The Power Of The Spirit
Posted: April 9th, 2008, 1:47 am
HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #123g Re-Written 05APR08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw
No Wonder: Part Seven—The Power Of The Spirit
by dave c
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit (Ro 15: 18&19; NIV). There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1Co 12:4-7; NIV). Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? (Ga 3:5; NIV). We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (He 2:1-4; NIV).
Paul tells us in First Corinthians 12:7 ...to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good, where, according to the Micro$oft Encarta World Dictionary 2001, manifestation means: 1. act of showing something: an act of showing or demonstrating something 2. state of being manifested: the state or condition of being shown or perceptible 3. sign: an indication that something is present, real, or exists 4. public demonstration: a public demonstration, usually over a political issue 5. materialization: a supposed appearance in visible form by a spiritual being 6. visible form of divine being: a visible form in which a divine being, idea, or person is believed to be revealed or expressed. While Micro$oft displays skepticism through such phrases as “a supposed appearance” and “a divine being is believed to be revealed,” it is interesting that their definitions still retain a strong sense of spiritual matters. Regardless, we are being told in this verse that the Holy Spirit is to be demonstrated through each believer; that He is to be perceptible through us; that He is present and real in public demonstrations of His existence because of us; the Spirit is to be revealed by our lives; and/or that the living person of the divine being (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) is to be believed and revealed because He is given to each of us for the common good.
The Writer of Hebrews provides us particular insight regarding the gifts, the fruit, and the power of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives beginning with verse 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. 4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers [literally, miraculous works of power] of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace (NIV).
There is a direct correlation between the theology of verses 1 and 2 above, and the experiential evidences of verses 4 and 5: “Repentance” is realized by “those who have been enlightened;” “faith in God” and “having tasted the heavenly gift;” “instructions about baptism” and “sharing in the Holy Spirit;” “the laying on of hands” and “those who have tasted the goodness of the word of God;” “the resurrection of the dead” and “the powers of the coming age;” and finally, “eternal judgment” and “those who would crucify the Son of God all over again” each show first the idea, or elementary teaching, and then how that teaching may be manifest in the believer. According to these passages from Hebrews, if babes in Christ should be experiencing enlightenment, heavenly gifts, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the goodness of the word of God, and miraculous works of power—then how much more should those who claim maturity and leadership positions within the Body of Christ bear witness to Godly miracles, wonders, and signs in this life? We must understand that it just doesn’t matter what I think about these things...and it doesn’t really matter what you care to disregard. The Word of God is not a buffet from which you and I are to pick and choose as we look across the table at each other with suspicion, hostility, and covetousness.
In Ephesians Chapter Four we are directed away from dissentions born of selective religious positioning and toward unity, submission, and obedience to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ: 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ...11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (NIV). Amen.
No Wonder: Part Seven—The Power Of The Spirit
by dave c
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit (Ro 15: 18&19; NIV). There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1Co 12:4-7; NIV). Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? (Ga 3:5; NIV). We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (He 2:1-4; NIV).
Paul tells us in First Corinthians 12:7 ...to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good, where, according to the Micro$oft Encarta World Dictionary 2001, manifestation means: 1. act of showing something: an act of showing or demonstrating something 2. state of being manifested: the state or condition of being shown or perceptible 3. sign: an indication that something is present, real, or exists 4. public demonstration: a public demonstration, usually over a political issue 5. materialization: a supposed appearance in visible form by a spiritual being 6. visible form of divine being: a visible form in which a divine being, idea, or person is believed to be revealed or expressed. While Micro$oft displays skepticism through such phrases as “a supposed appearance” and “a divine being is believed to be revealed,” it is interesting that their definitions still retain a strong sense of spiritual matters. Regardless, we are being told in this verse that the Holy Spirit is to be demonstrated through each believer; that He is to be perceptible through us; that He is present and real in public demonstrations of His existence because of us; the Spirit is to be revealed by our lives; and/or that the living person of the divine being (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) is to be believed and revealed because He is given to each of us for the common good.
The Writer of Hebrews provides us particular insight regarding the gifts, the fruit, and the power of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives beginning with verse 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. 4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers [literally, miraculous works of power] of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace (NIV).
There is a direct correlation between the theology of verses 1 and 2 above, and the experiential evidences of verses 4 and 5: “Repentance” is realized by “those who have been enlightened;” “faith in God” and “having tasted the heavenly gift;” “instructions about baptism” and “sharing in the Holy Spirit;” “the laying on of hands” and “those who have tasted the goodness of the word of God;” “the resurrection of the dead” and “the powers of the coming age;” and finally, “eternal judgment” and “those who would crucify the Son of God all over again” each show first the idea, or elementary teaching, and then how that teaching may be manifest in the believer. According to these passages from Hebrews, if babes in Christ should be experiencing enlightenment, heavenly gifts, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the goodness of the word of God, and miraculous works of power—then how much more should those who claim maturity and leadership positions within the Body of Christ bear witness to Godly miracles, wonders, and signs in this life? We must understand that it just doesn’t matter what I think about these things...and it doesn’t really matter what you care to disregard. The Word of God is not a buffet from which you and I are to pick and choose as we look across the table at each other with suspicion, hostility, and covetousness.
In Ephesians Chapter Four we are directed away from dissentions born of selective religious positioning and toward unity, submission, and obedience to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ: 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ...11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (NIV). Amen.