A Study on the Holy Ghost

̶ Week 37 of 38 ̶

By David Wilson

© 2017 by David Wilson

All rights reserved

 

 

In Conclusion

I believe that in this study, the material presented clarifies that the Holy Ghost is a person, the third person of the tri-une Godhead. He has feelings as we do. He has been sent by the Father to be our comforter and guide. The Holy Ghost enables our lives by giving to us spiritual gifts as He wills. There are nine primary gifts, each with subdivisions. These gifts He gives severally as He wills. We could have none, one, two, five or all nine. The number given is left up to the Holy Ghost. It is then left up to us to nurture it or them. Be careful to use them wisely and carefully as you are led by the Holy Ghost, so that God’s will might be done, praying always.

I hope this study has been a help to you in understanding the Holy Ghost. Also, I hope that you will agree with me that the Holy Ghost is a person and the third person of the trinity. Use this study prayerfully, and ask God what He would have you to discern to be the truth.

The Word tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. The Holy Ghost is our best friend in this world, and He will stay with us till we go home to be with the Lord. Appreciate Him, welcome Him, love Him, for He is our comforter sent to us by God.

Have you learned anything from this study?

Editorial Note:

Much prayer before God went into this study, in addition to the following research materials:

The Spirit Himself, by Ralph M. Riggs

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, by Matthew Henry

The Dake Reference Bible, by Finis Jennings Dake

Thompson Chain Reference Bible

There are other books of study used with a thought or a sentence from here or there, but mostly these. Thanks to the writers without whom this study could not be done.

(Next week we will read the points the author thinks are main points or thought of this book.

If you enjoyed this, you can purchase the book on our website in the Bookstore.)

2/7/2019

While going through my pictures this morning I came upon pictures of a house being remodeled and immediately it came to me that this is the state many “Christians” are in today. They started on the pathway to Heaven and let Jesus start remodeling their lives. Then for one reason or another, they called a halt to the changes God wanted and they told Jesus “you are not going to change me anymore.” So being the gentleman that He is, Jesus walked out. Now their life is a mess and others can see it.

Jesus has the plans that God has for our lives and when we accept Jesus as our Savior then we are agreeing on our lives being remodeled and made better. Jesus becomes our “Master Carpenter” with the blueprints that the Architect, God, has designed just for us. Now we can be like so many homeowners that are going through renovations and keep trying to have things our way or we can let God have His way in our lives.

Humans have the tendency to look around and see the mess our lives are in at any one point and think about how bad it looks with nothing in place, nothing running smoothly and never look beyond and see the finished product. However, those that can see what it will become have an easier time of going through the chaotic mess that we see during the remodel and can handle the things that come our way.

The thought came to me that those who can see the end product clearly have an easier time traveling through this life is like the homeowner that has hired a decorator that walks with them and constantly reminds them of where it all is headed. This is where the Holy Ghost comes into our lives. Once we accept Him in our lives and listen to Him, we have someone that reassures us in our daily walk that we need to focus on the finished product: spending eternity in Heaven with God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost and all the saints from throughout history.

Finally, the day arrives that the work on the house is completed and it has turned out beautiful. When it is a house we can enjoy it, however when we are talking about our lives we do not get to enjoy it because that is when God calls us home to Heaven. Then, if we have followed those plans, everyone that has encountered us will remember us and see the beauty that God designed us to be instead of the “mess” that we lived through.

Ask yourself this question: Am I letting Jesus work God’s will in my life?

C.I. Wilson

A Study on the Holy Ghost

̶ Week 36 of 36 ̶

By David Wilson

© 2017 by David Wilson

All rights reserved

 

 

Tongues and Interpretation

 

Tongues and Interpretation equals prophecy. In the church today we must have these two gifts in operation. But, much of the time all that the church concentrates on is tongues and interpretation, when there are seven more gifts of the spirit that are just as important or more important than tongues and interpretation. One reason for this is because tongues is the physical evidence of the receiving of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

One of the problems in the Corinthian church was the overuse of the gift of tongues in their services when they came together as a body. Since speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost (as the examples in the book of Acts indicate), it is easy to reach out in faith and claim the gift of tongues. Because our ear goes out to God as we speak in tongues, and we are blessed and edified, it then becomes easy to respond in tongues every time one feels the moving of the spirit. This meant that in Corinth, tongues were exercised so often in their meetings that the other gifts were neglected. At times, so many would be speaking in tongues that confusion would take over a service.

It’s fine to feel the moving of the spirit and speak in tongues. But this does not mean that every person who speaks in tongues is giving a message. Speaking in tongues edifies the person speaking, just as when we pray in the spirit and speak in tongues in prayer. It is the Holy Ghost praying to God for our needs and for us.

But a message in tongues is when the Holy Ghost speaks through someone and tells them what He hears straight from the throne of God. There is a difference in a message from God and someone speaking in tongues. Most important is that a message be interpreted. Interpretation is when the Holy Ghost begins to deal with your heart to tell the people what He wants them to know. When God first began to deal with me to interpret, I would receive the first few words of the message. I would hold back and ask God, “Lord is this really you, or is it just me?” My heart would race, the spirit would well up inside of me, and I would feel like I would explode. Sometimes I would yield and sometimes not. It’s a good thing that the Lord is longsuffering toward us. All I can say is this, the more we yield, the easier it becomes. Most of all, do not be afraid to trust God, for he always knows what he is doing. Our place is to simply be a yielded vessel to be used. The Word encourages us to pray always. Pray with the mind and heart, and pray in the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues as the Holy Ghost prays through us.

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

¹⁴ For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Let him who has the gift of interpretation consider the importance of his or her gift. The speaker in tongues is dependent upon the interpreter for the completion of his message. If the latter fails the message in tongues has been given in vain and the scriptures disobeyed. The responsibility for this failure rests upon the interpreter if he or she has quenched the spirit. Also the quality of the message in tongues will be judged by the interpretation, for the interpretation is all that is understandable to the hearers. The message must be for edification, exhortation or to comfort. The spirit-filled Christians that are present will be able to sense whether this has been accomplished.

(Next week we will read some words in conclusion.

If you enjoyed this, you can purchase the book on our website in the Bookstore.)

1/30/2019

“Tommy Glen Stephens, a loving husband, father, grandpa, and brother passed away too soon at his home in Durant, Oklahoma on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at the age of 51. Tommy was born to Luther Austeen Stephens Sr. and Ruby Lee (St. Clair) Stephens on August 21, 1967 in Ft. Worth, Texas. Tommy married his beloved Donna Stephens on May 5, 2013 in Calera, Oklahoma.”

To read the full obituary: http://www.holmescoffeymurray.com/obituary/tommy-stephens

Brother Stephens was with the IFGEA for about eighteen months and has been a blessing not only to the association but also to all who knew him. Please keep his family in your prayers.

When you met him, he welcomed you into his circle of friends. He will be one of the good memories that I carry with me for years to come.

A Study on the Holy Ghost

̶ Week 35 of 38 ̶

By David Wilson

© 2017 by David Wilson

All rights reserved

 

 

The Gift of Prophecy

Prophecy is the greatest of the gifts in its class. Prophecy is for the edifying of the church. Prophecy is the foretelling of events that are to take place at some given time in the future.

2 Peter 1:20-21

²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

²¹ 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.

Exodus 4:12

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 22-32 and 37-40

¹ Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

² For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

³ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

⁴ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

⁵ I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

²² Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

²³ If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

²⁴ But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

²⁵ And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

²⁷ If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

²⁸ But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

²⁹ Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

³⁰ If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

³¹ For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

³⁷ If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

³⁸ But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹ Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

⁴⁰ Let all things be done decently and in order.

The way to tell if a “prophecy” is true is to wait and see if it comes to pass. The word prophesy can be defined as “to speak for God.” To prophesy is to yield as the Holy Ghost impresses upon one to speak the message God would have known. It can be a message of condemnation and judgment or of encouragement and hope. Prophecy of events to take place could be as short a time as a few hours or hundreds of years in the future. One important thing to remember: for prophecy to be truly fulfilled, it must be out of our control to bring it to pass. Prophecy must be God foretelling events that only He can bring to pass. If prophecies are given, and it’s in my or your power to cause its fulfillment, that isn’t prophecy. Prophecy deals with the present, sometimes, and the future most all of the time. We must be very careful in judging prophecy.

(Next week we will read about the gifts of tongues and interpretation.

If you enjoyed this, you can purchase the book on our website in the Bookstore.)