Results 1 - 3 of 3
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Holy Spirit or holy spirit? What is it? | Acts 4:24 | JCrichton | 140112 | ||
Hi, Ray! I think that Jesus said it best when He stated that man speaks from the abundance of the heart! I've known of people who go out into the mountains seeking a personal retreat, seeking to confine the world and open themselves to God... not everyone finds such devotion practical... I've known of people who confess to be atheists or even satanic worshippers... when facing hardships or perceived/impending danger they have asked for a Bible, Bible Study, prayers or a combination of all three; some would say that they will never know God... Again I fall back on Christ's teachings: a) the poor widow's offer being pleasing God rather than many others who were, on the surface, generous givers (Matthew 12:41-44), and b) the repentant publican who humbled himself to God rather than boast about his credentials (Luke 18:10-14)... So if we err by emphasizing God's Authority and Divinity, we err because we seek to serve Him and the Holy Spirit will bring us enlightenment or joy or both! God Bless (I emphasize "Bless" because He does! It is His Will that we come to the fulness of His Grace: Christ Jesus!) Angel |
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2 | Holy Spirit or holy spirit? What is it? | Acts 4:24 | Ray | 140131 | ||
Hi Angel, The phrase of your post that especially drew my attention was "we seek to serve Him and the Holy Spirit will bring us enlightenment or joy or both!" The first Scripture that came to mind was Romans 14:17, then I was led to consider "joy" in my concordance. I would like later to consider Romans 14:12-23 with you in another thread. 1) The first reference to joy in my concordance is Matthew 2:10, "And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." That is a good verse to consider for this season of year. The thought that came to mind is that the Magi were told by Herod to "Go and make careful search for the (Child); and when you have found [Him], report to me, that I too may come and worship Him." The Magi saw the star with great joy and when they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother, they worshiped Him. We have been talking about finding the (Child), the (Man), the (Prophet) and talking about the word of (God). 2) The second reference is Matthew 13:20, "And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away [Lit., is caused to stumble]." This relates to what you spoke of in your post in that hardships can lead us to Christ and they can cause us to stumble if we try to find the root and strength only in ourselves. 3) I won't go on and talk about the other 58 occurances of "joy" in the New Testament. :) I'll give you a chance to write. But one other thing I discovered in my reading concerns Matthew 13:15 and that too may better be talked about in another thread. Matthew 13:15 in the NKJ and the NASB, 1977 copyright has the rendering "And understand with their heart and return, And I *should heal them". The NASB, 1995 copyright goes with the NU text and reads, "And I *would heal them". This gives me great hope for the future that people will see and hear the word of God and understand fully. Matthew 13:16, "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see [it]; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear [it]." What do you think? Does this suggest to you as it does to me that the Holy Spirit wishes to bring us enlightenment as well as joy, and that the enlightenment is a gift, the promised spirit, that will be in us? Ezekiel 36:26. I believe that the parables were His spirit and words spoken to us. From the heart, Ray |
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3 | Holy Spirit or holy spirit? What is it? | Acts 4:24 | JCrichton | 140216 | ||
Hi, Ray! I can only tell you that I read through this post with contentment and a broad smile both on my lips and on my heart! Romans 14:17-18 seemed to have been in the back of our minds... serving Christ in the (justice and) joy of the Holy Spirit... that is what pleases God! The opposing references of joy (the Magi and those who receive the Word with joy) are excellent examples of serving God in the joy of the Holy Spirit... the Magi could barely contain themselves as they sought the newborn King... they were responsive to the Holy Spirit that guided them through their familirity with astrological science... they were ignorant of much but still they trusted and followed His star! In contrast, there is that joy of the believers and the world that is based on a direct temporal experience... once the novelty dies down... once the adversities or the revelry kicks in... human intellect and wisdom, being outmatched, surrenders and refuses to continue the journey... left to our own devise, we lose the joy brought to us by the Holy Spirit! The Magi are an excellent example of reliance on God's Wisdom... they had been duped by Herod, but they were still in the "joy" and they obeyed without question, thus helping to protect the Child from the dragon (Revelation 12:13-16)... You are correct, Matthew 13:15 deals with a direct function within God's Salvific Plan... it was necessary that Israel should miss out on that joy of the Holy Spirit so that the rest of the world (those who were not God's people) would be brought onto the fold! (Romans 9:25-26) Yet, since this joy comes to us from God, Israel still has hope and it will be called back into that same fold where the two people would find joy! (Ephesians 2:14-18) The joy being revealed in Matthew 3:16-17, reminds me of the two old folks, the old guard, that were witnesses to the Child: Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-38)... their joy was complete as they were granted their most dearest desire: to witness the Coming of the Lord! "the Holy Spirit wishes to bring us enlightenment as well as joy," This is exactly what I understand! Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to be with us and in us! He is the One given the task to convict man of all Truth! He is the One who is to build and guide the Church (John 14:16-17, 25-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15)... Jesus wanted us to abound in His knowledge so that His joy would be our joy and so that our joy would be complete (John 15:11): the Holy Spirit is that joy: the knowledge of God! (Romans 15:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22) God Bless! Angel |
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