The Holy Spirit 5

September 28th

Part 5

I completed last chapter by telling how the Holy Spirit came to the house of Cornelius and to us gentiles. We will continue to read the Acts.

We start with Acts 11:28. Some prophets had come from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them was named Agabus. The Spirit showed him that there would come a great famine over the whole world. Then the disciples decided to send help to the brothers in Judea. We can hear the same thing to-day. I have heard many testimonies from people who have been warned about accidents and catastrophes. That can save thousands of lives. There are unfortunately some who are not taking these warnings seriously, but if you are used to live with the Holy Spirit, one can know about these things before they happen.

You can look up Acts 16. Over verse six it says: “The call from Macedonia.” Paul and the brethren went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit did not give them permission to preach in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. During the night Paul got a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia begging them to come to Macedonia and help them there. They tried to reach there as soon as possible.

We do not always understand when the Spirit stop us in doing something we want or something we have interpreted as the will of God. We do not always get a vision during the night that explains the “no”. That can cause us to be frustrated and confused. I have several times wanted to approach somebody and the Spirit has almost stopped me physically. It is like a wall. I have obeyed without asking a lot of questions. The longer I live with the Holy Spirit, the more sure I am of His voice.

The last part of the Acts is about Paul. He says in chapter 20:22-23: “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.” Did that stop him from going? NO!

Paul exhorts the elders of Ephesus and says in verse 27 that he has not shunned to declare them the whole counsel of God. Verse 28 goes like this: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” He told them that they would not see him again and they were very sorry, cried and kissed him good-bye. They accompanied him to the ship, heading for Cos. The rest of the Acts describes Paul’s traveling, persecution, conspiracy and imprisonment. It did not make any difference to him, he preached the gospel and taught about Jesus Christ and everything that belonged to Him. He never traveled alone since the Holy Spirit always went with him.

We leave the Acts and go to Rom.8. This chapter speaks a lot about the Holy Spirit. We see a choice between walking in the Spirit or in the flesh. Verse two says: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” It says in verse 5 that those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, set their minds on the things of the Spirit. It continues to say that when you are carnally minded, you are dead, but when you are spiritually minded, you have peace and life. It says that a carnal person cannot please God. In verse 9 it says that we who are saved are in the Spirit since the Spirit of God lives inside of us. Verse 11: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Verse 13 says that if we live according to the flesh, we will die, but we will live if we live according to the Spirit. We see clearly that it is a fight between life and death. Gal.5:19-21 mentions the works of the flesh. These are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like. Those that practice such things, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Murder is not that common in the church, but jealousies and selfish ambitions are quite common and can lead to divisions and different parties. These things belong to the works of the flesh and those that practice them, will not inherit the kingdom of God. I do not interpret, but quote the Bible. Paul mentions adultery, fornication and uncleanness. These things are to-day happening within the church. I travel and visit different congregations. I sometimes get very sad when I meet the works of the flesh within the church. The Holy Spirit reminded me recently of 1.Pet.4:17. It says that judgment begins with the house of God. I have made my own interpretation and thought of it as cleansing, but it says judgment. God has said to me several times lately: “It is time for the church to stop playing Christians.”

We go back to Rom.8 and verse 14. It says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, are sons of God. That goes for daughters too. I will quote the nine fruits of the Spirit in Gal.5:22-23. They are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There are also nine gifts of the Spirit and I will come back to them. The devil can copy everything except love. God is love and the world shall recognize us as children of God because of our love. This is not a fact to-day, but if we start walking in the Spirit, it will be so. Everything we do should be permeated with our love for God, ourselves and others. I can hear you say that we should not love ourselves, but that is not Biblical. God says already in Leviticus 19:18 that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. It does not say that we should be selfish. God loves us and Christ has given His life for us and we can receive His love and be so filled that we can give it to others. I have met people who cannot receive and accept all what God wants to give them. Many of these are often proud and full of bitterness. A disappointed Christian doe not have much to offer to others. When we are full, it spills over to others.

A friend of mine tried to enter a church, but she said: “I think I am too happy for them.”

We as Christians really have a reason to be happy. We have been set free from sins. The nature of God has moved into us and Jesus says that He is with us every day till the end of the world. Other bridegrooms might disappear, but Jesus will never disappear. The Holy Spirit will help us with every thing, so we can really rejoice. I can hear you say: ” This woman does not understand anything. I am sick and I have hardly any money to pay my bills.” Jesus says that He came to those who needed a doctor. His power can heal you. While you keep on taking your medicines, you also take the Word of God as medicine. You can look up all the words in the Bible that talks about healing. If you are tithing and are clean in business-affairs, then God has promised to pour His blessings over you. Take hold of the promises of God and do not allow the devil to steal your joy. That is your strength and the devil wants to steal your strength and make you weak. God has spoken to us 365 times in the Bible that we should not have any fear. He must have known that this was a temptation for us human beings. In the Spirit I have peace and my life is so much better when I can have peace in spite of the circumstances. Rom.8:15 says: “You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba Father.”

Do you know how to pray? I don’t, but then the Holy Spirit can help me to pray.(Rom.8:26)

THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT THAT YOU HELP ME AND INTERCEDES FOR ME!!!!!!

Mother Else