Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Holy Spirit - One among the Trinity
Acts 1:6-11
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Devotion
Finite man cannot comprehend an infinite God in the true sense. All we can do is understand best we can from what the scriptures have revealed to us. No matter how much we unravel, God will still be a mystery to us. Jesus Christ is the best image and illustration of God according to human sense. The Bible proclaims that God's existence as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is true. Even though the word ‘Trinity’ is not mentioned as such in the Bible, it was very well understood among early Biblical Scholars that the theme of Trinity is purely prophetic. The term ‘Trinity’ was accepted and adopted by the Church as early as 325 AD. The Nicene Creed is the document that testifies to the above fact.
Dr. James White, director of Alpha & Omega Ministries defines Trinity as “ within the one being that is God, there exists eternally co-equal and co-eternal persons, namely God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.”
Old Testament is replete with examples regarding the work of God the Holy Spirit. We read in Genesis 41:38 that “Joseph was filled with the Spirit of God.” Many other leaders of Israel such as Samson, Gideon and Othniel were filled with the spirit of God. God sent His Spirit frequently to prophets, kings and judges of the people of Israel.
In Old Testament times, the Spirit was given to individuals for specific missions or for purposes assigned by God. However, we see the universal outpouring of the Spirit in New Testament times. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit will come to convict the world about sin, righteousness and judgement but the Spirit will strengthen the disciples in carrying out the missionary work in the world.
God created human being as part of His purpose for the whole creation. He accomplished the plan of creating the human being through Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice at the Calvary cross. It is the Holy Spirit that helps, comforts and perfects the bride of Christ, the church, for the culmination of God’s purpose for human kind. The Holy Spirit works in the believer peeling away our sinful habits replacing them with Christlike characteristics. The process of regeneration continues till the physical end ( death) or the second coming of our Lord. It makes the believer more effective for the work that Christ has entrusted to us.
As we grow in the Spirit, the fruits of the spirit will become more and more visible and evident in our lives- Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. ( Galatians 5:22). We can also exercise the gifts of the Spirit such as healing. These gifts must be employed in services of others and not for self-glorification.
The ultimate purpose of the manifestation of the Spirit is to testify Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. The believer brings glory to God through this testimony. As the Holy Spirit presses the church towards the goal of meeting the Lord Jesus at the end of ages, let us pray that Spirit will keep us together in the battle, overcome the enemy and reach our destination.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Devotion
Finite man cannot comprehend an infinite God in the true sense. All we can do is understand best we can from what the scriptures have revealed to us. No matter how much we unravel, God will still be a mystery to us. Jesus Christ is the best image and illustration of God according to human sense. The Bible proclaims that God's existence as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is true. Even though the word ‘Trinity’ is not mentioned as such in the Bible, it was very well understood among early Biblical Scholars that the theme of Trinity is purely prophetic. The term ‘Trinity’ was accepted and adopted by the Church as early as 325 AD. The Nicene Creed is the document that testifies to the above fact.
Dr. James White, director of Alpha & Omega Ministries defines Trinity as “ within the one being that is God, there exists eternally co-equal and co-eternal persons, namely God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.”
Old Testament is replete with examples regarding the work of God the Holy Spirit. We read in Genesis 41:38 that “Joseph was filled with the Spirit of God.” Many other leaders of Israel such as Samson, Gideon and Othniel were filled with the spirit of God. God sent His Spirit frequently to prophets, kings and judges of the people of Israel.
In Old Testament times, the Spirit was given to individuals for specific missions or for purposes assigned by God. However, we see the universal outpouring of the Spirit in New Testament times. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit will come to convict the world about sin, righteousness and judgement but the Spirit will strengthen the disciples in carrying out the missionary work in the world.
God created human being as part of His purpose for the whole creation. He accomplished the plan of creating the human being through Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice at the Calvary cross. It is the Holy Spirit that helps, comforts and perfects the bride of Christ, the church, for the culmination of God’s purpose for human kind. The Holy Spirit works in the believer peeling away our sinful habits replacing them with Christlike characteristics. The process of regeneration continues till the physical end ( death) or the second coming of our Lord. It makes the believer more effective for the work that Christ has entrusted to us.
As we grow in the Spirit, the fruits of the spirit will become more and more visible and evident in our lives- Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. ( Galatians 5:22). We can also exercise the gifts of the Spirit such as healing. These gifts must be employed in services of others and not for self-glorification.
The ultimate purpose of the manifestation of the Spirit is to testify Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. The believer brings glory to God through this testimony. As the Holy Spirit presses the church towards the goal of meeting the Lord Jesus at the end of ages, let us pray that Spirit will keep us together in the battle, overcome the enemy and reach our destination.
Prayer
Pour out Your Spirit, O Lord so that we will stay together in love and close out our race victoriously.
Thought for the Day
“ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven, give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” - Luke 11:13
Abraham Mammen, Sehion Mar Thoma Church, Dallas
Pour out Your Spirit, O Lord so that we will stay together in love and close out our race victoriously.
Thought for the Day
“ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven, give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” - Luke 11:13
Abraham Mammen, Sehion Mar Thoma Church, Dallas