Blog In Audio:
Greetings,
Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, a marker for the manifest presence of Holy Spirit in our lives. Holy Spirit is truly the source of new life for us all. Once again, it was good to be together as a local church community. I hope you were able to connect somewhere, and I hope Holy Spirit touched you in a fresh way.
Jesus promised that the Father would not leave us alone, but that He would send us the Helper who is the Holy Spirit. In some Bible translations this word is written as ‘Comforter’. This is not merely a matter of making us feel good or encouraging us in some way. The Greek word for Helper is the word paraklētos; an intercessor, consoler. It implies one who comes alongside of us in everything. Holy Spirit is God and Holy Spirit intercedes in our lives. I don’t believe that intercession is merely the saying of the right words. It is a drawing into our lives all things that are heavenly. Holy Spirit helps us by drawing what is in heaven into our everyday lives here upon the earth. This includes giving us divine strength, power, and a heavenly testimony in the midst of every aspect of our lives. He transforms us in our character, nature, way, power, and authority. He also works to transform the environment of our sphere of influence in life. An aspect of Christ in us, upon us, and with us is to know the very present Help of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
The Holy Spirit has come that He might make known the things of God to us. He is the Spirit of God sent to our lives to release the authority of Christ Jesus through us to our world. He is not only in us and upon us; He is also with us in all things. This is the partnership of God for the fulfillment of the purpose of God in our lives in all things.
John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
The truth that Holy Spirit brings into our lives is not merely some form of information to our minds. It is a matter of giving us the right desires in our hearts that inspire the right thoughts in our minds. The thoughts of the Holy Spirit within us become the thoughts that we put on from the inside out! There is also an aspect of Holy Spirit going before us and even behind us in all things. He partners with us in the environment of our world. In this, even what the enemy intends for evil in our lives can be worked out for God and thus worked out for good. It is not merely the sovereign ability of God working in our lives. It is the powerful love of God working in ways that only He can that demonstrates His love for us. God wants to partner with us and to guide us in our path of life.
God has chosen that we be a Spirit led supernatural church. This is not merely being led by spiritual gifts; it is being spiritual. The apostle Paul addressed this in his first letter to the church of Corinth.
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
In the original Greek text, the word gifts is not in this first verse. It has been added with the idea of giving clarity to the context, but the context of the entire chapter is not about gifts. It addresses gifts, ministry, and works. It addresses the concept of being spiritual people who are empowered by the charismas of the Holy Spirit, accomplishing the ministry of body membership and fulfilling the purposed works of the Father in all things.
Paul states that before we knew a relationship with God, lifeless, voiceless things were the drive and passion of our purpose. We were motivated by fleshly passions and desires, but at least we were motivated. Things such as parties, business, education, sports, adventure, vacations, shopping, music, science, discovery, and many other things that do not reveal or release the true destiny of human beings led us. Things are not the true issue. They are not necessarily bad, but when they become the controllers and motivators of our lives, they bind us to being natural people. They become the idols and lords of our lives. The real issue Paul was dealing with was one of being spiritual. Paul was challenging believers to be the most passionate and purpose focused human beings on earth. They looked like people with destiny when they were dead, but now they should really reveal the true destiny of human beings in the earth. They must be spiritual people. They were born to reveal the Lordship of Jesus in life! This can only happen by the power, testimony, and purpose of the Holy Spirit manifested in their lives.
We must not be ignorant in being spiritual. We must not ignore, have little use for, have little value for, be uneducated to, or slack in any way in being spiritual people in life. As people of God, we must discover this mystery of life. Paul was dealing with the subject of gifts of the Spirit, ministries of Christ, and the effects or workings of God in life.
1 Corinthians 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
To be spiritual people we must have the power of the Spirit, know the uniqueness of who we are in being human’s expressing the power of Christ, and we must know our divine connections for our purpose in life. All humans must be empowered by God’s Spirit in their spirits, led by the spirit in their souls, and reveal a spiritual testimony in life. Paul was not merely talking about how gifts of the Spirit function in an institution called the church. He was talking about how the life of the Spirit works to make human beings, spiritual in their expression as the Church of Christ in life.
Blessings,
Ted J. Hanson
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This is so true.