THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Change is exclusively the work of the Holy Ghost. “How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?” (2 Corinthians 3:8). We simply can’t change ourselves. Only the Spirit of God can conform us to the glorious image of Christ. We have all heard it said, “When a person turns to the Lord, God lifts the veil from his eyes.” That is solely the Spirit’s work.
We also read, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (verse 17). The word “liberty” here means “no longer a slave; exempt from liability; free, unchained.” This describes the freedom that comes with having our eyes opened. Suddenly, we see things in a new light. Only the Holy Spirit can break down our lifelong way of seeing things, turn us around, and set us on a true course.
In short, the turning Paul speaks of here means trusting fully in God’s Spirit. It also means turning away from all unbiblical counseling, all ideas and plans of your own, and calling on the Holy Ghost alone to lead and guide you.
Paul experienced this kind of turning. In Acts 9, when he was still known as Saul, he was on the wrong course, riding to Damascus to persecute the Christians there. Talk about having a veil over his eyes! Saul actually believed he was doing God a favor by arresting believers and throwing them in jail.
But the Lord intercepted this man and created a crisis in his life. When Jesus met Saul on the Damascus road, He struck him with a light that was so powerful it literally blinded him. Saul had to be led sightless to a house in Damascus, where he stayed until godly Ananias arrived. Ananias told him: “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight” (Acts 9:17-18).
Saul surrendered his past, future, everything to the Holy Spirit—and the veil was immediately removed from his eyes.
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The Expect Pastors & Church Leadership Conference is just a few days away. Join fellow ministers for a time of refreshing at Times Square Church in New York City. April 23-24. Speakers are Gary Wilkerson, Carter Conlon, Jim Cymbala, Teresa Conlon, and William Carrol.
Register today at http://bit.ly/1qtMxh3
We also read, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (verse 17). The word “liberty” here means “no longer a slave; exempt from liability; free, unchained.” This describes the freedom that comes with having our eyes opened. Suddenly, we see things in a new light. Only the Holy Spirit can break down our lifelong way of seeing things, turn us around, and set us on a true course.
In short, the turning Paul speaks of here means trusting fully in God’s Spirit. It also means turning away from all unbiblical counseling, all ideas and plans of your own, and calling on the Holy Ghost alone to lead and guide you.
Paul experienced this kind of turning. In Acts 9, when he was still known as Saul, he was on the wrong course, riding to Damascus to persecute the Christians there. Talk about having a veil over his eyes! Saul actually believed he was doing God a favor by arresting believers and throwing them in jail.
But the Lord intercepted this man and created a crisis in his life. When Jesus met Saul on the Damascus road, He struck him with a light that was so powerful it literally blinded him. Saul had to be led sightless to a house in Damascus, where he stayed until godly Ananias arrived. Ananias told him: “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight” (Acts 9:17-18).
Saul surrendered his past, future, everything to the Holy Spirit—and the veil was immediately removed from his eyes.
__________
The Expect Pastors & Church Leadership Conference is just a few days away. Join fellow ministers for a time of refreshing at Times Square Church in New York City. April 23-24. Speakers are Gary Wilkerson, Carter Conlon, Jim Cymbala, Teresa Conlon, and William Carrol.
Register today at http://bit.ly/1qtMxh3