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‘And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of Truth’ (John 14:16-17).
Jesus promised not to leave His disciples like orphans, without anyone to take care of them. The Holy Spirit would assume the role vacated by Jesus and would show His disciples the things concerning Jesus.
So far in these studies we have considered the Holy Spirit and Transition, Salvation, Instruction, Direction, Intercession and Compassion. In this final study we will look at four more ways the Holy Spirit helps us.
7. The Holy Spirit and Manifestation – ‘The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all’ (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Another translation of this verse says, ‘The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church’ (TLB).
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 lists nine spiritual gifts and these can be divided into three groups of three for ease of understanding.
- Gifts of Revelation – Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Discerning of Spirits
- Gifts of Demonstration – Faith, Working of Miracles, Gifts of Healings
- Gifts of Edification – Prophecy, Different kinds of Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues
For a more extensive study of the Gifts of the Spirit please Ctrl + Click on the link. Kindle Books – The Believer’s Rights and Privileges Series: Spiritual Gifts, Amazon.co.uk : Norman Wreford.
These miraculous gifts are not just for you, although they can be. Their main purpose is that you can profit the church and bless others when evangelising.
It’s a shame when Christians stop going to a church they have attended for some time and those remaining feel no loss but a sense of relief. Those leaving failed to understand the principle of being part of a body where each member should make a positive contribution.
We don’t own a spiritual gift, although it can appear to others we do, if we are continually used with that gift. Who we do have is the Holy Spirit, the Giver of these gifts according to His will, and the gift He gives us to pass on is the gift that is needed at that time.
We can be given several gifts just to carry out one task. For example, as we are reading our bible about healing, a gift of faith quickens our spirit that God wants to heal someone. Then the Holy Spirit reminds us of someone who’s been missing church due to sickness, and we feel we should visit them. That’s a Word of Wisdom. When we arrive, we talk about the healing scripture and God telling us to visit, and faith starts rising in their heart. Then we lay hands on them and pray. The Holy Spirit honours our faith to go and their faith to receive and gives a Gift of Healing, so they are healed. It wasn’t just a caring thought we had but the Holy Spirit stirring us into action!
This can be the regular experience of ordinary believers equipped, empowered, and led by the extra-ordinary, supernatural Holy Spirit.
There are two important points to remember concerning Spiritual Gifts.
- Attitude – ‘But earnestly desire the best gifts’ (1Corinthians 12:31), ‘Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy’ (1 Corinthians 14:1).
Make it a matter of importance to be used in this way.
- Aim – ‘Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel’ (1 Corinthians 14:12).
It’s so tempting for man to take some of the glory that is due only to God. A heart for others helps to prevent that. We don’t puff up ourselves as it’s the church we want to lift up!
8. The Holy Spirit and Conversation – ‘So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 12:3 NLT).
I get concerned when Christians talk about God but do not mention Jesus and also when those claiming to be Spirit-filled don’t talk about Jesus either. One of the main purposes for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is to create boldness in evangelism. ‘They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly preached God’s message’ (Acts 4:31 TLB).
When Philip was invited to talk to the Ethiopian about the Book of Isaiah (See Acts 8:26-40), he didn’t speak about the temple, the church, the Jews, or the apostles, but about Jesus. Don’t be embarrassed to share Jesus, because ultimately, He is the only One who can really help them.
9. The Holy Spirit and Purification – ‘Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s’ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). ‘Having such great promises as these, dear friends, let us turn away from everything wrong, whether of body or spirit, and purify ourselves’ (2 Corinthians 7:1 TLB).
He is called the Holy Spirit, ‘Be holy for He is holy’ (1 Peter 1:16). We receive the gift of righteousness when we become a Christian, but holiness is the outworking of that righteousness in daily living. The Holy Spirit will always and only lead us in a holy way. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to fill and refill us, the more like Jesus we shall be in thought, word and deed.
10. The Holy Spirit and Persecution – ‘But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit’ (Mark 13:11NLT).
The more we speak about Jesus, the more likely we are to be confronted by those opposed to the gospel. Jesus, Peter and John, and Stephen all gave answers that amazed their critics (See Luke 20:26, Acts 4:8,19, Acts 6:10).
Always remember, when you don’t know how to reply to a person’s question, criticism or condemnation, the Holy Spirit does, and He will help you to make the right response.
Finally, the following benediction is used in many churches at the end of each service, ‘May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all’ (2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT)).
I pray you will know the joy, peace, and comfort of fellowship with the Holy Spirit
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