Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Religious Discussion

Understanding how the Holy Spirit convicts us all in different ways

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OTHERS MAY: YOU CANNOT

-by G. D. Watson (1845-1924).

If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life
of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience,
that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by
other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do
things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may
push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans,
but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such
failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of
their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such
thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification 
that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy
left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants
you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence
upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by
day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden
in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for
His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.  He may let
others be great, but keep you small.  He may let others do a work for Him 
and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without 
knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more 
precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done, 
and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER WHEN JESUS COMES.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and
will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time,
which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind
that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He
pleases with His own.  He may not explain to you a thousand things which
puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell
yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and
bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the
inner circle.

Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or
chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem
to use with others.  Now, when you are so possessed with the living God
that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this 
PECULIAR, PERSONAL,  ...read more 
Source: Worthy Christian Forums
Religious Discussion

Justified in the Spirit

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This is a post I had several years ago here on Worthy and I am just sharing it again (I know it’s long…) –

God has promised to reward us in Hebrews 11:6 with understanding if we would “diligently” seek Him. Answering His call to personal holiness, picking up our crosses and following Him is how we seek Him. To those who obey this mandate Jesus said He would give to them “to know the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11). “To know” we are required to “diligently seek” if we are to have any hope to find, just as we must actively knock if the door of understanding is to be opened unto us. We must humbly acknowledge our ignorance and ask for understanding if we are to be enlightened by God’s Holy Spirit. That is because nothing is more blinding or hindering to our receiving truth than the “light” one proudly thinks himself to have, as such light most often prove to be strongholds that cause men to bunker down in defense of their own historic position or greed. But even when such are willing to consider that the part they know may not be completely correct, they must remember that all our seeking, knocking, and asking must be with an intention of true faithfulness if we are to receive anything from God. Even then, it is still only when “our hearts condemn us not” of sin that we can have true “confidence” toward God. It is in that place and condition that “whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (I John 3:21, 22).

Justified in the Spirit

The revealing of God’s precious truths is often times progressive, as is witnessed to God’s names being revealed over time to humanity. Therefore we can see throughout history how so many others of God’s truths have been given one tidbit at a time is not rare. Holy men of old often prophesied of future events in fragments, “here a little” and then in another text, perhaps even another prophet, “there a little.” This method of enlightenment is in exact accordance with what the bible teaches us. I Corinthians 13:9 tells us straightforwardly that we all only “prophesy in part.” However, when we allow the Holy Spirit to help us properly assemble these parts by His illuminating touch, these fragments give valuable insight into otherwise veiled truths of scripture. Such is true for a verse which would otherwise be a puzzling piece of scripture –

“For without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, [God was] justified in the spirit, [God was] seen of angels, [God had] preached unto the Gentiles, [God was] believed on in the world, [God was] received up …read more

Source: Worthy Christian Forums

Religious Discussion

LGBT friends to feel truly welcome in our faith communities?

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:help:

Of the several main points in the article from Nebula’s thread: Why millennials are leaving the church

This is the point in particular I’d like to discuss.

5. We want our LGBT friends to feel truly welcome in our faith communities.

I was actually discussing this with a close friend the other day. I guess it’s easy to demand of baby Christ followers the same maturity of one who has been transformed by the mind of Christ for years.

Sure, it is the same Holy Spirit in both the new and “mature” Christ follower… Yet God works in people’s lives in different ways and at a different pace.

For example, there’s a good friend of ours who accepted Christ as her Savior in 2010. She had a live-in boyfriend who wasn’t a Believer. It took her over 2 years (end of 2012) before she had the spiritual understanding, emotional fortitude, and financial resources to even consider completely breaking up with the guy. It has been a tough road for her as she’s a single mother but given the time along with the working of the Holy Spirit she made the right choice. This was a heterosexual relationship.

So here’s the thing. A person who’s LGBT actually feels welcomed into a church setting. (Note: I’m sure some denominations and churches are more welcoming than others) Over time through love, compassion, grace, and mercy that person comes to know the Lord through Jesus Christ. They have a partner they currently live with.

Here’s the thing… Do we demand they break off everything immediately to be baptized or accepted by fellow local church members as a true Believer? Or do we allow the Holy Spirit to convict that person of their clear errant behavior?

God bless,
GE

…read more

Source: Worthy Christian Forums

Religious Discussion

7 Split: Questions… 7. License to sin?

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If its ok with the board mods, this part of American Atheist’s post didnt make it to a separate thread. Im posting my reply to him here.

Your original words bold, my reply blue, your reply to that brick red and all in quotes. My current reply regular black.

AA Q: How many of you treat the bible like software liscense? You don’t even read it and click I agree…

AJ Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under grace? Let it not be!

AA Response: — In responce to this, why even attempt to be a good christian if you always sin and can just ask for forgiveness? Does this not defeat the purpose?

I attempt to be a good Christian out of love for the Lord. I want to live a life pleasing to Him. Since I became a Christian, and have the Holy Spirit, my desire to sin freely is not there. I think many unbelievers fail to grasp that. Christians are changed. Our desire is more towards the Lord, to live for Him and not for ourselves. Yes we still fall at times and sin, but we desire not to.

…read more

Source: Worthy Christian Forums

Religious Discussion

License to sin?

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If its ok with the board mods, this part of American Atheist’s post didnt make it to a separate thread. Im posting my reply to him here.

Your original words bold, my reply blue, your reply to that brick red and all in quotes. My current reply regular black.

How many of you treat the bible like software liscense? You don’t even read it and click I agree…

Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under grace? Let it not be!

— In responce to this, why even attempt to be a good christian if you always sin and can just ask for forgiveness? Does this not defeat the purpose?

I attempt to be a good Christian out of love for the Lord. I want to live a life pleasing to Him. Since I became a Christian, and have the Holy Spirit, my desire to sin freely is not there. I think many unbelievers fail to grasp that. Christians are changed. Our desire is more towards the Lord, to live for Him and not for ourselves. Yes we still fall at times and sin, but we desire not to.

…read more

Source: Worthy Christian Forums

Religious Discussion

Sane or Lame

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A young man of sound mind and body participated in an experiment in which he was suspended in tempered water and isolated from all sense stimulation. He could only tolerate this condition for a few moments before he became frantic, showing that we need sense stimuli to maintain our sanity.

The natural types the spiritual.

Am I being sustained by God’s Spirit or otherwise?

  • Do I dress and act like the world around me?
  • Or am I different?
  • Is my spiritual welfare dependent on pats on the back?
  • Or can I stand in the face of adversity?
  • Is my spiritual doctrine defined by personal preferences?
  • Or can I be led by the Holy Spirit?

Others…

…read more

Source: Worthy Christian Forums

News, Politics, Government

Papal conclave goes to heart of Catholic mystery

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The papal conclave is steeped in mystery — and the church likes it that way. Elaborate ritual and veils of secrecy, after all, are fundamental to the papal mystique, seen as the glue the binds worshipers in faith.

But in this conclave, the church appears to be making some concessions to the instant clarity expected in the Internet era: Just look at the thick plumes of black smoke that poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday and Wednesday to tell the world that the votes had not yielded a winner.

It was a big contrast to conclaves past in which confusion has reigned over the smoke color, with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square screaming: “It’s white! … no, no … it’s black!!”

The smoke ritual itself dates back more than a century. And, regardless of questions of color, the Vatican has no intention of changing the tradition now — saying the uncertainty is part of the beauty of the process.

“A little suspense is good for all of us,” said Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi. “Don’t expect Swiss-watch precision.”

Mystery is a big idea in the Catholic faith. Its deepest meaning is that parts of faith are unknowable through reason and intellect alone. Wafting incense, Gregorian chants, ringing bells and other grand rituals of the liturgy are seen as outward manifestation of this concept.

In the conclave, it’s the mystery of the Holy Spirit and not a political agenda that is supposed to guide the cardinals in their selection. (In reality, however, everybody knows that politics plays an important role).

Conclaves weren’t always this secret.

They were once public events witnessed by hundreds of ordinary people who would watch the voting a bit like one might a sporting event. And politics was much more overtly a factor than it is today: Until the 20th century, some European royalty could veto the choice of the cardinals.

Now super-secrecy prevails, with cellphones, computers and anything connecting the cardinal-electors to the outside world banned.

“Thank God there’s still all the good old-fashioned things, like burning the ballots and the chimney going up,” said Greg Burke, an ex-Fox News correspondent who is now a communications adviser to …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Cardinals say Mass, seek prayers ahead of conclave

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Cardinals took a break from maneuvering ahead of this week’s papal conclave to fan out across Rome and celebrate Sunday Mass at local parishes.

The worship services provided a chance to see the cardinals up close and hear them preach two days before they enter the conclave. Roman Catholics and others packed the churches, holding up cell phones to take photos and video.

The cardinals said Mass in their titular churches, the parishes that according to church tradition are assigned to them as clergy of Rome, creating a symbolic bond with the pope. The conclave, with 115 cardinal-electors, is scheduled to start Tuesday.

The cardinals have been holding meetings and informal gatherings ahead of electing a successor to Benedict XVI. Several church leaders acknowledged the historic moment at Mass.

“This Sunday is also special because today we prepare for the conclave,” said Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, in his sermon at Holy Mary of Victory church. “Let us pray that the Holy Spirit illumines the church to choose a new pope who will confirm us in our faith and make more visible the love of the good shepherd.”

The parish priest who introduced the cardinal was more direct, describing O’Malley as “humble, but decisive,” and saying he hoped his next visit to the church would be as pontiff. The leading Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, has cited the Boston archbishop as a favorite, despite past resistance to the idea of a superpower pope.

Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, considered a top papal contender, distributed communion at Church of the Twelve Holy Apostles, and spoke on the mission of the church.

“It is to announce over and over again, even to the modern man who is so sophisticated but sometimes lost in the new millennium, to announce always and repeatedly that the Lord’s mercy is a source of hope even in these difficult times,” he said. Scola waved to well-wishers as he was driven away from the church.

At Church of St. Andrew at the Quirinal, a crowd greeted Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, considered Brazil‘s best hope of filling the papacy. Scherer, who lived in Rome as a young priest, shook hands and hugged the faithful before celebrating Mass. He asked for prayers for the church, calling this period “certainly a difficult time, but also a joyful one and full of hope.”

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Conclave's rituals, oaths and secrecy explained

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It’s a ritual as rich in tradition and symbolism as the Catholic Church can muster: secret oaths, hypnotic Gregorian chants, scarlet-decked cardinals filing through the Sistine Chapel — all while the public outside in St. Peter’s Square watches for white smoke or black to learn if they have a new pope.

Next month’s conclave to elect the 266th leader of the world’s billion Catholics will have all the grand trappings of papal elections past — with the added twist that this time around the current pope is still alive.

Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, the first papal abdication in 600 years, has caused chaos in the Vatican: Nobody knows for sure what he’ll be called much less what he’ll wear after Feb. 28. But one thing is clear: The rules and rituals to elect his successor will follow a carefully orchestrated program thanks in large part to Archbishop Piero Marini.

The Vatican’s master of liturgical celebrations for two decades under Pope John Paul II, Marini organized the funeral rites for the late pontiff and the conclave that elected Benedict. He was by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger‘s side minutes after the election when the new pope uttered the words “I accept” — officially launching his papacy on April 19, 2005.

“I still remember, with some emotion, the silence that there was — the participation of the cardinals,” Marini recalled in an interview in his Vatican offices. “It was an event that had been prepared with great care.”

Marini subsequently published the “bible” of how to run a conclave — a dense tome of footnoted decrees, floor-plans, directions and photos. The book will serve as a guide when 117 cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect Benedict’s successor.

The Vatican said Saturday that the conclave may well start before March 15, the earliest date that current rules would allow it to get underway. The Holy See in the coming days or weeks plans to publish an update to the main apostolic constitution that guides the papal transition with some ceremonial tweaks.

The conclave begins with the cardinals in their red cassocks filing into the Sistine Chapel, chanting the monophonic Litany of Saints followed by another sacred song, Veni, Creator Spiritus, imploring the intervention of the saints and Holy Spirit as they take their places before Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment.”

The cardinals …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI hit head during 2012 trip to Mexico

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Pope Benedict XVI hit his head during his March 2012 trip to Mexico, The Vatican said Thursday, but denied the accident had any “relevant” role in his resignation.

It was the latest revelation of a hidden health issue to emerge from the Holy See since the pope’s shock announcement, and adds to questions about the gravity of the pontiff’s condition. On Tuesday, the Vatican said for the first time that Benedict has a pacemaker, and that he had its batteries replaced just three months ago.

Italy’s La Stampa newspaper reported Thursday that Benedict hit his head and bled when he got up in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar bedroom in Leon, Mexico. The report said blood stained his hair and sheets.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi confirmed the incident but said “it was not relevant for the trip, in that it didn’t affect it, nor in the decision” to resign.

The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano reported earlier in the week that Benedict had taken the decision to resign after the Mexico-Cuba trip, which was physically exhausting for the 85-year-old pope.

Earlier Thursday, Benedict held a 45-minute, off-the-cuff reminiscence about the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s, blaming the media for what he called the media’s distorted interpretation of the church meetings at the time for many “calamities” that plague the Catholic Church today.

It was the second day in a row that Benedict has sent very pointed messages to his successor and the cardinals who will elect him about the direction the church must take once he is no longer pope. While his farewell remarks on Wednesday were in many ways bittersweet, Benedict was more combative on Thursday as he addressed an audience hall full of thousands of priests.

Benedict was a young theological expert at Vatican II, the 1962-65 meetings that brought the Catholic Church into the modern world with important documents on the church’s relations with other religions, its place in the world and the liturgy.

Benedict has spent much of his eight-year pontificate seeking to correct what he considers the misinterpretation of Vatican II, insisting that it wasn’t a revolutionary break from the past, as liberal Catholics paint it, but a renewal and reawakening of the best traditions of the ancient church.

He nailed that point home on Thursday, blaming botched media reporting of the council’s deliberations for having reduced the work to “political power struggles between various currents in the church.”

Because the media’s interpretation was dominant and “accessible to all,” it fueled the popular understanding of what the council was all about, he said. That led in the years that followed to “so many calamities, so many problems, really so many miseries: Seminaries that closed, convents that closed, the liturgy that was banalized.”

In what will be one of his final public remarks as pope, Benedict said he hoped the “true council” will one day be understood.

“Our job in this ‘Year of Faith’ is to work so that the true council, with the strength of the Holy Spirit, is truly realized …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Philippine Catholic leaders praise pope's move

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Church leaders in the Philippines, Asia‘s largest Roman Catholic nation, say they are surprised at Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to resign but praised his honesty and prayed for an orderly succession.

Fr. Francis Lucas of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Tuesday that bishops and priests received news of the pope’s decision with “shock and dismay” but praised his humility for acknowledging he no longer is physically able to handle the papacy.

Lucas says there have been calls for the next pope to be chosen among cardinals from Asia, Africa or Latin America and asked Filipinos to pray “for the Holy Spirit to continue to guide … our cardinals” in picking a pontiff.

Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle also sought prayers for a smooth succession.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News