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Understanding the Holy Spirit
by Rev. Everette C. Hunter, M.S.W. It benefits us to have an understanding of the Holy Spirit. Through Scripture we know that there is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:19 the disciples are told by Jesus, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,.." Throughout John 14-16 Jesus tells us about the Spirit's oneness with Himself and the Father. John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." John 14:16-18
What purpose does the Holy Spirit have in our lives?John 15:18-19 & 26 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
The Holy Spirit is what makes our communication with God possible. imagine hearing a noise so loud that it breaks all the windows in your home. If God spoke directly to us our ear drums would burst. Matthew 17 tells of Jesus being transfigured on the mountain. God spoke from a cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with Him. obey Him." And the disciples (Peter, James and John) were so frightened they fell face down on the ground. and Jesus told them, "Get up, don't be afraid." God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, covering Himself with fire. At each encounter Moses' countenace changed from close contact with God. The Holy Spirit reveals truth to us within our Spirits and by opening our understanding of God's Word and of events around us. John 16:14-15 "He [the Holy Spirit] will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." Respecting the Holy SpiritMatthew 12: 31-32 states, "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come" Paul said to the church in First Thessalonians 5:19-21, "Do not smother the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at those who prophesy, but test everything that is said to be sure it is true, and if it is, then accept it." You cannot stop the wind or other forces of nature; but you can stop a person. The Holy Spirit is a person . He is a gentle, not a fighter. If you resist Him , He will just leave your presence with a wounded heart. I did not understand what it meant until a few years ago. If we grieve Him and He departs from us, we will be without the Holy Spirit in our lives. we will not learn about God or Jesus. We will never receive the blessing that comes from having the Holy Spirit and being in the presence of God and knowing Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. We will not know the healing power His blood affords us, nor the peace that passes all understanding in times of trouble. We will not know fullness of Joy, or be able to love the unloveable. We NEED the Holy Spirit, just as we need Jesus. Isaiah 63:10 tells about the Israelites, "...they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them." Ephesians 4:30-32 says, "Don't cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way you live. Remember, He is the one who marks you to be present on that day when salvation from sin will be complete. Stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving on another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ." (The Living Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.)
One night I was sitting on the couch watching television. I looked to my right and I saw an image of Jesus. I said to Pam, "I just saw an image of Jesus." Pam said, "Maybe He wants to talk to you." So, when she went to pick up our daughter from school, I opened myself to receive the Holy Spirit. I asked Him to reveal to me the message Jesus had for me. Then Jesus, spoke to me through the Holy Spirit: "The Holy Spirit is the way I talk to my people. You need the Holy Spirit in order to get to know who I am . If you could hear my Father's voice it would be too much for your ears. I want the church to welcome the Holy Spirit in, not to call on Him and then not accept His presence. For the Holy Spirit is the way that I talk to you. This is how I want you to worship me: in song with music, then I want the music to stop or be very quiet. Listen for the Holy Spirit for He will tell you what I want you to do. Do not let the young people play the drums during this time, especially when you are calling the Holy Spirit into the church. The youth and some adults do not understand the Holy Spirit, they need to be taught how to call the Holy Spirit. I have shown you how the Holy Spirit operates and the respect that He requires. Stop everything and demand that all is quiet. Ask the people to pray in the Spirit as you pray for healing and deliverance. the whole congregation is praying in unity of Spirit and their focus is on my Father. This is when the healings take place. Sing praise and worship songs to my Father. Songs that reverence Him. After the healings praise us in celebration." If this is what you want to happen in the church, then this is what you are going to have to do. It isn't set in stone, the point of it is that we give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to work in us when assembled as a group. We have seen so many churches that sing, "Come, Holy Spirit...", and then after one or two lines start reading the announcements! The reference in the word spoken to me above about the drums came at a time when we attended a church that played the drums so played loudly that one could not even think. The drummer was an unsaved 15 year old with a bad attitude! He would interupt the pastor, scripture readings, drum against the music and so on. It was terrible. Yet the pastor refused to make him stop, and so the church was basically dead in spirit. "He who has an ear, let him hear." The word God gave me continued, "The church needs to stop taking the Holy Spirit lightly. Any church will not grow until they learn to completely trust me and listen to the Holy Spirit when He talks to them. The Holy Spirit is my Father and Me. Please do not anger the Holy Spirit for He will leave you and not return, except by repentance. Understand what I am saying: the Holy Spirit is the only way you can find comfort, healing, but most of all learn about me. I am your God and I want all my people to rejoice in My name. The Holy Spirit is the only way that you can talk to me.He will give you life in Me, for My breath is the Holy Spirit. My children, the Holy Spirit is of My Father and Myself, for I am the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Accept it and I will always be with you." I have learned about the Holy Spirit and I always welcome Him into my life. God wants you to do the same so you can live in fullness of joy, power and fellowship with Him, free of illness and fear.
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Pam Hunter
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"And
I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that
He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him,
for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans;
I willl come to you."
