Category: October 2012

Definition:

Summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid .one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate 2.one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor .of Christ in his exaltation at God’s right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins . in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant . of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

God is one but exists in three distinct personalities: ‘Behold the Lord your God is one’. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29-30)

God the Father, The Word and the Holy Spirit

They were all in action during creation in Gen 1.

The personalities are easily recognized in the dispensations of their interaction / revelation to man.

God the Father with the Interactions with Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham and the prophets until the coming of Jesus. (Gen 1, 2, Gen 5 , Exodus 3:4-6 )

The Word was manifested as the Son and named Jesus Christ. (John 1)

We see the manifestation of the Holy Spirit severally throughout the Bible. He anointed the prophets and Kings and used them as instruments, but there was no complete in-filing. (1 Samuel 11:3, Judges 3:10, 14:6, 15:14, 1 Samuel 16:13).

The Holy Spirit was promised through the prophets Joel, Ezekiel. (Joel 2: 28-29, Ezekiel 36: 27, Acts 2: 15).

Jesus is God the son and was empowered by the Holy Spirit before He began his ministry. (Matthew 3:16)

Jesus was declared as the one who baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire. (John 1:33)

Jesus promised the disciples that the Father will send the Holy Spirit after His departure. John 14:16-19, 16.

He is going to be the Teacher, Comforter, Parakletos – One called to walk alongside with us.

He will be with the believers in the place of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, judgement and righteousness. John 16:8

He gets the unbelievers saved.

He fills the believer with the Holy Spirit – the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:2-8)

He imparts the Fruit of the Spirit – character. (Gal 5:16-25)

He gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit for ministry.(1 Cor. 12)

His Personality:

The Holy Spirit is a person.

A person is described as someone who has a

Will, Intellect and Emotions.

Will – separate unto me…, forbade us to go Acts 13:2, Acts 16:6

Intellect – Remind you, teach you, guide you John 14:3026, 16:13

Emotion – grieved the Holy Spirit, felt good to the Holy Spirit Ephesians 4:30, Isaiah 63:10. Acts 15:28

How important the Holy Spirit was to Jesus:

1. He prophesied Jesus’ coming. Joel 2: 28-29, Ezekiel 36: 27, Acts 2: 15

2. He conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary. Matthew 1:18-20.

3. He sealed the baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:16-17.

4. He led Jesus to be tested in The wilderness. To get him ready. Matt 4:1

5. Jesus ministered by the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:14, 18. Acts 10:38

6. His crucifixion was in the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 9:11-14

7. He was resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11

8. His post-resurrection ministry and ascension was by the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:1-9

9. He made the promise to send the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:4-5.

John 1:32-34. John 3:34

His work in the believer:

1. He regenerates the believer. The same way He birthed Jesus. Your new birth is by the Holy Spirit. John 3:6, John 16:8

2. He lives in you. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 6:19, John 14:15-18.

3. The spirit seals the believer. Ephesians 1:13-14 To preserve you, and to guarantee your union with Him. Like the engagement ring of a promise.

4. The spirit adopts the believer. Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5-7

5. The Holy Spirit fills the believer Acts 2:4

6. He is the author of scripture 2 Peter 1:20, 2 Timothy 3:16

7. The Holy Spirit interprets the scripture. 1 Cor. 2:9-14 to understand the bible you need the Holy Spirit. He takes the scripture and gives life to it. The letter kills…2 Cor. 3:6

8. The Holy Spirit guides the believer Rom 8:14, Galatians 5:16-18, Acts 8:29

9. Anoints the believer. Sets them aside 1 John 2:27

10. Sanctifies the believer.1 Peter 1:23

11. The Holy Spirit provides fruit for the believer. Galatians 5:22

12. Empowers the believer. Gives you the ability to do what you have been called to do.1 Cor 12 Zechariah 4:1-6

How do you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

You ask for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13

The infilling can be experienced:

1. Randomly as God chooses – e.g the day of Pentecost and as the disciples prayed. Acts 2, 4:31
2. Laying on of hands. Acts 8:14-17.

The fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-26

The character of God imparted by the Holy Spirit on the human spirit.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit,

 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”^[2] The fruit is contrasted with the works of the flesh which immediately precede it in this chapter

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

How the power of the Holy Spirit is manifested.

• 1 Corinthians 12:
• Check your heart, motive.
  • Don’t seek the gifts for show. Seek because you want to be a vessel in God’s hands. He empowers the believer. Gives you the ability to do what you have been called to do.
  • The gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to showcase the power of God and help bring about His kingdom on earth. To lift up Christ in and through you. We must not desire the gifts for personal gains or entertainment Acts 8:17-21.

I Corinthians 12:3 The Holy Spirit exults Jesus. Brings the presence of the Godhead into man. John 14:23.

Conclusion

So we see we cannot really be a Christian nor live a successful Christian life without the Holy Spirit.

If you are born again and have not yet experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you need to consciously desire and ask for the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1 -7).

Olaolu Oyeyemi

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.…

Hebrews 13:8-9

 

Though written centuries ago, these words seems even more applicable in this day and age than it was when it was first communicated.

 

Paragraph

Words are so powerful; you cannot fathom how everything depends on them. I saw a movie a long time ago in which an illiterate king was astonished at a young man’s ability to write – this was his first time of seeing someone write his words – which he described as being able to ‘draw the wind’. Yes, words are as powerful as the wind; they could be as gentle and comforting as a breeze or as violent and destructive as the hurricane.

God reveals Himself to mankind as a speaking God. God’s creative ability and expressions are packaged in words, and God is perfect in its usage. In actual fact the second person of the God-Head is actually known as ‘The Word’.

John 1:1

King James Version (KJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

² The same was in the beginning with God.

³ All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

God is represented by His word and He cannot be separated or divorced from His word. At creation as described in Genesis chapter 1, all things were created through the vehicle of God’s word.  As God pronounced and painted His intentions by His word, the Spirit of God went ahead moulding into reality the pictures in the mind of God.

Hebrews 11:3

³ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

God created everything using words and we as God’s children also have an ongoing perpetual privilege of continuing the act of creation by using our words also.

God is not careless with His words. His integrity is staked on performing everything He says. He is Holy because His words are infallible.

Imagine the weight of responsibility on Jesus while He walked the face of the earth. He is the Word now become flesh. Every word he utters and every action he carries out will be recorded, quoted and remembered. He is responsible for every word he speaks and his integrity will be judged based on these words. Despite this weight, He did not fail; neither did He make any mistake. John 14:30. He never had to apologise, recant or regret anything He said. He walked perfectly and so we can rely on His words. From age to age he remains the Lord.

Words are powerful. They are creative and constructive yet could also be damning and destructive. Nations have been built and revolutionized by the power of words. Kingdoms have also been destroyed by words.

James 3

² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

The Word is in your Mouth

Just as God created the earth and filled it up by the power of His words, we can also create a world around ourselves by the words we say.

Words can make or break.

Words can make alive and words can kill.

Words can uplift and words can bring distress.

Words can bring peace and words have caused wars.

You can destroy people with your words, just as you can give them life with words.

The choice is yours how you want to use yours.

 

‘Laolu Oyeyemi

 

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! (Matthew 5:14-16 MSG)

Can you imagine the light complaining about darkness and the salt complaining of so much decay around them?

Well, it is so easy for that to happen. We look around our world and we are confronted with so much darkness and confusion. Our society has no time or respect for anything that sounds, looks or have any semblance of God or what He stands for. Spiritual corruption and decay is evident every turn. The Governments of this age driven by the secular society and the forces of darkness have decided to shut God out the public life including the schools. The ever sacred word – family, has been redefined to include all kinds of arrangements it no longer has any meaning. The confusion has even found its way into the supposed church of God. As it has always been, there are many wolves in the flock dressed in the sheep’s skin. Some who claim to know God have also partnered with Judas in betraying the Master and His message with false kisses.

These are all facts. But the question is, what is the truth? Is the light justified to complain about darkness? Is the salt right to complain about decay? What is the purpose of light and why was the salt made? Is God surprised about the existence of darkness? Is he shocked there seems to be unprecedented decay everywhere? Well No. God is not shocked by anything. Darkness is not a threat to God. Darkness does not exist in the realm of God. In fact darkness is not a measurable entity. Darkness can only exist where there is no light. Darkness is the absence of light. If the Light is present, shining and fulfilling it’s purpose then Darkness will be far away. The truth is that Light is the solution to darkness just as the salt is given to sweeten and eradicate decay.

Isaiah 60 vs 1-3 (AMP)

Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

² For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.

³ And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

 

From the beginning, light has always been the solution to darkness, good has always triumphed over evil, the truth will always set us free and this is the reason why God still have His children in this corrupt world. He wants us to showcase His light, His true colours. He wants us to make a difference in our world and illuminate whichever space we find ourselves as the children of light. He expects us to Go public with this. God is not a secret to be kept. If all those who claim to know Jesus will decide to live as they are called, as the light and the salt of the world, then the world can indeed witness the manifestations of the true sons and daughters of God.

Please join us as we heed the call of our Lord, shinning as light and indeed displaying the true God-Colours everywhere we go.

You are welcome, this is just the beginning and please let me know what you think.

Laolu Oyeyemi