Читать книгу Why God Gave His Spirit - Kenneth Psy.D. Dobbin - Страница 3

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

The gift of the Holy Spirit is given as a result of a promise to empower the child of God to live the holy life desired by our heavenly Father. This gift has many functions as he guides us into the truth, enables us to resist the fiery darts of the devil and helps us to present the gospel message to the world.

The Holy Spirit was given to us at when we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and born into the Kingdom of God. The moment Jesus Christ came into our lives he baptized us with the Holy Spirit and fire. Some say you must ask for the Holy Spirit quoting how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. So lets put that verse in context.

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:10-13

When we put this verse in context we find a comparison of the gifts we can expect from our fathers. The comparison is one of our earthly fathers verses our heavenly father by how they show their love and the gifts they give to their children. Jesus was saying because our heavenly father loves you he would give you the good things you ask for. Within this comparison Jesus illustrated that God would not give you anything that would harm you. This comparison does not require you to ask God for the promise of the father, but if you ask, expect what you asked for.

On other hand, when we look at the gift a from a different picture we find that Jesus was exalted to the throne of God and was entrusted with distributing the Holy Spirit to God’s children (Acts 2:33). In addition, the bible tells you some interesting facts worth knowing such as when you receive the Holy Spirit.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

You might say the bible is a puzzle that has to be put together and there are few that can put the message together in an understandable order. We receive the Holy Spirit as part of the salvation plan within the born again experience. So we need to understand the birth process of the spirit. Paul reveals to us the method by which men are saved.

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

In this verse we learn that belief comes first and with belief comes justification through faith. We also learn through other studies that many of the patriots were accredited as righteous through faith.

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Romans 4:3

Our faith is accredited to us as righteousness and it is through this righteousness that we are justified before God. When we believed that God raised Jesus from the dead our belief becomes the reason God marks you in Christ Jesus with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:14). This leads to the next step of our salvation, the confession of Jesus as Lord.

Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

To complete our salvation and to become a member of God's household, a child of God and fellow citizens with God's people we have to pledge our allegiance to Christ Jesus. Saying the words Jesus is Lord with truth can only be said under the influence of the Holy Spirit. To review this process according to Romans 10:9-10 when we believe we are marked in Christ with the seal of the Spirit who in turn enables us to pledge our life with then words Jesus Is Lord.

Throughout your lifetime you will see many come to the altar to give their lives to Christ. Of those who fall back into a life of sin how many of them can you remember hearing them committing their lives to Jesus Christ as their Lord? This confession is not demanded from the person repenting. Each person must pledge their allegiance to Jesus Christ of their free will. On the other hand, lets understand many give the appearance of being saved when they are not willing to commit their life to God.

The Bible tells us that those who are led by the spirit are sons of God. Allegiance to Christ Jesus is the first step towards committing our lives to follow Christ. At the same time committing your life to Christ is a cooperative effort of the Holy Spirit that leads you to utter your beliefs in words of truth, and commits your life to God.

Being led by the Spirit will take us through the temptations and trials every Christian face. The Christian life is similar to the Israelite's in the desert, as they were just passing through a foreign land on their way to the promise land. The customs and laws of the country we are passing through are familiar to us, but living according to our own laws is not easy either, as they call for a higher standard of morals than the land we are passing through.

The people of the world are very deceptive and having good intentions ask us to join in their way of life. However, their way of life involves sin, which is easy to get entangled with. The Holy Spirit was given to help us to avoid the traps of sin and will guide us as long as we allow him to lead our life.

Christian life calls for a focus on the things above making every effort to avoid the traps of earth. We have to remember that we are just passing through on our way home. Our goal is to get home safely without the baggage or souvenirs of this world. We must consider that the Holy Spirit was given to us to serve as a counselor, as one who was called to our side to advise the sons of God.

Paul tells us in Romans 8:14 that those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Keeping this in mind as we look at the words of Ezekiel.

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:27

The Holy Spirit inspires us to obey the word of God and our obedience helps us to avoid the sin that harms our spirit.

Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. Job 5:17

Following the lead of the spirit with obedience produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11). When we think about this leading of the Spirit we can see a picture of a Father with a concern for the well being of his child. He is taking an active role in training his child the proper way to conduct themselves among other people. At the same time his teaching helps his child develop the respect of others with the dignity of living right.

The characteristics of love and respect help God’s child to propagate the gospel specially when other people see the difference God makes in your life and want the same. Regardless how you say it the Holy Spirit gives you an advantage over those in the world and helps you to focus our eyes on our heavenly father and the more important qualities of life. His leading will take you across the finish line of life and into the welcoming arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ. God's gift of the Holy Spirit is not a free ride, but an assurance of eternal life if you obey him.