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St Brendan's
Anglican Church |
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St Brendan's
Anglican Church |
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THE HOLY SPIRIT A few months ago the Reverend Dr. Tillman Moore, hoping to stimulate thinking and discussion regarding the Holy Spirit, posed three questions:
In an attempt to respond to his questions, I list below some portions of Scripture that I find helpful in thinking about the issues Tillman raised. Please add to the list any other portions of Scripture regarding the Holy Spirit that you find helpful. What does the Holy Spirit do?
“The Spirit gives life.” [John 6:63]
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” [John 14:26]
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. [John 16:13]
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [Ephesians 1:17]
“He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”[John 16:114]
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”[Romans 5:5]
“because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. [Romans 8:16]
“God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”[Galatians 4:6-7]
“the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” [Romans 8:26
“The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” [Romans 8:26]
“…but God has revealed it (wisdom) to us by his Spirit.”[1Corinthians 2:10]
How does the Holy Spirit act?
And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. [Luke 3:21-22] At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert. [Mark 1:12] Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. [Mark 13:11] When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again. [Acts 8:39]
Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of craft. [EX 31:1-3] The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. [Isaiah 61:1] I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone. [Numbers 11:17]
The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. [Judges 3:10] Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. [Isaiah 42:1] So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. [Zechariah 4:6] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.[Acts 1:8]
Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. [Mark 13:11] What is the evidence He has been there?
At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." [Matthew 3:16-17] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [Acts 2:3] After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.[ Acts 4:31]
The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." [Acts 8:29] While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." [Acts 13:2] Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, `In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' " [Acts 21:11]
When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again. [Numbers 11: 25] The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you (Samuel) in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. [1 Samuel 10:6] The Spirit of God came upon Saul's men and they also prophesied. [1 Samuel 19:20] And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. [Joel 2:28] When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. [Acts 19:6] For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. [2 Peter 1:21]
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." [AC 10:19-20]
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. [Acts 2:4] While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. [AC 10:44-46]
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--] by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. [Romans 15:18-19] |