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173 Learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit! Part 1
When you are born-again, you know it because of the peace and assurance that the Lord gives you to know that you are saved. When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you know it because you will speak in new tongues and move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, to move in the Holy Spirit requires learning how to be led or directed by the Holy Spirit. Learning to hear or discern the voice of the Spirit is the key to an overcoming life in the service of our King, King Jesus. Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” The Lord will complete the work on your character as well as your mission or assignment.
We often use the word “saved” to describe someone who has been born-again. The original Greek for saved is “sozo” which means to be made safe, delivered from destruction, or made whole. That means you are completely saved, and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 tells us that we are Spirit, Soul, and Body. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is important to look at the differences between these three aspects of every human being: spirit, soul, and body. Show More
The Body
Our physical body communicates with the physical realm or the physical world we live in. The body uses the five senses: hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling, and touching. Through these senses, we communicate with the physical realm. Our hearing responds to sound waves that fall within specific frequencies. We hear loud sounds, soft sounds, and low—and high-pitched sounds. Our vision allows us to discern shapes, shades, colors, and movement. Our taste buds detect sweet, sour, and bitter flavors. Our nose distinguishes odors, from the pleasant scent of flowers to the smell of rotting eggs. Finally, our sense of touch allows us to distinguish cold, heat, pain, and pleasure.
Now, the body itself doesn’t evaluate the source, danger, or pleasure of the stimuli. The body simply alerts the brain, which is part of the soul, to be aware of the stimuli; then the brain reacts. Since we live in the world, God has given us the ability to detect and react to the world we live in.
The Soul
Notice that the body is not responsible for interpreting or evaluating the meaning of all the stimuli. All the body knows is, “That hurts!” or “It is sweet!” or “That is loud!”
The soul is where all the stimuli that the body experiences are put into context. That is, the soul assigns meaning to the stimuli. For instance, the soul “learns” that the sound of a gunshot means danger and reacts accordingly by telling the body to run or hide. This learning process in life shapes our emotions (feelings), our will (the ability to choose), and our intellect (intelligence).
Our personality is shaped by our soul. Just as the soul interacts with the physical world through the body, the soul also interacts with other souls or people through the body as well.
To sum up so far: The body interacts or communicates with the physical world. The soul also interacts with the physical world. More importantly, the soul can interact with the souls of others. In other words, the soul of one person “communicates” with the soul of another person with the words and responses of everyone. Relationships are built on this type of “soul” communication.
It is worth noting that when the Bible uses the word “flesh” in reference to a person, it can refer to one of two things. It may refer to the body alone, or it may refer to the union of the body and soul. “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41). The Scriptures often use the term flesh to distinguish between the carnal person and the spiritual person. A carnal person is one who is immature and/or influenced more by the things of the world than by the things of Spirit (1Cor 3:1-4).
The Spirit
If the body communicates with the physical world, and the soul communicates with the “soul” world, with what or with whom does the spirit communicate? The answer is obvious, isn’t it? The spirit of man has the potential to communicate with the spiritual realm.
If we carefully study 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, it should become evident that God has given us, as believers, the ability to do what was not possible before Jesus Christ and the Cross of Calvary: to see, hear, and comprehend spiritual things on an individual level. We have been given the “mind of Christ” (v.16). Verse 12 states, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
When we communicate with the physical world, we use our senses and interpret them with our minds. It is a body-and-soul experience. If we read something, we use our sight (body) and perceive the meaning of what is read (mind or soul). When someone speaks to us, we hear with our ears (body) and understand with our mind (soul.)
Now in the spiritual realm, a similar operation takes place. The spiritual can operate through the body (the five senses), through the mind (impressions, thoughts, images), or directly through our spirit. The fact that God may use our body or soul to communicate with us from His Spirit makes the communication no less spiritual (1Cor 14:2).
Sometimes we try to mystify or “spiritualize” the ability to communicate in the spirit. Spiritual communication was never meant to be unique or special to only certain individuals. Spiritual communication with God was meant to be normal Christianity!
An unfortunate mistake that many individuals make is to associate “how one feels” with spirituality. How you feel is a reaction of the body or mind, but not necessarily of the spirit. For example: Jesus desired to have his disciples keep watch while He was in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The disciples kept falling asleep. Jesus says, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41). Notice that Jesus says that the spirit is willing, but the flesh (mind and body) is weak or tired. You see, your spirit never tires or becomes weary. Your spirit never is distracted, or unwilling to do those things it was designed to do. It was designed to communicate with the spiritual realm, God.
The Word of God the Bible Is Spiritual
Most of us would not like to admit that sometimes we find ourselves bored, distracted, disinterested, or too tired to read or study the Word of God. We might go through the motions but often feel guilty and condemned for not being more eager to seek the Lord in the Word.
The truth is that while we may not seem to be benefiting in our minds and intellect, our spirit is never tired, bored, or distracted. When we study the Bible, we are feeding our minds, yes – but more importantly, we are feeding our spirits. Remember, the spirit does not depend upon the emotions or clarity of the mind.
For example, have you ever had the experience of having the knowledge of a Scripture verse while at the same time being unaware of where or how you learned it? It could have been while reading the Bible or hearing a sermon or message when the mind was not paying attention, but our spirit was hungry for the Word!
The discipline of spending time reading the Word of God cannot be over-emphasized and should not be connected to how you feel. The Bible is food to the spirit! The study and devotional time we spend in the Word of God should be a time we eagerly seek, for the sake of our spirit as well as for the mind. The spirit is always willing; it is the flesh that may be weak. Therefore, the spirit always benefits from the Word of God, even when the flesh seems unwilling. That is not to say that reading the Scriptures does not benefit the mind. For it is clear from the Word that our minds must be renewed. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2; see also Ephesians 5:26).
We must be careful at this point. Many fall into the error of thinking that they can change only through intellectual knowledge of the Word. Many try to live by the standards of the Bible through self-discipline and outward behavior. However, God seeks a change of heart, a change of our inner nature. That can be accomplished only by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible has the power to show us God’s expectations or standards. At the same time, it shows us how helpless we are in our own strength alone to fulfill the standards of the Word of God. We are unable in our natural strength to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus. Yet we have the supernatural ability, through the Holy Spirit, to accomplish what is impossible in our own strength!
On the one hand, the Bible reveals everything about us. We may hide our secret thoughts and motives from other people. But nothing is hidden before God. His Word reveals that truth to us: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:12,13).
The Bible also reveals God’s expectation that we would conform to the image of His Son – in other words, that we would be like Jesus. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom 8:28, 29).
Finally, the Bible reveals how God will do this work. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:12,13). It is the Lord Himself who wills or gives you both the desire and the ability to do, or the empowerment to fulfill His good pleasure. His “good pleasure” consists of the plans and purposes for your life. This is God’s grace or favor.
As we have established earlier, it is God’s intent that we be led by the Holy Spirit. That means that He is directing our paths. I have heard it said, “When you walk with God, you get to where He is going.” That rather obvious statement is true, isn’t it?
Just as we can be assured that God has plans, purposes, and pursuits for us to walk in, we can also be sure that God speaks to or communicates with us. One reason that God speaks to us is to guide us in lifed.
In the next several messages, I will look at six ways in which we often receive guidance from God.
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172 Knowing the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Vic’s Nuggets of Truth172 Knowing the Holy Spirit.
/RSS FeedSome believe that because one belongs to a church, has a Bible, or comes from a Christian family, one is spiritual. That is not always the case. When the Bible speaks about spiritual things, it is to those who have a relationship with Jesus and have learned to “hear” the voice of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, and obey Him.
Knowing about the Holy Spirit is not the same as knowing the Holy Spirit! There is a big difference between “head knowledge” or intellectual understanding and personal “heart knowledge” or faith. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The natural man in this verse refers to the person who is not born-again. So, Paul is saying that to understand the things of the Spirit of God, you must be born again. Show More
It is amazing that some miss the fact that we are instructed throughout the Bible, Old Testament, and New to trust and rely on the Spirit of God. For example, in the Old Testament:
- Zechariah 4:6, “So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”
Zerubbabel led the first wave of Jews returning to Judah after the Babylonians’ exile. His task was to rebuild Jerusalem, a seemingly impossible task. However, God reminded Zerubbabel that it was not by natural strength or ability but by the limitless power of the Spirit of God! Nothing is impossible with God!
Then the Apostle Paul says in the New Testament, Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” These two verses speak to the Spirit of God living in the Believer and not to the individual’s natural abilities, talents, or strengths.
Again, we see in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that the Lord has given us everything we need to live life righteously and fulfill His plans for our lives. “3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Those great and precious promises are fulfilled as we learn to walk in the Spirit and not in the natural abilities of the flesh.
The Twofold Work of the Holy Spirit.
When we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, we agreed to allow Him to lead us in two areas of life. The first is to shape our character, and the second is to fulfill His assignment in the Body of Christ, the church.
When we decided to receive Jesus into our hearts and minds, we also received the gift of salvation. What this means is that “heaven is ours.” Jesus promised that He would prepare a place for us and that He would return for us. John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
That is wonderful news for the future; however, Jesus also promises us heaven now in, Luke 17:20-21, “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” As I said before, the Kingdom of God on earth is available to us for two purposes. The first is to become like Jesus in character and behavior. The second is to make Jesus known to those who are lost.
The Work of the Holy Spirit in our Personal Lives.
While we understand that we are forgiven and made clean before God, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” We still must be transformed by the renewing of our minds, Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This renewing of the mind is a process whereby we replace old habits and ways of thinking and believing and replace them with the truth of His Word, the New Covenant of the Bible.
Before Jesus ascended to the Father, He promised that the Father would send us a “Helper,” John 14:15-18, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” Clearly, Jesus promised that He would not leave us alone.
The Holy Spirit lives in us, and the character of the Spirit is the character we must learn to walk in. This character of the Holy Spirit is spelled out in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” These traits or characteristics are how we demonstrate Christ in us! You have heard the expression, “they shall know we are Christians by our love.” This expression is based upon Jesus’ words in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
When we accepted Jesus as Lord, we agreed to become more like Jesus in character as well as in power and authority.
- Ephesians 4:21-24, “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
- Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ, the Church.
The Lord has provided gifts to expand the Kingdom of God on earth. These gifts and abilities are available to empower the body of born-again Believers, otherwise known as the church, to do the work of the ministry or assignment. When the Christian uses these gifts it is referred to as the “Anointing.” This anointing is truly the work of the Holy Spirit and should not be confused with natural talent, abilities, eloquence, or personality. I always like to remind myself of a definition my friend, Dr. Frank Parrish of World MAP, coined. “Anointing is none other than the Person and presence of the Holy Spirit, bringing with Him the necessary power, authority and gifts to fulfill the Father’s will in a given moment of ministry or assignment.” We should not diminish the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives in fulfilling God’s purpose.
We often think that we need education, persuasiveness of speech, and charismatic personality to represent Jesus; while all those things can be helpful, all we really need is the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul mentions this in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are unique skills and abilities given by the Holy Spirit to faithful followers of Christ to serve God for the common benefit of his people, the church. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to us because of the Helper that Jesus promised that the Father would send to us. Jesus knew that we would need help learning how to become more like Him and fulfilling the Great Commission. The Great Commission is that charge given to all Believers to proclaim the Good News. These gifts and abilities are found in the following places in the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:1-9 and 27-31, Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 4:11-16 and 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Listen to what Jesus said in Mark 16:15-18, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Take note of verse 17, “And these signs will follow those who believe…” Can you see that signs and wonders are not just for our benefit but also for the benefit of the unbelievers? Some come to Christ through the Gospel message alone, and some are drawn to the Gospel because of the signs of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Since nothing is impossible with God, He will use any means to draw people to Jesus.
If you are born-again, you must have the Holy Spirit living in you. Your salvation was a surrender to Jesus. You acknowledged that you are a sinner forgiven by faith in the grace provided by the blood of Jesus. In a similar way, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a surrender to the Spirit of God, acknowledging that the Holy Spirit lives in you and you have received the gifts of the Spirit. Just as salvation is a grace gift and must be received to be effective, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a grace gift that must be received to be effective.
When you are born-again, you know it because of the peace and assurance that the Lord gives you to know that you are saved. When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you know it because you will speak in new tongues and move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, all these things require learning how to be led or directed by the Holy Spirit. Learning to hear or discern the voice of the Spirit is the key to an overcoming life in the service of our King, King Jesus. Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
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171 Grace, Works and Faith!
There has always been a controversy between the terms the Bible calls “Grace and Works.” Some have misused the terms to excuse sin; others have misused the terms to try and earn or deserve God’s blessing and favor. Both these terms, Grace and works, are important aspects of the life of a New Testament Believer of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is important to know how they operate so that we can experience the fullness of the Lord in our lives. Show More
Grace
The biblical definition of Grace is something that is given freely as a gift, and it is not based upon the value or the efforts of the person receiving the gift. Grace, in this case, is an unconditional gift motivated by the gift giver’s decision to love. God has decided to provide blessings to those who know Him. Notice the word “decision,” this is what is called agape love. Agape love is not based upon emotions or feelings but a decision, and when God makes a decision, He does not change or go back on that decision. Look at the following verses.
- Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
- The Apostle Paul assures Titus, a young pastor, in the following, Titus 1:2, “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,”
- Hebrews 6:18 “that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
If God has said it in His Word, then you can count on it to come to pass.
Love, Forgiveness, and Acceptance
When we fully understand God’s gift of Grace, we can walk by faith in the love, forgiveness, and acceptance of God. Ephesians is simply one place where we are told we are loved, forgiven, and accepted.
- The Love of God- Ephesians 2:4, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,”
- The forgiveness of God- Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
- The acceptance of God- Ephesians 1:6, “the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
It is by these three things, love, forgiveness, and acceptance, that gives us the assurance that God is for us and not against us (Romans 8:31) and that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
So many Christians struggle with the love, forgiveness, and acceptance of the Lord for two reasons.
- The first reason that Believers sometimes struggle with the love, forgiveness, and acceptance of God is that they allow the devil to heap condemnation, guilt, and shame because of past events. We must remind ourselves of what the scriptures say about the devil; the devil is a liar and the father of all lies. From the very beginning, he deceived Adam and Eve and continues to slander Christians to this day. Every time you believe what the devil says about you, you are denying what God says, and He says you are loved, forgiven, and accepted. Be careful who you associate with because the devil can use the people around you to speak negativity into your life.
- The second reason Believers sometimes struggle with the love, forgiveness, and acceptance of the Lord is that they feel unworthy of God’s love, forgiveness, and acceptance. The truth is that we are all unworthy; that is why we need God’s Grace! The Bible is clear, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God! (Romans 3:23).” No one deserves or can earn God’s love, forgiveness, and acceptance, however through Jesus Christ we have been given Grace.
John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
The Grace of God is available through Jesus!
Our Father in heaven decided to give salvation to anyone who would accept His only begotten Son, Jesus, by faith. This gift of the Father is the greatest gift anyone could receive because it determines our eternal peace and reward. Anyone who has salvation or is saved is assured of the Love, Forgiveness, and Acceptance of God.
Works
In the Bible, the term works often means those things that are done to find favor with God, and they often stem from the idea that they appease or placate God.
Works of the Law
The works of the Law also called the Law of Moses, refer to the many rules and regulations found in the Old Testament that were handed down to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. Some count 613 commands, which included the Ten Commandments. These laws were what the Jews agreed to follow in exchange for blessings and protection in the Old Covenant or the Covenant of the Law.
When a Jew was circumcised, it was a sign that they were under the Covenant of God and, therefore, had to obey these laws. If they broke a law, they would have to repent and make a sacrifice, as defined by the Law.
The purpose of the Law was to show the Jewish people how they should live in their relationship with God, fellow Jews, and non-Jews. The Old Testament portion of the Bible, from Genesis to Malachi, is all about this covenant relationship between God and the Jewish people.
A final point about the Law of Moses: As born-again Believers in Jesus Christ, we are not under the Law of Moses. Our covenant is the New Covenant, which is a covenant of Grace purchased by Jesus Christ! Our salvation and security come from following Jesus, not the Law of Moses. Jesus fulfilled the Law, and when Jesus said, “It is finished!” upon the cross of Calvary, He closed out the Old Testament Law and introduced the New Covenant under which we live today.
Much of the Apostle Paul’s epistles address this conflict between the Law of Moses and the New Covenant of Jesus. The writer of the book of Hebrews makes it very clear that the Old Covenant has been replaced by the superior New Covenant of Jesus Christ. I would encourage you to read Galatians 3:19-25; here is an excerpt from Galatians 3:24-25, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
Works of Religion
Even though we are not under the Old Covenant of Law, most Christian denominations have developed practices intended to help Believers draw closer to God. However, when ritual replaces relationship, then it becomes a dead work. Throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments, God has desired a heart turned to Him. A heart of gratitude for what He has done, sending Jesus to die for our sins, restoring our relationship with Him, and accepting us into the family of God. Our obedience is the evidence that we are submitted to our Lord.
In the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 15:22, “So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”
In the New Testament, John 8:42, “Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.” John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Works of Faith
The Lord delights in works of faith. The word faith is used over 260 times in the New Testament. Here are a few verses to consider:
- Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Throughout Bible history, God’s question to us has always been the same, “will you trust me?” Faith is believing what the Lord says and doing it. The doing part is the evidence that you have faith. Faith is not just the words you speak or the thoughts you have about the Lord, but faith must be coupled with doing or work. Will you follow Him by trusting and obeying? One of the key messages in the book of James is this relationship between faith and works; in particular, read James 2:14-26. Here are a couple of excerpts:
James 2:14-17, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
In this example, James points out that saying you have faith alone is simply mental assent; that is, you agree that something is true, but you don’t act on it. The evidence of faith is the action you take. This is the point in James 2:18, “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Our faith in Jesus and what He has called us to do is our testimony that Jesus is alive and available to others, which is our mission or assignment.
The Apostle James’ conclusion is James 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Salvation.
All this discussion brings us to the critical question of, “how does one become saved?”. Is salvation by Grace, faith, or works? The answer can be found in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Verses 8 and 9 make it clear that salvation is a gift of Grace. It is not earned nor deserved. However, it is by faith that we receive this precious gift. Jesus has done all the work to secure your salvation; that is Grace. You must believe that Jesus died for you so that you would be forgiven, accepted, and loved by God; that is faith.
Verse 10 shows us the place of works; we were created in Jesus for “good works,” which means that when we are born-again, we are to be led by the Word of God and the Spirit of God to demonstrate the goodness of God to a lost and dying world.
Conclusion
Hopefully we have a better understanding of the terms grace and works in the life of a Christian. Grace is not a license to sin, and the dead works of the Mosaic Law or ritualistic activities is not what the Lord is looking for in His followers. What the Lord is looking for is a relationship.
Grace is the Lord’s gift; good works are our efforts to follow, by faith, the instructions of the Bible and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Our faith in Jesus should inspire us to good works in gratitude and honor for all that He has done for us.
Let me challenge you with the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
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170 – Jesus my Lord and Savior!
Every Christian has heard or used the term “Jesus, my Lord and Savior! There are only five words to that statement, and yet those five words are the foundation of the entire New Testament. I think you would agree that as a Christian, I need to understand what the key three words, Jesus, Lord, and Savior, mean. Our eternal salvation, peace, and joy in life depend on knowing, believing, and acting upon these three words. Show More
Before we look at the words Jesus, Lord, and Savior, we must agree that they only have meaning through faith. In other words, it is not about simply knowing about these terms but requires knowing, believing, and living accordingly. Remember Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Sometimes, we learn scripture verses like Hebrews 11:1 and don’t take the time to really understand what it means. Let’s take the time now.
Faith
The first part of the verse is “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for.” As Believers, we hope for what the scriptures promise. We know the scriptures are “God-breathed,” which means that the scriptures are not the words of man but the words of God, and God cannot lie; He keeps His promises. A term I want to introduce is mental assent. Mental assent means we believe or agree something to be true, but it doesn’t change or transform us.
While taking an evangelism course, I remember an example of the difference between mental assent and true faith. The teacher pulled a chair into the center of the room and asked, “Do you believe this chair will hold you up?” and everyone answered, “Yes!” the teacher said, “That is mental assent.” Then he went on to say that when you sit in the chair, that is true faith or trust. You see, believing something is true is mental assent; actually using or doing it is trust! Mental assent alone doesn’t change our behavior or our actions; true faith does. So, faith starts with mental assent, but something else is required to complete faith, and that is trust.
The second part of the verse is “the evidence of things not seen.” This is the hard part of faith, and this is where faith turns into sight, seeing the invisible, the spiritual. When faith becomes sight, then you can trust. Mental ascent + trust = true faith; God is moved by true faith! True faith not only believes but also trusts God to fulfill His promises. This kind of faith requires action, such as becoming doers of the Word of God. True faith transforms!
Genuine faith means that we trust in Jesus, His ability to save, and His ability to transform us into the person the Lord created us to be.
Faith in Jesus
Our faith and trust must be in Jesus and Him alone. He alone went to the cross and paid for our sins, adopted us into the family of God, and gave us Heaven. Your denomination didn’t do it, your local church didn’t do it, your pastor didn’t do it, and trying to be good won’t do it. All these things I mentioned are the tools God uses to bring the Gospel, but only faith in Jesus can save us. Listen to what Jesus said to the disciple Thomas when he asked how we can know the way. Jesus said in John 14:6 (NKJV), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” There is no other way to Father God except through faith in Jesus Christ. Take a moment with me to examine this verse more closely.
- I am the way.
There are many in the world who would try to convince us that there are many ways to God. However, Acts 4:12 states, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” The context of this verse is, of course, Jesus.
Then Jesus speaks about himself in John 10:1-4 (NKJV). “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to the Father, and those who would follow Him would live an abundant life. John 10:9-10 (NKJV), “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
- I am the truth.
Remember, we believe in a triune God, which means we believe in one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This means the three share the same attributes or character. In John 14:16-18 Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, which He will send. “16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
As a born-again Believer, the Holy Spirit comes to make His home in you, and His wisdom and power are available to you. Now, I don’t know about you, but I really need a helper in my life because I know that I can’t be all that God wants me to be without His help.
Again, Jesus speaks of the Spirit of Truth in John 16:13 (NKJV): “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
- I am the life.
Jesus gives life in two ways. The first is eternal life with God; the second is finding purpose and meaning in this life.
Without a doubt, having eternal life is the most important 1 John 5:10-13 (NKJV), “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” So, this truth of eternal life in Jesus is apparent to those who have “eyes to see and ears to hear and a mind to comprehend.
I heard someone say that the two most important events in life are when you are born and second when you find out why! When Jesus becomes our Savior, it is for a purpose, and we spend our lives finding and fulfilling our purpose in God. Walking in our God-given purpose is where we find the love, joy, and peace that He promises. Romans 8:28 (NKJV), “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
- No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Jesus makes it very clear that there is only one way to salvation and relationship with God the Father, and that is through accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Faith in Jesus as Savior
Getting back to the rest of the phrase, “Jesus, my Lord and Savior.” I’m going to look at the word Savior before the word Lord. Faith in Jesus as Savior means that Jesus has done all the work. It is a work of grace. Salvation is Jesus’ work. No person can add or subtract from it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV): “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” “For by grace” means that it is a gift of God, and like all gifts, the gift must be accepted. God’s grace can’t be earned or deserved; it is freely given and must be freely accepted.
Listen to what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 10:8-13 (NKJV), “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Confidence in your salvation should bring a new perspective on this life. Knowing that you are forgiven and accepted by the Lord changes how you see yourself and what you see as important in life. Knowing that Heaven is yours also changes how you see your life today. As the Apostle Paul said, we run the race; the race is difficult, but we know that we will cross the finish line one day, and Heaven will be ours. Seeing Jesus face to face is our ultimate goal.
Faith in Jesus as Lord
Jesus as Savior is His work, but Jesus as Lord is our work. The word Lord means king or master, and when we use that word, it means that we will obey the Lord. A Christian is defined as one who follows the teaching of Jesus Christ. Following the teachings of Jesus means obedience to what he has called us to. Jesus has called us to a life of righteousness, a life filled with love, peace, and joy; unconditional love for one another, to be at peace with everyone where it is possible, and to know the joy of being loved by God. Our value in life is based upon what God says about us rather than what others around us say, and the Lord says as followers, we are precious in God’s sight.
All these things I’ve mentioned are based upon our obedience to the word of God. Our actions are the evidence of what we believe. Jesus says, if you love me, then obey my commandments. It is not enough to be a hearer of the word; we are called to be hearers and doers of the word. This is where many have missed the wisdom of God because they have given mental assent to the truths of the Bible but have not applied those truths to their lives.
The Apostle James makes it very clear that faith without works is dead. True faith is more than just knowing the truth; it is knowing the truth and applying the truth. Listen to what James says in the following verses.
James 2:14-20 (NKJV),14: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”
Being a doer of the Word is the evidence that we truly believe; it gives life to our faith.
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26
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169 You are more than a Conqueror!
Pastor Vic’s Nuggets of Truth169 You are more than a Conqueror!
/RSS FeedOne of the challenges of becoming an “overcoming” Christian and of success in general is to recognize that there is more to the process of becoming successful than wishing and wanting. We all want the love, peace, and joy of success, but are we willing to pay the price?
You will find all kinds of motivational slogans and clichés about reaching your dreams or reaching your potential on social media, advertising, books, magazines, TV, and movies. However, all the slogans and clichés will not replace two things: making the right decision and committing to follow through! Show More
Making the right decision.
In the Old Testament are a series of books known as “the Wisdom Books”: Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and Song of Songs. These books contain wisdom for those who seek and follow it, but what is biblical wisdom? In this sense, wisdom can only come from God; it is spiritual because it is revealed through the Bible (logos) or by the Holy Spirit (Rhema). Let me add that rhema always agrees with the Bible. James 1:5 (NKJV), “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Now let me be clear: knowing God’s direction is only one half of the equation; the other half is doing what God has revealed to you, regardless of the cost.
Remember the parable of the two builders in Matthew 7:24-27, one builder built his house on the sand, and the other built his house on the rock. The storm came to both houses, and the house built on sand fell and was destroyed, but the one who built his house on the rock remained standing through the storm. The question in this parable is, what is the difference between the sand and the rock? The one who built his house on the sand is like someone who hears the word of God but doesn’t do or obey the word of God. The one who built his house on the rock is the one who hears the word of God and then obeys by doing it. So, we all build our lives, and storms will come; however, are you a “doer” of the word of God in the storm?
Consequences
Choices always have consequences; even not making a choice is a choice. Galatians 6:7-10 (NKJV), “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Clearly, our important decisions should have their foundation in doing things God’s way. We secure our foundation in God by communicating with the Lord through meditating on the Word of God, worshipping, praying, and taking the time to hear from the Lord. As a believer, God has promised to never leave you nor forsake you; as a matter of fact, He calls you His friend!
It’s natural to look at the natural situations and circumstances that we face in life, and at times it may look very discouraging, but in the storm, we mustn’t lose our focus on the Lord. We are called to be faith walkers, which means we must learn how to see with spiritual eyes. Recall the story of Elijah and his servant in 2 Kings 6:16- 17; they were surrounded by the army of Syria, which wanted to capture Elijah. As Elijah’s servant looked out upon the situation, he was terrified; however, listen to what Elijah said, “16 “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” The Lord looks out for His own. Romans 8:28 (NKJV) says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Count the cost.
Jesus tells us in Luke 14:28-30 that counting the cost is an important part of the decision-making process. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?”, (NKJV).
It is easy to become a “legend in your own mind”; in our imagination, we often see the path to success as easy or clear. The reality is that there are many obstacles and pitfalls that we will have to overcome or avoid. The truth is that you have an enemy, the Devil himself, who wants to steal, kill, and destroy the faith, hope, and vision God has given you.
Commitment to the decision.
“Remember, there are two parts to being a successful Christian; one is to make the right decision, and the second is to commit to the decision. In other words, use godly wisdom to make the decision or choice and then follow through to the end.
Isaiah the prophet said in Isaiah 50:7, “For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore, I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed [disappointed]” What does it mean to set your face like a flint? Flint is a type of stone that is hard and, when broken, forms sharp edges; in the past, flint was used to make many kinds of cutting tools. What Isaiah was saying is once I’ve decided, I will cut through every hindrance and obstacle until I have reached the goal; I will not give up!
Many years ago, a term that was used to demonstrate focus and determination was to have the “Eye of the Tiger.” Perhaps you have read or seen images of a tiger or big cat stalking its prey. They are single-minded, not easily distracted, focused, and intentional in getting to their goal, the prey; in our case, we need to be just as determined to fulfill the call of God upon our lives.
What sometimes distracts us from having the “eye of the Tiger” is that we look at the circumstances or our natural abilities and we say, “I can’t, or it is impossible. That is when we remind ourselves that we “walk by faith and not by sight” as it says in 2Corinthians 5:7. Don’t forget that the Holy Spirit lives in you and nothing is impossible with Him because He is the Spirit of God!
When the Apostle Paul said in “Philippians 4:13 (NKJV), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The context of this statement was that no matter what the circumstances are, I will trust in the Lord to bring me through them. We can expect the same if we have faith in Jesus.
Commitment means Endurance and endurance requires Faith.
Our journey with the Lord is a faith walk, which means we need to be spiritually aware or focused on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the Helper that Jesus promised us when Jesus ascended to heaven. We cannot do it alone! We must acknowledge the Holy Spirit living in us because He provides the authority and power of God. This is our faith walk, Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The substance of our faith is the Bible; the evidence of things not seen is accomplished by the Holy Spirit living in us. Through the Holy Spirit, we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mind to comprehend the things of God. (1Corinthians 2:6-16)
Examples of commitment
Moving in the Spirit of God has less to do with feelings and emotions than truth! The Bible is the source of truth, and we must believe and obey the truth regardless of our feelings and emotions. Obedience to God is demonstration of real faith. Faith moves God, Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The fruit of faith is the reward that is in the Lord’s hands.
The Apostle Paul describes Jesus’s attitude when He endured the trials and pains of obeying the Father.Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are to be like the long-distance runner, and what the long-distance runner needs is endurance. Don’t quit!
Then the Apostle Paul said about himself at the end of his life in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NKJV), “6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Paul ran his race to the very end, and that is his instruction to us. Run the race of faith with endurance; the goal is just around the corner.
The Conclusion is that Success in life requires making Godly decisions + commitment.
Someone once said, “A decision is made with the mind; a commitment is made with the heart. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made the greatest decision and commitment. You know that He loves us; the Bible clearly tells us so. However, His love is a decision and commitment for our good. God’s love in the original Greek is the word Agape; this kind of love is not an emotion but an unconditional decision and commitment to provide us with every good gift from heaven.
Faith to fulfill decisions and commitments requires three characteristics.
- Learning to lean on the Holy Spirit residing in us.
Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” You have authority given by Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Lord’s will in and through your life.
- Learning Patience (endurance).
James 1:2-8 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Don’t be double-minded keep focused on the goal “that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2b.
- Remembering who we serve.
The Lord’s love for us is endless. Romans 8:37-39, Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Have faith in God, who loves you; You are more than a conqueror!
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168 Who Am I?
As a Christian, it is important to know who you are! Today, there seems to be such an effort in the world to put everyone into a group or category. This suggests a real identity crisis in our cultures, societies, and countries. The Bible makes it very clear who we are: we are citizens of Heaven, Philippians 3:20 (NKJV) tells us. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Show More
You see, we are simply passing through life on earth with the mission of sharing the love and salvation found through Jesus Christ. All of us naturally identify with the country we were born in, but now that you are born-again, your citizenship is Heaven. This is why the scriptures tell us that we are to be ambassadors of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:20. An ambassador is sent from their home country to another to represent the one who sent him. In our case, we represent Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
I love what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:1, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Paul made it very simple in verse 2, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
Even the Apostle Paul recognized the tendency of the church to identify with a person or belief instead of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 1:12 “Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” Paul saw that the church was breaking up into factions instead of being unified by the finished work of the Cross. What was true in the early church also exists today.
Is there an identity crisis in the church today?
Someone asked me, “What kind of church do you go to? Is it evangelical or Pentecostal?” I answered, “The church I belong to is a full gospel church, we believe the whole Bible!” Believing the whole Bible means that I am Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Charismatic. I believe that the Bible teaches us that we are to be evangelical; that is our mission, Pentecostal, that is our empowerment, and charismatic, that is how we will attract people to Christ. Let’s take a closer look at each of these terms and what scriptures they are based upon.
The term Evangelical – one who preaches or announces the good news of the Gospel.
To be evangelical means we believe and actively pursue the Great Commission. The Great Commission is the charge to go into the world and make Jesus known. The Great Commission is found at the end of each of the four Gospels. Most of us look at the Gospel of Matthew Great Commission statement because it is the first book of the New Testament, however the Gospel of Mark was written before Matthew. So, let’s look at the Gospel of Mark.
Jesus said in Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV), “15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
All of us would agree with verses 15 and 16. “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” Where we sometimes overlook verses 17 and 18, And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
These verses speak of God’s supernatural spiritual power over the spiritual powers of darkness. We are given spiritual power to cast out demons, to speak in tongues, to combat the forces of Satan, and finally to lay hands on the sick and see them recover. All these abilities are the outworking of the Holy Spirit living in us. In the natural, we are powerless, but in Christ, we are empowered to pull down the strongholds of the Devil. Now, you may ask, “How are we empowered?” Now it’s time to look at the term Pentecostal.
The term Pentecostal – one who is empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a witness to Jesus.
It is clear from the Gospel of John that Jesus promised the Father would send us a “Helper,” the Holy Spirit when Jesus departed from the earth. John chapters 14-16 show us Jesus’ intention that He would not leave us as orphans but would provide the Holy Spirit to encourage, exhort, and edify the Believer. The Holy Spirit guides, teaches, and reveals the heart of God.
The Holy Spirit has two functions in the Born-again Believer. One is transformation, and the other is the Great Commission.
- Transformation is the process of learning how to overcome sin and walk in righteousness. When we come to Christ, all of us have areas of life that are not pleasing to the Lord. The natural human response is to use self-discipline to change; however, the Old Testament and personal experience will show that flesh, or self-control, is not enough. There must be a change on the inside of the heart, which only the Holy Spirit can produce.
- The Apostle Paul says that the flesh and the spirit are always opposed to each other. This means that we must learn to be led by the Spirit of God, and this process is called transformation. Romans 12:2 (NKJV), “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Being conformed is man’s work; transformation is the Holy Spirit’s work.
- The Great Commission is the work of every Christian, to know Jesus and make Him known.
In Luke 24:49 (NKJV), Jesus instructs the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father. “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you, but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” I am sure that the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant by “until you are endued with power from on high.” However, by faith, they went to Jerusalem and waited. Acts 1:4-8 (NKJV), “4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Then, in verse 8, Jesus says, “But 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.” There are three things we need to see in this verse.
- We shall receive power; power in this verse is the original Greek word “dynamis” which means miraculous power or mighty wonderful work. In other words, we are not talking about natural ability, talent, or skill. This kind of power is supernatural power from God.
- To be witnesses to Jesus means that we are to testify of what Jesus has done for us as an individual. How Jesus has saved us, delivered us, and changed us is our testimony, and that is how we share Jesus with the world.
- We are to be witnesses to Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth; this means that we are to go to our families, neighborhoods, our country, and to the outermost parts of the world, sharing our testimony of what Jesus has done.
These three charges or expectations of the Lord clearly show us why we need the Helper, the Holy Spirit of God!
This outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred on the Day of Pentecost and represents the birth of the Christian Church, birthed in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) “1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” To the new Believers, this outpouring was a sign that the presence of God was present and gave them hope and boldness. It is no different today; the Holy Spirit of God wants to be made manifest in our lives, homes, communities, and churches. This event was a charismatic event.
The term Charismatic – one who exercises the spiritual gifts given by God to draw people to Christ.
The term charismatic comes from the Greek word “charisma,” which is used to describe certain giftings or enablements by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the power of God. Listen to the Apostle Paul’s description of charisma in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NKJV), “4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” Notice two things here:
- In describing the gifts, in verse 4, the name Spirit is used; in verse 5, the name Lord is used; and in verse 6, the name God is used. What we see is the triune nature of God is used to authorize the gifts or charismas. Then in verse 8 thru 10 the nine gifts of the spirit are listed; 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 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.
- Verse 11 holds the purpose of the gifts, “11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is to draw attention to the Lord and to encourage, exhort, and edify the Body of Christ, the Church!
Conclusion:
In conclusion, as believers in Jesus Christ:
We are to be Evangelical (evangelistic) –that is our purpose in God.
We are to be Pentecostal or filled with the Spirit –that is, the empowerment of God.
We are to be Charismatic – the demonstration that draws people to God.
We will talk more about the Gifts of the Spirit the next time.
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173 Learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit! Part 1
/RSS FeedWhen you are born-again, you know it because of the peace and assurance that the Lord gives you to know that you are saved. When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you know it because you will speak in new tongues and move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, to move in the Holy Spirit requires learning how to be led or directed by the Holy Spirit. Learning to hear or discern the voice of the Spirit is the key to an overcoming life in the service of our King, King Jesus. Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” The Lord will complete the work on your character as well as your mission or assignment.
We often use the word “saved” to describe someone who has been born-again. The original Greek for saved is “sozo” which means to be made safe, delivered from destruction, or made whole. That means you are completely saved, and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 tells us that we are Spirit, Soul, and Body. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is important to look at the differences between these three aspects of every human being: spirit, soul, and body. Show More
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172 Knowing the Holy Spirit.
/RSS FeedSome believe that because one belongs to a church, has a Bible, or comes from a Christian family, one is spiritual. That is not always the case. When the Bible speaks about spiritual things, it is to those who have a relationship with Jesus and have learned to “hear” the voice of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, and obey Him.
Knowing about the Holy Spirit is not the same as knowing the Holy Spirit! There is a big difference between “head knowledge” or intellectual understanding and personal “heart knowledge” or faith. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The natural man in this verse refers to the person who is not born-again. So, Paul is saying that to understand the things of the Spirit of God, you must be born again. Show More
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171 Grace, Works and Faith!
/RSS FeedThere has always been a controversy between the terms the Bible calls “Grace and Works.” Some have misused the terms to excuse sin; others have misused the terms to try and earn or deserve God’s blessing and favor. Both these terms, Grace and works, are important aspects of the life of a New Testament Believer of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is important to know how they operate so that we can experience the fullness of the Lord in our lives. Show More
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170 – Jesus my Lord and Savior!
/RSS FeedEvery Christian has heard or used the term “Jesus, my Lord and Savior! There are only five words to that statement, and yet those five words are the foundation of the entire New Testament. I think you would agree that as a Christian, I need to understand what the key three words, Jesus, Lord, and Savior, mean. Our eternal salvation, peace, and joy in life depend on knowing, believing, and acting upon these three words. Show More
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169 You are more than a Conqueror!
/RSS FeedOne of the challenges of becoming an “overcoming” Christian and of success in general is to recognize that there is more to the process of becoming successful than wishing and wanting. We all want the love, peace, and joy of success, but are we willing to pay the price?
You will find all kinds of motivational slogans and clichés about reaching your dreams or reaching your potential on social media, advertising, books, magazines, TV, and movies. However, all the slogans and clichés will not replace two things: making the right decision and committing to follow through! Show More
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168 Who Am I?
/RSS FeedAs a Christian, it is important to know who you are! Today, there seems to be such an effort in the world to put everyone into a group or category. This suggests a real identity crisis in our cultures, societies, and countries. The Bible makes it very clear who we are: we are citizens of Heaven, Philippians 3:20 (NKJV) tells us. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Show More
