how “a power” can be our counsellor, teacher, and comforter. Particularly when Paul tells us to make sure we do not grieve the Holy Spirit or quench His work in our lives. You cannot grieve a “power “or “something“.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 28:19-20

“Do not quench the Spirit“ 1 Thessalonians 5:19

THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTS AS A PERSON:

•HE SPEAKS: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches” (Rev 2:7), “And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” Acts 13:2

•HE TEACHES: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” John 14:26

•HE WITNESSES: “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of me” (John 15:26) “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” Romans 8:16

•Directs your path (Prov. 3:4-5, Proverbs 143:10).

•Helps you and He lives within you forever (John 14:16).

•Guides you in all truth (John 14:17, 16:13a).

•Brings to your remembrance all things He said to you (John 14:26b).

•Tells you things to come (John 16:13).

•Reveals to you the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2:10).

•Freely gives you all things (1 Cor. 2:12).

•Offers you the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God..” Romans 8:16

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26

Paul also tells us that the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and self-control. He is also the one who provides the gifts for ministry, all nine, as needed.

JESUS IS LORD, HE MUST ALWAYS BE CENTRE STAGE. THE HOLY SPIRIT ALWAYS REVEALS JESUS MORE FULLY.  Where the Holy Spirit is in control, Jesus is proclaimed the Head – the Holy Spirit, His executive.

WHO AM I? Solving the identity puzzle (2)

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This is part 2 of my review of Martyn Isles’s book WHO AM I? Solving the identity puzzle. If you have not read my first post I suggest you do. It refers to the serious error of all humans being immortal.

This post will deal with the serious omission from Martyn’s book and that is the role the Holy Spirit played in Adam’s life and now plays in believers’ lives.

When God breathed life into Adam he became a living creature.

“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Genesis 2:7

Proverbs 20:27 tells us that the “spirit of a man” is the lamp of the Lord. A lamp requires oil to function. The Holy Spirit is the oil required to make the lamp of the Lord function. Hence, Adam received from God the Holy Spirit so Adam’s spirit could function as the lamp of the Lord. Adam was then able to function in the spiritual dimension and communicate with God as he did in the Garden of Eden.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:27

What was immediately lost in The Fall is the Holy Spirit departed Adam and Eve’s spirits so they and we as their descendants are no longer able to communicate directly with God.

The good news is that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour our Heavenly Father will send the Holy Spirit to once again indwell our spirit to be our helper, our counselor, teacher, and comforter.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.“ John 14:26

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.“ John 16:7

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-15

“Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20

The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the spirit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and self-control. He is also the one who provides the gifts for ministry.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.“ Galatians 5:22-23

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

“For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

Jesus told His disciples not to do anything until the Holy Spirit came to indwell their spirits at Pentecost. It was only then that they were empowered to live the Christian life. Likewise for us, unless we have received the Holy Spirit we cannot live the Christian life, it is impossible.

WE ALL NEED HOPE

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If there was ever a time that our kids needed to hear the message that God created them, loves them, and they have a future, now is the time. We all need hope. Without it, this world is all there is and all I have to look forward to is growing old and death. There is no purpose or meaning to life, after all the world says I am a descendant of apes.

No wonder only 45% of young Americans say they feel in good mental health. At least 10% have thought of suicide in the past year. There has been a 56% increase in suicide rates from 2007 to 2023. 42% have been diagnosed with a mental disorder. (Stress in America: Gen. Z, American Psychology Assoc. Dec 12th, 2023)

If your entire view of self and life is subjective, then it is inherently unstable and uncertain. Is there anything less stable than a teenager’s feelings?

One of my favourite Scriptures is Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Do you want joy and peace? Do you want to abound in hope? Do you want eternal life? God gives them all to those who accept the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ and are prepared to repent of their rebellion, and past sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Note you have all joy and peace in believing by the power of the Holy Spirit. To all those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour our heavenly Father sends the third person of the Trinity to be their counsellor, teacher, comforter and helper. He will produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life. joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, kindness and self-control. He also provides the gifts of the Spirit for ministry.

Ministry Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:27-31): Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Distinguishing Spirits, Speaking in Tongues, and Interpreting Tongues. These are the tools that the Holy Spirit utilizes for the church’s ongoing ministry.

You need to be aware that when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you become an enemy of Satan who is Prince of this world. You are in spiritual warfare big time so you need to put on the full armour of the Lord daily. Note that the only piece of armour that is not defensive is the Sword of the Spirit.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

There is only one answer to the identity problem we need the truth and there is only one solid foundation for the truth, our Creator’s revelation of who we are and how we got to where we are now. The Bible provides the true history of this world. Evolution is a failed theory. The discovery of DNA which is complex information that controls all of the functions in living cells rang the death knell for evolution. There is only one source of information and that is an intelligent designer. Also, the electron microscope revealed complex machinery in each cell that manufactures all the molecules needed to fuel and maintain life. It also revealed transport devices taking the chemicals to where they are needed. All of this equipment is controlled by the information on the DNA and needs to be correct on day one. It could not have evolved.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

THE POWER BEHIND CHRISTIANITY

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Jesus told the disciples not to do anything until the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. The third person of the Trinity is the reason Christianity grew to be the major religion in the world. Do the traditional/institutional churches really acknowledge that fact?

Despite evolution, most people still believe in a Supreme Being. Also, most people believe Jesus Christ lived on this Earth 2,000 years ago. We have our calendar to testify to that fact (2024). Moreover, we have many descriptions of Jesus in the New Testament such that we, like the first converts have good grounds to conclude that he is something more than a prophet. Other historians like Josephus testify to his life and ministry. However, it is quite another thing to believe that God is three. There is a Third person, a ghostly wind of God, Holy Spirit.

The Bible words for “spirit,” in both Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament), also mean “breath” and “wind.” So it is symbolically apt that when the early Christians were awaiting the promised Spirit in an upstairs room in Jerusalem on Pentecost Sunday, there came the sound of a violent wind. That sound was accompanied by a visual symbol. Over each person’s head, a flame or “tongue” as of fire came to rest, also symbolic of the presence of God—as in the Old Testament fire of Mount Sinai and the pillar of fire that led ancient Israel toward the Promised Land.

On the night he was betrayed and arrested, Jesus told the twelve disciples (John 14-16, John 16:7) that He would go away and it was better that He went away. Why? Jesus said that he would ask the Father for Another One to come. And this One would do even better than what Jesus did. Who is this “Another One” who will come? He is the Holy Spirit. He will come to dwell within us so that we can perform miracles, proclaim the gospel, and live as examples to the world.

How many institutional/traditional churches believe we can do the things the Bible says the Holy Spirit will empower us to do? He will produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) in our lives: love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, kindness, patience, and self-control. He will provide the gifts of the Spirit for ministry:

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

The Holy Spirit continues to this day to manifest himself—in the spectacular gifts given in this Scripture but also more commonly in other gifts, such as (effective) teaching, evangelism, leadership, service, and hospitality. Are these signs manifest in your church? If not, can I suggest you look for a church where they are evident.

 The Holy Spirit continues to give people the New Birth. God animates us by his Spirit: anima in Latin means “the breath of life,” hence animal. And then God by the Holy Spirit, in the process of sanctification (sanctus being Latin for “holy”) makes us mature children of God.