The Role of the Holy Spirit in One's Life?

[raindog308]

In my travels, I've encountered several views of the role of the Holy Spirit as it applies to the current (i.e., year 2015) church.

In some denominations, the role of the Holy Spirit is almost symbolic. You're baptized, and perhaps later confirmed in some traditions, or you accept Jesus as a young adult, and the Holy Spirit perhaps symbolically indwells but it's certainly nothing dramatic. The gifts of the Spirit (such as speaking in tongues) are viewed as 1st century phenomenon, or at least very rare today. In other words, if you are "Baptized in the Spirit" there is no outward sign to others.

In other denominations (e.g., some Pentecostals), the Holy Spirit is a big deal and they believe the gifts of the Spirit (typically speaking in tongues) to be very common. "Baptism in the Spirit" is very important. These denominations believe that if you are baptized in the Spirit, everyone will certainly know about it.

I grew up in a denomination like the first. I admit being somewhat jealous of the second, as in my tradition we had confirmation (in which Pentecost from Acts was discussed) but the actual sacrament was a pretty staid affair. I mean, who wouldn't want a dramatic Spirit-filling moment?

In reading Scripture, it seems that the baptism of water is often followed by a second baptism in the Spirit (in Acts, for example) and it seems that others present know whether it's happened or not. But I'm not sure if that's supposed to apply to 2015 or is exclusively an apostolic event.

Maybe I'm wading into a controversial area but I wonder how to sort out what role the Holy Spirit should play in a Christian's life.

 

[Blake]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. The Spirit bears witness in us that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).

12. The Spirit produces in us the fruit or evidence of His work and presence (Gal. 5:22-23).

13. The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts and manifestations (the outshining) of His presence to and through the body (1 Cor. 12:4, 8-10; Heb. 2:4).

14. The Spirit anoints us for ministry (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38).

15. The Spirit washes and renews us (Titus 3:5).

16. The Spirit brings unity and oneness to the body (Eph. 4:3; 2:14-18). Here the Holy Spirit plays the same role that He plays in the Godhead. The Spirit is the life that unites Father and Son. The Spirit plays the same role in the church. When the Holy Spirit is operating in a group of people, He unites them in love. Therefore, a sure evidence of the Holy Spirit working in a group is Love and Unity. Not signs and wonders (those are seasonal and can be counterfeited).

17. The Spirit is our guarantee and deposit of the future resurrection (2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Cor. 5:5).

18. The Spirit seals us unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).

19. The Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2).

20. The Spirit quickens our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11).

21. The Spirit reveals the deep things of God to us (1 Cor. 2:10).

22. The Spirit reveals what has been given to us from God (1 Cor. 2:12).

23. The Spirit dwells in us (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14; John 14:17).

24. The Spirit speaks to, in, and through us (1 Cor. 12:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:11; Heb 3:7; Matt. 10:20; Acts 2:4; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12, 28; 13:2; 16:6,7; 21:4,11).

25. The Spirit is the agent by which we are baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).

26. The Spirit brings liberty (2 Cor. 3:17).

27. The Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

28. The Spirit cries in our hearts, “Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6).

29. The Spirit enables us to wait (Gal. 5:5).

30. The Spirit supplies us with Christ (Phil. 1:19, KJV).

31. The Spirit grants everlasting life (Gal. 6:8).

32. The Spirit gives us access to God the Father (Eph. 2:18).

33. The Spirit makes us (corporately) God’s habitation (Eph. 2:22).

34. The Spirit reveals the mystery of God to us (Eph. 3:5).

35. The Spirit strengthens our spirits (Eph. 3:16).

36. The Spirit enables us to obey the truth (1 Pet. 1:22).

37. The Spirit enables us to know that Jesus abides in us (1 John 3:24; 4:13).

38. The Spirit confesses that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:2).

39. The Spirit says “Come, Lord Jesus” along with the bride (Rev. 22:17).

40. The Spirit dispenses God’s love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5).

41. The Spirit bears witness to the truth in our conscience (Rom. 9:1).

42. The Spirit teaches us (1 Cor. 2:13; John 14:26).

43. The Spirit gives us joy (1 Thess. 1:6).

44. The Spirit enables some to preach the gospel (1 Pet. 1:12).

45. The Spirit moves us (2 Pet. 1:21).

46. The Spirit knows the things of God (1 Cor. 2:11).

47. The Spirit casts out demons (Matt. 12:28).

48. The Spirit brings things to our remembrance (John 14:26).

49. The Spirit comforts us (Acts 9:31).

50. The Spirit makes some overseers in the church and sends some out to the work of church planting [through the body] (Acts 20:28; 13:2).

~ Frank Viola

 

[LovethroughDove]

I was baptized in water as a baby in Catholic church. Once I was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was 30 years old, I realized my water baptism was just symbolic.

Mark 1:8 "I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water, but he (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit guides you into understanding of Spiritual things of God.
John 14:16-17 And I (Jesus) will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth (Holy Spirit)

 

[Blake]

In reading Scripture, it seems that the baptism of water is often followed by a second baptism in the Spirit (in Acts, for example) and it seems that others present know whether it's happened or not. But I'm not sure if that's supposed to apply to 2015 or is exclusively an apostolic event.

I am of the persuasion that the Spirit baptism applies today, and it is a 2nd event. I was water baptized when I was about 17 and didn't receive my spiritual baptism until 27.

 

[raindog308]

Once I was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was 30 years old, I realized my water baptism was just symbolic.

I was water baptized when I was about 17 and didn't receive my spiritual baptism until 27.

So if you don't mind me asking, what exactly was involved in those second baptisms?

 

[Blake]

I don't mind at all!

When I was baptized in fire, I truly met God. Prior to that experience I had a strong head knowledge of the Bible and I was under a fairly legalistic mind-set that if I do this and this and that, and avoid this and that and the other, I will go to Heaven.

When I had that experience with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit finally opened my eyes, I gained a new understanding of how it all works. Jesus was freeing people from religion in His day when He rebuked the Pharisees and He is still freeing people from vain religion today. The average Christian warms a pew every Sunday but their walk is non-existent. When the fire baptism occurred I became a true disciple, I accounted my theological knowledge as nonsense and began to walk upright.

I had no real hatred for sin for a long time, I wasn't radically changed, I was the same person with a few new Bibles, some Last Supper pictures hanging on the wall, a couple prayers here and there... but that is all superficial, it means nothing. A Christian is a person of faith, works, prayer, giving, and love. He visits the widows and the elderly and the imprisoned. People know within minutes of being around him what he stands for. He has direct access to God in the prayer closet and boldly contends before the throne of grace.

I never had any of those things before my second baptism. And don't let me be a great pretender and say that I am always walking in such a way, I sin daily, but this much is true: A person can be a Churchian for years and years and never be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I didn't become a Christian until the Holy Spirit came to indwell me.

 

[LovethroughDove]

I can actually tell you the exact moment it happened. After my sister and I moved out of my mother's house, we started our own lives. She started reading every "spiritual" thing possible, even tapping into witchcraft and such. I started down my own path. We were raised Catholic, but I never connected to it in some way. I never denied Jesus and who he is, just was searching for what is the truth.

That is just a little backstory to what happened next. There was a moment in my life, in which I cried out to God to kill me, cause I was in a horrible amount of pain. I cried from my inner being. The next moment I fell asleep and when I was waking I felt the words "He is My Son". From that moment I knew 100% with what the bible had said is truth.

So, fast-forward about 2 years and I was in a heated argument with my sister about Jesus. She started to tell me that Jesus was not really crucified and at that "very moment" my heart knew 100% that he had died...... and RISEN. I literally felt energy flow through my body.

I read later in the bible, that it was my Holy Spirit baptism.
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 14:20 On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

 

[Blake]

She started to tell me that Jesus was not really crucified and at that "very moment" my heart knew 100% that he had died...... and RISEN. I literally felt energy flow through my body.

I read later in the bible, that it was my Holy Spirit baptism.
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 14:20 On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

I felt the energy too. My body and especially my hands shook under the presence of God. He has refreshed me in such a way several times since then, I shake, I cry, on one occasion He even breathed warmly upon my face. The Spirit moves just as He did at Pentecost. Obedience prepares our own Upper Rooms for His glory.

 

[FreeGrace]

I didn't become a Christian until the Holy Spirit came to indwell me.

You've mentioned a water baptism at 17 and a Spirit baptism at 27. Would you please explain when you placed your faith in Jesus Christ for eternal life.

 

[Blake]

When I originally placed my faith in Jesus I was pretty young. I was raised up in church so it just came naturally to me, but the problem with Christianity as a family tradition is that it's often taken for granted. I had head knowledge and I concerned myself greatly with keeping the law so to speak, I didn't view God as love although I knew I should, I viewed God as the One I had to please so I could avoid going to hell. A very elementary, infantile way of viewing God. But my initial faith did help me keep my nose clean.

When I finally "got it" some years later, and discovered a true and genuine faith in Jesus to save me, everything changed. The Spirit came and revealed to me that we keeping obediences as a "get out of hell free" card while being devoid of the fruits of the Spirit, which we cultivate, and operating in the gifts of the Spirit, which are freely given, is dead. God is not bound by contract where you put this much in and get this much out. God showed me that obedience to Him, true obedience, is alive insomuch that we hate to offend and hurt our God, our truest desire is to walk pleasing in His sight, we can't accept anything that removes us from His love. That's when I finally learned to repent with tears and approach God with total awe. That's when Christianity stopped being the mere teaching of my mind and became active within my heart.

Does that answer it? I'm not sure. If there's anything specific you want to know feel free to ask.

 

[FreeGrace]

When I originally placed my faith in Jesus I was pretty young. I was raised up in church so it just came naturally to me, but the problem with Christianity as a family tradition is that it's often taken for granted. I had head knowledge and I concerned myself greatly with keeping the law so to speak, I didn't view God as love although I knew I should, I viewed God as the One I had to please so I could avoid going to hell. A very elementary, infantile way of viewing God. But my initial faith did help me keep my nose clean.

I see a contradiction here. You note you placed your "faith in Jesus" when pretty young. What was your faith about, exactly? Because from all else you posted, it seems you were operating in a relgion of works for salvation. Faith in Christ eliminates any work because He did all the work. So whatever you believed when you were pretty young was not "saving faith" in Christ. In fact, you noted that that you "vied God as the One I had to please so I could avoid going to hell."

Mankind cannot please God apart from faith. Heb 11:6. The key in being saved is to believe that Jesus died in your place and gives eternal life to those who trust in Him for that. He did the work because we can't.

When I finally "got it" some years later, and discovered a true and genuine faith in Jesus to save me, everything changed. The Spirit came and revealed to me that we keeping obediences as a "get out of hell free" card while being devoid of the fruits of the Spirit, which we cultivate, and operating in the gifts of the Spirit, which are freely given, is dead. God is not bound by contract where you put this much in and get this much out. God showed me that obedience to Him, true obedience, is alive insomuch that we hate to offend and hurt our God, our truest desire is to walk pleasing in His sight, we can't accept anything that removes us from His love. That's when I finally learned to repent with tears and approach God with total awe. That's when Christianity stopped being the mere teaching of my mind and became active within my heart.

Yes, this shows that you weren't saved when you were pretty young. Fortunately, you did "get it".

Does that answer it? I'm not sure. If there's anything specific you want to know feel free to ask.

Yes, your post answered my question. Thanks.

btw, water baptism follows Spirit baptism. Only saved people should be baptized.

 

[Blake]

I'm sure there have been many people who thought they were saved when they got baptized.

Yes, I definitely was heavily invested in works based religion. I got into it around 17 and it led me into atheism not too many years afterwards, and then I finally met Jesus.

I see what you're getting at.

I'm so glad that I came to know Jesus. But you know, I'm actually pretty sad that so many people I know are trapped in works based theology and won't accept grace. In fact I would say it's easily 80% of the church today.

 

[FreeGrace]

I'm sure there have been many people who thought they were saved when they got baptized.

Yes, I definitely was heavily invested in works based religion. I got into it around 17 and it led me into atheism not too many years afterwards, and then I finally met Jesus.

I see what you're getting at.

I'm so glad that I came to know Jesus.

And I am too!

But you know, I'm actually pretty sad that so many people I know are trapped in works based theology and won't accept grace. In fact I would say it's easily 80% of the church today.

And I am sad as well. Grace is a difficult thing to accept, when one thinks they are able to satisfy God by what they do. In fact, for those, grace is offensive to them, because it notes that they are totally UNABLE to do anything to satisfy God. They think they are able. And the devil deceives the world into thinking that they can meet God's requirements for going to heaven. Which actually keeps many people out of heaven who think they are going there. Quite sad indeed.

 

[eddif]

Matthew 28::19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Repentance (John's baptism) is ,IMHO, the first water baptism. The hearts are changed in relationships.

Salvation (Jesus salvation) takes us to believing in heart and confessing with the mouth The Lord Jedus.

Empowerment for service (Holy Spirit power). Spiritual gifts are given individually.

These three can happen in three seconds, or regretfully take years between them. Developing a relationship with father, son, and spirit (who are all so much in agreement that it is sometimes difficult to keep up with their overlapping actions).

Our brain, sympathetic, parasympathetic, nerves, and messages, overlap (made in the image of God).

Rednecks are just strange.
eddif

 

[Obadiah]

Notice to all, not necessarily directed at the above post: A&T Guidelines need to be followed in this forum.


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[jocor]

Maybe I'm wading into a controversial area but I wonder how to sort out what role the Holy Spirit should play in a Christian's life.

I agree with almost all of the 50 points in Frank Viola's list found in post #2. I would like to add another one which was a prophesied role of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.​

This goes along with points #2 and #36 in Viola's list:

2. The Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
36. The Spirit enables us to obey the truth (1 Pet. 1:22).
​

"All truth" includes Yahweh's holy, just and good Law. The Spirit enables us to obey the Law:

Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.​

 

[jonahmano]

I was baptized in water as a baby in Catholic church. Once I was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was 30 years old, I realized my water baptism was just symbolic.

Mark 1:8 "I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water, but he (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit guides you into understanding of Spiritual things of God.
John 14:16-17 And I (Jesus) will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth (Holy Spirit)

As a catholic you were baptized according to their traditions and it hasn't any connections with the new testament doctrine, so what's the deal about it? Child baptism is no way symbolic to the protocols to the new testament doctrine.

 

[LovethroughDove]

As a catholic you were baptized according to their traditions and it hasn't any connections with the new testament doctrine, so what's the deal about it? Child baptism is no way symbolic to the protocols to the new testament doctrine.

I was in no way saying that my child baptism mattered. Any water baptism is merely symbolic and not necessary. You could dunk someone a million times and it wouldn't matter.

 

[jocor]

I was in no way saying that my child baptism mattered. Any water baptism is merely symbolic and not necessary. You could dunk someone a million times and it wouldn't matter.

If it doesn't matter, why did Yeshua say, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned"? Mark 16:16

 

[LovethroughDove]

Water baptism doesn't matter now, only Holy Spirit baptism. post # 3 of this thread.