Tag: Sabbath

Question: “Do I [Really] Need the Holy Spirit?”

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13)

The mystery of the Holy Spirit has many Christians confused. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “He,” which means the Holy Spirit is a living deity, the third person of the Trinity [God, the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit]. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit and we have evidence in Acts chapter 2.

Why are we confused about the Holy Spirit? In the Garden of Eden, Eve was deceived by Satan because she desired to possess God’s knowledge. The creation [humanity] has the innate desire to possess omniscience [all-knowing], which only belongs to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Have you secretly desired to know your future? Just enough to understand how your current situation will turn out. You are not alone. Yet, the desire to be god-like disrupts the peaceful life that Jesus promises us.

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.
‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Worldview: What is truth? The age-old question is now answered, “The truth is what I believe it to be.”

In John chapters 14 and 16, Jesus explained why we need the Holy Spirit. There is only one way to be assured that we know the truth. Always “Pray for the Anointing of the Holy Spirit Before You Study!”

Christian view: We listen to speakers, pastors, ministers, and others based on credible reputations. But frequently, in their sermons, a bait and switch technique is used. They read the Scripture, but then they interject their interpretation. Most speakers realize that many believers do not study the Bible. Tip: Does the speaker pray and ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit before delivering their sermon?

Fact Check: “A survey from 2021 found that 11 percent of Americans read the Bible daily. Trends in reading habits over four years showed that the majority of Americans never read the Bible, however in 2021 this number dropped to 29 percent of respondents.” https://www.statista.com/statistics/299433/bible-readership-in-the-usa

The Function of the Holy Spirit When We Study:

  • “He will teach you all things”
  • “And bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”
  • “He will guide you into all the truth”
  • “He will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Pentecost: Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:3-4).

Verse 4: “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues.”

Fact Check: “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?'” (Acts 2:5-8).

Suppose you never prayed for the Holy Spirit because, from popular belief, the anointing of the Holy Spirit causes one to speak in an unknown tongue [a heavenly language]. In that case, you can be assured that the word tongue means a known language.

Clarification: “‘9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.’ 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?'” (Acts 2:9-12).

The Main Issue with the Human Mind

“Others mocking said, ‘They are full of new wine.'” (Acts 2:13). We attempt to create an explanation or strategy when faced with God’s infinite wisdom in our finite minds. And because we fail to pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we accept false teachings and a mixture of Biblical truth with the error of human interpretation of the Scriptures. Or we are part of the statistics that do not study the Bible.

Jesus promised us a Helper. Yes, the Holy Spirit has other functions, but our focus is on knowing that the biblical concepts we believe are the truth from God. We are blessed that our Heavenly Father has provided spiritual guidance so none will fall astray.

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” (2 Peter 2:1).

Prayer: God, we thank you for protecting us by sending the Holy Spirit to teach, lead, and provide discernment of Your truth. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

The Foundation of Faith

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Faith is dynamic–ever-growing through trials, sorrows, hardships, and the everyday challenges of life. Faith is based on the child-like belief that if Mommy or Daddy said it, then they believe it.

Throughout the Old Testament, God performed many supernatural miracles based on a prayer of faith. We must know [and believe in] God’s promises found in the Scriptures to receive Divine Intervention. God’s promises are for His believers. The human effort of knowledge, obedience, and faith enables us to live a worry-free life.

So, if faith is that simplistic, why do we suffer from anxiety, fear, and frustration? Answer: We have accepted and adopted the world-view of pursuing success–Doing it for yourself, chasing your dreams, following your heart, etc. We possess faith in our financial status, material possessions, and careers. Our future plans rarely include prayers that ask God for guidance.

Our most significant obstacle is self-reliance, which leads to disobedience. Many Christians do not believe in God’s promises. They acknowledge that God exists but have placed Him on reserve. Trusting in self results in happiness that vacillates like a roller-coaster. The believers who please themselves have an internal war. When their lives are peaceful, they celebrate the blessings of God. Yet, when the unexpected hardships arise, doubt escalates, and they ask, “Where is God?”

Hardships, Trials, and Sorrows Reveal Faith or Faithlessness

How do you perceive God? If you accept God as your Heavenly Father, then you believe that He has perfect plans for your life. When overwhelming challenges rise up, we must ask ourselves? Is the hardship self-inflicted? Did I make decisions based on my experience or desires? Was my plan developed and presented to God without waiting for His approval? “Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the transgressor [unfaithful] is hard.” (Proverbs 13:15).

Or is the hardship a trial to strengthen my faith and develop my character? “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12). Living in obedience gives us the assurance that God will deliver us at the appropriate time.

Our Response Reveals Our Relationship with God

The “Ephesian chapter 6” soldier of God responds to unexpected challenges with fervent praying. They pray for Divine help, and include God’s promises in their petitions. With confidence, they approach God because obedience is practiced daily in their walk with God. Yes, their faith is steadfast: “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14 NLT).

With the desire and a simple prayer of confession, we can become faithful soldiers of God. There is a better way to live. Develop a relationship with our Heavenly Father. He has promised to take care of us. And God’s promises are “Yes, and Amen.”

God’s People Are Comforted

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness of the sin of self-reliance. Hear our prayer and give us the strength to withstand our consequences. And if our hardships are fiery trials to develop our characters, we pray for the strength and patience to wait for You. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.