Why We Need The Holy Spirit: Part 4

But what is going to convince others of it in the day and age of constant public humiliation and national television ridicule? None but the Holy Spirit.

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Welcome to Part Four of Why We Need The Holy Spirit. Click here to read the previous blogs on this topic. Up to this point, we have been covering, more or less, the background of Who the Holy Spirit is and His names and, in a way, His attributes. In the last part, we discussed the desperate need of His discernment in our lives right now. We will continue both in the need of that as well as the ongoing information about God’s Presence (AKA the Holy Spirit).

 

The Tragic Landscape

You may often (as I do) look at the world around us and try to understand how it became so far from God. The struggle today is very real and can cause us as Christians to even become emotional when we are faced with such a tragic landscape.

Of the many reasons we need the Holy Spirit in our lives, some can be directly related to the culture and society we currently live in. For instance, we are regularly inundated with the promotion of certain sins to be thought of as “normal.” And many “Christian” organizations are getting on board with these concerns and changing them from something that Scripture clearly defines as sinful to something that is “acceptable” under the guise of God’s love. This skewed hype often leads to others agreeing for the sake of self-absolution.

For instance, I recently looked up a list of “Christian” churches and denominations around the world that approve homosexual and/or lesbian members and/or leaders. The Bible is clear on the subject.

We approach this with kid gloves, for we do not wish to offend or hurt. Yet the Bible does not do it that way. I will post a couple of Scriptures here, but keep in mind, this blog’s intent is not to debate a gay lifestyle. However, it is certainly here to promote the Truth of God.

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” – Leviticus 18:22 (NKJV)

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in the lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” – Romans 1:26-27 (NKJV)

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9 (NKJV)

The point of these references is not to fuel debate on same-sex marriage or whether a gay lifestyle is sinful. Clearly, Scripture says that it is. But the point is how do we see the truth when the world is pushing the opposite so hard?

 

Help In This Time

In Ephesians 1, we read a prayer from Paul that he is praying for the people of Ephesus and, therefore, meant for us. He says he is praying that God will give them (us) the “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God” so that we will understand what God is doing. That we will grasp the importance of His call on our lives. Live in Hope. Ultimately, so that we will see all that God has for us, His Church.

One of the things that the Holy Spirit will show us in this present day and age is the truth from the lie. Because the lie is not as obvious as we think it is and the truth has been muddled by an enemy that has lived thousands of years on Earth and is very tricky. He is not going to be obvious. Everything that is of the world will view and twist what is true to fit their own agenda or, if they cannot change it, regard it as zealous bigotry.

I have a good, personal friend that I work with. He works hard. We have a lot in common. He’s also a fan of my books. He even has a Christian background. And yes, he is gay. His lifestyle is never the subject of our conversations. He knows my belief. We get along just fine. But here’s the truth: I want him to know who Jesus is, and I want him to spend eternity with Him. I want to see him free.

The Holy Spirit has kept my eyes on the Word. He has helped me to see the truth. He also helps me to love the person in sin. Not because I think they need to change but because God loves that person and, therefore, so do I. I have a hope that someday he will see that God has something better for him and he will seek God’s freedom.

It is very common now for a church to accept a person in a homosexual lifestyle and give them the same standing (spiritually) as a person who is choosing to remain true to the teachings of God in the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Which, essentially, throws out the need to obey the God of our creation. Much like evolution has done.

The church is folding in many places to the will of the people. Many, many places. Churches and denominations that have stood firm for hundreds of years are not only accepting this but, indeed, advocating it. In truth, we can preach the Word on the subject until dark and take up again daily, but where will it get us?

Should we do so (preach the truth as such), we would not be wrong. But what is going to convince others of it in the day and age of constant public humiliation and national television ridicule? None but the Holy Spirit.

So, for the issues that debate daily here in America (for there are many others), we must seek constantly the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives to remain true to God’s Word. To know when the enemy is using others to try and twist what is right and what is wrong. The Holy Spirits presence in our lives cannot be overstated or over-preached.

Not holding anything back from the disclosure that God has given me, I give you this: Seek the “spirit of wisdom and revelation” with all you have. (Eph. 1:17-18) That is the most pertinent key to having the eyes of the Holy Spirit to see what is truth and what is a lie. Make this daily. Set your reminder.

 

Matt

 

 

Featured Image by Priscilla Du Preez

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

Matt Davenport Ministries is Matt and Nancy Davenport. We work in several areas of ministry, focusing on teaching the Word of God. We also publish teaching books and Christian novels. Matt is a former senior pastor, currently ordained through ABEA. Sapphire Arts, LLC, is our "tent-maker" company. We will have occasional items in here that are handmade from our small business/company.