Jesus told His disciples that He would send to them another, just like Himself, who would be the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, equal with the Father, and equal to the Son, third person of the trinity. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals to us the truth of the Living Word of God, Jesus. John 1:1 from the Amplified New Testament: "In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself." In Revelation 19:13, in John's vision he sees Christ returning as our King "and the title by which he is called is The Word of God." The Holy Spirit will also reveal to us the written Word, which is the Bible.
The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through men who loved God. And the prophesies of the Old Testament were verified through Jesus as many verses in the New Testament state with phrases such as 'to fulfill what is written' or that 'the Scripture might be fulfilled.' Everything that was written was inspired by the Holy Spirit and was the TRUTH. II Timothy 3:16 states: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..."
In the book Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer defines the attributes of God as being whatever God has in any way revealed as being TRUE of Himself. And Who is it that reveals these truths to us? None other than the Holy Spirit, The Spirit of Truth.
From the heart of Carol Coblentz
Monday, March 16, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Spirit of Truth (Part I)
The Holy Spirit is referred to in Scripture as the 'Spirit of Truth'. John 14:17 states: "Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." And from John 15:36: "but when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." Another one is John 16:13: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth."
What does the term "truth" really mean? How does this actually refer to the Holy Spirit?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the old English meaning as 'faithful'. Also the archaic meaning as 'constancy, sincerity in action, character and utterance.' The American Heritage Dictionary gives 'truth' as: "exact accordance with that which is, or has been or shall be." From the WorldNet, 1997 Princeton University, 'truth' is: (1) A fact that has been verified, and (2)The quality of being accurate and without error.
In the verse given in John 16:13, Jesus was telling his disciples that they were not ready to understand all He wanted to tell them at that time, but the "Spirit of Truth" would guide them and tell them. The Spirit of Truth would tell them whatever God the Father wished them to hear, and it would all be TRUTH.
What does the term "truth" really mean? How does this actually refer to the Holy Spirit?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the old English meaning as 'faithful'. Also the archaic meaning as 'constancy, sincerity in action, character and utterance.' The American Heritage Dictionary gives 'truth' as: "exact accordance with that which is, or has been or shall be." From the WorldNet, 1997 Princeton University, 'truth' is: (1) A fact that has been verified, and (2)The quality of being accurate and without error.
In the verse given in John 16:13, Jesus was telling his disciples that they were not ready to understand all He wanted to tell them at that time, but the "Spirit of Truth" would guide them and tell them. The Spirit of Truth would tell them whatever God the Father wished them to hear, and it would all be TRUTH.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Spirit of Prayer
The Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as the third person of the Triune God. This does not mean that He is the least of the Trinity, but because He is the last to be revealed to us in the Scriptures. According to A.W. Tozier, "The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son: not made not created, nor begotten, but proceeding." The Nicene Creed also pays tribute to the Holy Spirit as being Himself God and equal to the Father and the Son:
I believe in the Holy Spirit
The Lord and given of Life,
Which proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
Who with the Father and Son together
Is worshipped and glorified.
First of all, we must accept and believe that God's Spirit is real, a Divine Reality, and that the Holy Spirit is in us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I Cor 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
Secondly, the Spirit lives within us to reveal Christ in His love and power; to help us recognize sin and have victory over it; to teach us to be a witness and to teach us to pray. Zech. 12:10 calls Him the "Spirit of grace and of supplication."
Romans 8:26,27 it is written that "we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us." The way He does this is "with groanings, which cannot be uttered." Yearnings too deep for words. And then in verse 27 it tells us that God knows what is the mind of the Spirit--and this wordless prayer from our hearts to the Spirit is in accordance with God's will.
In every prayer we utter, the Holy Triune God takes part--the Father who hears, the Son who intercedes before the Father for us, and in whose name we pray; and the Spirit who dwells within us, and who prays for us, presenting our prayers to the Father according to His will.
From the heart of CC
Andrew Murray, The Prayer Life. Zondervan Publishing Co.
Verses from The New Scofield Reference Bible
I believe in the Holy Spirit
The Lord and given of Life,
Which proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
Who with the Father and Son together
Is worshipped and glorified.
First of all, we must accept and believe that God's Spirit is real, a Divine Reality, and that the Holy Spirit is in us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I Cor 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
Secondly, the Spirit lives within us to reveal Christ in His love and power; to help us recognize sin and have victory over it; to teach us to be a witness and to teach us to pray. Zech. 12:10 calls Him the "Spirit of grace and of supplication."
Romans 8:26,27 it is written that "we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us." The way He does this is "with groanings, which cannot be uttered." Yearnings too deep for words. And then in verse 27 it tells us that God knows what is the mind of the Spirit--and this wordless prayer from our hearts to the Spirit is in accordance with God's will.
In every prayer we utter, the Holy Triune God takes part--the Father who hears, the Son who intercedes before the Father for us, and in whose name we pray; and the Spirit who dwells within us, and who prays for us, presenting our prayers to the Father according to His will.
From the heart of CC
Andrew Murray, The Prayer Life. Zondervan Publishing Co.
Verses from The New Scofield Reference Bible
Monday, February 23, 2009
Spirit of Power (Part III)
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
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 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.'
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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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