BE PRUDENT

                 

    BE PRUDENT

                                                                                

                                                   -Overlook an insult

    

Unknowingly we may face a situation where we are forced to insult a person and later on feel sorry for our act. In this stage try to guard your words carefully and never say anything behind someone’s back and don’t let yourself become defensive. Learn to encourage others and not to insult anybody.

Suppose if someone had insulted you, it is natural for you to feel hurt and upset. The Bible helps you to overlook an insult according to Proverbs 12:16 “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”

What does a prudent man do?

He will not react to any insult that comes on his way.

He will just overlook it and act as if he never knew about it.

He will never keep the insult stored in him.

He will try to push it out of his mind whenever thoughts creep.

He will ask God to teach a specific lesson from the experience.

Dear friend, try to be a prudent man who overlooks an insult and be careful not to insult anyone. Do not overreact to insults, but rather learn how to overlook and avoid it. God bless you.

HARVESTER'S PRAYER

Lord God Almighty, worthy of all praise and honor, Holy is Your name. Lord, I pray for spiritual growth and maturity; to be less like me, and more like You.
Lord, help me become a humble, hard working servant, who bares Your fruit; a disciple with great faith, a wise and encouraging tongue, and one in whom You can trust.
Lord, I give You everything I have, & everything I am, may my love for You only grow stronger.


Lord, encourage and motivate me, so that I may continually serve you with a passion, and please teach me to listen to the Holy Spirit, so that I may always know Your will.
Lord, please help me overcome temptation, and do not let the devil have any foothold in me.
Lord, break every stronghold in me, so that Your Holy Spirit may totally dominate my life.
Lord, judge me severely, correct me ruthlessly, and rebuke me thoroughly, so I can serve you more perfectly, being void of all hypocrisy, meek and lowly of heart.
Lord, please instill in me an awesome and intense fear of the Lord.
Lord,expose me & cleanse me, keep me away from pride, foolishness and self-centeredness.


Lord, help me become a great Harvester, sowing Your seed and bringing many people to You.
Lord, here I am, use me. I want to advance Your Kingdom and serve You everyday,open many doors of opportunity to shine the Light of Jesus through me,
and put several people in my path, so that I may bring them to You.
Lord, help me do something profound for You everyday, and to have an impact on eternity.
Lord, I want to master Your Word. Please, fill me with Your knowledge and truth,
bless me with wisdom, and remove any falsehoods in me.
Lord, help me become a mighty prayer warrior, one who can move mountains in Your name,teach me to use all the gifts You have blessed me with, and not miss any given opportunity.
Lord, teach me how to bring down all the principalities and powers that work against Your Kingdom.


Lord, I pray for a long life of service to You, with health and blessings for my family,help me develop a disciplined mind, a crucified flesh, and a loving compassionate heart.
Lord, set my sights on the highest goal, and have me do whatever is necessary to achieve thegreatest blessing of the good and faithful servant, and to finish strong in the Lord.
Lord, help me fully experience the Christian life, and to manifest Jesus in every aspect of my life.
Lord, help me become a true worshiper of You. Fill my cup with Your tears, that I may love those whom You Love, and understand Your heart and passion.


Most Holy and Righteous God, thank You for everything You have done.
I surrender my life to You, please direct me and make me into Your image,
for I am nothing without You, may my life bring glory and honor to You.
Please send out many more workers into the harvest field, in the name of Your son,

J E S U S C H R I S T AMEN

THE LORD DISPLINES THOSE HE LOVES

According to Matthew 5:22, 29-30 and Luke 12:4-5, the suffering in our early bodies is small compared to the "fire of hell." Therefore God's feelings of mercy ("compassion's") may at times move Him to even use earthly pain to try to keep us from far greater eternal pain.

God does not have to make up special pain just for us. In this world, which has left God, pain is already with us! But God can sometimes use that pain to help us. When a doctor cuts into the body to remove a diseased part, does this mean that the doctor is uncaring and unwise? Just the opposite is true. He cuts because he cares and wishes to heal. He knows that the pain of this cut is far better than the suffering and death of the spreading disease. In the same way, God sends "judgments" even before the final judgment.

Is this because He is uncaring? It is BECAUSE HE CARES so much! As the prophet Isaiah said, "When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9).

In fact, it can be said that the more God cares, the more He corrects us. "The Lord disciplines those He loves....Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness" (Hebrews 12:6,10).

Life's trials tend to make unbelievers more bitter. But believers keep trusting in the great truth that "His love endures forever" (Psalm 136). Therefore they let themselves be "trained" by the pain of correction. In this way they reap the "harvest of righteousness and peace" (Hebrews 12:11). When many blessings do not turn people back to God, He may try another way. He may use even the curses and sorrows that are already at work in the earth because of sin.

An example of this was given by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah's people enjoyed seasons of plenty. Yet these good times did not turn their hearts to God (Jeremiah 5:24). Later came their times of great trouble, war and famine. God tried through these to show His people the result of their sin. "Your sins have deprived you of good" (Jeremiah 5:25). Still they would not listen. Finally their capital city, Jerusalem, was destroyed. Many of them were killed or made slaves.

In the book of Lamentations,Jeremiah tells of his tears as he watched his people starve and die in Jerusalem. Yet he knew how much God had tried to win them back. God had tried by means of both good times and bad times. So, even in great sorrow, Jeremiah could still say,

"The LORD'S compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

He gives us time to learn and to turn to Him, before it is too late.

God Loves you.he wants to gives his best for you,he wants to bless you and enjoy his gift of eternal life

WARFARE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

Ephesians 6 : 12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It is blessed and glorious to be a Christian. No other life is so beautiful and pure; no other life is so tranquilly peaceful; no other is so full of rest, happiness, and satisfaction. The Christian,however, does not go to heaven on flowery beds of ease. His pathway is not strewn with roses all the way; there is now and then a thorn. It is not sunshine all the time; now and then a shadow falls. To win heaven he must fight. There are some things to oppose a Christian on his pilgrimage to the skies; these he must contend against. The contending against those things prepares him for his blissful home above.

"All things work together for good to them that love God." Heaven's blessings and hell's venom, angels' smiles and Satan's frowns, comforts of grace and spiritual wickedness, good and ill, love and hatred, all work good to those who have union with God. It is the battle that disciplines and makes strong and brave the warrior, and not the victory. We are exhorted to "endure hardness as a good soldier." There are some things to endure along the Christian way. James says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation. Temptations are outward influences acting upon our natural emotions and passions to induce the will to act contrary to the law of grace to satisfy self.

We need not expect to be free from temptations; therefore let us settle it that we will endure them. It is really a blessed thing to endure them. You may think it would be a blessed thing to be free from them, but such would not be the case. It is more blessed to endure them. Temptations will never cease to attack the soul as long as it inhabits this "muddy vesture of decay." Be brave, O soul, and endure temptations. Be brave and fight the good fight of faith. Do not faint because you have temptations. Do not fear because there are long and fierce battles to fight. Be strong and of good courage. It is a lifelong struggle, and it is also a life-long victory, and in the end eternal victory. Strong and well-developed spiritual sinews are the result of resisted temptations.

It is not sinful to be tempted. We never lose any spirituality by being tempted. It is the slight yieldings that cause a leaking, a loss of grace. Clear up the vision of your faith a little and take a look at your beautiful glittering crown of life. It is not gold, neither crystal. Do not look at it as such, but see it a crown of life. Yes, you will be crowned with eternal life if you will but endure temptation. Think of this in the hour of thy sore trial. Fight on; heaven awaits to reward you.

LUKEWARMNESS

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:16

A lukewarm life is a displeasure to God; he would have us to be fervent in spirit. God is pleased with us when we are lively stones, but not when we are formal and lukewarm. A lukewarm state is a dangerous state. One very dangerous thing about it is that usually when a person is lukewarm he is unaware that he is lukewarm. If a man is sick and does not know that he is sick, he is in great danger of his life, because he is not at all likely to take the proper care of himself. So the man who is cold and formal but thinks he is spiritual and full of love is not at all likely to do anything for the improvement of his spiritual condition. He is very much like the Irishman's turtle. I hesitate to relate anything so amusing, but it so well illustrates the state of the lukewarm professor that I think I am justifiable.


Some Irishmen had caught a large turtle and cut off his head. Then they waited for him to die, but the turtle scrambled about for some hours. Desiring an explanation of such a phenomenon, they accosted an Irishman who was passing by. After watching the turtle for a moment, he remarked, "He is dead, but he doesn't know it." This is the condition of the lukewarm professors. They are spiritually dead, but are not aware of it. The professors of Christianity at Laodicea were lukewarm, but they thought themselves rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing.


Diseases of the human body are attended with certain feelings and symptoms by which the physician can tell the nature of the affection in a particular case. The diseases of the human soul are also attended with certain symptoms by which the nature of the malady in a given case may be known. I will now tell you of a few of the symptoms of lukewarmness, so you may know whether such is your state.


First. A kind of doubtful or uncertain feeling as to whether you are right with God, together with an unwillingness to examine yourself closely for fear you are wanting. Being filled with the Spirit gives us fullness of assurance.


Second. If when you testify to being saved, sanctified, and ready for the coming of Jesus, your heart fails to say amen and you wish down in your soul you had a little better assurance that what your lips say were true, you are not as spiritual as you should be. When we are filled with the Spirit, our souls are assured and satisfied.

Third. Going along day after day in the same routine of life, taking it for granted that you are at the work the Lord wants you to do, and not earnestly seeking to know his will. Those who are spiritual can not be contented without a definite knowledge of the will of God. If you are going along without any real and positive knowledge of the will of God and are not seeking to know it, surely you are lukewarm.


Fourth. If when your routine of life is in some way interrupted, you are dissatisfied and complain; if you do not enjoy being moved out of your old channel, but you wish to be let alone, it is evident that you have chosen your own way and that God is not ordering your steps.

Fifth. If when you are called to the assistance of a neighbor or the sick or even an enemy, you find a reluctancy to go and an often returning of your own mind to your own concerns and a desire to hurry back to them, you are,it appears, looking upon your own things, and not on the things of others. The Bible tells us to look upon the things of others. If you see your own needs, and see and care but little about the things of others, you are selfish. Those who are spiritual have time to help others and do it willingly.


Sixth. If when called upon to go to the assistance of some unfortunate one and you can not possibly go, if you do not have a deep heart-regret and if you do not ofttimes during the day think of the poor unfortunate man and be pained at heart because of your inability to help him, you must be more concerned about yourself than about others. You look on your own things and do not see nor feel the needs of others. If such is true in you, you are in a lukewarm state.


Seventh. If you were to be asked whether you are doing the work you are now doing, solely and purposely for the glory of God, and you should be obliged to answer that you had taken no particular thought about it, but supposed it mattered little to the Lord, just so you were doing something, this would surely show neglect, indifference, lukewarmness.


Eighth. If you are indifferent and unconcerned about making spiritual progress; if you are not desiring and earnestly seeking for more of God; if you are not earnestly striving to be more meek and humble, to be more kind and patient; if you are carelessly tolerating acts of selfishness, of impatience, unkindness, harshness, and lightness, you are certainly lukewarm.


Ninth. Neglect to read the Bible and to pray in secret; greater fervency in public prayer than in secret prayer; more outward manifestation than real inward piety; testifying or preaching beyond the true standard of living these too are evidences of lukewarmness. A man may become enthusiastic in prayer, testimony, or sermon, and think he is making great advancement; but if he does not live up to every word he speaks, he is losing instead of gaining, because he is not walking in light.


Lukewarmness is very loathsome to God. It reproaches him. To make no profession of love to God at all is not such a reproach to him as to profess love and be lukewarm. God wants all your heart. If he can not have it all, he will have none. He desires warm, fervent love. To love him only partially, and not supremely, makes it appear as if he were worthy of only halfhearted love. It makes other things equal with God.


After the physician learns the symptoms and pronounces the disease, he then prescribes the remedy. Thank God, there is an unfailing remedy for Lukewarmness. Of course, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." "Repent and do the first works." Come to God and buy of him gold tried in the fire. Exercise yourself in spiritual things if there yet be any love in your heart. Shake off everything that is stupefying. Press your way through to God in spite of dryness and deadness. Stir up your soul. Give yourself to deep meditation upon the great love of God to you. Pray in fervency and faith. Consecrate to the whole will of God. If your case is not hopeless--and it is not--this will effect a cure.

Jeremiah 9:3

"They make ready their tongue
like a bow, to shoot lies;
it is not by truth
that they triumph [a] in the land.
They go from one sin to another;
they do not acknowledge me,"
declares the LORD.

Hosea 6:4

"What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears

Ezekiel 16:30

How weak-willed you are, declares the Sovereign LORD, when you do all these things, acting like a brazen prostitute!

REDEFINING REALITY

Redefining Reality !

There once was a king whose subjects were dying in thousands due to hunger, but he solved that problem in a moment. He simply redefined hunger, so that in his kingdom hunger was now an abstract desire. Since there was no dearth of abstract concepts to feed abstract desires, there was no longer hunger in his kingdom he claimed. People kept on dying, but the definition reduced that to a non event!

Christians, influenced by the fads and fashions of the world, have also been playing the same redefining game but with more far-reaching consequences. As a result, commitment, worship, repentance, devotion, faithfulness and piety no longer mean what the Bible means by these things.

Redefining the fundamentals can surely give one a sense of security, but it cannot change the reality. It is reality that the Christian needs to confront in his daily life, not imaginations.

Johnson C. Philip

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

Everywhere we turn, we hear reports about psychics. Tabloids are thirsty for stories on psychics who search for missing children; ads saturate the airwaves encouraging viewers to call their psychic friends and learn their fortunes; and movie stars, royalty, and even politicians consult psychics to receive direction on critical issues of life. Seeking advice from psychics today is as common as consulting physicians or theologians. But what should our position be as Christians on this phenomenon?

The scriptures say there is only one source for true wisdom –– God’s word. (2Tim. 3:16-17) They warn of lying wonders in the end of the present Gospel age. They also tell of the activity of Satan and the fallen angels who would interfere with men’s affairs so as to draw away the faith of many. “...the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders... And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie...” 2Thess. 2:9-11

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. mat 7 15

Armed with the scriptural facts, the true follower of God would be very sceptical of these so-called prophets. Is it any wonder that a fallen angel would be able to inform psychics of the location of dead bodies or tell of someone’s past or present? All this would give credibility to their guesses of future events which may or may not come to pass. Anyone can make educated guesses. As for us, we will leave the future to the true prophets of old whose words were written for our admonition.

The scriptures are clear, “Beware of false prophets...” We must avoid anything akin to spiritism or occultism. There are but two masters. One is God and the other is the god of this present evil world, Satan. (Matt. 6:24; 2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2) This “prince and power of the air” is not the only angel who left the ranks of the righteous angelic realm to practice lawlessness. A host of angels fell before the flood of Noah’s day and are now those who whisper in the ears of any who will lend them. The increasing popularity of New Age thinking has opened wide the door for these evil spirits to influence and deceive. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1Tim. 4:1 See also Acts 16:16-18; Jude 6

The only way to avoid falling into the snare of these seducing spirits is to “Put on the whole armour of God [His truth and character], that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:11-12

If you have given heed to these evil influences, do not despair, but do be aware and heed the scriptures. Call upon the Lord for grace to help and determine not to have anything more to do with them. “...as for me and my house,we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits Psalm 103:2

Forget Not All His Benefits

One of the best ways to wake up our dull souls is to remember past benefits. This requires much effort because we have difficulty remembering good things done to us (though we easily remember offences committed against us. We should set a time apart to remember past blessings. As a child of God we have to acknowledge the blessings received in the LORD

Say thanks for all his blessings , count one by one ...

How many times we committed same sin ? How many times we repented ? Repent from the bottom of our heart . God will enable us to stand for him.

May God Bless you and your family.

Your loving brother in Christ Jesus

Deity of the Holy Spirit

A) The Holy Spirit is called God: (Acts 5:3-4) (2 Cor 3:17-18) (1Cor15:45)

B) Has the incommunicable attributes of God:
1. He is eternal: (Heb 9:14)
2. He is Omnipresent: (Psalm 139:7-10)
3. He is Omniscient: (1Cor 2:10-11) (Isaiah 40:13)
4. He is Omnipotent: (Zechariah 4:6)

C) Divine works are ascribed to Him:
1. Creation (Gen. 1:2) ( Psalms. 104:30) (Job26:13; 33:4)
2. Incarnation: (Matt. 1:18,20) (Luke 1:35)
3. Resurrection: (Rom. 1:4; 8:11)
4. Salvation, redemption, regeneration and sanctification: (Rom. 8:1-27) ( 2Thess 2:13) (1Peter1:2) (2Cor3:18) (John 3:5-8) (Rom 8:11)

D) He is a person; He exercises the attributes of Personality: That which possesses intelligence, feeling and will; Personality does not necessarily require a body (Lack of definite form is no argument against reality)

His personality is indicated by the fact that He was manifested in the visible form of a dove (Matt3:16) and also by the fact that He is distinguished from His gifts (1Cor 12:11)

a. Has a name: (Matt. 28:19) note that even though "name" might be used of a non-person, here, in conjunction with the Father and the Son, it must be used of a person.
b. Has a mind (Rom8:27)
c. Has a will (1Cor12:11)
d. Has Feeling and can be grieved or vexed ( Eph 4:30) (Isaiah63:10)

E) Personal activities are ascribed to Him:
a. He reveals (2Peter 1:21) (Eph 3:3-5) (1Cor2:9-12)
b. Teaches (John 14:26) (1 Cor 2:13)
c. Witnesses (Gal 4:6) (Rom 8:9,16)
d. Intercedes ( Rom 8:26-27)
e. Speaks ( Rev 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22;14:13) (Acts 13:2) (1Tim 4:1)(2Samuel23:2-3) (Matthew10:20) fJohn16:13) (Acts8:29; 10:19)
g. Commands (Acts 16:6-7)
h. Testifies (John 15:26) (1Pet1:11)
i. He directs (Acts 16:6-7)
j. He appoints ( Acts 5:3-4)
k. Can be Lied to and tempted (Acts 5:3-9)
l. Can be blasphemed ( Matt 12:31-32)
m. can give wisdom understanding and knowledge. (Acts6:10) (Exodus35:31) (Exodus28:3, 31:3) (Duet34:9)
n. Can Prophesy and show the future (Numbers11:25-27,27) (1Samuel 10:6,10; 19:20) (Joel2:28) (Acts2:17-18; 11:28) (John16:13-14)
o. He can make mighty signs, wonders and miracles to happen (Rom 15:19) (Gal3:5)
p. Can physically transport a person to another place (Acts8:29-40)
q. He leads us and helps us to overcome sin(Rom8:13-14)(Gal5:16-17)
r. He adopts us as sons into God’s family (Rom8:15-17) (Gal4:6-7)
s. Can be quenched (1Thess5:19)

F) Is the "Helper" or “Comforter”.
a. Is another Helper: (John 14:16) (1 John 2:1) note also that "Helper" (parakletos) was used in Greek always or almost always of persons
b. Is sent in Jesus' name, to teach: (John 14:26)
c. Will arrive, and then bear witness: (John 15:26-27)
d. Is sent by Christ to convict of sin, will speak not on his own but on behalf of Christ (John16:8-15)
e. Will glorify Christ, thus exhibiting humility: (John 16:7-14)
f. He helps us to obey the truth (1Peter1:22)
g. He comforts and is glorified in the persecuted suffering Christians(1Pet4:14)
h. He can give us supernatural gifts (Acts2:4) (1Cor12:4-11)
i. He helps us to pray (Eph6:18)
j. He gives us power, love and a sound mind (2Tim1:7) (Eph3:16)

Other names, titles and functions

F) Is the Holy Spirit, in contrast to unholy spirits: (Mark 3:22-30) (Matt. 12:32) (1 Tim. 4:1) ( 1 John 3:24) (1John4:2-6)

G) Symbols of the Holy Spirit:
a. The Holy Spirit as fire: (Isa4:4) (Matt. 3;11) ( Luke 3:16) (Ex. 3:2-4) ( Deut. 4;24; 9:3) ( Heb. 12:29)
b. Wind (Ezek37:7-10) (John3:8) (Actsa2:2)
c. Water (Ex17:6) (Ezek36:25-27; 47:1) (John3:5; 4:14; 7:38-39)
d. Seal (Eph1:13) (2Tim2:19) (Eph4:30)
e. Dove (Matt3:16) The Jewish tradition translates this verse as follows “ The Spirit of God like a dove brooded over the waters”. (Gen1:2)
f. Oil; perhaps the most familiar and common symbol of the Holy Spirit.
g. He is also called the finger of God (Luke 11:20)

H) He is the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews10:29) (Zech12:10)

I) He is also called the Spirit of Truth: (John14:17; 15:26; 16:13)(1John5:6)

J) He is the Spirit of promise; (Ezek36:27) (Joel 2:28) (Luke24:49) (Gal 3:14)

K) Spirit of Life: (Rom8:2) (Rev11;11)

L) Spirit of Adoption: (Rom8:15)

M) Creative Spirit: (Gen2:7) (Job 26:13; 33:40) (Psalm33:6; 104:30) (Dan5:23) (Acts17:28) (John1:13)

N) Other functions of the Holy Spirit related to preparing believers for service:
a. The Holy Spirit poured out: (Acts 2:17, 33) (Isa. 53:12) ( Phil. 2:17) ( 2 Tim. 4:6 )
b. Being filled with the Holy Spirit: (Eph. 5:18 etc) (Eph. 3:17, 19; 4:10)
c. He dwells in all believers (Rom8:9) (1Cor3:16)(James4:5) (1John3:24) (1John4:13)
d. Miracles (Acts5:12-15; 19:11-12)
e. The Gifts of the Spirit (1Cor12:4-10) (Acts2:33)

P) He is in co-ordinate rank with the Father and the Son:
a. (1Cor 12:4-6) (2Cor 13:14) (Matt 28:19) (Rev 1:4)
b. He is called the Spirit of God and also the Spirit of Christ in (Rom8:9-11)
c. The “Spirit of the Lord” and the “Spirit of God” (Judges11:29; 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:19) (1Samuel16:13; 19:23)
d. "the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit": use of definite article before each personal noun indicates distinct persons unless explicitly stated otherwise; compare (Rev. 1:17; 2:8, 26)

Q) Jesus is not the Holy Spirit:

1. The Holy Spirit is "another Comforter (Helper)" (John 14:16; 15:26) compare an “Advocate “(1 John 2:1).
2. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit (John 15:26; 16:7) (Rom8:9-11).
3. The Holy Spirit exhibits humility (John 16:13) always does the will of God, never draws attention to Himself and always seeks to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16:14).
4. The Son and the Holy Spirit are distinguished as two persons in (Matt. 28:19).
5. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus (Luke 3:22).
6. Jesus is the one that baptizes with the holy Ghost, He is not Himself the Holy Ghost (John1:33).

7. Arguments commonly used to try and prove that Jesus is the Holy Spirit:

a. (2 Cor 3:17) the Spirit is here called "Lord" in the sense of being Yahweh or God, not Jesus; note (Acts 28:25-27) cf. (Isa.6:8-10) The context suggests that the Lord is the spirit of the OT just as “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). All the types and shadows of the OT find their fulfillment in Christ. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty means that wherever Jesus Christ is recognized as Lord or Jehovah, there is liberty, that is, freedom from the bondage of the law, freedom from obscurity in reading the Scriptures, and freedom to gaze upon His face without a veil between.


b. (1 Cor15:45) Jesus is "a life-giving Spirit," not in the sense that He is the Holy Spirit whom He sent at Pentecost, but in the sense that He is the glorified God-man; and as God He is Spirit by nature. All three persons of the Trinity are Spirit, though there are not three divine Spirits; and only one person is designated "the Holy Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:6) (John6:63) He is alive in the Spirit (see 1 Pet. 3:18), to give life to all who believe. This is why Paul speaks of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2)

c. (Rom 8:27, 34) The fact that two persons intercede for us is consistent with the fact that we have two Advocates (John 14:16) (1 John 2:1).

d. (John14:18) Jesus here refers to His appearances to the disciples after the resurrection (compare14:19), not to the coming of the Spirit.

R) The Father is not the Holy Spirit:

1. The Father sent and gives us the Holy Spirit (John 14:15; 15:26) (1Thess4:8).
2. The Holy Spirit intercedes with the Father for us (Rom. 8:26-27).
3. The Father and the Holy Spirit are distinguished as two persons in (Matt. 28:19) (Luke11:13).
4. The Holy Spirit gives us access to the Father (Eph2:18)

5. Arguments commonly used to try and prove that the Father is the Holy Spirit:

a. (Matt. 1:18) (Luke 1:35) It is argued that the Holy Spirit is the Father of the incarnate Son of God; this argument ignores the fact that the "conception" is not a product of physical union between a man and a woman!

b. The Father and the Holy Spirit are both said to be active in various activities; the resurrection of Jesus (Gal 1:1) (Rom. 8:11), comforting Christians (2 Cor1:3-4) (John 14:26), sanctifying Christians (1 Peter 1:2) (Jude 1), etc: The most these facts prove is that the two work together; they do not prove the two are one person.

Just like the son is God so the Holy Spirit is also God, He is the ‘active’ one of the Godhead so to speak, He caries out the will of the Father having been send by the Son.

GREAT STORY

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. "Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge,hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry."She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens.

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth."

She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!

The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

I think it would do all of us some good to say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him....I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)