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URForgiven -> RE: Are Christians denying the power of the Holy Spirit? (4/3/2008 10:25:10 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Little_1 Philippians 3:1-11 1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Paul is already a Christian when he recorded verse 10. Paul ever presses on to strengthen and build his relationship with the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit - that is his testimony. The 'power of the resurrection' is what helps us to live out the life that Jesus wants us to live - the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the only means by which we can truly live for Jesus - it is a life surrendered (willingly given) to the Holy Spirit to work with for God's glory. Not I who lives but Christ who lives in me. From what I can see in the churches today, Christians seem to be denying the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit which raised Christ from the dead by trying to follow Jesus' teachings in their own strength rather than living for Him in the power of the Holy Spirit which is available to all those who ask. The Galatians fell into the very same trap: Galatians 3:2-4 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? The results spell the same for the much of the church of Christ today as it did for the Galatians Christian church many centuries ago - defeat, disillusionment and powerless testimonies! [&o] Christians should not be afraid to surrender to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our friend and Counsellor - He wants to grow us up into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with the Lord. Anything less than what Paul here mentions (verse 10) is merely existing and not real, abundant life as God intends for us. Does anyone else agree? Is the Holy Spirit resurrection power a reality in our lives? Is the Holy Spirit a reality in your life? If not - He can be - He is available to anyone who asks. - Does anyone else agree? Umm...this is kinda what the whole Christian thing is all about. Christianity IS the restoration of the Spirit of God in man. It is the receiving of God's Holy Spirit that makes us Christians. It is not something we have to ask for, it is a present reality in every Believer. The problem is that people go on living as if nothing has changed, and unfortunately most of what they are taught supports this. They go out determined to try and live the Christian life...even if it kills them. It will. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads us, as we abide [focus, depend] in Jesus Christ. God accomplishes through us what we could never accomplish on our own. Christians are denying the power of the Holy Spirit. They do so when they make themselves the initiator, instead of responding to the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit within them.
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