The Holy SpiritThis article is but a brief overview of the work and identity of the One that was promised to every believer by our Lord Jesus Christ in John 14:16-17, “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.”(ESV)
The key to knowing and understanding the Holy Spirit is to be open with our minds, sensitive with our hearts and have a strong desire to seek the truth revealed within God’s Word.
Before we begin, let us pray. Dear Father God, we come before you acknowledging your greatness and your awesome power. We are asking that you give us a commitment to know the truth and a desire for your Holy Spirit to give us clarity and understanding as we seek the truth. In Jesus name, Amen.
In John 16:7 ESV Jesus said, “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.”
So, as we see in Acts 1, Jesus went away, i.e. ascended into heaven. Therefore, when do we receive the Holy Spirit? In Acts 2, a great crowd had gathered in Jerusalem on day of Pentecost. Peter along with the other apostles stood up and proclaimed the first gospel message about Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The crowd were overwhelmed with emotions as to their guilt in crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 2:37-38, they asked, “brothers, what shall we do? Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’
This passage is very clear in the answer as to the “when do we receive the Holy Spirit?” In faith, these people in Acts 2 responded to the Word spoken by the apostles and over 3000 were baptized that very day. We may feel that we have to discuss, debate, and give greater study to the text. But, I suggest we need to simply respond, by faith, to the truth we have read and heard and welcome the promise of the Holy Spirit into our lives through our obedience to the Word of God.
Well, now that we see the “when” of the Holy Spirit, briefly, let’s ask a few more questions. First, who is the Holy Spirit? In John 16:7, as quoted above, we see that Jesus calls the “Spirit of truth”, HIM. Therefore, we learn that the Holy Spirit of God is not an “it”. John 14:17 states, “he dwells with you and will be in you”. This definitely indicates the Holy Spirit, being a person, can have a relationship with believers and with the Father and the Son. We see in Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 that the Holy Spirit works with the Father and the Son. Also, we see in Acts 13:2 that the Holy Spirit spoke also giving evidence of his personhood. The Holy Spirit can also be hurt or grieved (Ephesians 4:20)
Secondly, we ask, is the Holy Spirit a different or lesser “god”? Throughout the Holy Scriptures the words “Spirit” and “God” are used interchangeably, i.e. Acts 5:3-4. Maybe, if you can picture deity or the Godhead as One but expressed in different functions or missions we can understand him a little better. For example, H2O. We all know that H20 is the chemical identity for water. However, we can freeze H2O and it becomes a solid. Then we can boil H2O and it becomes steam. Check on the H2O in the river and it is a liquid. Now, H2O hasn’t loss it’s chemical identity but it has just been expressed in 3 different forms as a liquid, solid and gas. In that very simplified way, diety, God, is the same, just expressed in 3 different avenues as to mission and purpose.
Thirdly, if the Holy Spirit is given to every believer, what is his purpose in our lives? The Holy Word of God, the Bible, gives many functions of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. Here are a few of those purposes:
1) Helps us know what to say to witness for our Lord Jesus. Mark 13:11 and Luke 12:12
2) He is our guide and brings God’s Word to our remembrance. Psalm 143:10; John 14-17; I John 5:6-8. Have you ever awoken at night and a thought comes to you, “I shouldn’t have said that or shouldn’t have done that”? The world would say, that’s your conscience. Believers would say that’s the Holy Spirit nudging us to make right a wrong.
3) The Holy Spirit helps us overcome the evil desires and deeds of our fleshly, earthly body. Romans 8:2, 9.
4) Helps point out sin in our lives. John 16:7-11
5) Provides us with attitudes and actions that demonstrate that we are new creations in Christ Jesus our Lord. Galatians 5:22-23
6) He confirms that we are children of our heavenly Father. Romans 8:15-16
The Holy Spirit is not a gimmick, a magic trick, a “Houdini”, or a “genie in a bottle”. He, the Holy Spirit, is the very presence of almighty God in the life of the believer. In the Old Testament, God's presence was revealed in the tabernacle and temple in the Holy of Holies. It was called the "shekinah" of God, God's presence. In the New Testament through our obedience to Jesus Christ, God comes to live in a temple not made with human hands. I Corinthians 3:19, "do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you?"
He wants us not just to know “about” him, but to “know” him. The world will not understand about the Holy Spirit. But, those who come to Jesus Christ through obedience will be given this precious gift, the Holy Spirit. Jesus states in John 14:7, “even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor know him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” The path and avenue to know and understand the Holy Spirit only comes to those who are obedient by accepting and believing in the Holy One, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Francis Chan in his book, “The Forgotten God” states, “our scriptures teach that if you know what you are supposed to do and you don’t do it, then you sin (James 4:17). In other words, when we stock up on knowledge without applying it to our lives, we are actually sinning. You would think that learning about God would be a good thing…and it can be. But when we gain knowledge about God without responding to Him or assimilating His truth into our lives, then it is not a good thing. According to the Bible, it’s sin. May we not merely gain knowledge. Instead, as we learn, may we grow and confess and change more into people we’ve been created to be by the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, “for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)”
Matthew 6:33, “but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Acts 5:32, “and we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
It is my prayer that we not only seek to know truth about the Holy Spirit, but that we seek the Holy Spirit, himself, to guide and lead us to be more and more like Jesus Christ our Lord, daily.
I am praying for you and your family!
Showing posts with label Influence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Influence. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Sunday, April 26, 2009
YOU are the Salt of the Earth!
I am indebted to two men in my life who have shaped most of my thinking on loving others from whatever sect you may have come. Also for helping me recognize that we are not the only passengers on the "gospel ship" with our particular brand or label of Christianity. God has children in all groups of which many I do not know but would love to meet.
The two men of whom I speak are W. Carl Ketcherside and Boyce Mouton plus throw in a sounding board in Tom Tucker and "whalla" - my views. The following article is adapted from a conversation I had with and printed article given by W. Carl Ketcherside. I am praying that it helps to get us "out of the salt shaker" of which an entire book has been written.
YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH
Matthew 5:13
Salt is not something which you try to become in Jesus Christ. It is what your ARE in Jesus Christ. Here are a few characteristics of salt which should provide some insights into the nature of discipleship and followship for each of us who claim to be believers and followers of Jesus Christ.
1. Salt was so very precious during the days of Jesus. It was so valuable that Roman soldiers received salt as a portion of their wages. Hence, our word "salary" literally means, "payment in salt". To this day we say of someone who does not rise to the mark or measure up as one who "is not worth their salt". The fact that Jesus referred to His disciples as "salt" is a strong indication of how precious and valuable they were to Him and to influencing the world.
2. Salt was the best preservative known during the time of Jesus Christ. Sometimes when a corpse was transported a long distance, it was packed in salt, not ice. When a covenant or contract was to be implemented between two parties, they ate salt together to seal the contract. The covenant God made with Israel in the old Testament required that salt accompany every cereal offering. (See Lev. 2:13)
3. Salt was a purifying agent in the days of Jesus. It was believed to possess antiseptic qualities and when a soldier was wounded, the hole in the flesh was often stuffed full of salt to prevent infection. It was used by Elisha to purify a spring of water (II Kings 2:22). This make it very eye opening for us to consider our influence as Christians in this society which is infected by sin.
4. Salt increases the taste or the flavor of food. All of us have eaten attractively prepared food in which the cook forgot to add the salt. The "gourmet" meal taste flat and uninspired. So we feel compassion on the folks who have to be on a "salt free" diet. We could also say that life without the Christian influence is flat.
It sure does bother me a great deal to see that those who called themselves, believers or Christians, seem to have so little influence upon the world in general. It seems that we are more excited about our labels and buildings than impacting and influencing our society. There is no simple answer, but it must not be forgotten that salt will do NO GOOD huddling in the shaker. And, it seems to me that a great many believers are trapped inside religious structures or as some have called them, "holy huddles". All we seem to do is huddle, call plays, but never get on the field to execute the plays. In our holy huddles we hold services rather than rendering them. We seem more intent on carrying on religious exercises while the world is tracking more and more to evil and souls are dying without Jesus Christ right at our doorstep.
In his book, "New Light for the Gospels", Clifford A. Wilson says it was a Jewish tradition that when salt became unfit for use on sacrifices, it was sprinkled on the temple steps so that priest would not slip during rainy weather. Barclay makes mention of that unfit salt was thrown on the roadways.
Jesus does not say, "if the salt has lost its strength, I shall have to try something else". We are it. There is NOTHING ELSE. It is you and me or nothing. If we fail, Jesus questions, "with what shall the earth be salted"? The answer is that it will not be. We are the last divine thrust into the world to influence, purify, and perserve our world. Jesus was the Son of God made flesh, we are flesh made children of God.
"you are the salt of the earth"
There is no plan "B".
Again I am thankful to W. Carl Ketcherside for shaping my thoughts on this text from Matthew 5:13
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
The two men of whom I speak are W. Carl Ketcherside and Boyce Mouton plus throw in a sounding board in Tom Tucker and "whalla" - my views. The following article is adapted from a conversation I had with and printed article given by W. Carl Ketcherside. I am praying that it helps to get us "out of the salt shaker" of which an entire book has been written.
YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH
Matthew 5:13
Salt is not something which you try to become in Jesus Christ. It is what your ARE in Jesus Christ. Here are a few characteristics of salt which should provide some insights into the nature of discipleship and followship for each of us who claim to be believers and followers of Jesus Christ.
1. Salt was so very precious during the days of Jesus. It was so valuable that Roman soldiers received salt as a portion of their wages. Hence, our word "salary" literally means, "payment in salt". To this day we say of someone who does not rise to the mark or measure up as one who "is not worth their salt". The fact that Jesus referred to His disciples as "salt" is a strong indication of how precious and valuable they were to Him and to influencing the world.
2. Salt was the best preservative known during the time of Jesus Christ. Sometimes when a corpse was transported a long distance, it was packed in salt, not ice. When a covenant or contract was to be implemented between two parties, they ate salt together to seal the contract. The covenant God made with Israel in the old Testament required that salt accompany every cereal offering. (See Lev. 2:13)
3. Salt was a purifying agent in the days of Jesus. It was believed to possess antiseptic qualities and when a soldier was wounded, the hole in the flesh was often stuffed full of salt to prevent infection. It was used by Elisha to purify a spring of water (II Kings 2:22). This make it very eye opening for us to consider our influence as Christians in this society which is infected by sin.
4. Salt increases the taste or the flavor of food. All of us have eaten attractively prepared food in which the cook forgot to add the salt. The "gourmet" meal taste flat and uninspired. So we feel compassion on the folks who have to be on a "salt free" diet. We could also say that life without the Christian influence is flat.
It sure does bother me a great deal to see that those who called themselves, believers or Christians, seem to have so little influence upon the world in general. It seems that we are more excited about our labels and buildings than impacting and influencing our society. There is no simple answer, but it must not be forgotten that salt will do NO GOOD huddling in the shaker. And, it seems to me that a great many believers are trapped inside religious structures or as some have called them, "holy huddles". All we seem to do is huddle, call plays, but never get on the field to execute the plays. In our holy huddles we hold services rather than rendering them. We seem more intent on carrying on religious exercises while the world is tracking more and more to evil and souls are dying without Jesus Christ right at our doorstep.
In his book, "New Light for the Gospels", Clifford A. Wilson says it was a Jewish tradition that when salt became unfit for use on sacrifices, it was sprinkled on the temple steps so that priest would not slip during rainy weather. Barclay makes mention of that unfit salt was thrown on the roadways.
Jesus does not say, "if the salt has lost its strength, I shall have to try something else". We are it. There is NOTHING ELSE. It is you and me or nothing. If we fail, Jesus questions, "with what shall the earth be salted"? The answer is that it will not be. We are the last divine thrust into the world to influence, purify, and perserve our world. Jesus was the Son of God made flesh, we are flesh made children of God.
"you are the salt of the earth"
There is no plan "B".
Again I am thankful to W. Carl Ketcherside for shaping my thoughts on this text from Matthew 5:13
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
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