Holy Spirit: 50 Things the Holy Spirit Does, by Frank Viola

Holy Spirit PoemsFrom a recent blog post by Frank Viola. Here are the first 10. Read the rest by clicking on the link —

1.      He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).

2.      He guides us into all truth (John 16:13).

3.      He regenerates us (John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5).

4.      He glorifies and testifies of Christ (John 15:26; 16:14).

5.      He reveals Christ to us and in us (John 16:14-15).

6.      He leads us (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18; Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1).

7.      He sanctifies us (2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 5:16).

8.      He empowers us (Luke 4:14; 24:49; Rom. 15:19; Acts 1:8).

9.      He fills us (Eph. 5:18; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 9:17).

10.   He teaches us to pray (Rom. 8:26-27; Jude 1:20).

About Jay F Guin

My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink. My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
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13 Responses to Holy Spirit: 50 Things the Holy Spirit Does, by Frank Viola

  1. John says:

    Bless you, my brother, Jay.

    The "what" is one thing. The "how" and "to what extent" are separate matters. The Holy Spirit will do what He does whether I understand all the details of the "how" and "to what extent" of that or not. I still think our time is better spent trying to better understand, teach, and live the Beatitudes than trying to understand the detail of how the Holy Spirit does His work (which He will do whether I understand it or not).

    Roll Tide!

    John

  2. Laymond says:

    John 16:13 (ESV)
    13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

    This teaching that the "Holy Spirit" indwells us just as it did the Apostles, to which Jesus bestowed it, has caused many people to disbelieve the bible.

    Let's look at the very first sentence, " When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth," If this applies to all Christians, how come we have so many versions, of so many things. You can bet the apostles saw everything the same. no this promise is not for the general public, not even for baptized Christians. Just Jesus audience at the time.

  3. Tom says:

    Does the Holy Spirit not also even now guide us into all truth as we read the words he inspired the apostles to write?

  4. Laymond says:

    Yes Tom, I believe the the words of Jesus' apostles were inspired by God

  5. Laymond says:

    Jhn 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

    If the Apostles recieved the gifts from God, that had been bestowed upon Jesus at his baptism (and I believe they did) the words they wrote as well as the words they spoke, were inspired.

  6. Hi Laymond,

    You said, "You can bet the apostles saw everything the same."

    They didn't just "know" everything, they had to figure some things out along the way which at times included consulting God for answers. Even though the Apostles had the Holy Spirit to "guide" them, the apostles were still human, they were not perfect. Acts shows this especially.

    >Paul opposed Peter to his face. Gal 2.11
    >Barnabas and Paul separated over a sharp disagreement between them about taking John called Mark with them. Acts 15.37-39 (Barnabas & Paul were both apostles – Acts 14.14)
    >Those in the Jerusalem church (Apostles included) had to consult about what requirements to put on the gentiles who were turning to God (this was decided upon by the Holy Spirit, Apostles, Elders, and the whole church). Acts 15
    >Paul concluded -from a vision in the night (dream?)- that God had called them to preach the gospel to those of Macedonia. Acts 16.9-10

    Also, check out Matt 28.19-20. Jesus commanded the Apostles to make disciples and to teach those disciples to obey *everything* that He had commanded them (the Apostles). (CJB version) So, everyone who has been discipled after that point is still supposed to obey *everything* that Jesus commanded his Apostles (thus our need for the Holy Spirit).

    Peter even told the people in Acts 2 that what they were experiencing was what had been spoken of by the prophet Joel and Joel noted that God said that in "the last days" He would pour out his Spirit on "all flesh", that included sons, daughters, young men, old men, servants, and handmaidens. I don't think any of us would argue that we aren't still in the "last days".

    You asked, "If this applies to all Christians, how come we have so many versions, of so many things." I believe this is because we are human and sinful and many don't have the Holy Spirit to guide them into all the truth. We all have the Bible, but even the Jewish people were looking through a "veil" and couldn't see properly. Many still have "veils" over their understandings today and are teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

    Act 5:32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

  7. Laymond says:

    God said that in "the last days" He would pour out his Spirit on "all flesh", that included sons, daughters, young men, old men, servants, and handmaidens. I don't think any of us would argue that we aren't still in the "last days".
    Mary said You asked, "If this applies to all Christians, how come we have so many versions, of so many things." "I believe this is because we are human and sinful and many don't have the Holy Spirit to guide them into all the truth"

    Mary, which is it, all have it or just some have it, and why do some have it, and others don't ?

    I don't recall Paul being in the room when Jesus gave the apostles the Holy Ghost

    My opinion of why we have so many disagreements is we read the bible differently, surely "The Holy Ghost" would not tell you one thing and me another, I believe a falsehood might be in there somewhere, if he did.

  8. Wendy says:

    Laymond, the apostles did not see everything the same.. Acts 15 attests to that.

  9. Laymond says:

    Wendy,will you please point out to me where, the apostles Jesus breathed on, disagreed with one or the other, in Acts 15.

  10. Todd says:

    Laymond, the scriptures seem to provide answers for your objections. 1. Not all have the Spirit because not all are aware that He is available – Acts 19:1-3. If we tell people He is not available and do not baptize people with a view to receiving Him how can we use His absence as "proof" His indwelling doesn't exist?
    2. Some who do have the Spirit use their own will to "out out" His fire within them. 1 Thess. 5:19.

    Peter promised that the baptism of repentance of sins by which we would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit was for all who God would call. This seems to trump our ideas to the contrary.

  11. Guy Crain says:

    i would tend toward the position that we are not still in "the last days."

    –guy

  12. Jay Guin says:

    Laymond,

    We have to start by determining: what is "all truth"? If Jesus meant "the truth of how to establish national health care policy," we have a problem. I've not met the person Spirit-empowered to solve that one yet. There are many things I don't know and wish I did.

    But in John and the rest of the NT, "truth" refers to the truth about Jesus, the gospel. /index-under-construction/t

    Consider —

    (Joh 1:17 ESV) 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

    (Joh 14:6 ESV) 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

    Now this interpretation considerably narrows the promise — but it also broadens it, because the truth of the gospel — the truth that is Jesus — is all we need. Our problem is that we invent rules to fight over rather than resting in the truth, which is entirely enough.

    There is a broader promise —

    (Rom 12:2 NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

    Our minds can be transformed through the Spirit's renewing work. Of course, these passages make clear that not all saved people enjoy this blessing. Else why issue the command?

    We have to submit to the Spirit's leading (see Rom 8) and become more spiritual people. And this happens, in part, by drinking deeply at the well of the gospel rather than the modern font of humanism. Accepting the gospel as sufficient, leaning on Jesus and seeking to be conformed to his image, is the key, I think. After all, the Spirit who will renew our minds is the Spirit of truth.

  13. Frank Viola says:

    Thanks for the shout out! Honored.

    fv

    Psalm 115:1
    http://www.frankviola.net

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