Ministries of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit has over 30 ministries to believers! It's awesome what He is doing in us and through us.

 

Jesus told Nicodemus, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again" (Jn. 3:6). It all begins right there.

 

How did it all happen? "But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God… to them that believe on his name, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man; but of God" (Jn. 3:12–13).

 

The Gospel is that "Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again and was seen by hundreds" (1 Cor. 15:1–4). The Good News is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Rom. 1:16).

 

Beloved, we are the sons and daughters of God (1 John 3:2). Not "one day we will be, if we hold out to the end." RIGHT NOW, we are His sons and daughters! We have eternal life because we have been born of God, and we have His life. What a great salvation! 

 

Jesus said, "He that believeth on the Son HATH (right now) everlasting life" (Jn. 3:36). He also said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (Jn. 11:25–26).

 

The Holy Spirit is such a wonderful person. Get to know what He wants to do in and through you, and let Him do it! You will be so glad you did.

 

Prayer: Father, thank You that we have been born of the Spirit into Your family and are now sons and daughters of God. Help us to live like we ought to live for your honor. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Quote for the Day: "Salvation is the work of God for man; it is not the work of man for God." —Author Unknown

Evidence You are Filled with the Holy Spirit

Evidence that You are Filled with the Holy Spirit

 

What is the evidence that we are being filled with the Spirit? Following the command to be filled with the Spirit, we find a list of spiritual attributes that counteract fleshly, selfish living. By displaying these positive traits, we show that the Spirit is in control of our lives! Here they are:

 

1. "Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). Joyful music, not doleful music, characterizes Christianity. When I am controlled by the Spirit, my heart is filled with joy and harmonious music.

 

2. "Giving thanks always unto God" (Eph. 5:20), not grumbling and griping. The world and the flesh are "unthankful" (Rom. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:2).

 

3. "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God" (Eph. 5:21). The world is filled with rebellion against all authority. Violence is rampant as never before. The flesh rebels at authority, but a Spirit-filled person will respect authority "in the fear of God."

 

4. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord" (Eph. 5:22). Celeste and I have been married for 55 years. She is a spiritual woman, and not once has she not been in submission to me. Not because I have an iron fist, but because she has a Spirit-filled heart, and I honor her for it (1 Pet. 3:7).

 

5. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:25). Women don't want their husbands to die for them, but to live for them, to love them, and to lead them in a godly fashion. A man who is domineering, demanding and dictatorial to his wife does not love her, for "love is kind and doth not behave itself unseemly" (1 Cor. 13:4–5).

 

Oh, dear people, we must be Spirit-filled Christians to live this way. We must walk in constant dependence on the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer: Father, help each of us to be consumed to live this way by the Spirit's power and not to be so concerned about how our brothers and sisters treat us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Quotes for the Day: "'Flesh' is self." —Lewis Sperry Chafer