| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 158.1 | Litany of the Holy Ghost | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue May 25 1993 10:42 | 84 |
| Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy upon us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, " " " "
God the Holy Ghost, the Inspirer, .
Holy Trinity, One God, .
Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father .
and the Son,
Holy Ghost, Co-equal with the Father
and the Son,
Promise of the Father,
Gift of the Most High God,
Ray of Heavenly Light,
Author of all good,
Source of Living Water,
Burning Love,
Spirit of Truth and Power,
Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding,
Spirit of Counsel and Might,
Spirit of Knowledge and Piety,
Spirit of the Fear of the Lord,
Spirit of Compunction and Repentance,
Spirit of Grace and Prayer,
Spirit of Love, Joy and Peace,
Spirit of Patience, Long-Suffering and
Gentleness,
Spirit of Mildness and Faith,
Spirit of Modesty, Purity and Chastity,
Spirit of Adoption of the Sons of God,
Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier,
Who in the beginning didst move over the
waters,
Who didst inspire the holy men of old,
Who didst overshadow the Blessed Virgin,
Who didst give her power to conceive the
Son of God,
Who didst appear at the Baptism of Jesus,
Who didst descend upon the Apostles on the
Day of Pentecost, .
Who dwellest in us, .
Who governest the Church, .
Who fillest the whole world, Have mercy upon us.
Holy Ghost, we beseech thee to hear us, that
thou wouldest renew the face of the earth, We beseech thee to hear us.
That thou wouldest shed thy light in our
hearts, " " " " " "
That thou wouldest inflame us with thy Love, .
That thou wouldest open to us the Treasures .
of thy Grace, .
That thou wouldest make us obedient to thy
Inspirations,
That thou wouldest help us to love and bear
with each other,
That thou wouldest teach us to pray and .
thyself pray within us, .
That thou wouldest cause us to persevere .
in righteousness, We beseech thee to hear us.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Pour out thy Holy Spirit upon us.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Send down thy Holy Spirit upon us.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Grant to us thy Holy Spirit.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Create in us a clean heart, O God.
And renew a right spirit within us.
Let us pray.
Grant, O Merciful Father, that thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame,
and cleanse our hearts, that His indwelling Presence may fill us, and
make us fruitful in good works. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts and senses. Amen.
|
| 158.2 | A Prayer for the Seven-Fold Gift | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue May 25 1993 16:12 | 35 |
| O Holy Ghost, my Lord and my God, who has over-shadowed the Blessed Virgin
Mary and formed the most holy humanity of my Saviour Jesus Christ, I adore
thee, and acknowledge here in thy divine presence, that I am nothing and
can do nothing without thee. Come, thou blessed Spirit of God, and dwell
in this soul that longs to be thy holy temple. Heal the lurking distemper
of my heart and infuse thy grace into the well-springs of my life.
O Holy Ghost, grant me the gift of wisdom and supernatural light, that I
may not only know God, his infinite goodness, power, and beauty, but also
taste with ardent joy of heart his infinite sweetness.
O Holy Ghost, grant me the gift of understanding and shining light, that
I may know the mysteries of faith and of heavenly things, not as in
darkness, but in the true light of thy wisdom filling my mind and heart.
O Holy Ghost, grant me the gift of counsel and brilliant light, that in
danger and doubt I may choose what is right and good, and under thy
guidance attain a happy end.
O Holy Ghost, grant me the gift of fortitude and comforting light, that I
may generously overcome all difficulties in the way of salvation, resisting
all temptations, and bearing patiently all the troubles and trials of this
life.
O Holy Ghost, grant me the gift of knowledge and discerning light, that I
may judge of all things according to their true worth, and despise what is
to be despised and love what is to be loved.
O Holy Ghost, grant me the gift of godliness and heavenly light, which may
penetrate my soul with a tender devotion to thee and love for thy divine
service, and also cause me to find happiness in practising good works.
O Holy Ghost, grant me the gift of the fear of God and penetrating light,
that I may recognize how greatly sin offends thy infinite majesty, and
may fear and most carefully avoid all that is displeasing to thee.
|
| 158.3 | Veni, Creator Spiritus | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue May 25 1993 16:21 | 12 |
| Come, Holy Ghost our souls inspire, Anoint and cheer our soiled face
And lighten with celestial fire. With the abundance of thy grace.
Thou the anointing Spirit art, Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart. Where thou art guide, no ill can come.
Thy blessed unction from above Teach us to know Father, Son,
Is comfort life and fire of love. And thee, of both, to be but One;
Enable with perpetual light That through their ages all along,
The dullness of our blinded sight. This may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
|
| 158.4 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat May 29 1993 10:50 | 46 |
| From the treatise On the Holy Spirit by Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea
[379]
The titles given to the Holy Spirit must surely stir the soul of anyone
who hears them, and make one realize that they speak of nothing less than
the supreme Being. Is he not called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of
truth who proceeds from the Father, the steadfast Spirit, the guiding
Spirit? But his principal and most personal title is the Holy Spirit.
To the Spirit all creatures turn in their need for sanctification; all
living things seek him according to their ability. His breath empowers
each to achieve its own natural end.
The Spirit is the source of holiness, a spiritual light, and he offers his
own light to every mind to help it in its search for truth. By nature
the Spirit is beyond the reach of our mind, but we can know him by his
goodness. The power of the Spirit fills the whole universe, but the
Spirit gives himself only to those who are worthy, acting in each
according to the measure of faith.
Simple in himself, the Spirit is manifold in his mighty works. The whole
of his being is present to each individual; the whole of his being is
present everywhere. Though shared in by many, he remains unchanged; his
self-giving is no loss to himself. Like the sunshine, which permeates
all the atmosphere, spreading over land and sea, and yet is enjoyed by
each person as though it were for each alone, so the Spirit pours forth
his grace in full measure, sufficient for all, and yet is present as
though exclusively to everyone who can receive him. To all creatures
that share in him he gives a delight limited only by their own nature,
not by his ability to give.
The Spirit raises our hearts to heaven, guides the steps of the weak,
and brings to perfection those who are making progress. He enlightens
those who have been cleansed from every stain of sin and makes them
spiritual by communion with himself.
As clear, transparent substances become very bright when sunlight falls
on them and shine with a new radiance, so also souls in whom the Spirit
dwells, and who are enlightened by the Spirit, become spiritual themselves
and a source of grace for others.
From the Spirit comes foreknowledge of the future, understanding of the
mysteries of faith, insight into the hidden meaning of Scripture, and
other special gifts. Through the Spirit we become citizens of heaven,
we are admitted to the company of the angels, we enter into eternal
happiness, and abide in God.
|
| 158.5 | The Day of Pentecost | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sun May 30 1993 09:55 | 11 |
| When the day of Pentecost had come,
they were all together in one place.
And suddenly from heaven there came a
sound like the rush of a violent wind,
and it filled the entire house where
they were sitting. Divided tongues, as
of fire, appeared among them, and a
tongue rested on each of them. All of
them were filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other languages,
as the Spirit gave them ability.
|
| 158.6 | Whitsun sequence | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sun May 30 1993 18:34 | 39 |
| Come, thou Holy Spirit, come;
and from thy celestial home
send thy light and brilliancy.
Come, thou father of the poor,
come who givest all our store,
come the soul's true radiancy.
Come, of comforters the best,
of the soul the sweetest guest,
sweetly and refreshingly.
Come, in labour rest most sweet,
shade and coolness in the heat,
comfort in adversity.
Thou who art the Light most blest,
come fulfil their inmost breast,
who believe most faithfully.
For without thy Godhead's dower,
man hath nothing in his power,
save to work iniquity.
What is filthy make thou pure,
what is wounded work its cure,
water what is parched and dry.
Gently bend the stubborn will,
warm to life the heart that's chill,
guide who goeth erringly.
Fill thy faithful who adore,
and confess thee evermore,
with thy sevenfold mystery.
Here thy grace and virtue send,
grant salvation in the end,
and in heaven felicity. Amen. Alleluia.
|
| 158.7 | | TOKNOW::METCALFE | Eschew Obfuscatory Monikers | Wed Nov 30 1994 12:13 | 9 |
| My lesson this Sunday deals with God the Holy Spirit and so I thought
I'd look in here to round out my discussion. I was surprised to see
that this is all that is devoted to the topic of the Holy Spirit, (though
I know we speak of Him elsewhere in other contexts).
I appreciate John's entries and would like to see more of what you have
learned about the Third Person of the Godhead.
Mark
|
| 158.8 | our Friend, | DNEAST::MALCOLM_BRUC | | Fri Dec 09 1994 08:30 | 14 |
|
Taken from the book "Your friend, the Holy Spirit" by Morris Venden;
We often refer to the Holy Spirit as an "it." Sometimes we talk about
our need to get more of "it." But if the Holy Spirit were simply an
"it," we could approach Him as the heathen do their witch doctors or
Idols. We might think that if we could get more of "it," we would have
reason for pride, for we would be in control of a mighty power, becoming
some sort of spiritual supermen. But on the other hand, if the Holy
Spirit is a person, then instead of his being a power that we use, He
is the One using us, to the Glory of God. Instead of trying to get more
of the Holy Spirit, we become interested in His getting more of us.
There is a difference. There are many Christians today who are trying
to use the Holy Spirit.
|
| 158.9 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Dec 09 1994 09:21 | 13 |
| >if the Holy Spirit is a person
"IF"????
It's one of the basic premises of this conference, as confirmed by scripture
and definitively and infallibly expressed by the Church in the early councils
that the Holy Spirit is one of the three _Persons_ of the one God.
So of course it's important, for all the reasons you stated.
I know you didn't mean to challenge this fact, but "if" is such an "iffy" word.
/john
|
| 158.10 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | Thou God seest me | Fri Dec 09 1994 11:51 | 85 |
| I sometimes wonder what it could have been like under the First Covenant,
when the Holy Spirit didn't indwell the faithful. It must have been so
different. Then Jesus came and taught, and His words had a dimension which
the disciples could only begin to understand after He had gone.....
Because He had made the way for the Holy Spirit to occupy the believer.
The gospel of John has a lot about Him :
"... I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be
with you for ever - the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him
because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you will know Him, for He
lives with you, and will be in you ....... All this I have spoken while
still with you. Buit the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will
send to in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of
everything I have said to you."
John 14:16-17,25-26
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He,
the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not
speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you
what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine
and making it known to you. ..... I tell you the truth: it is for your good
that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to
you, but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict
the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement...."
John 16:12-14,7-8
Some in the epistles too... :
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple, and that God's Spirit
lives in you?"
1 Corinthians 3:16
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in
you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were
bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19
"...we are the temple of the living God..."
2 Corinthians 10:16
"...you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God
lives by His Spirit"
Ephesians 2:22
I have a big 'thing' about the temple. It's an exciting topic. It was the
place God ordained on earth where sacrifices could be offered to Him,
because He lived there. It was the centre of worship, because of His
presence. We see His glory coming to the temple - when first built, under
Solomon, so awesome that even the sacrifices have to stop. We also see the
glory departing, shown to Ezekiel - and then His return to the new temple
shown to Ezekiel.
But for now, for this season, the day of grace, WE are the temple! We
are where God lives! We have to be careful how we use these bodies,
because we're sharing them with God. The Holy Spirit actually lives in
here with me!
If the personality of the Holy Spirit isn't evident enough from these
references, there's Ephesians 5:30 "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.."
Also "Do not put our the Spirit's fire.." 1 Thessalonians 5:19
If we give Him honour, and treat our bodies as his sanctuary, He can speak
to us and teach hus. If we grieve Him, He has to withdraw, not because He
is weak, but because His strength would destroy us if His righteousness
came into open conflict with our sinfulness in our flesh....
The Holy Spirit comes from the LORD Jesus :
"'I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him'
I would not have known Him, except that the One Who sent me to baptize with
water told me, 'The Man on Whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is
He Who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that
this is the Son of God."
John 1:32-34.
The baptism (by immersion) to complete all baptisms...
God bless
andrew
|
| 158.11 | | TOKNOW::METCALFE | Eschew Obfuscatory Monikers | Fri Dec 09 1994 13:33 | 253 |
| Rebecca sent me the following information last week, before my Sunday lesson.
I am very grateful to her for it and used it for a lesson that everyone
commented was excellent. It wasn't me, but the Subject of the subject matter.
Thanks, Rebecca! (permission to post in the e-mail)
==============================================================================
I found the book The Helper, by Catherine Marshall, to be very helpful
in learning about the Holy Spirit. What follows are some thoughts from
the book:
In Chapter 1 - Who Is the Helper? - Marshall cites characteristics of
the Holy Spirit. He is a Person, possessing all the attributes of
personality. "He has a mind; He has knowledge; He has a will."
"He speaks (Acts 1:16)
He prays (Romans 8:26,27)
He teaches (John 14:26)
He works miracles (Acts 2:4; 8:39)
He can be resisted (Acts 7.51)
He commands (Acts 8:29; 11:12; 13:2)
He forbids (Acts 16:6,7)"
Part of His work on earth today is to administrate the Church. And He
is "a Friend whom we can come to know and to love. One of His most
lovable characteristics is that He deliberately submerges Himself in
Jesus; He works at being inconspicuous."
"It is the Spirit's specific work to reveal facets of the Lord's
personality rather than His own to us; to woo us and lead us to that
Other, to glorify Him, to bring Him and His' words to our remembrance."
In Part Two, Chapter 1 - Hungering and Thirsting for Something More,
Marshall says, "According to God's Word, without the Holy Spirit we do
not have:
Personal awareness of God's Love. Any of the fruits of the
Spirit, those lovable
Conviction of who Christ is. characteristics of the
Spirit-filled life.
A message of real help to others.
Real joy.
The right words to speak in times
of stress. Renewal.
Comprehension of the thoughts and Guidance from God.
and mind of God.
Healing (except what "nature"
Any help in our weakness. or doctors can give us.
Freedom from slavery to sin and The ability to like or to set
and harmful habits. our minds on things of the
Spirit.
Any of the gifts of the Spirit.
An Intercessor with the Father.
The Pledge of eternal life."
The Chapter titles reveal some of the ways the Spirit works in our
lives.
Part Three - How the Helper Meets My Everyday Needs.
He Saves Me Time
Here she uses an example of the inner voice ("the Spirit's inner
nudges") trying to get across a message, which was ignored, that
would have saved the individuals involved a lot of time and
frustration. She has this to say about discerning the Spirit's
voice:
"We need the practice of daily experimentation in hearing the
Spirit's voice. Since not all inner desires, urgings, or even voices
are from God, He has graciously given us a number of ways of testing
out such inner direction.
It is important to remember that the inner Voice will never bid us
to do anything shady, dishonest, impure, unloving, or selfish in the
sense that it hurts another. Nor will He ever tell us anything
contrary to Scripture because God cannot contradict himself.
Then too, as often as possible this kind of guidance should be
checked out with a fellow Christian. Finally, one of the Helper's
special gifts is that of the discerning of the spirits. He has
promised that each church fellowship constituted by Him will have
one or more individuals to whom He has given this needed gift for
the benefit of all in the fellowship.
However, I found that in the everydayness of life when there was not
time for this more thorough checking, and when the inner guidance did
not obviously violate any of God's loving laws or hurt another, it was
important to obey and thus experiment with it. That was how I learned
to recognize the Helper's voice."
He Guides My Actions
He Protects Me
He Is with Me in Everyday Situations
He Is My Remembrancer
He Gives Me New Desires
He Changes My Undesirable Habit Patterns
Part Four - How the Helper Ministers to Me at a Deeper Level
He Convicts Me of Sin
He Values My Personhood
He Teaches Me about Tears
He Is My Comforter
He Teaches Me to Pray
He Convinces Me of Eternal Life
Part Five - The Outpouring of the Helper's Generosity
Joy
Faith
Love
Vitality
Healing
Peace
Other Tongues
In this Chapter she says, "The common misconception that the gift of
tongues is ecstatic, inarticulate babbling is not the New Testament
position. Rather, Paul seems to assume that any heavenly language
always would have an interpretation, if we had faith to believe that
and could but make connection with an interpreter. Therefore his advice
about use of the gift in private and his warnings against misuse of the
gift in public are based on this premise."
Regarding authenticated instances of "other tongues" in our time,
Marshall cites an example told to her by her friend, Betty Malz, the
author of My Glimpse of Eternity.
"A considerable portion of her child hood was spent in Attica, Indiana.
Betty's father ministered in the little frame Rosedale Church. Rosedale
saw many astonishing answers to prayer and many of God's miraculous
gifts bestowed. As for instance, what happened some years ago one hot
summer evening to Betty's quiet, shy mother, Fern Perkins, who scarcely
ever raised her voice in church.
The congregation was suffering with the heat, so the church's double
doors opening onto a little porch were wide open to catch any breath of
air stirring. In the middle of the service two things happened
simultaneously....
Inside the church Betty's mother was suddenly told by the inner Voice
to stand up and pray in her heavenly language. Fern Perkin's natural
reserve and reticence about such a thing were swept aside by a
compulsive inner pressure: she *had* to obey.
As she did, outside the church an elderly Greek coal miner, his miner's
cap and lantern still on his head, was walking by the church as he
headed home from work. This man was in deep discouragement. Coal
mining had been the only job he could find. The pay was small and the
hours long. He never saw the light of day: he went to work before
sunrise and returned after dark. To add to his discouragement and
loneliness, he had found no one in the community who could understand
his Greek, and he spoke little English.
As he plodded along past the Rosedale Church, suddenly through the open
doors he heard a woman's voice speaking perfect Greek. At last! At last
someone with whom he could talk!
Impulsively the man sped into the church, spotted the woman from whose
lips still came that beautiful modern Greek. Ignoring the stares of the
worshipers, he began excitedly jabbering to Mrs. Perkins in his native
tongue. Of course Betty's mother could not understand a word he was
saying.
By now the church was in an uproar. Gradually, the truth dawned on both
sides. It was a miracle straight out of the Book of Acts because the
miner himself was able, haltingly, to translate the message that was
manna to his spirit. As Betty recalls, it was something like this....
God loves you. God has a purpose for your life and for your family. He
has the power to forgive sins, to bring you joy and hope and loving
purpose. He *will* give you a path to travel that will bring joy and
peace to you and those you love so dearly.
When the man realized that his new friend did not naturally speak
Greek, and that God had taken hold of her tongue and spoken through
her, he dropped to his knees, and with tears pouring down his cheeks,
began praising God. Then and there the miner gave his life to Jesus.
From then on, he and his family not only attended Rosedale Church
regularly and made a host of friends there, but several other families
were drawn into the church because of this one miracle of the Helper's
gift of "other tongues."
Miracles
Some questions to ask about church:
"Where does my church stand in regard to the Holy Spirit?
Am I and my fellow church members really functioning as Christ's Body
on earth?
Does the Person of Jesus occupy a central and pre-eminent place in the
preaching and life of my church, as over against emphasis on loyalty to
the church as an organizational and denominational entity?
Does my church recognize in any way the offices the Spirit would like
to fill, such as pastors, preachers, teachers, evangelists, prophets,
healers, miracle-workers, helpers, administrators?
To what extent is my church a practicing body of the 'priesthood of all
believers?" (Or are we still mostly a spectator church relying on the
professional church staff?)
Are strangers who come to my church impressed with the atmosphere of
joy and praise and genuine worship? Does the singing reflect that joy?
Is there deep caring for one another, as shown by the sharing of
material resources as well a spiritual experiences? Are there any needy
in my church whose necessities are not being met?
Are any of the sick being healed?
Are we in our church seeing lives being steadily turned upside down,
reclaimed for Jesus? Are there recovered alcoholics? Broken homes
mended? Estranged children reconciled? Drug addicts and mental patients
cured? Lost people who find a new purpose in life?
Are we in our church experiencing power over sin in our daily lives?
For instance, are we progressively shedding ego hang-ups, hurt
feelings, selfishness, lack of love? Are we being convicted of the sin
of unbelief by the Spirit?"
All quotations are from The Helper, Catherine Marshall, Avon Books, New
York, 1978.
|
| 158.12 | check out Genesis 24 | FRETZ::HEISER | Grace changes everything | Fri Dec 09 1994 14:30 | 5 |
| Abraham's unnamed servant in Genesis 24 is a beautiful picture of the
Holy Spirit in action. Actually the whole chapter is great for showing
a Father's love for a Son and helping Him obtain His Bride ;-)
Mike
|
| 158.14 | We've been bought with a price | ODIXIE::HUNT | | Fri Dec 09 1994 14:52 | 12 |
| Since we're talking about Christ and His church, sort of. The bible
does say that we (Christians) have been bought with a price. However,
the price was infinitely more than for a car, house, or cow.
Speaking of a man/woman relationship-- I would assume that a man obtains a
wife in the same manner as a woman obtains a husband. Its a *giving* of
self to the other person.
Love in Him,
Bing
|
| 158.15 | | PAULKM::WEISS | Trade freedom for His security-GAIN both | Fri Dec 09 1994 15:03 | 14 |
| > Does one obtain a bride the same way one obtains a car, a house, or a
> cow?
"For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave
to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Gen 2:24
Does anyone leave their father and mother for a cow? Does anyone cleave to a
house? Does anyone become one flesh with a car?
No Patricia, one does not obtain a bride as they would obtain these other
things. At least if anyone does, they are far, far from God's plan. Sorry,
but you'll have to search for another topic in which to grind your axe.
Paul
|
| 158.16 | The Spirit Above The Waters | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Fri Aug 18 1995 17:27 | 44 |
|
One of the things that I've become more aware of over the years is
that my knowledge of the third person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit,
is not what it ought to be. I've seen many books on the subject but
one caught my eye this week. It's "Names of the Holy Spirit" by Ray
Pritchard by Moody Press. It gives the scripture reference, a short
discussion of it, and a little prayer at the end. I thought maybe
I'd share some of them here from time to time.
The Spirit Above The Water
--------------------------
"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surfcae
of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
(Genesis 1:2)
"In the beginning God created." With these five majestic words, the
Bible declares that God Himself stands alone before the creation of
the universe. How does He create the world? What is His first step?
Genesis 1:2 informs us that the Holy Spirit was "hovering" above
the waters. The word "hovering" suggests a bird tenderly protecting
her helpless children in the nest.
Although much is shrouded in mystery, we may be sure of this: God's
Spirit was there in the beginning, taking the formless mass, moving
through the darkness, filling the emptiness, preparing the way for
God to speak the creative word and bring light into the world.
Think of it! The mighty Spirit of God hovers overs all creation.
Without the Spirit, nothing that is made will come into being.
He is there in the beginning, He moves through the chaos and darkness,
He protects the prenatal creation.
We may be encouraged that God's Holy Spirit still hovers over the
darkness today. Though we may not see Him or feel Him or reach out
and touch him, yet He is there. He still moves through the emptiness
of life, preparing the way for God to bring us out of the darkness
and into the light once again.
Prayer: O Lord, as Your Spirit once hovered over the dark chaos
of creation, help me to believe that in the darkness of my life
You are still there, still watching, still protecting. Thank You
that the light of Your presence will shine again in my life. Amen.
|
| 158.17 | Thanks, Sounds like a good book | CPCOD::JOHNSON | A rare blue and gold afternoon | Fri Aug 18 1995 17:34 | 4 |
| Thanks Jill, I like that.
Leslie
|
| 158.18 | Breath of Life | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Fri Aug 18 1995 17:47 | 36 |
|
Names of the Holy Spirit
by Ray Pritchard
Moody Press
Breath of Life
--------------
"And the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became
a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
The Hebrew word ruah can be translated "breath" or "spirit." The
phrase "breath of life," therefore, refers to more than simply the
air that Adam breathed. It is the animating life force that comes
only from God's Spirit. By itself, the body is simply "the dust
of the ground" - a collection of chemical elements bound together
as water and protein. But life comes only from the inbreathing of
God's Spirit.
All that we are and have we owe to God who has brought us to life by
His Spirit. What a contrast to many who boast of their worldly
achievements - money, fame, and power. But those things do not last
forever. All of it returns to the dust eventually.
Life comes only from God - a fact true both on the physical and
spiritual planes. Just as we owe our physical life to the Spirit
of God, we also owe our spiritual life to Him as well. For without
the "inbreathing" of God's Spirit in the work of regeneration, we
could not be born again.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for giving me the breath of life.
Thank You also for the gracious work of Your Spirit in breathing
into me new life through Jesus Christ. Amen.
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| 158.19 | The Servant | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Mon Aug 21 1995 19:18 | 43 |
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Names of the Holy Spirit
by Ray Pritchard
Moody Press
The Servant
-----------
"So he said, 'I am Abraham's servant.' (Genesis 24:34)
A quick scan of Genesis 24 reveals that the Holy Spirit is mentioned
nowhere. What we find instead is a delightful story of the aged
Abraham, sending his servant five hundred miles to find a bride for
his son Isaac. Where is the Holy Spirit in this story? Many Bible
students see the servant as a beautiful illustration of the Holy
Spirit's work in salvation. In a general sense, we know that
Abraham's offering of his son Isaac on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22),
is a picture of the Father offering His Son at the cross. A similar
symbolism may be seen in Genesis 24. Just as Abraham sought a bride
for Isaac, even so our Heavenly Father seeks a bride for His Son,
the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:26-27).
Furthermore, the servant was sent on a particular mission - to find
a bride. He travels a great distance with but one goal in mind -
to find a bride for his master's son. In the same way, the Holy
Spirit moves across the earth wooing and winning men and women for
Jesus Christ. The servant says nothing on his own behalf but takes
every opportunity to speak well of Isaac. Even so, the Holy Spirit
speaks not of Himself but glorifies Christ (John 16:13). When the
servant found Rebekah, he gave her gifts just as the Spirit gives
gifts to those who are in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Finally, the servant personally accompanied Rebekah on the journey
to meet Isaac. In the same way, the Holy Spirit draws us into a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Perhaps the very length of Genesis 24 (67 verses) shows us something
of God's heart for sinners. It was not an easy thing for the servant
to find a bride for Isaac. It entailed a long and dangerous journey
into unfamiliar territory. But the servant would not be turned away.
Neither will the Holy Spirit be turned aside from His holy calling to
find a bride for the Son of God.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for sending Your Spirit into the world to
draw me to the Savior. Amen.
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| 158.20 | Oil | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Tue Aug 22 1995 00:57 | 55 |
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Names of the Holy Spirit
by Ray Pritchard
Moody Press
Oil
---
"So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of
his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon
David in power." (I Samuel 16:13)
Once the Lord rejected Saul as king, that meant a new ruler had to
be found. But where should Samuel begin looking? The Lord directed
him to go to "Jesse of Bethelem," for the Lord had chosen one of his
sons to be the next king. But which one would it be? One by one,
Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Each time the Lord
told Samuel, "Not this one." Only one son was left, the youngest,
a boy named David, but he was out tending the sheep. When David
was brought before Samuel, the Lord said, "He is the one." Where
upon Samuel anointed David with oil, and the Spirit of the Lord
came upon him in great power.
Oil is a familiar biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit. In the Old
Testament, priests and kings were anointed with oil as a means of
setting them apart for special service to God. Oil also was used
as fuel for lamps and for cleansing and sanctifying. In the New
Testament, Jesus sent out the Twelve to minister in His name. They
cast out demons and anointed sick people with oil (Mark 6:7-13).
In James 5:14 we find instructions regarding elders anointing the
sick with oil.
Just as the priests and kings must first be anointed with oil before
service can begin, so the power of the Holy Spirit is necessary for
all effective service for God. Just as oil is necessary for the
lamp to give off light, so it is the Holy Spirit who gives us power
to shine as the light of the world. Just as oil sanctifies priests
and lepers, so the Holy Spirit sanctifies the children of God.
Anointing the sick with oil reminds both the sick and well that all
true healing rests in God's hands alone.
Psalm 133 compares the oil running down Aaron's beard with the
blessing of unity among the people of God. The oil of the Holy
Spirit lubricates the body of Christ, bringing together Christians
who would otherwise be separated from one another.
Psalm 45:7 mentions the "oil of joy," while Psalm 104:15 speaks of
oil that makes the face shine. In Psalm 23:5, David praises God who
anointed his head with oil. These passages typify the ministry of
the Holy Spirit in bringing joy to the heart of the believer.
Prayer: Father, Thank You for the oil of the Holy Spirit. May the
"good oil" of the Spirit flow through me today. Amen.
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| 158.21 | The Breath of the Almighty | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Tue Aug 22 1995 17:53 | 41 |
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Names of the Holy Spirit
by Ray Pritchard
Moody Press
The Breath of the Almighty
--------------------------
"But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives
him understanding." (Job 32:8)
"The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me
life." (Job 33:4)
"If it were his intention and he withdrew his Spirit and breath, all
mankind would perish." (Job 34:14-15)
These verses clearly teach the deity of the Holy Spirit. He is the
very breath of the Almighty. In contrast with certain doctrines that
downplay the Holy Spirit or relegate Him to a role less than equal to
God., Elihu (the speaker in all three passages) asserts the role of
the Holy Spirit in creation, giving and sustaining life, and giving
understanding. Without the Holy Spirit, all mankind would promptly
perish. This high view of the Holy Spirit is only possible if He is
indeed the third member of the Holy Trinity, equal in position and
power to the Father and the Son.
These verses also stress the sovereign power of the Spirit. We owe
our very lives to Him. Even unbelievers owe their existence to the
Spirit of God. He demonstrates His grace to us by granting us life
and breath this very moment.
The "understanding" that the Holy Spirit gives goes beyond the wisdom
that comes with age and experience. Through the Holy Spirit, even
young men and women may posses insight into life that those much older
will never attain.
Prayer: Breath of God, I bow before Your awesome power. Sweep through
me, renew me, give me wisdom beyond my years. Amen.
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| 158.22 | The Lamp of the Lord | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Tue Aug 22 1995 18:06 | 40 |
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Names of the Holy Spirit
by Ray Pritchard
Moody Press
The Lamp of the Lord
--------------------------
"The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out
his inmost being." (Proverbs 20:27)
What is meant by "the lamp of the Lord?" Some commentators believe
it refers to the human conscience, which "searches out" a man's
motive, helping discern between good and evil. However, it is more
likely a reference to the Holy Spirit, who like a bright lamp goes
from one "room" of the heart to another, searching out those things
that even conscience cannot discover. After all, a man may have a
"seared conscience" and be a moral sociopath, totally unable to know
right from wrong. Conscience is a good guide, but it is not infallible.
But the Holy Spirit sees and knows every thought and intent of the
heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. Like a blazing light, the Spirit
of God exposes everything, sees everything, drags the deepest secrets
out of the closet and exposes them to the light of God. Proverbs 5:21
speaks of the same truth, "For a man's ways are in the full view of
the Lord, and He examines all his paths." To that we might add
Proverbs 15:3, "The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on
the wicked and the good.
Once again, we find a truth about the Holy Spirit that is both comforting
and terrifying. To those who have nothing to hide, the lamp of the Lord
holds no fear; but to those who have many "hidden things", the lamp of
the Lord brings them all to the light sooner or later.
How should we then live? Since the lamp of the Lord constantly searches
our inmost being, let us live openly, honestly, hiding nothing. Then we
will have nothing to fear as the Holy Spirit searches us out.
Prayer: Lamp of the Lord, search me, cleanse me, move within me until
nothing is hidden and all things are laid bare before You. Amen.
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