| |
|
Each believer upon being saved is given a very Special Gift. The Gift is the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit. God has shown another portion of His love in sending His Holy Spirit to indwell (or live within) us. Jesus Christ said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you forever, that is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides in you, and will be in you".1 The Holy Spirit is with us to comfort, teach, lead and purify us. He is the power for living the successful Christian life.
The Holy Spirit causes a person to be born-again (born from above, or born a new) into the family of God.2 He indwells the temple (the person) of the believer's heart to make them a new person.3 He baptizes the new believer into the Body of Christ, which is the church.4 He SEALS the believer for protection and ownership.5
The Holy Spirit of God is given to the OBEDIENT, and He is active in 'setting people apart' for the work of God.6 Any work we try to perform for God outside of the personality of the Holy Spirit is a work of the flesh.
The Holy Spirit is called the Counselor, or Comforter.7. The verb of this word is parakaleo, and it means to comfort, encourage and exhort. The noun is referring to a PERSON who is called upon to intercede on behalf of, or to help someone. In the only other New Testament passage where parakletos occurs it is used for Christ and translated ADVOCATE.8 The general idea of both words is to describe the Holy Spirit as Someone who 'comes along beside to help'.
Fellowship with other Christians is based on the unity we find in living a Holy Spirit filled life together.9 The Holy is always interceding for us at the throne of God.10 What Gift! What a Giver! Disciples are Spirit filled and Spirit led, or they are misdirected in the flesh.11
Additional Scripture References:
John 14, John 15, John 16
Ephesians 5:8-10
Romans 8
Acts 5:3-4
1 Peter 1:2
1. John 14:15-17
2. John 3:3-8
3. 1 Corinthians 6:19
4. 1 Corinthians 12:13
5. Ephesians 4:30
6. Acts 5:32, Acts 13:2
7. John 14:16
8. 1 John 2:1
9. 2 Corinthians 13:14
10. Romans 8:26
11. Romans 8:6-17
© Copyright 2001 Lighthouse Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
Return to the top
|
|
|
