Life through the Holy Spirit

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

  Again, studying the Holy Spirit.  John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

   There are two persons before us - the Life giver JESUS; and the life taker satan. The devil comes to steal blessings, kill us physically and destroy us eternally.  JESUS came to give life and have it to the full!  We have the Holy Spirit to administer life, but only in the proportions we allow Him to do His work.

    When we resist or refuse the work of the Holy Spirit, we won't experience the fullness of divine life that Jesus came to bring us.  Remember, the Holy Spirit raised the dead body of Jesus from the tomb.  Romans 1: ⁴ And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

  The spirit of holiness is a greek translation of the Hebrew phrase for Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

  An old life ends and a new life begins.  We are not different kinds of persons in ourselves, but we have a different kind of power in us.  Things that would crush other men won't crush us because we have a power in us that makes us resilient - the Holy Spirit.  2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

  2 Corinthians 4: ¹⁶ For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

  The outward man decays, but there is a life in the inner man that is renewed day by day.  Love you all.

Soli Deo Gloria
Johnny

Genesis 3 - Are our eyes really opened?

Good morning. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Jesu Jevu!

   Let's go back a moment, well, centuries, uhhhh, millenniums and see what happened.  Just for fun.  Look at Genesis 3

 1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  Subtil (today subtle) means crafty, mentally keen, delicately skillful. So, he twisted the words of God in his favor.

² And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
³ But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  Oh, she knew, she listened, but wait - here comes the "fake news" from the serpent.
⁴ And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
⁵ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  Oh, greed and self were present here - the serpent said her eyes would be opened - TRUE - and she and Adam would be as gods - FALSE ; knowing good and evil - TRUE.
⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  Okay, what really happened here?  Yes, the serpent was involved; however, the bigger story is DISOBEDIENCE!   Huh, yes, Adam and Eve rebelled against God and rejected His commandments (eat not of the tree).
  Do we do this in our daily lives?  Certainly we do, however, because of Jesus we are forgiven.  Adam and Eve were created to last forever and be companions with God in a beautiful place.  SIN came in and is still involved today and has taken what was good and turned the earth into what we have today.   As sin continues to evolve, society continues to erode, but because of the second Adam -JESUS- we have a second chance.  Reject not the living God and obey HIS commandments.
  Love you all.
Soli Deo Gloria
Johnny

Revelation of God's word

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

   The Holy Spirit is the reveal-er and interpreter of God's Word - John 14:25-26.  2 things the Holy Spirit will do (v. 26) remind and teach.  The Holy Spirit will help disciples recall, correctly, all things they need to remember and will teach or lead them as needed while moving forward the future.

  If we let the Holy Spirit lead we will be as prophets of old - guided and directed by the Holy Spirit and sharing accurately the Word of God.

  All scripture, Old and New Testament has been accurate because of the true author - the Holy Spirit.  Paul states this in 2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

   God-breathed indicates the activity of the Holy Spirit, the author of scripture AND our (my & your) personal teacher of scripture.  If we listen to the Holy Spirit our interpretation of God's word will be accurate.

   The Holy Spirit fell on the people the day of pentecost. People said they are drunk.  Peter said (Acts 2:15-16) These men are not drunk as you suppose.  It's only 9 in the morning. No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel." (to know more about Joel click here)

  Now, at this time, Peter understood the prophecy of Joel, but prior to this he had no knowledge of Joel.  the Holy Spirit, the author, gave the interpretation or understanding.

   The same with Saul, later Paul, who persecuted the church, then filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17) after his meeting on the road to Damascus.  Then Paul switched from persecutor of Christians  to profession Jesus as Son of God.

   The Bible is the Word of God AND Jesus is called the Word of God.  John 1:1 - three times Jesus is called "the Word".  Then John 1:14 - 'the word became flesh'. 

   John 16:12-15 - Jesus did not tell it all because he knew the Holy Spirit was coming.  then he explained what the Holy Spirit would do once he came.  The Holy Sprit reveals and glorifies Jesus and administers the total wealth of the Father and the Son because all the Father has, is given to the Son, all the Son has, the Holy Spirit Administers.

    I do pray you are able to understand this which I have penned.  God bless. Love you all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Johnny

Holy Spirit our "Paraclete"

Hello all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED.

  I am in a study of the Holy Spirit and will share with you what is quite interesting to me.  Hopefully for you as well.  Only 10 chapters and I do 1 a day; this is chapter 4.  LOL Enjoy!

Paraclete can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  Advocate - Latin AD = "to" or "in".  Vocata = "called".

   Someone who speak in our defence. 1 John 2:1 (Jesus is our Advocate). We have 2 advocates - the Holy Spirit with us who pleads our cause.  Then Jesus Christ, our advocate with the Father, who sits at the right hand of God and pleads our cause also. 

   John 14:16-18 Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit FOREVER.  He (Holy Spirit) will be in you. This means the residence of the Holy Spiriit is IN YOU--IN ME!!  Jesus left us so the Holy Spirit could come - but we are not orphans - the Spirit is with us.........ALL OF US!

  When Christ was on earth he walked as a man and could only be in 1 place at a time.  Whereas the Holy Spirit can be everywhere, all over the earth.  The Holy Spirit is free of and not limited by time and space as are we.

  John 16:5-7 - In King James version Jesus says "It is expedient for you that I go away:" (this is so the Holy Spirit may come).

    It seems hard to realize that we are better off with Jesus at the right hand of God and the Holy Spirit with us now.  Jesus is saying that we have more than those who actually walked with Him.

   The disciples followed Jesus, when He was crucified, the disciples hid in fear of the Jews.  When Jesus appeared to them, left them the Holy Spirit the disciples understanding became clear.

   First, they understood the plan of God and ministry of Jesus.

   Second, they now went forth boldly and with confidence.

  Thirdly, miracles began to take place just as if Jesus was back with them.

Also, as a side note, 3 for the Jews was completeness.  Jesus said in John 14: ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ 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.   ¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
   Jesus is with us through the comforter, advocate, Holy Spirit. Love you all.
Soli Deo Gloria
Johnny

Did the Holy Spirit come in 2 phases? Where does the Holy Spirit reside?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

  Did the Holy Spirit just "appear" on the scene?  Jesus promised to send a comforter, paraclete (one who comes alongside) in John 7:37-39.  In John 14:15-18 Jesus asks the Father to give the disciples another comforter so they (we) would not be orphans!  Jesus said when I go another person, the Holy Spirit will come in my place.

   In John 16:7 Jesus says the Holy Spirit will remain forever, however, Jesus had to go away so the comforter, counselor, advocate (Holy Spirit) could come. In John 16:12-15 you will find that the Holy Spirit is the personal resident representative of the Godhead on earth.

  But now understand that the Holy Spirit came in 2 phases.  One, when Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room after His crucifixion. Read John 20:19-22.  Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into the disciples just as God breathed life into Adam.  This was phase 1 of the Holy Spirit.

   So when was phase 2?   In Luke 24:49 Jesus tells the disciples to remain in the city until they are clothed with power from on high - a promise of the Father to them.

  Then, at Pentecost (50th day after Jesus' resurrection) the fulfillment of the promise and phase 2 of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:1-4.

    It seems that only 1 of the Godhead can be resident on earth at any one given time.  So, where does the Holy Spirit reside now?  1 Corinthians 3:16 "Don't you know that your yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

   1 Corinthians 6 19 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?"

   May you be blessed with the word of God. Love you all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Johnny

Holy Spirit in Jesus' life -------what about yours?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

  When John the Baptist came to prepare the way he said, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."  (Matthew 3:11)

  The Holy Spirit was the source of power for Jesus' ministry.  Jesus did not preach or perform a miracle until the Holy Spirit came upon him when John baptized him in the Jordan River.  Acts 10: ³⁸ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

    Notice in this verse, GOD the Father, anointed JESUS the Son with the HOLY SPIRIT.  Then the result was the last part of this verse: "who went arout doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.

   And how did he do this?  FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM.

  In Acts 1:1-2 Luke speaks of the ministry of Jesus during the forty days between His resurrection and ascension.  Acts 1:2 ".......after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen."

   Jesus gave instructions to His apostles through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is our example of how we must rely on the Holy Spirit.  Jesus did nothing apart from the Holy Spirit and this should be the example for us as well. To let the Holy Spirit lead us in our walk, our talk, our actions, in such a way as to be pleasing to God.

   Wow!  Obviously you can tell I am studying about the Holy Spirit and it is powerful.  Love you all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Johnny

Grieve not the HOLY SPIRIT - Ephesians 4:30

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Jesu Jevu!

    I do dream nightly and usually remember nothing, or possibly a little bit of what I had been dreaming.  However, when something occurs and then re-occurs numerous times I can usually count on this being the Spirit speaking to me.

    Last night (or early this morning) I kept hearing in my head "grieve not the Holy Spirit" over and over and over.  Yes, when you hear this many things come to mind; what have I done; what am I going to do; which way do I turn?

   First let's look at the Holy Spirit.  So often we thing of the Spirit as we have learned from movies, church teachings, ideas of what "Spirit" is.  So often we think of the Spirit as a supernatural 'thing', a ghost, or possibly an angel.  Let me give you a different perspective.

   The Holy Spirit is not the wind blowing; the clouds moving; the water flowing; the Holy Spirit is a live being, just as God is.  We who are saved have the Holy Spirit walking with us.  Can the Spirit be the above mentioned; certainly, but we must realize the Holy Spirit walks with us daily in our lives and will guide us, only if we listen.  Ohhhh!

   There is a key, if we listen.  Grieve means to bring sorrow, grief or distress - this is how we may "grieve the Holy Spirit".  However,  when we listen to that still small voice - whether audible or in our mind - we are being led.

   Now that leads me to another issue - when people say the Spirit led them and it is something contrary to God's teaching - (divorce, lying, murder,etc) they are grieving the Holy Spirit.  What I am saying here is too often people use the excuse of the Holy Spirit to "do what they WANT to do" rather than following the Spirit's leading.

   Some of you who have been around the area may remember a young woman 25 or so years ago who killed her children because 'God told her to'. This type of action does grieve the Spirit.  God does not endorse evil deeds.

   Ephesians 4: ³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

   Actually read Ephesians 4: 17-32 (click here)  to get the full understanding and meaning of what we are being told.

    My prayer today is that I do not grieve the Spirit and ask your prayers as well, as I pray for you also.

   Think of the Spirit in this way:  You watch your child grow.  He/she does things that you do approve of and that you don't approve of.  The ones you don't approve of do, indeed, cause you to feel bad or grieve.

   In these cases you may offer guidance which will or will not be accepted.  If it is accepted your grief lessens; if not accepted you grief remains.  We are God's children; God - the Trinity - Three in One; therefore we are a child of God, Jesus, and the Spirit, which are all alive and with us.  So, which way will you travel now, today, tomorrow, the next week, month and year?  With the Spirit leading or you having the Spirit in tow and grieving the Spirit?  Food for thought. Love you all.

Soli Deo Gloria

Johnny