A New Testament scholar is tackling a subject that has confounded sincere Christians across the ages: the identity and function of the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Bible notes several roles the Holy Spirit plays in the lives of people today. Thank you, Lux, and the same to you. I pray you and your family have a blessed Easter. According to Acts 5:32 Almighty God Jehovah 'gives holy spirit to those obeying him as ruler', 'they are no part of the world' (John 17:16), Jesus' true disciples. I imagine Sam’s book could be controversial in the minds of some people but your call to read with an open mind gives fair warning. It sounds like a good book, Lisa! 5:16). 1 Cor 12:3 says we cannot say Jesus is Lord unless we have the Spirit, but the Bible teaches we must say Jesus is Lord to receive the Holy Spirit. As such the role of the Spirit is multi-faceted. I did want to hear what you’d have to say on this. Isn’t it interesting how we go back to fill in those gaps once we get to be an adult? What a blessing to know that God is always with us! So chapter by chapter, gift by gift, Storms writes why he does believe that the Spirit still works through humans with special gifts. Even where they are not, in some (including where we are now) I often sense a powerful evidence of the Holy Spirit. Did the believers receive the Holy Spirit when they were baptized in Samaria in Acts 8? I am very much confused as some say that for example speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit while the other says it is 100 percent demonic. I so appreciate you taking the time to write down these thoughts, Barbara. Our minds just can’t seem to handle everything at once; he’s way too big! As always, it DOES look like a great book. God is God. The Holy Spirit is very active today. And Our intellectual knowledge is limited. When in actuality even nature shows us His awe! . “Fasting is about spiritual indulgence! I also appreciate you sharing your personal experiences. However, because we have the completed Words of God, the Spirit does … But instead, “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” If the Word of God is God-breathed, it seems natural that it would be the primary way He speaks to people these days. Your email address will not be published. If they do, we should not prevent them from occurring. So much to learn from each other indeed! Dear Lisa, i think i will like this book.. For the most part, whether we think or believe what we want, it doesn’t change who God is. You are in Christ who is over all. I think as we read about the body of Christ around the world, we often find evidences of extraordinary things occurring. And yet, very little of the Spirit’s work is properly recognized by God’s people today. Can you explain Acts 10:44 and why the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles? Did Moses copy the Old Testament from other sources? And I’m glad. Jesus Himself compared the will of the wind to the work of God’s Spirit (John 3:8). This happened yesterday at our church as part of Palm Sunday. Or instead do you believe he stopped moving supernaturally near the end of the first century? So in that sense maybe I wouldn’t call myself a cessationist, because I do believe God can and does work through those kinds of gifts on occasion, but I just think there is much less occasion for it now that we have the written Word of God, which can reach many people more effectively than a miracle here and there. It didn’t, and even in my untaught state I thought that was a little suspicious. Your thoughts on this? I have spoken with missionaries who work in areas where devil worship is alive and well (and much more out in the open than it is here in the US). Their faith is forever changed and solidified because of it. Your final statement sums it up well for me, too: “I do believe the Holy Spirit works today but I think it’s not always in a way we can predict or control.”. I have known people who have been miraculously healed, but it hasn’t come by laying on of hands or someone praying over them and pronouncing them healed. ” 2 Peter 1: 20 – “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” v21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”. I missed out a lot on the traditional spiritual disciplines as well, and have enjoyed learning, as an adult, about how to do contemplative prayer, lectio divina, etc., from a nearby Catholic community. My thanks to BookLook Bloggers How were the gifts of the Holy Spirit given? How is the Holy Spirit active in our lives today? John 16:8 notes, "And when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." The word spirit is rendered as רוּחַ … 8:2). Yikes – I didn’t realize how lengthy my response was until it published. I also have heard friends who have been in foreign countries come back with stories that we can hardly believe here in the states. You speak wisdom here, Ifeoma: “For the most part, whether we think or believe what we want, it doesn’t change who God is.” God is who God is, regardless of what we believe about him. I agree that sometimes we don’t see as many miracles because we aren’t looking for them. I think the point is not God’s continued mercy, but our ability to receive it. The reason the miraculous gifts were given to the early church (or at least one of the reasons) was to testify to the validity of the message taught by the apostles and other inspired teachers at a time when the New Testament was not yet complete. I love how your words and your reading force me to think. Thanks, Lisa, for using your mind and your heart to advance the kingdom of God and to encourage us to be thinking people. I’m so terrible at finishing books…I have a lot of them started, though. And often the reason they didn’t pray for them or ask for them is because they had a prior conviction or belief that they did not exist or were not available to them. I have been hearing a lot about obedience recently and I like that God is not looking at out success but out obedience. The Holy Ghost will not dwell in an unclean temple, therefore for Him to work more in our life, or any other spiritual gift, our life must be clean, and ready to receive. The Bible shows us clearly what the Holy Spirit is. Here are a few quotes from selected chapters in Practicing the Power. God’s work has been the same; it’s just my vision is often distorted. Miracles are not used by God to convince people to become a Christian, but to validate that the message is from God. Over my lifetime, my understanding has broadened and my husband and I have been in churches where the gifts are active as well as ones where they are not. I agree with him on many points, and disagree on others. As mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, outpourings of the Holy Spirit can include healing, prophecy, exorcism, and speaking in tongues. I think the point is not God’s continued mercy, but our ability to receive it. ha. What Anita said. He is not some impersonal power, like energy. (See here for full justification.) Now, I wouldn’t think that it’s crazy, but maybe her healing wouldn’t happen on the spot, but maybe years later. These are two extremes. Holy Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death (Rom. First, the Holy Spirit provides conviction of sin to all people. This is true for me, too: “I have seen excesses, but I have also been in quiet settings where I have seen power that was undeniable.” I’m so glad the Spirit knows how to show up regardless of the situation. A friend says before the universe existed, there was a quantum vacuum that created it. There are many, many testimonies of people who weren't even Christians, but have felt the incredible power of the Spirit – often it's been instrumental in their decision to follow Jesus; the Alpha course is built … I think some people are afraid to believe in the gifts, and do not ask to receive. I love learning from others who have had different experiences and studies. [click here if you can’t see the 1:27 video]. The Holy S pirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity, just as active in the world today as ever. I do believe the Holy Spirit works today but I think it’s not always in a way we can predict or control. Seems the Holy Spirit has not been very active in past 2000 years. Read more about who the Holy Spirit is and the necessary and life-changing role He can play in our lives. If you look at the Old and the New Testament you will discover that throughout most of the history of God’s people, there were few miracles. I believe whole-heartedly the Holy Spirit works today in miraculous ways. As an aside, I am currently about 1/3 of the way through the book you recently mentioned to me, Grit, and like it a great deal. If God created nature perfect, and if nature has two sexes, how should we act toward LGBT and hostile feminists? The Holy Spirit is God Himself tangibly working in our hearts, minds and sometimes in our bodies to experience God's … Success is not something we ultimately control. I totally agree with you that the Spirit communicates with us when we’re receptive to listen! We all have much to learn from each other. With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. I grew up in churches where we believed strongly in the gifts of the Holy Spirit being in operation for today, so yes I still believe that. It as more like a number of people praying for them, and when they went back for tests, the tests showed nothing was wrong. I am beginning to see our opinions about what or how we think of God does not make Him less or More! The Holy Spirit reminds us of God’s Word. However, sometimes when I don’t get my way, or receive the answers I want, I view that as the Holy Spirit not answering. I can’t guarantee that my prayers for the sick will result in healing. I agree with you–because I’ve seen the Spirit actively at work in my own life and in the lives of others, I believe that he is definitely still active today. I hear you, Lesley. I’ve seen, too, how the extremes on either end can be unhealthy. The Holy Spirit doesn't wait for people to have their lives in total order before he moves powerfully. But please do not think that the main work of the Holy Spirit is in the form of the miraculous. Is it Gnosticism? The writer of Hebrews tells us that the purpose of miracles (or at least one of the purposes) is to testify to and confirm the message (Hebrews 2:4). 12:13). I recommend this book be read with an open mind. 0. May you have a wonderful Easter! And I caught a couple of typos, too…. click here if you can’t see the 1:27 video. H ow does the Holy Spirit manifest in the lives of believers? 6 Ways the Holy Spirit is Active in Our Lives. That’s the here humanity has reached…. Does God know all future events, including possible events? This sounds like a helpful book and I think it’s important for people to look into this topic. Will there be counterfeits posing and acting, yes. He does say worship can be awakened, sustained, and energized by the Spirit. God is God… Saying the Holy Spirit is not active is saying God is not! I find them very helpful. The question is whether the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, described primarily in 1 Corinthians 12–14, are still active in the church today. My views on Holy Spirit have changed through the years, too, thankfully. I do very much agree that we shouldn’t “take steps to artificially induce” those manifestations. The latter appendix includes this list: “Twelve Bad Reasons for Being a Cessationist” (one who believes certain gifts have ceased, stopped). The role of the Holy Spirit: to give us strength and help in our fight against sin. The word spirit (from the Latin spiritus meaning "breath") appears either alone or with other words in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the New Testament.Combinations include expressions such as the "Holy Spirit", "Spirit of God", and in Christianity, "Spirit of Christ".. The aforementioned paragraph is key. Speaking in tongues is only spoken to God. He includes scriptures and personal experiences to back up his claims. 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