why is the holy spirit not active today
Posted by in Jan, 2021
Step into Uncertainty—My One Word for 2021, Happy New Year and the Grace & Truth Linkup, Practicing the Power: Welcoming the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Your Life, Please share your thoughts in the comments, 40 Days with the Holy Spirit – Book review, When You Want to Pray WITH Others, Not Just FOR Others. The Holy Spirit has a mind. “I believe that one of the reasons why spiritual gifts are less frequent in certain seasons of church history than in others is due to the fact that people didn’t seek, pursue, or passionately and incessantly pray for these gifts. But whether you agree or not, you won’t feel pushed in this book. That is why we need to Holy Spirit. It never did, and I grieved for a while, thinking there was something wrong with me. Site design and hosting by Whistlepig Softworks, LLC. Mysticism? 1:2; Rom. My thanks to BookLook Bloggers According to Acts 5:32 Almighty God Jehovah 'gives holy spirit to those obeying him as ruler', 'they are no part of the world' (John 17:16), Jesus' true disciples. I think people are often more open to seeing and receiving from the Spirit in countries outside of the States. Bible verses about the Holy Spirit. However, I think if you were with someone who doesn’t understand your native language, God may choose to work through you and allow you to speak a different language. Please share your thoughts in the comments. Well done, Lisa! You make such a valid point that there is a middle ground between total cessationism and total continuationism (is that a word?) 4:5). Looks like an interesting book. I see him at work in my own life and in the lives of those around me. Etymology. I continue to think about it, even after I finished the book (which is one sign of a good book to me). When Jesus told His disciples that He would send another comforter, I do not believe that He was saying for them only. Glad you are one. And I caught a couple of typos, too…. When in actuality even nature shows us His awe! The Holy Spirit doesn't wait for people to have their lives in total order before he moves powerfully. The Holy Spirit was pretty active during the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Speaking in tongues is only spoken to God. We are not questioning the Spirit's ability to give gifts to His people; we recognize that the Holy Spirit can dispense gifts if He is willing (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). Holy Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death (Rom. You likely have one, too. I find them very helpful. The Holy Spirit has been extremely busy the past two thousand years–convicting people of sin, guiding them into the truth (John 16:7-10, John 14:15-18), interceding for us when we pray (Romans 8:26-27) and many other things. Does God know all future events, including possible events? Mary Baker Eddy, founder of “Christian Science,” characterized the third person of the Trinity as “Divine Science” (n.d., 55). Do you believe the Spirit is still active today, or that he now speaks only in the words of the Bible? But neither should we take steps to artificially induce them.”. We all have much to learn from each other. No! The Spirit has many functions, roles, and activities. I’m pretty fond of God in a nice neat box, but I’ve learned that there is peril in this, and am getting more and more comfortable with saying things like, “I don’t know for sure, but I’m hesitant to limit God by saying what He will or won’t do to manifest His glory.”. I like the quote about success and obedience. A friend says before the universe existed, there was a quantum vacuum that created it. I do believe the Holy Spirit is very active today, but personally I don’t think what we call the “sign gifts” are what He primarily uses today. I can’t guarantee that my prayers for the sick will result in healing. I have seen both sides of it- being in a church where I was taught that the gifts of the Holy Spirit didn’t operate today and also a church where the gifts of the Spirit were encouraged but where I think there was some wrong and dangerous teaching around them- e.g. The Word of God does not change, nothing will be taken away or put to it. Once as a teenager (not having grown up in church or been taught about any of this at that point), I called the advertised phone number of one of the better known Christian TV programs, and I don’t remember if the guy said anything to me about grace or forgiveness or Jesus. Am I wrong in thinking this? Are the gifts of the Holy Spirit still active today? The Holy S pirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity, just as active in the world today as ever. . At the end of the first century, there would have still been living wittnesses to jesus’ earthly ministry which -I postulate – would have given a more pure faith and motivation. I think the reason we see so few miracles today – or seem to see few – is that most of the people practicing the Gifts do so for their own glorification, or at best to lay at the altar f an imaginary God, one whom they think they can either bribe or placate with their works. My views have changed over the years. 8:2). So chapter by chapter, gift by gift, Storms writes why he does believe that the Spirit still works through humans with special gifts. All rights reserved. Thanks for sharing this. I think the point is not God’s continued mercy, but our ability to receive it. Dear Lisa, i think i will like this book.. For the most part, whether we think or believe what we want, it doesn’t change who God is. God is God. the holy Spirit Southern Baptists Struggle with the Holy Spirit By Craig von Buseck CBN.com Contributing Writer. H ow does the Holy Spirit manifest in the lives of believers? Which is correct? Does that still happen today? In other words, they had not because they asked not, and they asked not because they believed not!”. 8:12) but to “put to death the misdeeds of the body” (Romans 8:13; Col. 3:5-11). If you look at the Old and the New Testament you will discover that throughout most of the history of God’s people, there were few miracles. As mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, outpourings of the Holy Spirit can include healing, prophecy, exorcism, and speaking in tongues. They are not necessarily meant for believers, but for unbelievers to see and know Christ. What are your thoughts on this? Many Christians have been influenced by the doctrine that the gifts of the Spirit are no longer for this time and age. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Here are a few quotes from selected chapters in Practicing the Power. Regarding embarrassing examples of faith healers on TV (or in person), Storms says, “I resolved in my heart that I would never justify my disobedience to God’s Word because of the abusive or embarrassing practices of others.”, “God is far more pleased with our obedience than he is with our success. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will (Reasoning from the Scriptures 1985, 81). I do believe the Holy Spirit is active today. I have spoken with missionaries who work in areas where devil worship is alive and well (and much more out in the open than it is here in the US). I have known people who have been miraculously healed, but it hasn’t come by laying on of hands or someone praying over them and pronouncing them healed. He does a balanced job of showing pros and cons of how people have used and misused the gifts in the past. The miraculous is recorded principally during the ministry of Moses and Joshua, as well as during the ministry of Elijah and Elishah. Holy Spirit, in Christian belief, the third person of the Trinity. Then at a later time I was reading books like The Cross and the Switchblade, famous at the time, where this kind of thing was just taken as perfectly natural. That all the offices, the manifestations and gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and the ministry gifts of Christ referred to in Ephesians 4:11 are active. That’s one reason I hold my current beliefs with an open hand because I trust God is always transforming us to more full truths. My thoughts continue to evolve on it so I might have to disfellowship myself otherwise. How is this reconciled? . Pretty much the only time when significant miracles are recorded is in times when God was giving new revelation. If God created nature perfect, and if nature has two sexes, how should we act toward LGBT and hostile feminists? In other words: if you don’t think it will happen, it’s less likely to. I grew up in churches where we believed strongly in the gifts of the Holy Spirit being in operation for today, so yes I still believe that. It didn’t, and even in my untaught state I thought that was a little suspicious. Your email address will not be published. I imagine Sam’s book could be controversial in the minds of some people but your call to read with an open mind gives fair warning. I think as we read about the body of Christ around the world, we often find evidences of extraordinary things occurring. And often the reason they didn’t pray for them or ask for them is because they had a prior conviction or belief that they did not exist or were not available to them. Re his question, “If signs, wonders, and miracles were essential in the physical presence of the Son of God, how much more essential are they now in his absence?” I don’t know, but on the road to Emmaus, when Jesus met up with two disciples after He had been resurrected, it’s significant to me that He ministered to them from His Word rather than with His physical presence. And Our intellectual knowledge is limited. . I appreciate hearing your views and your enthusiasm. Just as in Jesus' day and in the days of the early Church, the scribes and the Pharisees rejected the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit; it is not surprising that today there are those who reject speaking in other tongues, together with the other miraculous manifestations of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is very active today. click here if you can’t see the 1:27 video. Did the believers receive the Holy Spirit when they were baptized in Samaria in Acts 8? Our minds just can’t seem to handle everything at once; he’s way too big! That’s the where humanity has gotten.. Dear Lisa, His book focuses a lot on how the gifts can work within a church setting. Miracles? Like other gifts, speaking in tongues is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Fruit of the Spirit is the product of faith. Such a blessing that he is here and working! The Holy Spirit not only speaks the words of Jesus to you, but he actually is the one who leads and directs your steps into the abundant life that Jesus promised. I think the point is not God’s continued mercy, but our ability to receive it. It as more like a number of people praying for them, and when they went back for tests, the tests showed nothing was wrong. I can’t promise that my word to you will be spot-on accurate. It’s a gift I’ve not been given. I’m so grateful for that! I don’t ever want to limit what God can do through the Spirit. He is not some impersonal power, like energy. The drive to figure out and explore what is and what is not about only asked us push towards blurred lines. Hello bro. ” 2 Peter 1: 20 – “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” v21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”. Sometimes it’s a good thing when you know NOT to finish a book. We don’t talk about the Holy Spirit very often, yet this is the gift we have been left by Jesus Christ when He left the earth. I did want to hear what you’d have to say on this. John 16:8 notes, "And when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." Why is the Holy Spirit not active today as during the Old and New Testaments? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23a. 1:13-14) that we are God’s children (Rom. Whichever view you hold, this book might interest you. I love seeing gritty people. Holy Spirit seals us unto the day of redemption (Eph. “Fasting is about spiritual indulgence! The Holy Spirit is very active today. God definitely shows up where he is wanted and in ways he can be seen! If the OT prophecies of the Messiah came true, why did Jews not believe in Jesus? Have a blessed Easter weekend worshipping our Lord! http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/04/your-dying-spouse-295-patient-pride.html, Glad to get your take on this, Andrew. Trying to physically prove existence of God. What a blessing to have witnessed a number of miracles, Carol. And the primary reason God continues to heal after Pentecost is because he is a merciful, compassionate God. This is what Jesus said during his ministry (John 10:25, 32, 38). The Gift of Tongues is from the Holy Spirit and Spoken Only to God. Feel free to write why, or support your answer in any way you think (much thanks to the guy who wrote bible passages) Yikes – I didn’t realize how lengthy my response was until it published. Over my lifetime, my understanding has broadened and my husband and I have been in churches where the gifts are active as well as ones where they are not. Storms writes with humility. He is here and working! I also appreciate you sharing your personal experiences. God is no less merciful, no less compassionate, no less caring when it comes to the physical condition of his people after Pentecost than he was before Pentecost.”, “Don’t ever think of yourself as at one end of a rope and Satan at the other, both of you struggling to overpower the other. The question is whether the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, described primarily in 1 Corinthians 12–14, are still active in the church today. I agree that sometimes we don’t see as many miracles because we aren’t looking for them. Sorry about that. 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M always amazed at stories of missionaries in foreign countries come back with stories that we can predict or.... T “ take steps to artificially induce ” those manifestations as רוּחַ … that is what Jesus said during ministry...
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