paul | The Spirit of God

Holy Spirit speaks

Posted on December 3, 2016 by evanlaar1922

But recognizing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began affirming loudly in the Council chamber, “Kinsmen, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” When he said this, an angry dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the [whole crowded] assembly was divided [into two factions]. For the Sadducees say that there is no [such thing as a] resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees [speak out freely and] acknowledge [their belief in] them all. Then a great uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and began to argue heatedly [in Paul’s favor], saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has [really] spoken to him?”And as the dissension became even greater, the commander, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and forcibly take him from them, and bring him to the barracks. – Acts 23:6-10

Here we see again, that the Holy Spirit of God has told Paul exactly what to say to get these two groups off of him, and fighting each other, over whether there is life after death or not. Again, he has not lied. He is a Pharisee.

These people, who were supposedto be the learned people in the law, really knew very little about God. The Sadducees did not even believe in the Spirit. The Pharisees and the Sadducees had missed the whole meaning of the Bible. The entire Bible, Old and New Testament, is focussed on Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, and yet they did not believe Jesus of Nazareth to be the Christ (Messiah).

The edge of their zeal began to turn from Paul against one another. Nor could they go on to act against him, when they could not agree among themselves, or prosecute him for breaking the unity of the church, when there was among them so little of the unity of the Spirit. All the cry had been against Paul: but now there arose a great cry against one another; and so much did a fierce, furious spirit prevail among all orders of the Jews at this time, that everything was done, even respecting religion, with clamour, tumult, and noise. – Benson

The Ethiopic version reads, what if it was the Holy Spirit that has inspired him, or God by an angel has revealed anything to him, who has to say anything against it? This they said in agreement with their own principles, and more for the sake of establishing them, and in opposition to the Sadducees, than in favour of Paul. – John Gill

Some people think that if they’re not having an apparition of some kind, the Holy Spirit doesn’t speak to them. How sad! Of course the Holy Spirit speaks to them! The Holy Spirit speaks to everyone who is willing to listen. The Holy Spirit works through anyone who is willing to serve. – Lucy Fernandez

The Personality & Deity of the Holy Spirit proven from the Bible!

Matthew 10:20

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

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Verses showing identity, ministry, and personhood of the Holy Spirit

When the Holy Spirit Speaks: Strong Feeling—or Words?

Spiritual warfare

Posted on November 30, 2016 by evanlaar1922

Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent! I ask that when I do come I will not be driven to the boldness that I intend to show toward those few who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh [like men without the Spirit]. For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete. – 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

This group accused Paul of the things they themselves were doing. Because Paul did not talk like a politician (2 Corinthians 11:6), and because he was meek and mild, they said he was no true apostle and did not have the Spirit.

Not guided by the Holy Spirit of God, and the directions of his word, but by some external, carnal considerations, respecting my own profit, pleasure, or reputation, indulging my own passions or corrupt affections. Walking after the flesh is opposed to a walking after the Spirit, Romans 8:1. He walketh after the flesh, to whom the fleshly appetite is the principle, rule, and end of his actions; as he, on the contrary, to whom those habits of grace which are wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit himself more immediately by his motions or impulses, are the principle of his actions, and the word dictated by the Spirit is the rule of his actions, and the glory of God is the end of his actions, is truly said to walk after the Spirit. – Matthew Poole

Personally, one of the most difficult times to draw on the supernatural resource of the Godhead–to experience the amazing grace of Jesus, the extravagant love of God, and the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit–is when I am being personally attacked or unfairly criticized. It’s difficult to maintain our spiritual equilibrium when we face false accusations. But that’s the exact circumstance Paul found himself in as he wrote this closing section of 2 Corinthians. A group within the church was trying to undermine Paul’s influence. They had accused him of hypocrisy, impure motives, and manipulative methods. – Doug Goins

Just because Paul is a mere man does not mean he fights on mere physical terms. He didn’t rely upon his fleshly attributes or human strengths to accomplish spiritual ministry, but his strength and confidence was in the Lord. He understood that he fought a spiritual battle against the spiritual fortresses of the enemy, and thus victory was only possible through the strength and grace of Christ. Since the war was spiritual, the weapons of battle must also be spiritual, namely prayer, the Spirit of God, and the Word of God. These are the means by which the devil is stopped in his tracks. He doesn’t fear mere man, but he does fear Christ. He is defeated as sound doctrine is fought for and contended for. Mere human wisdom, speculations, and supposed “lofty” understanding which is nothing but lies and human arrogance must be displaced with the truth of God’s Word. When these deceptions of man and of the devil are raised up in an attack against the Lord, these need to be brought down with the truth of God’s Word. Every thought that is wrong must be challenged so that God’s people think rightly and then live accordingly. Wrong theology leads to wrong living, whereas right doctrine leads to obedience. Thus, Paul’s purpose in coming is to see that the church as a whole is living obediently and in accordance to the truth, and if there are any in opposition, it is God and His Word which must put them in their place. Once it was clear who was going to follow Christ, then those who rejected sound doctrine were to be disciplined by being put out of the fellowship. This purging was for the good and preservation of the church, and this honored Christ because He demands obedience. – Brent Barnett

Winning the Spiritual War

Spirit-filled life

Posted on February 8, 2016 by evanlaar1922

You shall serve [only] the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread and water. I will also remove sickness from among you.No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; ^[f]I will fulfill the number of your days. – Exodus 23:25-26

The spiritual blessings of the covenant were always open to those who sincerely and earnestly desired to have them.

Some say that God only wants to be the God who heals us spiritually. If God is only talking about spiritual healing why does He mention the word “sickness.“

One of the goals in life is to do your best: to make your best effort and to get the best results possible from your endeavors. The truth is that the only way that you can do that is by enlisting God’s help. In other words you must have God’s blessings upon your efforts. You are not just flesh and blood. You are also a spiritual being – in tune with the Spirit of God to be a complete person and to have the best results that you are capable of. That is how life’s lived: you in partnership with God through faith in Christ.

As Paul says in 1 Cor. 10 – the story of the Exodus is an enduring lesson for us as we follow Christ. Canaan represents the spirit-filled life. And just as the Angel of the Lord led them into the Promised Land, so Jesus leads us into the life of the Spirit, walking in the blessings of God’s grace. But the spirit-filled life is not without challenges. Just as the children of Israel had to move in and do battle with the native inhabitants, there are obstacles to our pressing forward and taking possession of all God intends for us – namely, the old inhabitants of our lives – old habits of thinking and living in the world. God has so much for us – but we don’t get it all at once. The Israelites had to grow and take progressive possession of what was theirs, and so do we. Each battle they fought and every new region they took made them stronger and more confident in the Lord’s strength and ability. God wasn’t just giving them more land, He was growing them as a people who could own, enjoy, and use that land. The same is true of our growth in the Spirit-filled life. Every battle we face molds and shapes us into the image of Christ.

Spirit-Filled Living