The Holy Spirit

I will spend my life learning about God, from His Word, from His creation, from teachers, and those who teach without even knowing it.  For me, writing is all about learning more about Him, what He wants from me personally, how I can live to please Him, and walking this life knowing there will be a day when I, like every other human being on the planet, will meet Him face-to-face.

 

Sometimes the world is just too complex and hurtful, and I want to escape.  I’ve imagined myself a lamb in a pasture where Jesus is standing watch.  I approach and lie down at His feet, my head on His foot.  I know I’m safe.  I’m in the fold. 

 

There are things I will never understand.  But I try.  I gather Scriptures and try to find a clearer understanding.  I feel responsible for what I write, the impressions I might leave.  I often wonder.  Am I hearing The Teacher or my own thoughts?  When in doubt, I re-examine.

 

The Holy Spirit is both a gift and a mystery. 

 

Scripture says:

 

The Spirit of Truth guides a believer in all truth.  He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to me and other believers what is to come.  He will always glorify Jesus, for He will take of Jesus, and disclose it to Jesus’ believers.  The Holy Spirit convicts everyone concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment.  All are without excuse. 

 

The Holy Spirit regenerates and renews those who believe in Jesus.  By the Holy Spirit we are baptized into one body of Christ.  Though we are many and different, we are one in Him.  The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.  The Spirit helps us put to death the deeds of the body.  The Spirit leads us continually, enabling us to know what is right and even giving us the inner strength to do it. 

 

My body has become a temple for the Holy Spirit.  Each believer is indwelled with the Holy Spirit.  We can have the mind of Christ.  The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words.  He searches our hearts and intercedes according to the will of God. 

 

The Holy Spirit can be grieved by what I think, say and do.  My mind can be renewed in Christ Jesus.  The Holy Spirit brings gifts according to the will of God; each gift a manifestation of the Spirit, and each benefits all believers; words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, effecting of miracles, prophesy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues and someone to interpret.  Each gift is important to the Body of Christ, one gift no more important than another, all together as one body, all in Christ Jesus. 

 

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

 

References:  John 16:12-13, 8-11; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:16,13, 14;

1 Corinthians 6: 19, 20; Romans 8:26, 27; Ephesians 5:18; 4: 30, 23; 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11; Galatians 5:22, 25