Six
Ways The
Holy Spirit
Will
Communicate
With You
ne of the
tragic loses
in modern
Christianity
is the
near-elimination
of the Holy
Spirit from
the life and
activity of
many
believers.
Religion
that is
learned and
formalized
can function
without the
Holy Spirit;
true
spirituality
cannot. A
prominent
church
leader once
said of his
denomination
that "If the
Holy Spirit
were to
disappear
from the
Church 90%
of its work
would go on
as if
nothing
happened."
In many
cases that
is so. The
loss is
enormous.
While your
church or
denomination
may not be
like that
there are
still no
known
Christians
today
experiencing
the Holy
Spirit in
the same
capacity as
did first
century
believers.
Nor are we
getting the
same
results.
Modern
Christianity
exerts a
fading
influence in
Western
culture.
In John
16:13, Jesus
promised,
"When the
Spirit of
truth has
come He will
guide you
into all
truth; for
He will not
speak on His
own
authority,
but whatever
He hears He
will speak;
and He will
tell you
things to
come. He
will glorify
Me, for He
will take of
what is mine
and declare
it to you."
And again,
in John
15:26 He
said, "When
the Helper
comes whom I
shall send
to you from
the Father,
the Spirit
of truth who
proceeds
from the
Father, He
will testify
of Me." The
word Jesus
used for
"Helper" has
a rich and
wonderful
meaning in
its Greek
equivalent,
parakletos,
and was used
in the
ancient
Olympic
Games to
identify
those who
accompanied
a marathon
runner by
shouting
encouragement
to him. This
example of
the Holy
Spirit and
the
Christian
with the
marathon-runner
to his
paraklete is
an excellent
illustration.
Para =
"alongside
of;" kaleo =
"to call."
Here are six
scriptural
ways the
Holy Spirit
wants to
accompany
our race and
shout
encouragement:
1. THE
HOLY SPIRIT
BEARS
WITNESS
DIRECTLY TO
OUR SPIRIT
AND LEADS US
INTERNALLY:
Romans 8:16.
"The
Spirit
Himself
bears
witness with
our spirit
that we
are children
of God." 1
John 5:6-8.
"And it is
the Spirit
who bears
witness,
because the
Spirit is
truth. For
there are
three that
bear witness
in heaven:
the Father,
the Word,
and the Holy
Spirit; and
these three
are one."
2. THE
HOLY SPIRIT
WILL LEAD US
EXTERNALLY:
Acts 16:6-7.
"Now when
they had
gone through
Phrygia and
the region
of Galatia,
they were
forbidden by
the Holy
Spirit to
preach the
word in Asia.
After they
had come to
Mysia, they
tried to go
into
Bithynia but
the
Spirit did
not permit
them."
Genesis
24:27: "As
for me,
being on the
way, the
Lord led me
to the house
of my
master's
brethren." I
Samuel 10:6.
"Then the
Spirit of
the Lord
will come
upon you,
and you will
prophesy
with them
and be
turned into
another
man."
Galatians
5:16-19. "Walk
in the
Spirit,
and you
shall not
fulfill the
lust of the
flesh. But
if you
are led by
the Spirit,
you are not
under the
law."
3. THE
HOLY SPIRIT
WILL SPEAK
TO US IN
WORDS AND
SENTENCES:
Acts
8:27-29.
"And behold,
a man of
Ethiopia, a
eunuch of
great
authority
under
Candace the
queen of the
Ethiopians,
who had
charge of
all her
treasury,
and had come
to Jerusalem
to worship,
was
returning.
And sitting
in his
chariot, he
was reading
Isaiah the
prophet.
Then the
Spirit said
to Philip,
‘Go near and
overtake
this
chariot.’"
Acts
10:19-21.
"While Peter
thought
about the
vision,
the Spirit
said to him,
‘Behold,
three men
are seeking
you.
Arise
therefore,
go down and
go with
them,
doubting
nothing; for
I have sent
them.’"
4. THE
HOLY SPIRIT
WILL SPEAK
TO US
PROPHETICALLY
THROUGH
OTHERS:
Acts
11:27-28.
"And in
these days
prophets
came from
Jerusalem to
Antioch.
Then one of
them, named
Agabus,
stood up and
showed by
the Spirit
that there
was going to
be a great
famine
throughout
all the
world,
which also
happened in
the days of
Claudius
Caesar."
Acts 6:8-11.
"And
Stephen,
full of
faith and
power, did
great
wonders and
signs among
the people.
Then there
arose some
from what is
called the
Synagogue of
the Freedmen
(Cyrenians,
Alexandrians,
and those
from Cilicia
and Asia),
disputing
with
Stephen.
And they
were not
able to
resist the
wisdom and
the Spirit
by which he
spoke."
Acts
21:9-11.
"Now Philip
had four
virgin
daughters
who
prophesied.
And as we
stayed many
days, a
certain
prophet
named Agabus
came down
from Judea.
When he had
come to us,
he took
Paul's belt,
bound his
own hands
and feet,
and said,
"Thus says
the Holy
Spirit,'So
shall the
Jews at
Jerusalem
bind the man
who owns
this belt,
and deliver
him into the
hands of the
Gentiles.'"
5. THE
HOLY SPIRIT
GIVES
SPECIFIC
REVELATION
KNOWLEDGE:
Ephesians
3:1-6. "For
this reason
I, Paul, the
prisoner of
Christ Jesus
for you
Gentiles —
if indeed
you have
heard of the
dispensation
of the grace
of God which
was given to
me for you,
how that
by
revelation
He made
known to me
the mystery
(as I
have briefly
written
already, by
which, when
you read,
you may
understand
my knowledge
in the
mystery of
Christ),
which in
other ages
was not made
known to the
sons of
men, as it
has now been
revealed by
the Spirit
to His holy
apostles and
prophets
..." I
Corinthians
12:8. "For
to one is
given the
word of
wisdom
through the
Spirit, to
another the
word of
knowledge
through the
same
Spirit." I
Corinthians
2:9-10. "Eye
has not
seen, nor
ear heard,
Nor have
entered into
the heart of
man The
things which
God has
prepared for
those who
love Him.
But God
has revealed
them to us
through His
Spirit. For
the Spirit
searches all
things, yes,
the deep
things of
God."
6. THE
HOLY SPIRIT
SPEAKS
THROUGH THE
WRITTEN WORD
OF SCRIPTURE:
2 Peter
1:19-2:1.
"And so we
have the
prophetic
word
confirmed,
which you do
well to heed
as a light
that shines
in a dark
place, until
the day
dawns and
the morning
star rises
in your
hearts;
knowing this
first, that
no prophecy
of Scripture
is of any
private
interpretation,
for prophecy
never came
by the will
of man, but
holy men of
God spoke as
they were
moved by the
Holy
Spirit." II
Peter
1:20,21:
"Knowing
this first,
that no
prophecy of
Scripture is
of any
private
interpretation,
for prophecy
never came
by the will
of man, but
holy men of
God spoke as
they were
moved by the
Holy Spirit.
THE VITAL
QUESTION IS
THIS:
Are you
experiencing
the Holy
Spirit’s
communication
in all these
ways? No
matter where
we are in
our present
walk with
God, the
Holy Spirit
offers us
far more
than we are
accepting.
if our
relationship
with the
Holy Spirit
is not being
enlarged and
if we are
able to
remain
comfortable
with our
limited
contact with
Him, then we
have not
fully
encountered
Him–either
in Scripture
or in
Person. It
is
impossible
for us as
limited,
human beings
to be
brought into
contact with
the infinite
Holy Spirit
and find
that we
already have
a full,
comprehensive,
satisfactory,
understanding
of Him and
His work.
Any church
or pastor
who makes
such a claim
is already
in profound
error and
spiritual
ignorance.
Those who
claim that
all their
questions
about the
Holy Spirit
were
answered
years ago
and they
have no need
of further
enlargement,
are merely
revealing
the
emptiness of
their
religious
wells–plus
the
deception of
their pride.
Eternity
itself will
not provide
us with
sufficient
time to
master the
incomprehensible
work of the
Holy Spirit.
Please hear
this
carefully:
It is
absolutely
impossible
for any of
us–now--later–ever--to
fully
explore the
Being and
ministry of
the Holy
Spirit.
He is God.
He cannot be
restricted
to the
interpretation
of our
denominational
boxes. All
of us are
learners on
earth and
will still
be that
100,000,000
light-years
into
eternity.
The Holy
Spirit is
illimitable,
inexhaustible,
inexplicable,
unreachable,
unfathomable,
impenetrable,
inconceivable–and
much, much
more.
Our attitude
before the
Holy Spirit
must remain
one of
unrelenting
reverence,
complete
awe, and
utter
submission.
When we have
accepted
this fact,
submitted to
this truth,
and
established
this quality
of
relationship
with Him, we
will
experience
more quickly
and deeply
His
influence in
our lives.
On the Day
of
Ascension,
Jesus told
the
disciples at
the Mount of
Olives,
"John truly
baptized
with water,
but you
shall be
baptized
with the
Holy Spirit
not many
days from
now ... You
shall
receive
power when
the Holy
Spirit has
come upon
you." Acts
1:5,6. In a
single
statement,
Jesus
connected
baptism in
the Spirit
to the
imparting of
His power.
That
wonderful
event
occurred on
the day of
Pentecost
when 120
disciples in
the Upper
Room
received the
blessing.
Scripture
carefully
explains
that others
who were not
present at
Pentecost
experienced
the same
empowering
later. That
included the
Samaritans,
Acts
8:14-17,
Saul of
Tarsus, Acts
9:17, the
household of
Cornelius,
Acts 10:44,
and the
Ephesians,
Acts 19:1-7.
Young
Timothy
followed the
example. II
Timothy 1:6.
Of the two
billion
Christians
worldwide,
some
500,000,000
now accept
the validity
of the
Spirit’s
Baptism. In
1977, I
received the
Baptism
through the
laying-on-of-hands
by a
born-again,
Spirit-filled
prisoner in
the Atlanta
Federal
Penitentiary.
Without
question,
that was the
most
phenomenal,
earth-shaking
day of my
life. Would
I go back to
my previous
life and
ministry?
Never!
The Apostle
Paul, who
received the
Spirit's
imparting
through the
laying-on-of-hands
by Ananias,
later wrote
an 84 verse
treatise on
spiritual
gifts. I
Corinthians
12,13,14.
His
explanation
provides the
most
comprehensive,
authoritative
information
we have on
the subject.
More
importantly,
It is the
only
resource
bearing the
seal of
Divine
Authorship.
All
conflicting
opinions, no
matter how
cherished or
long-established,
are but
human
speculation
and must be
discarded.
Scripture is
our final,
absolute
authority.
The Apostle
begins his
dissertation
with the
plea: "Now
concerning
spiritual
gifts,
brethren, I
do not want
you to be
ignorant."
12:1.
Interestingly,
this appeal
that we "not
be ignorant"
appears
seven times
in the New
Testament;
once by
Peter, six
times by
Paul. Each
time, the
request
reveals an
especially
deep concern
of the
writer. Its
appearance
here should
command the
attention of
every
conscientious
believer.
The Apostle
then
proceeds
carefully to
detail the
operation of
nine
grace-works
of the
Spirit.
These are
the direct
result of
the Spirit's
baptism.
Having
defended the
need and
purpose of
the gifts,
Paul then
concludes
his
discourse
with the
stirring
rebuke, "But
if anyone is
ignorant,
let him be
ignorant."
14:38. In
other words,
he says,
"After this
careful
explanation
of spiritual
gifts, if
anyone
refuses to
learn, I
have nothing
more to say
to him. Let
him remain
illiterate!"
Paul
seemingly
anticipated
that some
believers
would reject
his teaching
on
miraculous
works of the
Spirit and
added this
harsh
warning: "If
anyone
thinks
himself to
be a prophet
or
spiritual,
let him
acknowledge
that the
things which
I write to
you are the
commandments
of the
Lord." I
Corinthians
14:37.
What are the
"commandments"
of which he
speaks? The
answer: The
Apostolic
teachings on
spiritual
gifts. I
Corinthians
12 and 14
speak with
God's
authority as
much as any
other of
Paul's
writings. We
are no more
at liberty
to reject
these
Biblically
mandated
instructions
than any
other
commandment
of the Lord.
Until recent
years, there
was probably
no other
subject
about which
the Church
was more
ignorant
than that of
spiritual
gifts.
Instead of
heeding
Paul's
instruction,
the Church
engaged in
open warfare
against
them. This
was done in
full view of
Paul's
exhortation
that we:
1.
"Earnestly
desire
spiritual
gifts." I
Corinthians
12:31.
2. "Pursue
love, and
desire
spiritual
gifts,
especially
that you may
prophesy."
14:1.
3. "Since
you are
zealous for
spiritual
gifts, let
it be for
the
edification
of the
church that
you seek to
excel."
14:12.
These
admonitions
do not
indicate the
reluctance
that
typifies the
modern
church's
attitude
against
spiritual
gifts. There
was no such
lukewarmness
on the part
of Paul or
the
Corinthians.
Identically,
believers
today are
encouraged
to exercise
the gifts
for the
benefit of
everyone:
"But the
manifestation
of the
Spirit is
given to
each one for
the profit
of all; for
to one is
given the
word of
wisdom
through the
Spirit, to
another the
word of
knowledge
through the
same Spirit,
to another
gifts of
healings by
the same
Spirit, to
another
faith by the
same Spirit,
to another
gifts of
healings by
the same
Spirit, to
another the
working of
miracles, to
another
prophecy, to
another
discerning
of spirits,
to another
different
kinds of
tongues, to
another the
interpretation
of tongues.
But one and
the same
Spirit works
all these
things,
distributing
to each one
individually
as He wills
... But if
anyone is
ignorant,
let him be
ignorant." I
Corinthians
12:1;4-11;38.
The argument
immediately
arises,
"These gifts
passed
away." Paul
did not
believe
that. Nor
should you.
The New
Testament
does not
teach it. In
the
introduction
of his
Corinthian
letters (29
chapters and
longest of
all New
Testament
writings)
Paul
exhorted
believers to
" ... Come
short in no
gift,
eagerly
waiting for
the
revelation
of our Lord
Jesus
Christ." I
Corinthians
1:7.
In that
brief
statement,
Paul equated
the duration
of spiritual
gifts to be
the same
length as
the Church's
waiting for
Jesus'
return.
Examine it
for
yourself.
This is
precisely
what the
Apostle
said. There
is probably
no greater
ignorance in
the Church
today than
of spiritual
gifts and
Jesus' offer
of the
Baptism in
the Holy
Spirit. But,
someone
asks, why do
I need the
baptism in
the Spirit
and the
imparting of
spiritual
gifts? Here
are a few of
the many
reasons:
1. Jesus
said you
needed it.
2. Without
it, you are
an
incomplete
disciple.
3. Good as
you
presently
are, you
will be
better with
it.
4. You need
to be moved
out of "soulish"
effort into
spiritual
effort.
5. The
baptism in
the Spirit
releases
power in
your life
which can be
had no other
way.
6. Once you,
your family,
friends,
recover from
the
shocking,
personal
change the
baptism
brings to
your life,
everyone
will
recognize
you are a
better
person.
7. The Bible
teaches it.
Early
Christians
depended on
it. History
confirms it.
The Holy
Spirits
impartation
of spiritual
gifts into
your life
opens you to
His other
manifestations.
You need
every method
of His
leading–including
the six
named above.
Stop your
arguments
and receive
them!
NEWS THE
AMERICAN
MEDIA DOES
NOT TELL
YOU:
MUSLIM-MURDER
AND
MUTILATION
OF
CHRISTIANS
The
tragedy of
the
following
stories is
twofold:
The American
media–Press,
T.V,
Radio--will
not give the
full details
of gruesome
murders
taking place
in other
parts of the
world. Nor
are these
mere
killings,
ordinary
homicides.
They are
blood-orgies
in which
frenzied,
fanatical
minds go
berserk over
their
victims and
come away
themselves
soaked in
blood. Why
the silence
of the
media? The
American
news-service
is committed
to
protecting
its
"politically
correct"
posture more
than
protecting
people. The
drug-death
of a
strip-queen
will be
given weeks
and weeks of
publicity.
Not so with
the murder
of innocent
children or
their
peace-loving
Christian
parents.
After a
brief flash
of exposure
the story is
buried and
forgotten.
Wake up!,
Christian-America,
our names
are also on
the list!
Years ago I
was with
Derek Prince
in Izmir,
Turkey, and
had
opportunity
to meet a
number of
Turkish
pastors and
their wives.
These were
precious,
God-serving
people.
While our’s
was not a
secret
meeting, it
was held in
an obscure,
out-of-the-way
hotel with
every
conceivable
effort made
to keep it
as private
as possible.
About one
hundred
Christians
were
present.
Most of the
pastors were
converts
from Islam
and
understood
better than
anyone else
the
terrifying
price that
was held
over their
heads. Every
effort was
made
therefore to
protect them
from
discovery.
Today, we
know the
city of
Izmir as
"Smyrna" of
the New
Testament
era and in
spite of the
area’s
spiritual
oppression
the Bible’s
history
became
wonderfully
alive in the
days we were
there.
When I read
of the April
18, 2007,
murder of
men like
these
pastors, I
wept. The
memory of
handsome
Turkish
faces
immediately
came back to
mind. Soon
after Easter
a routine
Bible study
suddenly
exploded
into heinous
torture,
subhuman
acts of
violence,
and killing.
One of the
victims was
46 year old
German
missionary,
Tilman Geske,
temporarily
stationed in
Malatya,
Turkey,
where he was
working on
the
publication
of a new
Turkish-language
Study Bible.
His death
left behind
three
children and
a widow.
A Turkish
Woman Tells
The Story. I
quote her
letter only
in part.
"None of
these three
(Christian)
men knew
that what
awaited them
at the Bible
study ... On
the other
side of
town, ten
young men
all under 20
years old
put into
place final
arrangements
for their
ultimate act
of faith,
living out
their
obedience
for Allah
and hatred
of infidels
whom they
felt
undermined
Islam.
"On
Resurrection
Sunday, five
of these men
had been to
a
by-invitation-only
evangelistic
service that
Pastor
Necati and
his men had
arranged at
a hotel
conference
room in the
city. The
men were
known to the
believers as
"seekers."
No one knows
what
happened in
the hearts
of those men
as they
listened to
the gospel
...Today we
only have
the
beginning of
their story.
"These young
men, one of
whom is the
son of a
mayor in the
Province of
Malatya, are
part of a
tarikat, or
a group of
"faithful
believers"
in Islam.
Tarikat
membership
is highly
respected
here; it's
like a
fraternity
membership.
In fact, it
is said that
no one can
get into
public
office
without
membership
in a tarikat.
These young
men all
lived in the
same dorm,
all
preparing
for
University
entrance
exams.
"The young
men got
guns, bread
knives,
ropes and
towels ready
for their
final act of
service to
Allah. They
knew there
would be a
lot of
blood. They
arrived in
time for the
Bible Study,
around 10
o'clock.
They
arrived, and
apparently
the Bible
Study began.
Reportedly,
after Necati
read a
chapter from
the Bible
the assault
began. The
boys tied
Ugur, Necati,
and Tilman's
hands and
feet to
chairs and
as they
videoed
their work
on their
cellphones,
they
tortured our
brothers for
almost three
hours.
"Tilman was
stabbed 156
times,
Necati 99
times and
Ugur's stabs
were too
numerous to
count. They
were
disemboweled,
and their
intestines
sliced up in
front of
their eyes.
They were
emasculated
and watched
as those
body parts
were
destroyed.
Fingers were
chopped off,
their noses
and mouths
and anuses
were sliced
open.
Possibly the
worst part
was watching
as their
brothers
were
likewise
tortured.
Finally,
their
throats were
sliced from
ear to ear,
heads
practically
decapitated
..."
IN
ANOTHER
RECENT
MUSLIM
KILLING:
Three young
Christian
girls in
Indonesia's
Central
Sulawesi
Province
were
beheaded on
their way to
school as a
Ramadan
"trophy".
The girls
were waylaid
after
leaving
home, their
severed
heads dumped
in plastic
bags in
their
village,
with a
handwritten
note
threatening
more such
attacks. The
note read:
"Wanted: 100
more
Christian
heads,
teenaged or
adult, male
or female;
blood shall
be answered
with blood,
soul with
soul, head
with head."
The
attackers
who had
hoped for 6
victims
beheaded the
three
students
while a
fourth,
Noviana
Malewa,
escaped
after a
struggle and
ran away
screaming.
Her
attackers
gave chase
but were
unable to
catch her.
The bodies,
still
dressed in
school
uniforms,
were left by
the roadside
near the
execution
site; their
heads were
carried in a
backpack and
dropped at
Hasanuddin.
The killers
had just
returned
from a visit
to the
Philippines
with other
Muslim
jihadists.
Before
turning to
something
else may I
suggest you
devote a few
minutes to
prayer in
behalf of
other
believers
who live in
the world’s
high-danger
zones. CC
