The Holy Spirit In Christian Living
The Holy Spirit In Christian Life
First of all I have to say that the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus . The Holy Spirit is our source of Power in weakness . I am focusing on the writings of Luke and Paul .
Luke uses experimental language to emphasize powerful and purposeful encounters with the Holy Spirit. And here are some examples :
Baptized “ with the Spirit ( Acts 1:5 ) Filled with the Spirit ( Acts 2:4 ) .. “ Receiving ‘ the Spirit ( Acts 8:15 ) Spirit came upon ( Acts 19: 6 Spirit poured out( Acts 10:455) Spirit fell upon ( Acts 11:150 Spirit was given ( Acts 15:8 ) Full of the Spirit ( Acts 6:3 )
Luke tells us about overwhelming experiences … moments with the H. S. and encounters with the H. S. and is trying to write about them so that they make sense to us and recounting the empowerment to our witness for Christ .
Peter tries to tell us about the event from Joel in the O. T. that the H. S. is perceptible and transformational . This experience transforms the disciples as swell saw on the day of Pentecost.
Jesus calls us to be witnesses , but it is beyond our ability ; we need the Spirit’s help ( Luke 24:49;Acts 1:5, 8 )
On the day of Pentecost the Spirit was given to the church in a new way ( Acts 2:1-4 , 12-18 ) The promised Spirit is now here to help Christians . Tongues demonstrates the goal of the Spirit’s enabling – to be a witness to all people, empowering ( enabling ) experiences with the Spirit are to be expected as a normal part of Christian life ( Acts 2:38 -39)
Tongues was the goal as Jesus wanted the disciples to be witnesses not for their own benefit but for the benefit of other people . Luke is pinpointing that the H. S. comes to empower us for service .
Jewish believers had other moments when Spirit re – enabled them ( helped them by giving them new strength and boldness ) ( Acts 4: 31) Other Christians ( Non – Jewish ) also experienced the Spirit in tangible ways ( Acts 8 : 18 -19 ; 10:44-47 )
Spirit – baptism is an experience of empowerment that is distinct from and occurs after ( subsequent to ) one’s experience of the new birth . The initial evidence or Biblical sign of this experience of Spirit baptism is speaking in tongues. Tongues signifies the meaning of Spirit baptism ( see Acts 2) Supernatural empowering is dependent on the Holy Spirit . and for the purpose of witness in word and deed . Tongues signifies the inclusive scope of Christian mission in all languages and cultures . The only evidence of Spirit Baptism in tongues .
Paul closely associates the presence of the Spirit with power ( Rom 15: 13 ; 1 Thess. 1:5 ; 1 Cor. 5 :4 ) Power refers to the perceptible manifestations of the Spirit , including such things as miracles , healings and conversions ( 1 Cor. : 2 : 4-5 ) . Believers can experience the Spirit as peace amidst turmoil ( Phil 4: 6-7 )
The Holy Spirit helped Paul intimately communicate with God when he reached the end of his understanding ( Rom 8:26-27; 1Cor. 14:4, 15, 18 )
Finally there are 2 extremes to avoid – fear and fanaticism . Both of these can be placed in the proper context by realizing that all believers have a living relationship with the loving Holy Spirit .Our approach should be with an attitude of humility .
The Holy Spirit In Christian Life
First of all I have to say that the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus . The Holy Spirit is our source of Power in weakness . I am focusing on the writings of Luke and Paul .
Luke uses experimental language to emphasize powerful and purposeful encounters with the Holy Spirit. And here are some examples :
Baptized “ with the Spirit ( Acts 1:5 ) Filled with the Spirit ( Acts 2:4 ) .. “ Receiving ‘ the Spirit ( Acts 8:15 ) Spirit came upon ( Acts 19: 6 Spirit poured out( Acts 10:455) Spirit fell upon ( Acts 11:150 Spirit was given ( Acts 15:8 ) Full of the Spirit ( Acts 6:3 )
Luke tells us about overwhelming experiences … moments with the H. S. and encounters with the H. S. and is trying to write about them so that they make sense to us and recounting the empowerment to our witness for Christ .
Peter tries to tell us about the event from Joel in the O. T. that the H. S. is perceptible and transformational . This experience transforms the disciples as swell saw on the day of Pentecost.
Jesus calls us to be witnesses , but it is beyond our ability ; we need the Spirit’s help ( Luke 24:49;Acts 1:5, 8 )
On the day of Pentecost the Spirit was given to the church in a new way ( Acts 2:1-4 , 12-18 ) The promised Spirit is now here to help Christians . Tongues demonstrates the goal of the Spirit’s enabling – to be a witness to all people, empowering ( enabling ) experiences with the Spirit are to be expected as a normal part of Christian life ( Acts 2:38 -39)
Tongues was the goal as Jesus wanted the disciples to be witnesses not for their own benefit but for the benefit of other people . Luke is pinpointing that the H. S. comes to empower us for service .
Jewish believers had other moments when Spirit re – enabled them ( helped them by giving them new strength and boldness ) ( Acts 4: 31) Other Christians ( Non – Jewish ) also experienced the Spirit in tangible ways ( Acts 8 : 18 -19 ; 10:44-47 )
Spirit – baptism is an experience of empowerment that is distinct from and occurs after ( subsequent to ) one’s experience of the new birth . The initial evidence or Biblical sign of this experience of Spirit baptism is speaking in tongues. Tongues signifies the meaning of Spirit baptism ( see Acts 2) Supernatural empowering is dependent on the Holy Spirit . and for the purpose of witness in word and deed . Tongues signifies the inclusive scope of Christian mission in all languages and cultures . The only evidence of Spirit Baptism in tongues .
Paul closely associates the presence of the Spirit with power ( Rom 15: 13 ; 1 Thess. 1:5 ; 1 Cor. 5 :4 ) Power refers to the perceptible manifestations of the Spirit , including such things as miracles , healings and conversions ( 1 Cor. : 2 : 4-5 ) . Believers can experience the Spirit as peace amidst turmoil ( Phil 4: 6-7 )
The Holy Spirit helped Paul intimately communicate with God when he reached the end of his understanding ( Rom 8:26-27; 1Cor. 14:4, 15, 18 )
Finally there are 2 extremes to avoid – fear and fanaticism . Both of these can be placed in the proper context by realizing that all believers have a living relationship with the loving Holy Spirit .Our approach should be with an attitude of humility .