Do we really understand the person of the Holy Spirit?

[other one]

Well, personally considering the consequences of saying something that might be wrong and the non forgiving attitude for doing that,   I'm kind of leery of discussing the Holy Spirit in any real detail.

[Esther4:14]

 But do we understand Him enough to live the way we are supposed to in obedience to Him?  I'm afraid the answer may be a resounding NO.  But I want to learn!  Thought and encouragements, please.  

It is entirely possible that there is little or no systematic and in-depth teaching in the churches on God the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit has everything to do with the Christian's life from regeneration to ultimate perfection.

Obedience to the Holy Spirit is sanctification (walking in the Spirit), and cannot be separated from obedience to the Word of God (Heb 4:12,13). Obedience to the Holy Spirit is also the willingness to repent when we are shown the errors of our beliefs and our actions.  Unfortunately, when Christians show other Christians their sins and errors (as is required), many of those who should repent fail to do so, and instead resist the Holy Spirit, simply because He is invisible and a mere brother or sister is speaking.  You will note this from time to time on Christian forums (including this one).

Stephen was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Ghost, but when he spoke out the sins of his people, they not only resented his speech, but they killed him for speaking the truth (Acts 6:1-8:3).  So it is today in Christendom.  More often than not, you will find Christians arguing to defend themselves, rather than submitting to the judgment of the Holy Spirit.  But God does not generally render summary execution today (as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira). On the other hand, he warns every Christian thus "TODAY, IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS" (Heb 3:7-4:8).

 

I find it interesting that this is your take on the discussion topic.  I don't suppose you think that your words apply to you though, but are simply a rant about the frustration that no one is listening to your criticisms which would so vastly improve their lives. 

Maybe, what people need more on a board like this is love and not the self righteous legalism from a batch of people who feel they have graduated from basic principles of repentance and are called to serve as crossing guards on a online forum bearing daily frustrations that no one is listening to them.  Oh my!  What has the church become? 

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

 

[enoob57]

The Holy Spirit's ministry is to take the letter off the page and form The Person of Jesus in our hearts... so that
we now know The Lord Jesus in an intimate way discarding that which is offensive to Him and keeping that
which brings Him glory... "The Spirit of Christ"
John 16:13-15
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:
and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of
mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine:
therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
KJV
If  The Holy Spirit is within you then your life should decrease and Jesus' Life the increase in all things...
Love, Steven

[OneLight]

As I believe, the Holy Spirit is God in us for the reason of changing us to be what He wants us to be, do what He wants us to do, and put an end to our sinful nature.  He does this through many different ways, so many that we miss a lot by not understanding or listening close enough to His moving within us.  We do not fully understand His ways, as scripture reminds us.  Yet, as our relationship strengthens with Him, we change.  This change is for His purpose, not ours.  We just benefit from allowing Him to use us as His tool.

[Guest Thallasa]

 But do we understand Him enough to live the way we are supposed to in obedience to Him?  I'm afraid the answer may be a resounding NO.  But I want to learn!  Thought and encouragements, please.  

It is entirely possible that there is little or no systematic and in-depth teaching in the churches on God the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit has everything to do with the Christian's life from regeneration to ultimate perfection.

Obedience to the Holy Spirit is sanctification (walking in the Spirit), and cannot be separated from obedience to the Word of God (Heb 4:12,13). Obedience to the Holy Spirit is also the willingness to repent when we are shown the errors of our beliefs and our actions.  Unfortunately, when Christians show other Christians their sins and errors (as is required), many of those who should repent fail to do so, and instead resist the Holy Spirit, simply because He is invisible and a mere brother or sister is speaking.  You will note this from time to time on Christian forums (including this one).

Stephen was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Ghost, but when he spoke out the sins of his people, they not only resented his speech, but they killed him for speaking the truth (Acts 6:1-8:3).  So it is today in Christendom.  More often than not, you will find Christians arguing to defend themselves, rather than submitting to the judgment of the Holy Spirit.  But God does not generally render summary execution today (as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira). On the other hand, he warns every Christian thus "TODAY, IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS" (Heb 3:7-4:8).

 

I find it interesting that this is your take on the discussion topic.  I don't suppose you think that your words apply to you though, but are simply a rant about the frustration that no one is listening to your criticisms which would so vastly improve their lives. 

Maybe, what people need more on a board like this is love and not the self righteous legalism from a batch of people who feel they have graduated from basic principles of repentance and are called to serve as crossing guards on a online forum bearing daily frustrations that no one is listening to them.  Oh my!  What has the church become? 

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

 

 

Esther ,

I found no Judgement in the post you cited none.

[*Zion*]

Well, personally considering the consequences of saying something that might be wrong and the non forgiving attitude for doing that,   I'm kind of leery of discussing the Holy Spirit in any real detail.

 

It turns out much better and more PEACEFUL and ACCURATE to do as Yeshua said, seek the Father Abba, frequently, asking whatever you desire in Yeshua's Name, and trusting and relying on Yahweh for all things.   Yahweh will do for you as He said, as it is written.

The emphasis many types of churches put on seeking/praying to/ etc/ the holy spirit distracts from a lot of what is written in Scripture.  Note particularly ALL of the greetings Yahweh breathed to be written in ALL of the epistles/letters in the NT.

Thank you for all your responses, and may I stress the intention of the OP: to reason and to discuss together; i.e. in love!

With that in mind, I'd really love to hear what OtherOne has to contribute, and if any of us should be unforgiving, I shall be the first to blow raspberries at them!   Seriously brother, don't hold back, let us edify each other.

Also, I'd like to add that we should not be ignoring the Holy Spirit and just concentrating on the Father and the Son.  There is a reason He is part of the Trinity - He is God, and He has chosen our spirits to be His dwelling place.  I do not take it lightly.  So, SimpleJeff, are you talking about the Holy Spirit when you mention the Name Yahweh?  Please clarify.

Can we please agree that we are here to add to our understanding, and not to be argumentative and act superior?  It really doesn't help.

One thing that we can really address here, which quite frankly may help us all at this point, is our flesh.  How much we might rely on it, and how much we follow the Holy Spirit's leading.  I'd also like to explore whether we should abandon our logic when fully placing our trust in the Holy Spirit's leading, or whether He in fact uses our logic to communicate things, but perhaps in a way we are not used to.  I ask this because:

 

1Corinthians  1:8

 

 

 

 

[ Christ the Power and Wisdom of God ] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1Corinthians 1:25

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 

 

 

Looking forward to your answers, love you all

 

Edited September 27, 2015 by *Zion*

[AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

I am also interested in O.O. 's thoughts. 

For me, though I cannot touch Him, or see Him, I can perceive Him as He lives IN me. It is God. Can I prove that to an unbeliever? No. Can I show the results of it ? Yes, amen. I do not always heed Him ( much to my own dismay ), but I do try to.

[Ezra]

 

Maybe, what people need more on a board like this is love and not the self righteous legalism from a batch of people who feel they have graduated from basic principles of repentance

  and are called to serve as crossing guards on a online forum bearing daily frustrations that no one is listening to them.  Oh my!  What has the church become? [/quote]

When Christians bring up "self righteous legalism" as an excuse, you can be sure that the Holy Spirit has spoken to them about something, and they are having a hard time dealing with it.

[*Zion*]

 

Maybe, what people need more on a board like this is love and not the self righteous legalism from a batch of people who feel they have graduated from basic principles of repentance

  and are called to serve as crossing guards on a online forum bearing daily frustrations that no one is listening to them.  Oh my!  What has the church become?

 

 

When Christians bring up "self righteous legalism" as an excuse, you can be sure that the Holy Spirit has spoken to them about something, and they are having a hard time dealing with it.

Not always, Ezra.  Christ did not come to make things legal, He came to give us life and in abundance.  If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed.  But it doesn't help when we accuse one another instead of trying to understand just what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.

[*Zion*]

I am also interested in O.O. 's thoughts. 

For me, though I cannot touch Him, or see Him, I can perceive Him as He lives IN me. It is God. Can I prove that to an unbeliever? No. Can I show the results of it ? Yes, amen. I do not always heed Him ( much to my own dismay ), but I do try to.

Love it, ATGNAT