Posts

The Holy Spirit and the Common Good

Image
Now, concerning spiritual gifts [ pneumatikos - pertaining to the Holy Spirit, spiritual endowments], brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however, you were led. Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. Now, there are varieties of gifts [ charisma – gifts imparted to Christians by the Holy Spirit], but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. There are varieties [divisions, distributions]   of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation [ phanerosis – make visible or observable] of the Spirit for the common good [ sumphero – profit every man]. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit
Post a Comment
Read more

The Holy Spirit and Life in the Church

Image
  but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN, AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM ." For to us, God revealed them through the Spirit ; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows [understands, comprehends] the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, the thoughts of God no one knows [understands] except the Spirit of God.       1 Corinthians 2:9-11 The Apostle Paul understood the role and power of the Holy Spirit like no other New Testament writer. One of the most important of these is the ability to understand and comprehend truth. Paul identifies that this kind of understanding comes to those who love God. Without this understanding, divine truths would never be perceived, never mind understood. The rational mind, even one of superior intellect, is incapable since the Holy Spirit searches all things, even
Post a Comment
Read more

Incorruptible

Image
  Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable [ aphtharsía - incorruptible]. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable [incorruptible] , and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable [incorruptible], and this mortal must put on immortality [ athanasía - without death]. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable [incorruptible], and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ .      1 Corinthi
Post a Comment
Read more

The Harvest is Plentiful

Image
  In Genesis 46:3-4, God told Jacob that the Lord would make him a great nation, promising that He would go with Jacob and his family to Egypt and “ I will surely bring you up again .” God would birth the nation of Israel, beginning with the seventy of Jacob’s family, as reported in Genesis 46, as well as Joseph and his family already there, and then deliver them. In Exodus 1, Scripture says that the sons of Israel would be fruitful and increase significantly, multiply, and become exceedingly mighty for a season. However, once the Pharoah who favored Joseph was gone, a new leader would place them in hard labor for hundreds of years.   Now, after this, the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers [ ergates – laborer, worker] are few; therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go, behold,
Post a Comment
Read more