Well, it isn't because of scatter-brained irresponsibility. It is an effort to be faithful; a sincere effort at that. The opposite, I believe, is true. Some deem the theme of the Holy Spirit to be an irresponsible hog-wash movement among us. But such a stance is biblically wrong and only a dishonest view will support this continued errant stance of no Holy Spirit activity among us.
The question is, "Why?" Why is this hiding from the delightful facet of God continuing? I share possible reasons simply because I once stood in such shoes.
- We have been groomed to approach the kingdom of God from a fleshly mind. We believe our explanations trump His mysteries.
- Due to living by law instead of the Spirit, we live in constant fear. We fear we will get it wrong. We fear what others in our herd will think if we dare even study to see if the Bible supports this Spirit concept.
- Our minds have been killed. The law kills. The Spirit gives life. This is scripturally plain. Unknowingly some minds have been arrested by the law and have died in the pews of unlearning.
- Satan has tripped up the church by misleading other religious groups to abuse Holy Spirit accuracy. Thus, we stay as far away from the topic as possible. This is precisely why many will not attend any church because Satan has pointed out extreme abuse in some form which caused disbelief; his trademark.
- Finally, some refuse to acknowledge the existence and activity of the Holy Spirit of God from sheer dishonesty. They have not and will not study the Word. Coasting on what has been parroted over decades is enough for them. If brother Ansel believed it....it is good enough for them.
4 comments:
The death that was promised to Adam and Eve upon their transgression happened the day of that transgression. That was not physical death. They did not physically die that day. But their spirit did.
Without a renewed spirit, we are not reborn; without a renewed spirit, we remain in death. Our new breath of life comes through the Holy Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, while only Spirit gives birth to spirit. That is the only way to receive a renewed animating force ... a new mind, a new will, a new heart.
We must allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of our my mind. We are set on a new path by the renewing of our will. With a new heart, we no longer wish to crucify Christ.
We cannot fully hear the voice of God without His Spirit. "For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."
We are enemies of God without the Spirit. "No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
Without the Holy Spirit, we remain in death, cut off from God, unable to fully comprehend His mind, to understand His plan, and to understand His ways. Receiving the Holy Spirit is proof that we have been declared Holy in his eyes through cleansing of our sin. The Holy Spirit could not dwell in us, and we could not endure it, if we were not declared to be holy ground by God.
Those who believe that we can change without rebirth are self-righteous. They believe that they are transformed by their own will alone. By that very belief, they invalidate the Gospel, and prove that they are not His.
I agree completely. My children went to one of our church camps this summer, and the sheet handed out on baptism didn’t even have one mention of the Holy Spirit as a gift. It is so important in their faith walk that when sin enters the picture, even if you have a desire to give into it, the Spirit can show you that window out of it even if it is not always apparent. Some people ignore the Spirit because it may prompt them to do something God wants them to do and if they ignore it leaves a way for them to get out of it. They are not walking by the will of the Spirit, but by their own needs and wants.
I have been in the midst of a discussion concerning the reality of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is amazing to me that there are still some in our fellowship that do not believe in the indwelling Spirit. Nonetheless, I have shared some thoughts that you mind find interesting and relevant to your discussion... blessings, Don
I must confess my fault here. I've been the guy of which you speak. No more, though.
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