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What You'll Discover in this Episode:
The Holy Spirit in Counseling
The Holy Spirit is required in biblical counseling. If God is ultimately the counselor and Jesus is not here, we are to rely on the Holy Spirit for counseling.
God is going to use you through the power of the Holy Spirit to minister and disciple others. We can pray to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Power is given from God through the Spirit.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are evident today. The Holy Spirit has the power to change others, far beyond what we can do apart from the Spirit. The Spirit of truth is our guide and we need to look to him for guidance and direction
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What struck me by the podcast today was when Pastor Jeff talked about the Holy Spirit and conviction. I have been counseling my daughter for years. I say counseling but really it’s been discipleship as Jeff mentioned a couple of weeks ago. It burdened me to my core that my daughter seemed cold but God really put me on ice where she is concerned and I made a conscious effort to not play the Holy Spirit in her life but pray for her and gently guide her as best as I could without driving her further into rebellion by law and condemnation.
My prayer partner/buddy and I began praying for Attira 6 years ago and interceding on her behalf. Sometimes I felt hopeless because her heart seemed SO hard! There came a point where I just released her and stopped striving so hard. In doing so, I wasn’t as intense with her which that intensity would push her away, but she felt love instead of pressure. Long story, short, since March, her heart has softened, she is reading her bible, going through 2 bible studies and asking really great questions. Before, she would not take communion because she knew she had not fully committed to God but now she is and with a light heartedness that just brings me to my knees in thankfulness. The bottom line is, the Holy Spirit had to do the work in her heart, not me. Glory to God!!
About 5 years my dad went home to be with the Lord. Before my dad was diagnosed with Liver cancer, the Holy Spirit was prepping my heart for the new season month prior. He was giving the word Steadfast in scripture. The word Steadfast was show in worship and when I was reading the Word of God. I felt like the Holy Spirit was comforting me before I even stepped into the season. It was for the Holy Spirit preparing me for that season, I would have never been able to comfort my family through the passing of my dad. I felt the Lord counseling during that season and He continues to do it in my life. I know the experience I have been through is to bring Him glory and walking people through the power of the counsel of God.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
I love how you see how God was preparing you for the season to come. That is so reassuring and isn’t it a relief to know that God loves you and cares about you so much to prepare you for times of sorrow and yet there is such joy and peace in abiding in Him. What a beautiful testimony!
This podcast was probably one of my favorites. Loved everything that was spoken about the Holy Spirit. The point that Pastor Jeff said “The Holy Spirit takes the realities of our Lord Jesus Christ for our possession to take ownership of them.” That was such power knowing all we have to do is possess it and take ownership. What an encouragement. I just have to step nd own what the Lord has given me and wait around for it. I often doubt myself and the gifting that the Lord has given me. I let it be the driving force and “excuse” not to obey the calling in my life. What Pastor Jeff said about taking possession was beautiful. It shows exactly what Jesus said that what he has we too shall have through the Holy Spirit, I just need accept this wonderful gift. The Holy Spirit is gift that fills us and as a the Helper will reveal all wisdom and knowledge. Great message. Thank you Pastor Jeff!
Michelle, its like Moses. God gave Moses a calling but he gave an any excuse in the book why he could not do what God told him to do. God word always counters with His truth and telling him I AM.
When you doubt or make excuses for your calling, remember that he is I AM. Holy Spirit reveals the wisdom and truth of the Lord.
Your reminder about God being the I AM is so perfect. Thank You Jocelyn.
Thank you Pastor Jeff for the study on the Holy Spirit, and the reminder that we need the Spirit both to counsel and also to be the one being counselled. Honestly growing up I didn’t know much of the Holy Spirit, not the in dept of who He is. It really wasn’t until I started seeing a biblical counselor and I started taking these classes did I get the full extent of how important the Holy Spirit is in our daily lives. This last year I have had a lot of guidance from the Holy Spirit. I lost my younger brother to suicide and it has been so hard to get past the guilt and everything that came with it. I had been trying to show my brother how I was once in his shoes and the only thing that honestly got me through was God, and he has numerous attempts before he succeeded, but I struggled so much and honestly still am. My biblical counselor helps me by showing and speaking the truth and also praying for the Holy Spirit to guide and minister to my heart and mind. There has been doors opened for me to talk to others who have been struggling as my brother did but instead of speaking truth through the Word and letting the Spirit guide me, I just say I’m sorry and tell them to get help. In this last few weeks though the Holy Spirit has shown me and helped me to let go of the guilt I carry and I’m working on the anger and everything else, but honestly it is only through the help of the Holy Spirit am I able to have any kind of peace. I know in my heart the Holy Spirit is what is guiding me every day and is the one who helps me to even speak and say anything, because the guilt and anger had consumed me so bad I was getting sick. I thank God every day for these classes and for my church family, and my biblical counselor. they have all been tools to help me to trust in the Lord and to let the Spirit not only work in me but through me. They have helped me to learn to grieve but with hope and that has been through the work of the Holy Spirit. and The Word
Just this morning I taught our Iron Works men from Gal. 6:1-10, on the subject of restoring a brother that has tripped into sin. I am convinced that that effort is futile without the Holy Spirit’s involvement. I spent many years in a church movement where we were absolutely frightened to bring the Holy Spirit into an active role in our lives. It was when I came to Calvary Chapel Greer, Sc., that the Lord began to reveal Himself more fully. In our small group discussion men shared stories of restoration. The sin was similar, but the approach was different in every case. Some were confrontational and to the point. Others were very non confrontational and gentle, some were simply weeping real tears with their friend to the point of conviction. We all agreed that the Holy Spirit’s involvement was the key. I have clearly moved from a Father, Son, and Holy Bible paradigm, to a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit paradigm. He truly is the Comforter who leads us into all truth.
Thank you for sharing. Loved reading about how the Holy Spirit worked in each of these men’s lives so uniquely. It goes to show how not all counsel should be used on everyone. Counsel is personal and uniquely different to those who come to us for counsel. Thanks for sharing!
I appreciate this podcast as the emphasis of true biblical counseling does not rest on the knowledge or the strategies of the human counselor, but on the Holy Spirit. The well known verses or Proverbs 3:5-6 says
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
This verse is so important in regards to counseling. In my experience, I have certainly seen how God can give the perfect counsel at the perfect moment, when we rely on Him. I was once at the hospital, ministering to a family who had tragically lost their young daughter to suicide. I had no words to say to these people who were completely devastated, and I had no plans to say anything, but to just be there as a shoulder to cry on. When the mother asked me a very pointed question about her daughter’s eternity, I was terrified, because I had no way to honestly answer her question. As I have done so many other times in these kinds of situations, I cried out to God and asked for His wisdom, and His words. I was desperate for Him to intervene, and He did. In fact, I was amazed by what happened next. I felt that God prompted me to simply ask the mother whether or not she trusted Him. That was it. She stoped crying for a moment and she considered the question. After some thought, she said yes, she did trust God, and that satisfied her. There was no more discussion. I’m sure that other counselors who have had experience in situations like this could have thought of many other things to day, but in that moment, relying on the Holy Spirit, God ministered to that grieving mother in a way that no one else ever could have. It is such a powerful example of how the Holy Spirit will work through us when we rely on Him.
The Holy Spirit has led me, taught me and protected me from me. I have seen the Holy Spirit work in my life and honestly more when I look back then during. When I was a new believer I didn’t know how or what this walk would be like. I just accepted the invitation shared with me about Jesus. I knew to go to church, so I did. I heard I needed to tithe, so I did. I heard He forgave me, so I accepted it. He then drew me to a church, Calvary Chapel In CA and this is where I was taught to read His word and to pray out loud, so I did. This is where I met a man who had a calling on His life to pastor and so we married. When the Lord called him to start a church, this is when I learned about the Holy Spirit and how much I needed Him to serve. This is where Zechariah 4:6 became my ministry scripture. Fast forward to today, I have been able to see the Holy Spirit along side me and lead me to where I am today. I can’t say that my walk has been perfect by any means. This is over a span of twenty-five years with lots of tears, joys, correcting and pain, but He has not disappointed me in seeing me through the most difficult of times.
Wow Melinda, I love your candidness. You just summarized twenty-five years of the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life. It is comforting to hear your testimony. I am still a young man, and I can often get anxious about the future of my walk with the Lord. But I get these confirmations that as I continue to seek after God, the Holy Spirit will counsel me and lead me into all truth as He has for you!
It is so encouraging to hear this! There have been many times that I’ve felt the Holy Spirit guide me to do something way out my comfort zone, but He always gave me strength to do it. Through each experience God has taught me more about His character and I’m so grateful for all the trials because of that.
I like how Jesus confirms Himself as a counselor as stated in Isaiah 9:6, I always like it when Jesus confirms things through His words and actions that were stated from long before He came.
This podcast is a great reminder for me to pray always for the Holy Spirit to work through me. I don’t think I give Him the time of day as often as I should. If I want to be effective when I counsel or serve or do anything, it is through and with the Holy Spirit that makes my actions have a Christ-like impact on others. And it is by my faith that He hears my prayers and sends His Spirit to me! Praise Jesus!
I also didn’t know that some people were “scared” or “put off” by the Holy Spirit. That raises a lot of questions for their personal faith; in my head at least.
Thank you for posting!
I’ve always felt like God was close to me. I grew up in the church and I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was six so I don’t remember there ever being a time when I didn’t know God. I’ve struggled with anxiety my whole life and tried all the tricks that world says are supposed to help but didn’t. Even from a young age I always felt a gentle prodding to go to Lord in prayer or read His word whenever I would have a panic attack. I didn’t know what it was then but know I know it was the Holy Spirit counseling me just as Jesus said He would. This is one of many reasons I am studying biblical counseling because I know the joy and peace only God can give through His Word and Spirit.
Amen, Rebekah!
Hello Rebekah,
Thanks for sharing this, and I am so encouraged to hear that your one and only hope is in the Lord! The world certainly offers all kinds of remedies, but as you said, these things don’t truly help. I’m praying for you that you will keep seeking Him for help and that you will experience more and more of His peace.
The Holy Spirit is probably the most misunderstood, abused and least utilized part of the Trinity. Indeed, the Holy Spirit when put out into the extreme ranges of the spectrum, whether it be barking like a dog or kept under wraps by ultra-conservative churches and never utilized is doing a dishonor to the Holy Spirit. Pastor Chuck Smith and I will paraphrase; If you walk somewhere in the middle you will be safe from going to extremes. I believe He said this concerning the argument between Calvinism and Armenism. However, I believe it fits in this situation also.
I attended several afterglows at Calvary Chapel South Bay, years ago they were beautiful, orderly services where the gifts of the Spirit were present and used correctly. Years after, I attended a men’s retreat where I went forward for prayer to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to speak in tongues. Which some believe is the outward manifestation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The man told me I was already baptized, so from that point I never doubted it again nor have I spoken in tongues. I have matured and don’t need an outward sign to realize the Lord has blessed me with gifts.
Pastor Jeff, I find it is interesting you bring up the point in counseling where one should never utilize any type program or formula, but one must have total reliance upon the Holy Spirit. We see people’s problems with our natural eye which might appear to be the same after we been counseling for a while, however the mitigating circumstance is the human factor. Each person is an individual, created in the imagine of God, we all have different life experiences, upbringings and our personalities are different, we are individuals. So, it is important to rely on God’s word and His Holy Spirit when counseling His creation.
Bringing up Baptism was a great little “wake up call” to me. Where Mark 1:8 John speaks about Jesus coming and Baptizing us with “the Holy Spirit”, I think that is something I never really thought about.
I also took note of “counseling without procedures” as that struck me, too. I have learned in the past week that total reliance on the Word to speak truth is enough, but now I have learned that the Holy Spirit is vital to speaking With the Word!
Thank you for sharing!
It does seem like the Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood and least talked about in regards to the Trinity. It is still important to use the gifts that are given to us but in an appropriate manner like the afterglows you mentioned. My church also started setting aside a time for people to use their spiritual gifts and I’m so grateful they did.
I am so grateful for sending us that Helper! Just yesterday I found myself in a situation in which my counsel was required, I panicked for a bit. I found myself trying to go through all the things I learned last week. I was try to make sure I was doing it right, saying the right things, I was going through the motions almost like making a mental check list. Then I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit tell me, just share your testimony. That gave me so much comfort and confidence. I shared the work Jesus has done in my life, loved her and that calmed her down. So hearing Pastor Jeff speak about how Christ-like counseling NEEDS of the Holy Spirit, I knew exactly what he meant. If biblical counseling was a checklist of procedures I would fail every time. I am grateful God will never leave us nor forsake us even in our attempts of doing His work. It relieves the pressure from us as well as keeps us grounded in the fact that He gets all the glory and Honor.
Ericka, Thank you for sharing this. It made me think of where scripture says he uses the weak to confound the wise. I get so much comfort from that verse personally when I find myself focusing too much on the large inventory of my weaknesses. That practice of trusting Him, listening to Him, and asking Him to help and lead is what your post encouraged me toward.
Since starting this class, I didn’t realize how many opportunities we have to counsel or come along side one another. I just had a conversation with my sister this morning, and I wish I would have listened to today’s podcast first. I know my answers would have been different. Thankfully I have a reason to continue the conversation about the working of the Holy Spirit in her life.
I relate with you Ericka. I often feel a pressure to not even approach certain opportunities of evangelism, encouragement, or edification because I don’t think I have “all my ducks in a row”. Like you, sometimes I need to take a calming deep breath of courage and just allow the Holy Spirit to lead me in my conversations. I am reminded of how Moses was so anxious about his eloquence, but, as you’ve said, God promises that we need not worry for He is with us.
Thank you Ericka, for that reminder. It is very vital that we let the Holy Spirit be our guide and voice when counseling. It is the only way that will soften that hardest hearts, comfort the broken, and bring wisdom to the confused. Thanks for sharing!
I grew up in a presbyterian church that rarely if ever mentioned the Holy Spirit. I was very active in my church and youth group specifically, but I wasn’t encouraged into anything like a personal interaction with the Holy Spirit and I don’t have any memory of a corporate focus in this direction either. The Bible was taught, but it was dry and certainly not alive to me. Granted, this may have largely been due to my youth and self-focused life. Today I believe God has over time been lovingly and gently coaxing me to the end of my ability repeatedly to grow my dependence on the Spirit for everyday life and ministry.
Always encouraged with the reminder that the Holy Spirit is indispensable not only in counseling but in every area of life. It is to all to easy to so familiar with a methodology that we rely more on the method than we do the Holy Spirit who imparted that method. We can develop “a this worked last time so it will work this time kind of attitude” when God may want to do something a bit different in the current situation even though this current situation looks a lot like the last situation.
Recently went through Zechariah chapter four and was reminded once again that it is “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.” Whether you are in a good place or a challenging place like Zerubbabel and the nation of Israel learning to trust more in the truth that we can do nothing without Him is sooo important.
I resonate with your angle here. Especially how you touch on comparing what “worked last time” to a current and fresh situation. It reminded me of what Jesus said when He talked about new wine needing new wineskins. It’s a reality I need more in my life and I think it’s a reality that the church needs much more of as it faces generational transition and a culture in crisis. Thanks!
So true, methods can be so much easier than stopping to ask in every decision. Thank you for sharing! Love the scripture reference.
Hi Jason. I totally agree with you. We need to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in every counseling session, and fall into a pattern or method in counseling. We are all different and our needs are also different that is the mindset that needs to be in a session. When the Holy Spirit is leading he will bring us the wisdom and discernment on what needs to be said or not said. Thank you for sharing!
The Holy Spirit is wonderful; I wonder sometimes just how often the Spirit is comforting, teaching, and helping me (I am probably so oblivious to the magnitude of His work in my life!). This podcast sort of combined my understanding of “the Lord Jesus as Counselor” with the working of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the most Spirit-led person that walked the earth. What a thought! I have received lots of biblical knowledge through school, church, and various media; but I have noticed I have failed in applying it because I’ve lacked the Spirit’s leading. My Christian walk has had a breakthrough recently. The Holy Spirit has nudged me, “Caleb, you don’t have to be so anxious and fearful of sharing your faith and ministering to the saints. Take these teachings and only be bold and courageous in applying them to your own life and other’s.” Pastor Jeff’s explanation of parakaleo and noutheteo really encouraged me. I should respond to the Spirit when He leads me to comfort or confront someone–to speak the truth in love. There are lot of believers and unbelievers around me that are filled with fear and confusion, especially in this season. I will encourage and edify them with the Spirit of truth.
Caleb I am so excited for you and your new adventure in your life with the Holy Spirit. I find a lot of times when learning something through God’s word, before I can share it with others, I must first understand, apply and live it out in my own life, that way it becomes real in my life. Fear comes from the enemy; perfect love cast out all fear. Satan tries to paralyze us with fear so we become stationary.
2 Timothy 1:7 or God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. We are fearful or guilty of our past which paralyzes us to be useful in the present and future. I think the hardest things in life and my life is accepting the factor that Jesus loves me despite me being a dirty rotten sinner. Caleb keep walking and looking to the author and finisher of your faith Hebrews 12:1-2.
I know what you mean when you say being anxious about sharing your faith. The Lord Jesus has prompted me with His Holy Spirit in ways I can’t explain, and I ought to give more consideration to the Holy Spirit working in and through my life. It is crazy and wonderful to think that Jesus, the Son of God, NEEDED the Holy Spirit to guide Him and to strengthen Him! What a Wonderful Counselor we have indeed.
Thank you for sharing!
Hello Caleb, that is great to hear about this recent breakthrough, praise the Lord for that!! That is also great to hear that you have a focus of preaching the gospel and ministering to the saints without fear, that is what we all need to be focusing on!
Thank you Caleb for sharing this. I can totally relate to what you are saying about ceasing to strive and allow the Holy Spirit to lead. There is so much joy and peace that comes with this submission of will and trusting God. I am so encouraged by your testimony!
Great Caleb. There have been times when I look back and think, Wow, look what the Hoy Spirit did and I didn’t ever recognize it until it was over. He certainly does calm our fears. He is the Comforter.
I can relate to what you are saying Caleb, when you say the Holy Spirit nudges you. that has been happening to me a few times lately doors are opened for me to share with others but I don’t respond as I do some because of fear but then the Spirit shows me, God don’t give you a spirit of fear. I am learning through the guidance of the Spirit it is ok to share the Word and minister to others. the rest is not on you. but it is alright to speak and it is alright to comfort and speak the truth in love. thanks for sharing your experiences. It’s gonna be exciting to see how the Spirit uses you to help others.
From the very first time I heard Luke 10 being taught, I have always related to Martha. Martha was busy, distracted, and worried over all the work to be done all the while neglecting precious time spent at the Lord’s feet. ““Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41, NIV). Scripture says that Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet “listening to what He said”. Today’s podcast reminded me that what sets apart the Lord’s work from being ‘work’–is the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit guiding and revealing the Word of God to me, where is my strength and power coming from? If I am ‘serving’ the Lord in my own strength or relying on my own talent, giftings, knowledge, or experience and don’t seek after God’s leading or strength–my work is of no great value. I am limiting the impact that my service could have made for people because the Holy Spirit is the One working in the midst.
Before I gave my life to the Lord at age 13, I had been attending what is now my home church for nearly a year. Worship was my favorite part of any service since I had always loved music growing up. When I finally gave my life to the Lord, I asked God for a voice so I too could sing His praises. Since that day, I started practicing for hours on end in my bedroom, praying for God to strengthen my voice. A few years later, I was still rusty and terrified but I joined my youth worship team. I have served in our worship ministry for nearly 8 years now and I cannot even express how deeply grateful I am to the Lord for hearing my prayers all those years and for working an actual miracle in my life. All the glory goes to Him!! I laugh because I think the Lord knew my Martha tendencies needed to be put in check with worship of Him. This teaching was a great reminder that if we want to be Christ-like in our ministry and in our lives, we need to be empowered by the Spirit.
Rachel, I relate to you on the power of worship. I always talk about how much I would love to have a voice to worship God and be on the worship team. I never even thought about praying for it, I figured God gave me the talent or he didn’t and well I figured he didn’t give it to me. Congratulations on joining the worship team! God heard your prayers, saw your efforts and answered them. You inspired me, thank you!
Hey there Ericka! Thank you so much, praise God! Oh man, that is such an awesome desire and I am praying for you right now that if it is His will, He would bless you with this gifting! Most importantly our heart and sincerity is what matters most, “I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” (Psalm 104:33)
AMEN!!!!! Thank you so much for the prayer, very much appreciated. My biggest breakthroughs have been in my time of worship, at church and on my own, may God’s will be done. You’re amazing!
Rachel what a beautiful testimony of how early on you were relying on the Lord! Your words “…what sets apart the Lord’s work from being ‘work’–is the Holy Spirit.”, I loved that. It’s encouraging to be reminded to ask for the gifts we don’t have. Thank you.
I love that statement, “Martha Martha”. Often I have heard “Harry Harry, you’re such a bone head. How about just setting down and listening to Me.”
Rachel thanks for sharing about your experiences, I can honestly say to many times have I been shown, the same scenario as Martha, I get to busy doing everything else and worrying and fearing about everything when all I need to do is be still and trust in the Lord and let the Holy Spirit be my guide. I think i try to do everything in my own strength and after taking the long way around God shows me all you need to do is be still you make everything so complicated when you try to figure out things in your own way. I am the way, the truth and the light, I am simple all you need to do is trust and abide in me and accept my gifts the Holy Spirit as your guide.
Both of my parents are total opposites concerning the Holy Spirit, so I like to think I am reasonably well balanced in the area. My mother always took the Holy Spirit to the extreme, sometimes abusing it, and my Father was the logical all about the facts kind of guy. Since I was saved when I was six, I’ve been blessed to have felt the holy spirit since a very young age. After getting saved, I was eager to learn all I could about God and, thankfully, I had parents and teachers who were more than willing to teach me. Because I was so young I took everything they said literally. “Jesus is your best friend.” “The more you pray the more you’ll grow.” “Love your enemies.” “Stand up for what’s right, even when no one else does.” All these lessons and more I didn’t just memorize, but I lived and applied them as well. Sadly, it was because of this that most other kids didn’t understand and purposefully avoided and made fun of me. It bothered me and so I asked God why they were so mean and what I should do about it. He told me that the other kids hadn’t made Him their best friend yet and so I should pray for them and love them so that one day they might. I loved those years when His Holy Spirit surrounded me and He felt so close. The last four years He’s been quiet and I know its my fault. As I get older and take on more responsibility, I sometimes put Him to the side and don’t focus on reading His Word and spending time with Him like I used to. It is because of my zeal for the Lord that people come to me for advice, but I can’t give them the advise they need when my focus is not in the right place. I need His Holy Spirit to guide me, but I have to provide the time for Him to do so. God is a gentleman. He doesn’t force Himself on us. He has been reminding me of this recently. “Read your Bible, pray everyday and you’ll grow, grow, grow.”
Hey there Abigail! Oh man, thank you for sharing your story. I think that is such a sweet testimony of how you clung to Jesus at such a young age and it just goes to show how caring our Lord is.
I truly appreciate your honesty! I can completely relate to you in the aspect of juggling more responsibilities as the years go by and not spending nearly as much time with the Lord as I want/need to. Though I’m involved in many different ministries at my home church and spend most of my time being there, I struggle with daily devotion time. The Holy Spirit reminds me that my service to the Lord does not replace or excuse away the personal time spent with Him. Even more so, how can I continue to ‘pour out’ when I have not set aside the time to be ‘poured into’? This message encouraged me to stop making excuses for myself and make time for personal devotion unto the Lord.
Abigail, thank you for being so open and transparent regarding your experiences with the Holy Spirit. I have had some similar experiences and your last statement made me smile, “Read your Bible, pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” My late father used to say the same thing. I do have a tendency to lean to the “Martha” side of working hard and tend to spend abbreviated times at the feet of Jesus. There are moments when I am reading/praying that are so awesome and refreshing, but then the clock tells me it’s time to go because of some scheduled task/duty. I don’t want to live my Christian walk devoid of His Spirit because there is no Christian walk without His Spirit.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I am guilty of not giving God that one on one quality time. Like you, the more responsibilities I take on I find myself with less and less patience to stay still in his presence until I hear from Him. I feel like I am always racing the clock or being tugged somewhere, more mentally than physically.
Regarding the testimony of your childhood, wow that is amazing! I was raised a God fearing (not knowing) Catholic. I knew enough to not do wrong or else the wrath of God would get me, but I never knew much more than that. I wish I had someone to teach me the word of God when I was young, even as I was raising my own children. I was saved later in life (5 years ago at 34 years old) by then my 2 older kids had past those crucial childhood years and I had done it all wrong. Retracting on all the wrong teachings I did is a challenge I face with them daily, even if they are adults living on their own, one even married with his own kids. However, now I pray for wisdom to teach my youngest as well as my grand kids that Jesus loves them and has a purpose for them and also for them to love Him and stand firm on every one of His words and promises.
Great testimony Abigail, thank you again!
My mother was raised much the same as you were. She was raised a catholic and didn’t learn the truth until her two oldest children were practically gone. She became a Christian after a man at a garage sale told her Jesus loved her. It was just a simple phrase, but no one had ever told her they loved her before so she was sold. I was fortunate enough to be born after that transformation along with three younger siblings. As for my two older siblings, one has married a catholic and blocks himself off from us, but the oldest, after much prayer and guidance, has returned to the Lord. It’s not easy, but God’s Word does not return void. Continue to pray and stand fast in the Word and they will see the truth.
Amen!! Thank you for that encouragement <3
I grew up in a Pentecostal (Charismatic) household where the Spirit was emphasized at the expense of the Word. People were encouraged to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. I can remember many “carrying services” where I would desperately ask for that sign/manifestation. I wanted to know that I was “ok” by having the same experience everyone else had.
Thankfully, in due time I began attending Calvary Chapel Newport News, where I now serve as an assisting pastor. There I became more balanced theologically and practically. It is a difficult balance to maintain, but we need both the law and the Spirit. Lately, I have been chastened by God for relying too much on my knowledge/study and less upon His Spirit to empower and guide. I am grateful for His correction and I am praying to embrace the counseling ministry of His Holy Spirit once again.
My mother was always deep on the spiritual side so I sometimes find myself resisting the Holy Spirit. Other times I resist because He’s telling me to do something but, “I don’t wanna.” It’s often difficult to trust Gods leading, but I have to remind myself, when I know it’s His voice, that He see’s things from a different perspective than I do. A perspective that allows Him to see every aspect of a situation.
David, I feel your pain, about not feeling secure in the Lord concerning the baptisms of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. I look towards man for answers and not the Lord. One year, I attended a men’s retreat where I went forward for prayer to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to speak in tongues. Which some believe is the outward manifestation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The man told me I was already baptized, so from that point I never doubted it again nor have I spoken in tongues. I have matured and don’t need an outward sign to realize the Lord has blessed me with gifts. David keep on looking at the Cross for the Cross has everything we need for life a godliness. Hebrews 12:1-2. Maranatha!
Thank you Kevin for the encouragement. I will continue to look unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith. Maranatha indeed!
Hello David, my husband had a similar experience in the Pentecostal movements. His ex (before we dated) convinced all his friends to join a deliverance that they paid for guy to teach them. My husband discernment was for bothered. He wanted to challenge every word with scripture that the guy taught. He taught that you are Christian if you speak in tongues.
This lead my husband to speak the truth of the gifts of the Spirits especially the gift of tongues which some Pentecostal circle desire more than the Word of God.
Thank you Pastor Jeff for this study about the Holy Spirit. I was raised in an exclusive, legalistic fellowship that by and large did not even mention the Holy Spirit.
(As a side note, I did not really know God loved me until I studied the Chapter of John when I was 19) I really didn’t begin to understand the concept of the Holy Spirit until I attended Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque many years ago where Skip Heitzig was faithful to teach the Word verse by verse.
Fast forward to 7-8 years ago, after hearing a teaching by my current pastor, I felt really convicted about the fact that I had never asked to receive the Holy Spirit into my life and my life wasn’t really Spirt led if that makes sense. That evening I had a deep time of confession and repentance that and asked to receive the Holy Spirit and for the Lord to transform my life.
I knew deep down that I was going to have to face some deep issues in my life such as fear and a striving that were sinful. God took me through a time of great struggle and on the other side of that really hard time, God brought me to a really beautiful place where I abide in Him and I pray to the Holy Spirit now where I never did before. I would not be taking this class right now if I had not submitted myself to the Lord that night and asked to receive the Holy Spirit. I just recently was reminded about this time and shared it with my closest friend.
Thank you so much, Audra, for sharing those personal memories. It is beautiful to read of your balanced approach to walking with Christ in both the Word and Spirit. This is something I struggle at times to maintain. I can be prone to extremes and vacillate between living entirely “by the Book”, to living for the next “move of the Spirit”. Even the balance I am talking about cannot be achieved through striving. He must continue the work He started in me and have faith that He will ultimately complete it. In the end, I will lack no good thing.
Thank you David! It is so good of you to respond. I too had a very definite time where through the scripture and the conviction of my heart, God was leading me to stop striving. I had to ask for forgiveness for how I had been living my life and ask the Holy Spirit to do a new work in my heart. I tend to think very linear so this was a step of faith for me also.
Often when people are about to begin preaching, teaching, leading worship, etc… they pray before and during for the Holy Spirit to come and work in and through them. I think it is a very important step in being successful in ministry because it reminds you before and throughout that God is the only one who can change hearts and without Him, nothing can be accomplished. It helps prepare our hearts and our minds for what we are about to do. Sometimes we forget or purposefully block Him off out of fear, but, in reality, He is the only reason we succeed in anything we do so we must constantly ask for His guidance. Your post helped remind me of this, so thank you.
Hi Abigail! Yes! That is such a good reminder. I have begun to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Word to me in my study times. I have been going through Romans and Isaiah in my personal study times and I need His Wisdom as I read through some of the scripture. I want to know specifically what God has to say that particular time I read through those verses. Thank you!
Hey there Audra! Wow, that is such a beautiful testimony! I praise God alongside you sister, that He revealed His unconditional love and His Spirit to you. My pastor out here in Las Vegas also teaches verse-by-verse. I remember being dragged to church as a young teenager and feeling so intimidated because I knew nothing about the Bible or God. However, all my Sunday-school teachers taught verse-by-verse and were so kind. My family and I continued to come back every Sunday and Wednesday because of the love shared by everyone there. That love comes from the empowerment and involvement of the Holy Spirit. I too am reminded of John, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, NLT).
Thank you for your encouragement Rachel! I am so blessed to be a part of a fellowship where we are taught scripture verse by verse. We now live in Port Angeles, Washington and God is so Faithful! After leaving Albuquerque, it was super hard leaving behind a church that had such rich teaching of the Word. But, God!!! The super awesome thing now is that not only do we continue to be fed the Word, we are part of a much smaller fellowship where our roots are deep and our lives are intertwined with each other. In the last 6 years our church has gone through 4 major crisis and each time, God grows our roots in Him deeper and deeper, individually and as a body. Wow. God’s mercy and grace and so amazing!
Hi Audra, I can really relate to your testimony. When I first became saved my husband and I attended a church that was very rigid, at times legalistic, and often used the Holy Spirit to abuse the flock. But, thank God, like you He protected us. And I’m so thankful that Our Heavenly protected you as well and brought to a church that was spirit filled. God is good!