1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The words our body in this verse refer not to the corporate “body of Christ,” but to each believer’s individual, physical body. Each believer should view his or her body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, who was living in them. Our Lord Jesus Christ died to pay the high price that purchased sinful people’s freedom (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19). His blood provided the sacrifice that made believers acceptable to God. Because of Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit came to indwell those who believed in Him – He took up residence in their bodies. The Holy Spirit had come into us when we had believed. We as Born-Again Christian believers, therefore, do not belong to ourselves. God bought us, so we must honor God with our bodies. We must “honor God” by showing our gratefulness for our Lord Jesus’ sacrifice by our worship, obedience, and service (see Romans 12:1-2).
So, we must worship God in Spirit and in Truth. And when that Holy Spirit enters us, His first work is, “The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which was given unto us” (Romans 5:5 NKJV). What He gives is not only the faith or the experience of how greatly God loves, but something infinitely more glorious. The Love of God, as spiritual existence, as a Living Power, enters our hearts. It cannot be otherwise, for the Love of God exists in the Holy Spirit; the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the in pouring of Love. This Love now possesses the heart: that one same Love with which God loves Jesus, and ourselves, and all His children, and which overflows to all the world, is within us, and is, if we know it, and trust it, and give up to it, the power for us to live in too, The Holy Spirit is the Life of the Love of God; the Holy Spirit in us is the Love of God taking up abode within us.
- Quote from Calvin Miller, General Editor about “The Fruit of the Spirit Bible”
“Incorporating the fruit of the Spirit into our lives is not the result of personal effort or direct discipline. These beautiful qualities of Christlikeness result from a focus on knowing and loving Jesus.”
We have heard it said that imitation is the sincerest form of praise, Good news! Our Lord Jesus Christ wants to take us beyond mere imitation. He wants to literally reproduce His character in us through His love and His joy, His peace and all other fruit of the Spirit that come as we cultivate our relationship with our Lord.
Divine revelation, as Paul expounds (1 Corinthians 2) means three things. God must make known in His Word what He thinks and does. A preacher who is to communicate the message must not only be in possession of the truth, but continually be taught by the Holy Spirit.
The following Divine Revelation with three goals in mind (thoughts):
1) to help us become more like our Lord Jesus Christ. So much like Him that our family, friends, and others in our lives can see Him reflected in our words, attitudes, and actions;
2) to help us submit to God and resist the devil,
3) to help us to win the battle and be victorious in our lives.
- Quote from Dan Carroll, Senior Pastor from Water of Life Community Church about “Ministry & Gifts of the Holy Spirit”
“Christians often hunger for a deeper and more meaningful relationship with the Father, one that is full of His interaction with them. This is the work of the Spirit, the work 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13, 14 speak of: a releasing of charismata or spiritual gifts to empower believers into His presence. Unfortunately, we have all witnessed or heard of the misuse and abuse of gifts, which cause many to fear the Spirit’s ministry. It is important to say at the outset of this discussion that people, including many Christians, tend to abuse whatever it is that God gives to bless us. We have often abused the life-giving grace of the Cross, taking advantage of the death and resurrection of Christ. Fortunately, God does not withdraw grace due to humans abusing it. In like manner, when we abuse the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are taught in the Word to correct our behavior, not do away with the Spirit’s ministry.”
John 16:7 (NIV)
“But I tell you the truth; it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
Quote from Kathryn Kuhlman:
“What is the secret to the power in this ministry? The secret is found in the Person of the Holy Spirit.”
HOLY SPIRIT, STRONG IN THE SPIRIT
Do we know the glorious strengthening power of the Holy Spirit? Paul did. Perhaps he felt as we do at this moment as we think about the spiritual experiences, the closeness, the deepness, and the glory of those spiritual encounters we have known. Jesus is so merciful, and God’s love cannot be fathomed. Where would any of us be without the mercy of the Lord or without the love of God? But do not stop there. We have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, that closeness, that oneness in the midnight hour when it is so dark.
We cannot be strong except in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you know Him in that sense? Jesus knew Him. Jesus understood. Jesus knew the secret of His earthly victory and that was the reason He promised, “Ye shall receive power.” What power? The same power that had been manifested in His ministry and in His daily life. It was the greatest day of my life when I learned about the Holy Spirit. It changed my life and ministries (my family, relatives, friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ, winning souls and Bible Studies & Daily Words.
If you are a minister, are you lacking results in your ministry? Are you discouraged? Do you dread going into your pulpit, dread facing your congregation Sunday after Sunday? Sometimes you wish you could be an ordinary somebody instead of a minister. It is so discouraging when we see no results. If you are not satisfied, I urge you to turn everything, your whole ministry, over to the Holy Spirit. Turn yourself and your will over to the Holy Spirit. If you do, you will have a new ministry. You will be a new person; you will have a new congregation. There will be a new vision there and you will get results.
Jesus said, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but If I depart, I will send Him unto” (John16:7). In other words, Jesus was saying that He had to go back to take the position of great High Priest at the right hand of God the Father, and after His arrival in glory, He would send the Holy Spirit.
Our Lord Jesus Christ kept His promise. The one hundred and twenty were filled with the Holy Spirit on the first Day of Pentecost. Things happened! There were exciting times in the early church. But remember something: we talk about the Day of Pentecost as if it were in the past. We are still living in the Day of Pentecost!
Today is the Day of Pentecost, and have every right to have the same things happening in our churches this hour as happened on the first Day of Pentecost. Why? Because it is the person of the Holy Spirit who is the power.
I have chosen to accept the gift that our Lord Jesus Christ left for me, and you will never regret it if you accept His gift, too.