Posts Tagged ‘Holy Spirit’
Hearing the Spirit
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HearingTheSpirit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 30:5-6 I. Many people are convinced that the Holy Spirit directly speaks to them A. Yet, these same people will claim things contrary to the teachings of the Bible B. And they rarely agree with each other II. The Bible is the product of the Spirit A. It is not a product…
Read MoreThe Spirit Speaks
by Terry W. Benton The Spirit speaks completely through the scriptures. The Spirit gave the Scriptures so that we would know what the apostles knew (Ephesians 3:3-5). We can know all that the Spirit revealed to Paul, read it, and then know all he knew. That is no small matter because the Word of God…
Read MoreHow could Ananias give Paul the Holy Spirit?
Question: If Paul was an apostle, he was supposed to receive the Holy Spirit from another apostle or directly from God, yet he received it from a disciple. I thought only apostles had the ability to give the Holy Spirit. Answer: “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of…
Read MoreThe Helper
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Helper.mp3 Text: John 16:1-15 I. Lifting a few statements from their context can often make a writer appear to say things he never intended. A. It happens in politics all the time, and it happens in religion as well. B. In his last hours, Jesus made a series of promises concerning the Helper…
Read MoreContext
by Terry Wane Benton The apostles of Jesus were the eyewitnesses and we are the jurors. Promises made to the apostles in John 13-17 are not made to all of us. The context is about a long discussion Jesus had with His twelve witnesses. Jesus said to them “And you also will bear witness, because…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Guarantee of the Holy Spirit
by Matthew W. Bassford To my knowledge, this concept appears three times in Scripture, all within the body of Paul’s writings: II Corinthians 1:22, II Corinthians 5:5, and Ephesians 1:13-14. “Guarantee” is the ESV rendering of the Greek arrabōn. Other translations use “earnest” (KJV), “deposit” (NIV), “down payment” (CSB), or “pledge” (NASB). I think it’s helpful to consider the…
Read MoreI had a similar question about the ministry of the Holy Spirit and your answer was spot-on
Question: I wanted to thank you for your answer on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I had the same question about why couldn’t the Holy Spirit come and your answer was spot-on and clarified correctly that question for me. Thank you for your obedience to God’s work and blessings. Answer: I’m glad to hear that…
Read MoreWhat does I John 5:7-8 mean?
Question: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” (I John 5:7-8 KJV). What does verse eight mean?…
Read MoreThe Gift of the Holy Spirit (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/GiftOfTheHolySpirit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 2:29-39 I. Our text – Acts 2:38-39 A. When a person repents and is baptized, two things are promised: forgiveness of sin and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. 1. This promise is for all Christians – “As many as the Lord shall call.” 2. It is also not limited…
Read MoreCan I be filled with the Spirit when I have a sinful past?
Question: Hi, good morning, I was looking for a particular topic online when I came across your page where you were giving advice about fornication, etc. However, I’m 21 years old, baptized at 11 years old, changed churches, and I’m now at my present church for several years now; anyways, I’ve been engaging in sexual…
Read MoreBlasphemy Against the Holy Ghost
by Charles G. Caldwell, Jr. Via Truth Magazine XXI: 49, pp. 781-782, December 15, 1977 In Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus said, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son…
Read MoreThe Gift of the Holy Spirit (Bassford 2)
by Matthew W. Bassford A couple of weeks ago, I found myself chatting with a friend online about a very familiar subject to me, the meaning of the phrase “the gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:38 and 10:45. I literally spent decades arguing the point with my father, as part of our ongoing…
Read MoreHow can I get closer to God and be filled with the Spirit?
Question: Hi, I was looking for a particular topic online when I came across your page where you gave advice about fornication and other matters. I’m 21 years old. I was baptized when I was 11 years old. Since then, I changed churches, and I’ve been at my present church for over five years. I’ve…
Read MoreLed by the Spirit (Smelser)
by Scott Smelser
Read MoreWhat is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
Question: I was wondering what exactly is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Could you please help me with this? Answer: What Is Blasphemy? Blasphemy is a transliteration of a Greek word: blasphemia. Literally, it combines the Greek words for hurt and speech. It means to speak evil of someone or to slander another person. It contains…
Read MoreIsn’t the Spirit supposed to comfort me?
Question: I’m 26 but my body already seems to be falling apart. I can barely get out of bed these days. If the cause of this is heart problems or cancer or something, can I just resist treatment so I can go home and be with Jesus? I’m so depressed. I can’t be a good…
Read MoreWere the apostles filled with the Spirit twice?
Question: In Acts 4:1-31, it talks about Peter and John facing persecution, being arrested, and being released. After they are released they returned to their companions and told them about what had happened. They then prayed, and in Acts 4:31, it says they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Does this mean the apostles (depending…
Read MoreSins Against the Holy Spirit
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SinsAgainstTheHolySpirit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 16:7-14 I. The work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the teachings of God to mankind A. It is not a work that is directly observed. Like the wind you see the effect of the Spirit’s work in people’s lives – John 3:8 B. Jesus told his disciples that…
Read MoreIf the Lord only speaks through the Bible, why was the Spirit promised in John 16:13?
Question: So the Lord only speaks through the Bible and not through the Spirit? I’m kind of confused now. Just wanted to see if you could clear this up for me: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he…
Read MoreDoes Inspiration Change a Man?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DoesInspirationChangeAMan.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Samuel 6:1-12 I. A common teaching among the denominations is that a person cannot come to know God unless the Spirit of God enters in to change his outlook. A. It comes from a basic belief that man is born corrupt from the sin of Adam. He needs God…
Read MoreMy relationship with God has always been a roller coaster
Question: Hello and thank you for reading, I am a 25-year-old man. I was born in a Christian family, my father being a pastor. My relationship with God has always been a roller coaster. There have been times when my faith has been strong and my will was aligned with God’s. I would even speak…
Read MoreDo born-again and non-believers have the same Holy Spirit?
Question: I have three questions I would like to ask. In Job 34:14-15, does it mean born again believers and non-believers have the same Holy Spirit? If one can lose his salvation, does it mean sin still has a chance to overpower the gift of eternal life Christ freely gives? How many times can a…
Read MoreHow does someone know if they have the Holy Spirit?
Question: I always wondered this, but how does someone know if they have the Holy Spirit or they don’t? Answer: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in…
Read MoreWhat does “praying in the Spirit” mean?
Question: Can you please explain to me Jude 20 when it said “praying in the Spirit”? Answer: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also…
Read MoreGoing to the Source (The Anointing of the Spirit)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/GoingToTheSource.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 2:18-29 I. The other day, one of my boys needed help with a math problem, so I asked him to show me the problem. He brought in his paper on which he was working. A. “No,” I said, “I need to see the original problem in the book.”…
Read MoreLed by the Spirit (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/LedByTheSpirit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 8:1-17 I. We have spoken at length in the past about the exactly who is the Holy Spirit A. We have shown that he is a being who is a part of the Godhead, just as the Father and the Son. B. He is made more mysterious by men because of…
Read MoreMisapplying Scriptures
by Terry W. Benton A common mistake we run into today is taking a promise made to the apostles, commandeering it as a promise to us, and then imagining that the promise applies equally to us. For example, when Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13),…
Read MoreSubjective Spirit Leading
by Terry Wane Benton Subjective “Spirit Leading” is when one is moved by imagined nudging and impulses, then attributes that imagination to the “leading of the Spirit.” It often never is in complete harmony with the Spirit’s “revelation” in the Bible. It is sometimes outright contrary to Spirit guidance through “revelation” (Ephesians 3:3-5). It is…
Read MoreWhat is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
Question: I don’t understand this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I know it’s not hating or cursing God. I know that in Bible we have examples like when Jesus healed a man and the Pharisees claimed that he use the devil’s power. Still, 2000 years later, people still fear this sin, and no one claims…
Read MoreI think the Holy Spirit may have told me I am condemned
Question: I have recently been filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of tongues. But before I received him, and now after, I have feared committing the unpardonable sin. I have thoughts that constantly plague me and the Bible said we should cast down everything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, so…
Read MoreI didn’t answer the altar call when I should have. Have I offended God?
Question: I think I messed up big time this past Sunday. During a song, my pastor stepped to the pulpit and gave an invitation to the lost. The Spirit moved so powerfully during the song that the preacher didn’t get to preach that morning. I’m saved, but during this invitation, God was convicting me to…
Read MoreDoes the Holy Spirit come to us at our baptism?
Question: Jeffrey, Thank you for your wonderful work in teaching the Bible and for your web site. I have become much stronger in the faith as a result of your help. I have come upon a statement that I am not sure is correct: “At baptism God sends His Spirit to dwell in us. He…
Read MoreHow Does the Holy Spirit Lead?
by Herschel E. Patton via Guardian of Truth XXXV: 8, pp. 237, 239, April 14, 1991 Obviously, the Holy Spirit does lead certain ones. “Sons of God” are thus led. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Jesus was “led up of the Spirit” into…
Read MoreHow does the Holy Spirit testify to people today?
Question: Hello, I was reading your page and I was wondering if you thought that the Holy Spirit testifies with people today. I can see what you mean by churches making a following off these emotional responses but are you saying that God doesn’t have a way of testifying with us to let us know…
Read MoreBy One Spirit … Baptized Into One Body
by Terry W. Benton “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (I Corinthains 12:13). What does “by one Spirit” mean? The Holy Spirit is the element we are immersed in? Holy Spirit is the agency…
Read MoreWhy don’t you believe that the Spirit actively dwells in the believer today?
Question: In my seeking to find “Christian only” groups, I have visited several “churches of Christ,” which came out of the restoration movement in the 1800s. My question is, though I deeply appreciate the non-denominational and back to the Bible emphasis, why is it that many reject any direct involvement of the Holy Spirit today?…
Read MoreDoes the Spirit indwell only through the word without any supernatural means?
Question: I have enjoyed several of the articles listed on your website. One I have a question about is regarding your article on the “Indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” Is your church one who believes that the Holy Spirit indwells a Christian by way of the “word only” and that there is no supernatural indwelling?…
Read MoreHow can you know you are filled with the Spirit?
Question: How does a person become filled with the Holy Spirit and know they are filled? Does everyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit have the gifts that Acts speaks about? Answer: A Christian receives the Spirit by the hearing of faith. “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the…
Read MoreIf the Holy Spirit is a part of the Godhead, then why isn’t He on the throne in Revelation 22:1?
Question: Hi, If God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are co-equal, can you explain the reason why the Holy Spirit doesn’t occupy a throne in Revelation 22:1? Answer: “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1). People…
Read MoreHow can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Question: When I got saved I always wanted to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I have received two times in my life the touch of God and when He touched me some power went from my head and through all my body, but I wasn’t aware that it was the Holy Spirit who touched…
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