THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK IN A LIFE
Greetings in the power and name of Jesus:
We have seen many different cases of how God has worked in the lives of men and women without the aid of miracles, or the use of the remarkable gifts of the Spirit is used. Probably the greatest example that we can find in the transformation of mind and heart is in Acts 6:8-7:60. It is the account of Stephen who became the first martyr of the newly established church of Jesus Christ.
This account shows a young man who was a true believer in Jesus as the Son of God and was likely a part of the Day of Pentecost and the 120 who were gathered in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came upon the church. While that great miracle of tongues opened up the door for some 3000 to accept Christ through the message of Peter on that day the greatest power of the Holy Spirit was not seen in miraculous gifts, but rather in the transformation of the lives of those who were filled by God's Spirit. I do believe that there were great miracles done in the Spirit of God in the church in those days, and I believe there are still miracles being done in this world through God's Spirit today, but I also believe that each one of those is done for the purpose of making believers among people who would likely never be reached any other way. As much as it hurts me to say it I don't believe that the western versions of the church that Christ established have much Spiritual power at all, and I believe it is because we are all too much in the way of God's Spirit working in us the way He wants to.
There are some very important things we must realize about the purpose behind the power of God's Spirit within us. 1. The Holy Spirits first duty is to teach us the truth; to reveal lie from truth to us, and then ; 2.He begins to transform us in mind and heart to the point that we become ready to enter into the Kingdom to which we have been born through our acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior. Many people get this work of God's Spirit mixed up with other spiritual gifts that are given to those whom God has called to do a work. Not all of these gifts are natural gifts or are learned gifts, but they are given to someone to do a work. As an example, we may well see someone who has been called to a remote land where there is no medical or hospital available to be given the gift of healing so that people will be drawn through that gift to listen to the gospel. There have been cases still today in those places where someone may be even raised from the dead so that others may believe, but I can tell you this; there is always a reason and always where God is given the glory. We can see this mighty transformation in Stephen as he went from a server of tables to a forceful preacher of the truth. I believe that Stephen's death was very effective on Saul at the time who held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. I believe God had a plan for Saul even then, but it would take a dynamic witness to cause him to think about the truth that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. While the world as a whole did not see the Spirit at work that day there was still a miracle being performed in the heart of a man who would be called the Apostle Paul.
The bottom line for our desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit is not to do spiritual works, or be able to display spiritual gifts, but to serve God and to help others out of love in the same ways Jesus did in showing His disciples that anyone who would be a King much, first of all, be a servant to all. We must first of all desire to be given Spiritual fruit as is shown in Galatians 5:22 where it lists these spiritual fruits for us like; LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE; KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF CONTROL. These are the kinds of gifts that will transform us into true children of God. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
We have seen many different cases of how God has worked in the lives of men and women without the aid of miracles, or the use of the remarkable gifts of the Spirit is used. Probably the greatest example that we can find in the transformation of mind and heart is in Acts 6:8-7:60. It is the account of Stephen who became the first martyr of the newly established church of Jesus Christ.
This account shows a young man who was a true believer in Jesus as the Son of God and was likely a part of the Day of Pentecost and the 120 who were gathered in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came upon the church. While that great miracle of tongues opened up the door for some 3000 to accept Christ through the message of Peter on that day the greatest power of the Holy Spirit was not seen in miraculous gifts, but rather in the transformation of the lives of those who were filled by God's Spirit. I do believe that there were great miracles done in the Spirit of God in the church in those days, and I believe there are still miracles being done in this world through God's Spirit today, but I also believe that each one of those is done for the purpose of making believers among people who would likely never be reached any other way. As much as it hurts me to say it I don't believe that the western versions of the church that Christ established have much Spiritual power at all, and I believe it is because we are all too much in the way of God's Spirit working in us the way He wants to.There are some very important things we must realize about the purpose behind the power of God's Spirit within us. 1. The Holy Spirits first duty is to teach us the truth; to reveal lie from truth to us, and then ; 2.He begins to transform us in mind and heart to the point that we become ready to enter into the Kingdom to which we have been born through our acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior. Many people get this work of God's Spirit mixed up with other spiritual gifts that are given to those whom God has called to do a work. Not all of these gifts are natural gifts or are learned gifts, but they are given to someone to do a work. As an example, we may well see someone who has been called to a remote land where there is no medical or hospital available to be given the gift of healing so that people will be drawn through that gift to listen to the gospel. There have been cases still today in those places where someone may be even raised from the dead so that others may believe, but I can tell you this; there is always a reason and always where God is given the glory. We can see this mighty transformation in Stephen as he went from a server of tables to a forceful preacher of the truth. I believe that Stephen's death was very effective on Saul at the time who held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. I believe God had a plan for Saul even then, but it would take a dynamic witness to cause him to think about the truth that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. While the world as a whole did not see the Spirit at work that day there was still a miracle being performed in the heart of a man who would be called the Apostle Paul.
The bottom line for our desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit is not to do spiritual works, or be able to display spiritual gifts, but to serve God and to help others out of love in the same ways Jesus did in showing His disciples that anyone who would be a King much, first of all, be a servant to all. We must first of all desire to be given Spiritual fruit as is shown in Galatians 5:22 where it lists these spiritual fruits for us like; LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE; KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF CONTROL. These are the kinds of gifts that will transform us into true children of God. May you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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