Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Bible Study: The Excellence of God

Sunday of the Holy Trinity

O Lord, Our Lord,
How Excellent Is Thy Name
in All the Earth
Psalm 8

This psalm emphasizes the power of the name of God, when God's name spoken even by babes in arms can overpower his enemies.

When we realize the power of God's name, we reach a better understanding of the Second Commandment, where we are told to respect and protect the name of God.

How can this overwhelming, awesome God even be aware of any one of us? Yet he cares for each of us personally, even though we are a little lower than the angels who worship him without ceasing.

The translation in the Contemporary English Version of the Bible is interesting, but even though the language is difficult, for this psalm, I prefer the King James Version.

From this psalm we sing How Majestic Is Your Name by Michael W. Smith, in the Maranatha Praise Chorus Book.


1. Who ranks higher in the universe than people?



[Angels hold a higher position in the universe than people do.]



2. Does the name of God have power by itself?



[Yes, the name of God is of itself powerful.]



3. Does God love each and every one of us?



[God loves each one of us so much that he gave his only son, Jesus, to die for us.]

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Bible Study: The Power of Jesus

There are so many people in need today, our focus by way of The Holy Spirit is to provide relevant information to strengthen our faith in The Power of Jesus.

Prayer: Oh God our Father, You are all powerful and all powers are vested in Thy Son, Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit. We humble ourselves of all sin, we pray for all, and forgive all in Christ Jesus. We thank you Lord and Bless Your Holy Name. Praise God for being God. We ask that you continue to Bless this ministry and each follower, we pray that each follower brings in more souls to Thy Word in the name and Joy of Jesus: A-men.

LESSON: Why Jesus Healed the Sick and Cast Out Demons (Exposition of Matthew 8:14-17)
Posted on October 8, 2007 by Steve Weaver
They’re making a new Indiana Jones movie. Harrison Ford is appearing for the fourth time as the professor/archaeologist/adventurer in a release scheduled for May 22, 2008. Archeology has long been an interest of mine, perhaps because of the popularization of the science by the Indiana Jones films.

Although when the science of archeology first emerged in the nineteenth century it was thought that it would soon disprove many assertions of the Bible, in reality many of the historical facts of the Bible have been confirmed scientifically through archeology. One example of this comes from the city of Capernaeum where most scholars agree that the home of Simon Peter has been uncovered.

During the fourth and fifth centuries it was common for churches to be built over “holy places.” Underneath a church built during that time period was found a house that dated back to around 100 B.C. The excavators could tell that the house was remodeled some time in the late first century A.D.. This remodeling probably indicates that it was converted from a private residence to a public meeting house. 134 fragments of plaster from the second century had writings with the name of Peter and references to Jesus on them. The conclusion by archaeologists is that this was the home of Peter and was later converted into a church. If this is the case, it is the home where the miracle of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law occurred. This is the miracle to which we now turn found in Matthew 8:14-17.

Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. (15) So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. (16) When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, (17) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND BORE OUR SICKNESSES.”

I. The Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-Law, vv. 14-15.
The healing of Peter’s wife’s mother is the third in a series of three strung together by Matthew which shows Jesus concern for the outcasts of society. In vv. 1-4, Jesus heals a leper. In vv. 5-13, Jesus heals a Gentile, the servant of the centurion. Here in vv. 14-15, Jesus heals a woman.

It’s interesting to note that in these three healings: the first was in answer to one’s own petition, the second was of another, and the third was not in response to any recorded petition.

Jesus “touched her hand” (v. 15). In so doing, he broke three social taboos. First, he was touching a woman. Second, he was healing on the Sabbath (which we know from comparing the account in Mark 1:21-35). Third, he was touching someone with a fever which was forbidden by the rabbis of the day. But as in the case of the healing of the leper, in the words of D. A. Carson, Jesus’ “touch did not defile the healer, but healed the defiled” (Matthew, 204).

This fever was a serious one. In ancient days, fevers were not understood as a symptom, but as a disease in and of itself. Thus, Matthew simply calls it a fever. However, it was probably a fever caused by malaria, which was common in the region at the time. The language in the Greek for “lying sick with a fever” is much more graphic. It is a form of ballo meaning “I throw.” Peter’s mother-in-law was literally “thrown down” with a fever. This fever had completely incapacitated her.

Then Jesus touched her hand . . . “and the fever left her.” The disease in her body causing the fever immediately fled. So complete was her healing that she immediately “arose and served them.” This signifies the completeness of her healing. There were no lingering effects. There was none of the physical weakness normally associated with recovering from a fever. Instead there was strength to serve.

II. The Healing of the Many, v. 16.
At sunset the crowds began to bring the demon-possessed to Jesus. They had waited until the Jewish Sabbath day had ended at 6 pm before they brought the people to Jesus (see Mark 1:21-35). They brought the “demon-possessed.” Jewish intertestamental writings linked illness with demons. The crowd may have thought all which they brought to be possessed by demons. But Jesus seems to have made a distinction by casting out demons of some and healing others who are merely sick.

He “cast out the spirits with a word.” An example of this is seen in the story which ends this chapter. Jesus caused the demons possessing the two men to leave them and enter a herd of swine with the simple command: “Go!” (8:32).

III. The Purpose of the Healings and Exorcisms, v. 17.
But what was the purpose of these healings and exorcisms? In one sense we could say that Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons because of His compassion. Matthew 14:14 says, “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” That is certainly one reason why Jesus healed. But the main motivation in Scripture given for why Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, or performed any kind of miracle was to reveal something about who He was. In the Gospel of John the miracles are signs which point to the deity of Jesus. In Matthew 9 Jesus heals a paralytic to show that He has the divine power to forgive sins. And here in Matthew 8:17 we are told that Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons in order to fulfill Isaiah 53:4. That is the text which is quoted here. Matthew clearly sees the healings and exorcisms as Messianic miracles, miracles which revealed Jesus to be the promised Messiah of the Old Testament.

Whenever the New Testament writers wanted to reference a particular section of the Old Testament, they didn’t have the luxury of being able to cite chapter and verse (a relatively modern convention). Instead they would cite a verse, with the understanding that the surrounding context be understood to also be in the mind of the author. That’s why it is important when we see an Old Testament text cited in the New Testament that we go back and see that verse in its original context.
That is true in this case, because Matthew does not only want us to see Jesus as the Mighty Messiah, but also as the Suffering Servant. Chapter 53 of Isaiah is one of the great prophetic descriptions of the sufferings and death of Christ upon Calvary. Matthew uses Isaiah 53:4 not only to reveal the power of the Messiah over disease and demons, but also to reveal the Suffering Servant as a Sacrificial Substitute.

This is the way Isaiah 53 is used by Peter in 1 Peter 2:21-25,

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (22) “WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH”; (23) who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (24) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (25) For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Isaiah 53 points forward to the death of Jesus who “bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” Matthew himself understands it this way which is seen by at least three allusions to Isaiah 53 in his description of the Passion of Christ (Is. 53:7 in Matt. 27:12; Is. 53:9 in Matt. 27:57; and Is. 53:10-12 in Matt. 20:28).

By quoting Isaiah 53:4, Matthew is showing that Jesus is announcing to the principalities and powers of this world that the King has come to make things right. This little house of a fisherman had become a battlefield in the war between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent.

The Scriptural storyline is clear:

Sickness and death were not a part of the original creation
Sickness and death will not be a part of the new creation.
Sickness and death are a result of sin which Satan brought into the world.
Jesus came to defeat Satan and thus break His power.
Therefore these healings are the shots over the bow of Satan’s ship announcing that the war is almost over. These miracles point forward to Jesus’ death on the cross where sin, sickness, demons, and death will be finally defeated. Richard Halverson explains why Jesus did not just stay on earth healing diseases, etc.:

Why did Jesus Christ not remain alive and eliminate, generation by generation, all the evils which harass humanity? Simply because He was the Great Physician, and in the finest tradition of medical science, He was unwilling to remain preoccupied with the symptoms when He could destroy the disease. Jesus Christ was unwilling to settle for anything less than elimination of the cause of all evil in history. Christianity Today, Vol. 38, no. 2.

Jesus dealt with the root cause of sin, suffering and death when He defeated Satan on the cross! As 1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” This reality is what the healing miracles and exorcisms were pointing forward to.


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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

“The King’s Authority Over Disease: Jesus and a Centurion

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Sermon: Just to Touch Jesus

Our message today by way of The Holy Spirit is The Power of Jesus, and just to touch Him.

Prayer: Dear God of all healing, we Praise and bless your Holy name. We humble ourselves of all sin. We forgive all, pray for all, and thank You for all spiritual Blessings in the healing power in Christ Jesus.

Praise God for whom all blessings flow in the name of Christ Jesus. Bless all who read these words in pure Faith, A-men.

Sermon: The Power of The Touch. As Jesus walks through the town, a woman who had been suffering with a bleeding problem for over eight years, sought out Jesus to heal him of her aliment. If she could just touch not him, but His rob she would be healed.

As a result of her indeed touching of The Robe of Jesus she was healed. Our question today is one that examines the power of Jesus and His touch?

People today need healing. We are just about sick over anything and everything in a sin sick world. We are bleeding red ink in our lives and in business and governments as well. Our family are are bleeding and suffering to do more with less.

Rudeness and evil actions fill our streets and news. What are we to do?

We need to touch Jesus and and receive his healing powers today. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. God raised Him on the third day. Jesus will return soon and very soon to put an end to all evil and all problems. Jesus has the power to prepare a new Heaven and a new Earth for all those who believe in His power.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Convocation: The Lord is our Salvation

The purpose of this convocation is to allow us to focus on Gods word. Often we are so over-burden that we may lose our main goal in life. The media hits us with so many messages that it has become rather painful for me. Yet, we Thank God and Praise God for you. We are growing in number and pray that The Lord will continue to send folks our way. Please share this good news with a friend. We pray for all people, at all times. We pray that God will Bless you in a special way. The Joy of Jesus is the answer to all of our concerns in life. The following passages address Gods concern for our Salvation. Do reflect on these words as you will indeed be blessed by your faith in The Lord Jesus Christ:

The Lord Is My Strength

Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

2 Samuel 22:33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

Psalms 18:1 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalms 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Psalms 28:8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

Psalms 31:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Psalms 31:4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

Psalms 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Psalms 43:1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalms 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalms 81:1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Psalms 118:14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

Psalms 140:7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

Psalms 144:1 Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Isaiah 49:5 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

Jeremiah 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

Habakkuk 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.


Topical Bible Studies > Vengeance > This Study

Devotion: Bless The Lord

Often most people are looking for a blessing. This is particularly true during a world recession. Times are hard. The joblessness, rudeness and violence are so common place. Foul language is funny, relationships are strained to the limit. Sure we want Cod to Bless. We need a blessing. Yet, our scripture instructs us to Bless The Lord with our soul and everything we have. Therefore in our devotion; let Bless God with our whole being, today.


<< Psalm 103:1 >>


New American Standard Bible (©1995)
A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
King James Bible
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

American King James Version
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

American Standard Version
Bless Jehovah, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his holy name.

Darby Bible Translation
{A Psalm of David.} Bless Jehovah, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

English Revised Version
A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Webster's Bible Translation
A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

World English Bible
Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!

Young's Literal Translation
By David. Bless, O my soul, Jehovah, And all my inward parts -- His Holy Name.

תהילים 103:1 Hebrew OT: Westminster Leningrad Codex
לְדָוִ֙ד ׀ בָּרֲכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְכָל־קְ֝רָבַ֗י אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשֹֽׁו׃

תהילים 103:1 Hebrew OT: WLC (Consonants Only)
לדוד ׀ ברכי נפשי את־יהוה וכל־קרבי את־שם קדשו׃

תהילים 103:1 Hebrew OT: WLC (Consonants & Vowels)
לְדָוִד ׀ בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָה וְכָל־קְרָבַי אֶת־שֵׁם קָדְשֹׁו׃

תהילים 103:1 Hebrew Bible
לדוד ברכי נפשי את יהוה וכל קרבי את שם קדשו׃

Apocalypsis 22:21 Latin: Biblia Sacra Vulgata
(101-29) filii servorum tuorum habitabunt et semen eorum ante faciem eorum perseverabit

Salmos 103:1 Spanish: La Biblia de las Américas (©1997)
Bendice, alma mía, al SEÑOR, y bendiga todo mi ser su santo nombre.

Salmos 103:1 Spanish: La Nueva Biblia de los Hispanos (©2005)
Salmo de David. Bendice, alma mía, al SEÑOR, Y bendiga todo mi ser Su santo nombre.

Salmos 103:1 Spanish: Reina Valera (1909)
Salmo de David. BENDICE, alma mía á Jehová; Y bendigan todas mis entrañas su santo nombre.

Salmos 103:1 Spanish: Sagradas Escrituras (1569)
De David. Bendice, alma mía al SEÑOR; y todas mis entrañas al Nombre de su santidad.

Salmos 103:1 Spanish: Modern
(De David) Bendice, oh alma mía, a Jehovah. Bendiga todo mi ser su santo nombre.

Psaume 103:1 French: Louis Segond (1910)
De David. Mon âme, bénis l'Eternel! Que tout ce qui est en moi bénisse son saint nom!

Psaume 103:1 French: Darby
Mon âme, bénis l'Éternel! Et que tout ce qui est au dedans de moi, bénisse son saint nom!

Psaume 103:1 French: Martin (1744)
Psaume de David. Mon âme, bénis l'Eternel, et que tout ce qui est au-dedans de moi bénisse le Nom de sa Sainteté.

Psaume 103:1 French: Ostervald (1744)
Psaume de David. Mon âme, bénis l'Éternel, et que tout ce qui est en moi bénisse son saint nom!

Psalm 103:1 German: Luther (1912)
Ein Psalm Davids. Lobe den HERRN, meine Seele, und was in mir ist, seinen heiligen Namen!

Psalm 103:1 German: Luther (1545)
Ein Psalm Davids. Lobe den HERRN, meine Seele, und was in mir ist, seinen heiligen Namen!

Psalm 103:1 German: Elberfelder (1871)
(Von David.) Preise Jehova, meine Seele, und all mein Inneres seinen heiligen Namen!

詩 篇 103:1 Chinese Bible: Union (Traditional)
( 大 衛 的 詩 。 ) 我 的 心 哪 , 你 要 稱 頌 耶 和 華 ! 凡 在 我 裡 面 的 , 也 要 稱 頌 他 的 聖 名 !

詩 篇 103:1 Chinese Bible: Union (Simplified)
( 大 卫 的 诗 。 ) 我 的 心 哪 , 你 要 称 颂 耶 和 华 ! 凡 在 我 里 面 的 , 也 要 称 颂 他 的 圣 名 !

詩 篇 103:1 Chinese Bible: NCV (Simplified)
大卫的诗。我的心哪!你要称颂耶和华;在我里面的一切,都要称颂他的圣名。(本节在《马索拉抄本》包括细字标题)

詩 篇 103:1 Chinese Bible: NCV (Traditional)
大衛的詩。我的心哪!你要稱頌耶和華;在我裡面的一切,都要稱頌他的聖名。(本節在《馬索拉抄本》包括細字標題)
A Psalm of David Bless the LORD O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name


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A Psalm of David
David (daw-veed')
loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse -- David.
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Bless
barak (baw-rak')
to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)
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the LORD
Yhovah (yeh-ho-vaw')
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God -- Jehovah, the Lord.
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O my soul
nephesh (neh'-fesh)
a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
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and all that is within
qereb (keh'-reb)
the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
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me bless his holy
qodesh (ko'-desh)
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity -- consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (most) holy (day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
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name
shem (shame)
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character -- + base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
Psalm 103:1 Multilingual Bible

Psaume 103:1 French

Salmos 103:1 Biblia Paralela

詩 篇 103:1 Chinese Bible

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

ScriptureText.com Multilingual Bible


Bless
David
Holy
Inmost
Inward
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Praise
Psalm
Soul
Within

Bless
David
Gt
Holy
Inmost
Inward
Lt
O
Praise
Psalm
Soul
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Bless
David
Gt
Holy
Inmost
Inward
Lt
O
Praise
Psalm
Soul
Within

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Scripture for Life: Prayer for All

John 17
Jesus Prays for Himself
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6"I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."


Footnotes:
a.John 17:6 Greek your name; also in verse 26
b.John 17:17 Greek hagiazo (set apart for sacred use or make holy also in verse 19
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Bible Study-The Holy Spirit

Our Bible study comes to us as a result of need; many of our friends need health, jobs and resources to make it financially. We pray for each person and family. The real power will come from the Holy Spirit. Please read our lessen, pray on it and Jesus will indeed bless you:

Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Christian tradition starts speaking of the Spirit by saying that the Holy Spirit is God, based on the Bible.

The Spirit has the attributes of God :

eternal, having neither beginning nor end (Hebrews 9:14),
omni-potent, having all power (Luke 1:35);
omni-present, being everywhere at the same time (Psalm 139:7); and
omni-scient, understanding all matters ( 1 Corinthians 2:10,11).


Not only is the Holy Spirit is God, the Spirit is a full person of the Trinity. What is meant by that? (Forgive me for talking strange here, but this is about the Holy Spirit, the One that can least be described by words.) The Spirit can be addressed as 'you' by other 'I's (such as you and me), and can respond as an 'I'. The Spirit is an 'I', able to take action and cause action. The Spirit is able to be a 'we' with other 'I's.

In a Barna survey in 1997, 61% of US residents surveyed agreed with the statement that the Holy Spirit is "a symbol of God's presence or power, but is not a living entity". Even more : that answer was held by a majority or near-majority of those in most every Christian denominational family, including mainline Protestants and evangelical Christians, and was most common in non-whites and young people. It's not a new view. Back in the days of the early church, some held that the Holy Spirit was an 'emanation' of God the Father, and others thought of the Spirit in the same terms as the Talmudic discussions on the divine Shekinah (Presence), as an expression of what Christians call the 'Father'. Those are not far off, they're just describing part of a larger picture, like speaking of an elephant by describing its ears without reference to its trunk, tusks, or thick legs.

Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is a person and is God :

the Spirit's work in the Old Testament is closely identified with the Word of YHWH spoken by the prophets (this was affirmed by the early church in 2 Peter 1:21).
the close ties between Jesus' mission and the work of the Spirit (see the work of the Spirit).
the close ties between the mission of the apostles and the work of the Spirit; esp. see 1 Peter 1:12.
The episode with Hananiah (Ananias) in Acts 5, where first, Peter says that Hananiah lied to the Holy Spirit, then later says that he lied not to men but to God.
The trinitarian baptismal formula found in Scripture ( Matt 28:19): "in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". It dates to the church's earliest days.
Jesus made a habit of confronting traditions with "box-breaking" actions. He ate with tax collectors and other scorned people, He turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple, He talked to the woman at the well, He healed the occupier-centurion's daughter. The Holy Spirit does the same kind of thing in Acts, and ever since.


The Holy Spirit As A Person
The Holy Spirit is not a mere symbol of anything. No mere symbol is able to:

communicate ('speak') (Acts 13:2),
intercede (step in on behalf of someone) (Romans 8:26),
testify (John 15:26)
guide (John 16:13),
command (Acts 16:6,7),
appoint (Acts 20:28),
lead (Romans 8:14),
reveal to someone how wrong, foolish, or sinful he/she was (John 16:8).
seal God's promise in believers' hearts (Ephesians 1:13-14)
shape the life of each person and community to Christ's (Romans 8:1-17)
In the Bible, the Holy Spirit has intellect, passions, and will, and can be grieved. In short, the Spirit has a personality.

The key way of giving the Holy Spirit grief is malice, which is shown as bitterness, rage, anger, clamor (making lots of noise and disruption), and slander. Paul follows this description by what makes for a happy Holy Spirit : forgiving others as, in Christ, God forgave you.

The Holy Spirit can act in whatever manner the Spirit wants to act. The Spirit generally acts through the church, but doesn't have to; the Wind blows where it will. The Spirit is free not to always be seriously focused on those purposes; the Spirit can have fun while at work.

This is all stuff that can't be true of a mere (or even 'The') Force. That is how we often experience the Spirit and know of the Spirit's presence, but that is not what the Spirit is. As God, the Holy Spirit is cause, and that cause has effect. Yet, there are those in the Christian churches who reduce the Holy Spirit to a force, or to a collective will or a living memory of the gathered believers, or the force of emotion or conscience within a person. Those people, fine as they may be, are describing a different spirit than the Holy Spirit as viewed by the Christian faith. The Spirit works in all of these ways and more, yet against all of them at times. The Spirit works in whatever ways are needed to do what needs to be done, except in choosing not to take forceable control of people's actions.
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The Spirit In the Old Testament
The Spirit shows up in the Old Testament (OT), especially in the prophets' books.

The OT does not use nephesh (soul of earthly beings) to describe God. It uses ruach.

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