Welcome to this week’s blog. I was compelled this week to share with you something that has been for the most part of my Christian walk, challenging to grasp. Today I am revealing this challenge, as I feel I have gained much wisdom and understanding of the mysteries of this "Spirit" within me. I'm not claiming to be the expert, but I am claiming His Truth and His gift of "The Helper, the Holy Spirit" living within me today. Many of you may be experiencing the same challenge in your own Christian walk, so I pray this topic is insightful for you.
As believers, we are all thirsty to learn how He teaches us all things that has been written in His Word, His Truth. In the Book of John there are two of my favorite definitions below to help you better understand why Jesus sent us a Helper, the Holy Spirit, in the first place.
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 ESV
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. - John 16:7-15 ESV.
For many generations there has been an endless list of questions regarding our Helper, the Holy Spirit. For example:
Who or what is the Holy Spirit?
How do I connect with the Holy Spirit?
Do I need to be baptized in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?
How is the Holy Spirit my Helper?
Do I need to ask our Father in Heaven for the Holy Spirit to come into my life as my Helper?
If the Lord is the Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, are we freed from evil and sin?
Will I receive a new heart of the flesh when my heart of stone is removed?
Keep in mind as we address each question above, by human wisdom we are not taught, but by the Spirit (Holy Spirit) we are taught the Word, so that we may interpretate spiritual truths for all who are spiritual.
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. - 1 Corinthians 2:13 ESV
Let's address each question one at a time.
Who or what is the Holy Spirit? According to Christian beliefs, the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, all in one. The Holy Spirit has multiple roles in our life. The Holy Spirit is often described as a comforter, counselor, a guide and one who lives within us, empowering us to live according to God's will, providing spiritual gifts and the conviction of our sins. Essentially the Holy Spirit is God's active presence in our lives as believers, helping each of us to understand and apply the teachings of Jesus Christ.
He teaches (John 14:26 ESV)
He speaks (Acts 13:2 ESV)
He gives spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV)
He intercedes for on our behalf (Romans 8:26 ESV)
How do I connect with the Holy Spirit? Acts 2:38 ESV answers this question for us. And Peter said to them, "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."
Of course "adult baptism" is one way, but Romans 8:9 ESV also tells us this - You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.
Do I need to be baptized in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? As tradition has it, when we are born into this world, our parents soon after our birth have us "baptized" as newbies who have just entered this world. Many believe that this "birth baptism" should cover us throughout our lifetime, right? Wrong! I don't disapprove of this ceremony, but there is another baptism that occurs in our adult Christian life, that actually gives us the "choice" to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, we repent, and profess with our lips out loud that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. As a newborn, you are not able to confess with you tongue that you believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Lord and Savior. It is with this profession that you have received the power of the Holy Spirit, and you will go forth and be His witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth as Acts 1:8 ESV confirms for us.
And Peter said to them, "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 ESV.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 ESV.
How is the Holy Spirit my Helper? Whether you ask in prayer or by professing that Jesus is your Lord and Savior or even in your adult baptism, God will give you a new heart. He will give you a new spirit within you. If you have a heart of stone, He will remove your heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And He will put His Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in His statutes, and be careful to obey His rules. You will be made new and therefore; your Helper, the Holy Spirit is alive in you forever. This new heart of flesh, this new life, many call "born again" for you have a new heart, and a new spirit, which means the Holy Spirit is now alive in you. The old you is gone, you have been reborn. You are now in the book of life, and are promised eternal life in Heaven alongside of God. You no longer will perish, but will have everlasting life.
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 ESV.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. - Romans 8:26 ESV.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. - Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV.
Do I need to ask our Father in Heaven for the Holy Spirit to come into my life as my Helper? Asking our Father in prayer behind closed doors, believing without any doubts that He will not only hear you, but He will bestow the Holy Spirit in you, upon your asking, is one of the more popular ways of asking through prayer. God's love will pour into your heart through the Holy Spirit. You will be filled with all joy and peace in believing that the power of the Holy Spirit resides now within you. Do you know that you are now God's temple, and that God's Spirit dwells within you. What a wonderful promise He's given us.
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. - Acts 4:31 ESV.
If the Lord is the Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, are we freed from evil and sin? No we are not freed from evil and sin. But you must realize, if the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, resides in you, you are now God's temple where the Holy Spirit resides. God's temple is holy, therefore; you are now a holy temple. You must also realize the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law. You will not escape the temptations of this world, which are that of sin and evil all around you. But if you gain the wisdom and understanding of the Holy Spirit that lives within you, your character will no longer be put to shame, but filled with hope and the promises of a better, more righteous life. You will desire to be more like Jesus and live a life more like Jesus did. Therefore, if you truly love the Lord, you will keep His commandments, and be a fruitful witness all the days of your life.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ESV.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5 ESV.
Will I receive a new heart of the flesh when my heart of stone is removed? Yes you will! With a new heart of the flesh, you will walk in His statutes, you will thirst for His wisdom and understanding, and you will know that you can call upon the Spirit for teachings, knowledge, counseling, intersession of prayers when you are babbling, groaning and not sure how to pray as you ought. The Helper, the Holy Spirit, will always intercede on your behalf, and not by your power, but His power.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. - Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. - John 14:16 ESV.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. - Matthew 5:6 ESV.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. - Romans 8:14 ESV.
Blessings until next week my brothers and sisters in Christ,
Debra Pauli
Unstoppable Believer
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