1 Corinthians 12:4-11 “There
are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are
differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of
activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of
all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to
another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same
Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to
another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of
tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same
Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills.”
Continuing Pastor Obie’s
Sunday sermon message, in explaining the answer to the second question (What
does the Holy Spirit do?), he presented the third way that the Holy Spirit
helps us. (C) The Holy Spirit empowers us. Acts 1:8 says, you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The “fruit of
the Spirit” combined with the “gifts of the Spirit” empower us for witness
ministry and gospel redemption work as Children of God and Ambassadors for
Christ in a sinful, lost and dying world in need of a loving Savior and merciful
Lord of grace. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissioned His Followers, saying, “All authority has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth. Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Acts 2:38 proclaims, “Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:13-14 “In
Him [Jesus} you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of
our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Pastor Obie suggested four
ways to tune-in to the frequency of the Holy Spirit. (1) Receive the Holy
Spirit through love and obedience. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for a
reconciled relationship with God. Heaven is Heaven because we are connected to
God. Hell is to be disconnected with and separated from God. True peace and
conform come from Heaven, which Believers get a glimpse of here on earth. Jesus
said in John 14:23-24, “Anyone
who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will
come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will
not obey my teaching.” Love and obedience are tied together. Practice
obeying the initial prompts of the Holy Spirit. Delay is disobedience and
missed opportunities that quench the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Do not quench the Spirit.”
Let's conclude Pastor Obie's Message on the Holy Spirit in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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