An example of the second type of synonym, that of exerting effort, is the word 'energy'. 'Energy' applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work. I Corinthians 2 gives us the situation of Paul telling the Corinthians he was not good at speaking, or in great wisdom. But in vs. 4 he says his preaching was a demonstration of the Spirit and of Power. Verse 6 he is telling the Corinthians that his wisdom is not of this age, and verse 7 says that it is the Wisdom of God. Verse 10 he is telling the Corinthians that all this is revealed by God's Spirit. Paul is saying that in himself he lacked wisdom and speaking ability, but through the Spirit he was given the power to transform his lack of ability into a real work for the Lord. All of God's children are given special spiritual gifts, given by the Holy Spirit and used to edify other believers and to reach the unsaved. If God gives us a task to do, the Holy Spirit will give us the power to do it.
Another word under the second type is 'strength'. 'Strength' applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack. Isaiah 40:29 tells us clearly that "He giveth power to the faint, and to those who have no might He increaseth strength." II Cor. 12:9 further explains that "My strength is made perfect in weakness" and verse 10: "when I am weak then am I strong" In Col. 1:11 Paul is pleased to hear of the Colossians love in the Spirit and prays they will be "strengthened with all might according to His (The Holy Spirit) glorious power."
The Holy Spirit is given as:
God's Promise of the Holy Spirit
For wisdom to know the next step
For comfort and peace in His absence
For opportunities to tell others about Jesus
For power to change lives.
1. From the heart of CC
2. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
3. Just Give me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz, c1000, page 161, Word Publishing Nashville
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Spirit of Power (Part II)
The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary has several meanings for the word Power. One is the ability to act or produce an effect. Another is the 'possession of control, authority, or influence over others'; and yet another is that it is a source or means of supplying energy.
There are two types of synonyms for the word Power according to the Merriam-Webster Online. The one type means: The right to govern or rule or determine. And the other type is the ability to exert effort.
From the first type we can further break it down with words such as 'authority' or 'control'. 'Authority' implies the granting of power for a specific purpose within specific limits. An example is found in Romans 15:19: "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the Power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." Paul was given Power within a certain area, that he could preach the gospel of Christ.
Another synonym under the first type of the synonyms for the word 'Power', is 'control'. 'Control' stresses the power to direct and restrain. In Acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit said to set apart Barnabas and Saul, 'for the work unto which I have called them'. In verse 4 it states 'So they being sent forth by the Holy Spirit...' He is directing the work, and sending those he chooses to do that work. In Acts 16 we have examples of how the Holy Spirit restrains the work as in Vs. 6 it states that Paul was 'forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Asia', and in verse 7 'they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit allowed them not.'
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There are two types of synonyms for the word Power according to the Merriam-Webster Online. The one type means: The right to govern or rule or determine. And the other type is the ability to exert effort.
From the first type we can further break it down with words such as 'authority' or 'control'. 'Authority' implies the granting of power for a specific purpose within specific limits. An example is found in Romans 15:19: "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the Power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." Paul was given Power within a certain area, that he could preach the gospel of Christ.
Another synonym under the first type of the synonyms for the word 'Power', is 'control'. 'Control' stresses the power to direct and restrain. In Acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit said to set apart Barnabas and Saul, 'for the work unto which I have called them'. In verse 4 it states 'So they being sent forth by the Holy Spirit...' He is directing the work, and sending those he chooses to do that work. In Acts 16 we have examples of how the Holy Spirit restrains the work as in Vs. 6 it states that Paul was 'forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Asia', and in verse 7 'they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit allowed them not.'
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Sunday, February 8, 2009
Spirit of Power (Part I)
There are three persons in the Godhead: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. An example where all three are listed is 2 Corinthians 13:14: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." God is all knowing (omniscient); His presence is everywhere (omnipresent), and he is all power (omnipotent). In John's vision in Revelation 19:6, he heard a great multitude proclaiming "Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reignth." God possesses what no other creature possesses: an unexplainable amount of power, all power.
In John 14, Jesus told his disciples that when He had returned to heaven He would give to them another comforter. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be another, yet exactly the same as Jesus. As God is Trinity, the Holy Spirit is equal to the Son as well as to the Father. They are different in their Person, yet they are the same in the Godhead, and it was the Person of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was speaking of when He said in Acts 1:8, "ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you."
It is this Power, the Power the Holy Spirit gives to Christ's Church, that gives Him the name of 'Spirit of Power'. He has been given to the Church to work in our lives to free us from the habits of sin, and to enable the Church to spread the Gospel of Jesus.
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In John 14, Jesus told his disciples that when He had returned to heaven He would give to them another comforter. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be another, yet exactly the same as Jesus. As God is Trinity, the Holy Spirit is equal to the Son as well as to the Father. They are different in their Person, yet they are the same in the Godhead, and it was the Person of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was speaking of when He said in Acts 1:8, "ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you."
It is this Power, the Power the Holy Spirit gives to Christ's Church, that gives Him the name of 'Spirit of Power'. He has been given to the Church to work in our lives to free us from the habits of sin, and to enable the Church to spread the Gospel of Jesus.
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Sunday, February 1, 2009
Spirit of Life
LIFE--What does it mean? The New World Dictionary has a long section on the word "life". The two which I will quote are: 1. The cellular biochemical activity or process of an organism, characterized by the ingestion of nutrients, storage and use of energy, the excretion of waste, growth, reproduction. 2. Something essential to the continued existence of something else.
Both of these make me think of the Holy Spirit. We need to continually feed on Him, store the Word in our hearts, and in return show His love to the world around us. The Holy Spirit is essential to our Spiritual life, to helping us grow and obey God's command to "be ye Holy as I am Holy," and to bring others to know Him. In the 1950's when Dawson Trotman founded the Navigators, his idea was that we are 'born to reproduce', with reference to our Spiritual birth. Life begets life.
When we invite Jesus into our hearts, we become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. It is a misnomer to pray for more of the Holy Spirit, as when He comes in, He is ALL there. It is we who must give Him control of all of us, not just pieces or parts of us. John 3:34b tells us this: "God does not give him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!" (Amplified) We are either 'alive' or we are 'dead'. When we receive the Holy Spirit we have ALL of Him. If we do not have all of Him, then we have no life at all and we are still dead in our sin. It is up to us how much we will yield to His control, but He is ALL there ready and willing to give us a healthy spiritual life.
Romans 8 is a chapter filled with verses telling of the Spirit of Life. Verse 2 of chapter 8 reads:"For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made the dead dwells in you. He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." The end of II Cor. 3:6 states "but the Spirit giveth Life." Verse 18 of I peter 3 is "...but made alive by the Spirit."
He is a quickening Spirit. He gives us 'new life' and we become 'born again'. Romans 8:10 reads "and if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
1. From the heart of Carol Coblentz
2. New World Dictionary 3rd Edition
3. A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy (San Francisco, CA HarperSanFrancisco 1961) Pg.27
Both of these make me think of the Holy Spirit. We need to continually feed on Him, store the Word in our hearts, and in return show His love to the world around us. The Holy Spirit is essential to our Spiritual life, to helping us grow and obey God's command to "be ye Holy as I am Holy," and to bring others to know Him. In the 1950's when Dawson Trotman founded the Navigators, his idea was that we are 'born to reproduce', with reference to our Spiritual birth. Life begets life.
When we invite Jesus into our hearts, we become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. It is a misnomer to pray for more of the Holy Spirit, as when He comes in, He is ALL there. It is we who must give Him control of all of us, not just pieces or parts of us. John 3:34b tells us this: "God does not give him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!" (Amplified) We are either 'alive' or we are 'dead'. When we receive the Holy Spirit we have ALL of Him. If we do not have all of Him, then we have no life at all and we are still dead in our sin. It is up to us how much we will yield to His control, but He is ALL there ready and willing to give us a healthy spiritual life.
Romans 8 is a chapter filled with verses telling of the Spirit of Life. Verse 2 of chapter 8 reads:"For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made the dead dwells in you. He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." The end of II Cor. 3:6 states "but the Spirit giveth Life." Verse 18 of I peter 3 is "...but made alive by the Spirit."
He is a quickening Spirit. He gives us 'new life' and we become 'born again'. Romans 8:10 reads "and if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
1. From the heart of Carol Coblentz
2. New World Dictionary 3rd Edition
3. A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy (San Francisco, CA HarperSanFrancisco 1961) Pg.27
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