Faith and Forgiveness - Inseparable

Faith simply is trusting something or someone.  We often hear the word faith used casually.  Someone may say, "I have faith that he or she will do what they said."  Faith in the Scripture is more than a casual word.  Faith is vital for a healthy relationship with God.  "Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)  So without faith a person cannot please God.  Without believing that God is and that diligently seeking HIM is top priority, one cannot please HIM.

Jesus encouraged and instructed his disciples to have faith in God.  There are several occasions when He directly dealt with His disciples about their lack of faith.  He addressed them sternly when a father brought a son to them for healing from a controlling evil spirit and they did not have the faith to see the boy healed.  He addressed them in another Scripture about having faith to remove a mountain.  He used mountain to compare with something else that oftentimes seems insurmountable in a person's life.

First, lets look at his encounter with the disciples after they did not have faith for a lad to be delivered from an evil spirit.  They had seen many miracles previous to this encounter but when the father brought his son for prayer and deliverance they found themselves lacking in faith to see the boy healed.  The father brought the boy to Christ and told the plight of his son.  He clearly told Jesus that he brought the child to the disciples for deliverance and they could not help him.  Jesus then says, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me." (Mark 9:19)  Jesus gave the disciples a clear rebuke for their lack of faith.  The boy was then brought to Jesus but the evil spirit acted out throwing the boy on the ground foaming at the mouth.  Jesus then asked the father how long ago since the boy was first attacked by the evil spirit.  The father told him since he was a child and that the spirit sometimes threw him into the fire and sometime in the water.  He then asked for compassion to heal the boy.  Jesus then says, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23) The father then cried out with tears, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."  The man humbly confesses and cries out for help for the unbelief in his life.  Jesus then rebuked the foul spirit when he saw the multitude running together towards them.  The evil spirit convulsed the boy and threw him to the ground foaming at the mouth. 

The one emphasis in the passage is clear - Jesus was emphatic to the disciples and the father about the need of believing or having faith in God.  When the boy was on the ground silent and still, like he was dead after the evil spirit was cast out, Jesus reached down and lifted the boy up delivered, healed and whole.  When Jesus went into the house his disciples asked why they could not cast the evil spirit out.  He told them, "Because of your unbelief, for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17:20)  Here we see Jesus clearly and pointedly telling the disciples that they could not cast out the evil spirit because of their lack of faith.  It is not coincidental that He uses the analogy of faith to remove a mountain.  He is driving home the necessity of faith in God.  In the next verse he tells them that prayer and fasting brings about faith in God which brings God's healing and intervention.  The fasting and prayer deals with the fleshly me and I type of faith and focuses on faith in God.

There is another mountainous analogy that we find our Lord speaking to the disciples about in dealing with faith.  It is on the occasion of Christ driving money changers out of the temple and saying my house shall be called a house of prayer.  He also had passed by a fig tree and cursed it because there was no fruit on it to eat.  The next day when He and the disciples passed by the fig tree it was withered away.  Peter acknowledged the dried up fig tree and Jesus used the opportunity to teach about faith saying, "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them, AND when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also in heaven may forgive your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven for your trespasses." (Mark 11:22-26)  Notice here in the Scripture that the conjunction AND continues the thought Jesus is teaching His disciples on faith moving the mountain and casting it into the sea.  Is the mountain that Jesus is speaking of unforgiveness?  Isn't it clear that faith in God is contingent upon forgiveness?  Isn't it true that one cannot pray the prayer of faith and cannot receive the forgiveness of God when there is reluctant or rebellious unforgivenness in a person's life?  One cannot have faith in God when praying with unforgiveness his/her heart.  Jesus continues his statement with reference to forgiveness when we pray, "AND when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.."  If  there is a reluctant or rebellious lack of forgiveness in the praying person would it not delay, diminish or even delete faith unless or until forgiveness is given?  Faith and forgiveness are inseparable.

Is it not amazing and that Jesus seizes this opportunity to teach the disciples a lesson on faith and forgiveness?  There are people in ministry that emphasize faith yet have rebellious unforgiveness in their lives and hearts.  There are ministers who preach a faith word ministry but hardly deal with issues of offenses and forgiveness.  When forgiveness is exercised in a person's life faith is increased.  When faith is exercised forgiveness becomes the focus.  Faith and forgiveness are inseparable and dynamically congruent.  When prayer to God and forgiveness to others and ourselves are offered and given faith is the fruit.  Forgiveness is the catalyst for faith in God when forgiveness is needed in the praying person.  The mountain of loss, hurt and anger are cast into the sea of healing by the prayer of forgiveness-faith.  Loss will come in life.  Hurt will come in life.  Anger will come at times but does not have to be acted out as sin when forgiveness is chosen.  The prayer of forgiveness-faith in the faithful God of faith and forgiveness will bring the victory through the Supreme Forgiver - Jesus Christ.  Those who pray to God with loss, hurt and anger simply ask the Holy Spirit to help them focus on the Supreme Forgiver and pray the prayer of forgiveness-faith.  The prayer can simply be, "Father of all forgiveness and faith, I come to you through your Son who hung on the cross and cried, 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do,' and now I forgive and pray in faith, believing that my prayer will be heard and answered.  I ask forgiveness for the anger that I have allowed myself to be captured in, I forgive that person who caused loss and hurt in my life and I thank you for the forgiving spirit that you have given me to forgive the loss and hurt that I have experienced.  Now, O Mighty God of faithfulness and forgiveness, this mountain is removed and cast into the sea of healing grace."  AMEN!  AMEN! and AMEN!

WIN THE LOST - SEL, EE, SE, TE - HOLY GHOST REVIVAL

There are several types of evangelistic tools or systematic ways for reaching and winning the lost.  Over the years these tools have been offered by leaders in church organizations.  As a Christian and minister, I have been to the training sessions for SEL, EE, SE, TE and others.  The thrust of most of these training sessions has been to train and motivate ministers, lay-leaders and members to witness to people who need Christ as Savior and Lord.  These are basically good tools but are not most important for being motivated to witness to the lost - yes, love them, pray for them, care for them, share with them in their struggles and feelings and be there for them over the long-haul until they become strong enough to be witnesses for Christ too.  There is another vital part of being a witnessing disciple of Christ, but first here are explanations and links to some of the evangelistic tools - especially for personal evangelism.

One of the evangelistic tools involved doing a list of planned items.  A little booklet was given in a training session that listed these items for winning someone to Christ.  These items were: find someone or think of someone, pray for them daily, connect with them, fellowship with them by having coffee or a meal together once a week and do something special for them weekly - in short be a friend to them.  The steps were to be repeated unlimited times until the person was open to make a decision for Christ and eventually become strong enough as a Christian to reach others with the same plan and continue as a friend to them indefinitely but hopefully, eventually to see them be born again.  This was offered to a group of ministers by a former TN State Bishop, Eugene Weakley, of the Church of God of Prophecy in the late 1990s, the best I remember.  This was known as Team Evangelism or TE.  This was a type of friendship evangelism and offered some very helpful tools for witnessing by being a friend to the person.

A decade or so before the TE training in the district where I was a minister, we met several weeknights over a period of weeks to be trained and honed in the skills of meeting someone and becoming effective in witnessing to them.  At some point, after connecting with them and starting a friendly open-ended conversation, a pointed question was asked.  "Have you come to the place in your life to know that if you die today you would go to heaven?"  Then, provided the person is willing to respond and how they respond, the next question would be, "If you did die today and stand before God and He asked you why should I let you into my heaven, what would you answer?"  Depending on their answer, the follow-up question would respond one way or the other to their need for repentance and being born again, hoping to lead them in prayer for salvation if they are open to receiving Christ as Savior and Lord.  Or, continuing to answer their questions to help them make a future decision.  This program was called Sharing Eternal Life or SEL.  Training manuals were prepared and used but as far as I know there is no web site for SEL.  I still have the materials.

Back around the middle (2004-2005) of the last decade there was training offered in another evangelistic program in our TN district.  Training was offered one night a week for several weeks.  We watched a video about going to businesses, agencies and homes to do something for them without expecting or receiving any remuneration  - materially or verbally.  My wife and I served by going to a laundromat and gave quarters to people who came in for washing and drying their clothes.  The thrust of the program was to do something for people and simply say, "We are doing this to show the love of Christ."  This was done with hopes of leading them toward Christ as Savior and Lord.  This was known as Servant Evangelism or SE.  This is a good way to meet business people in the community.  offering to clean their bathroom, sweep their floor or do other chores as a show of love to them.

One of the first, if not the first, training programs that I was involved in included more extensive training than the preceding programs.  There was an elaborately written book (that I still have) that included the way to approach a person.  The program encouraged going out by two or three and have one to speak and the other(s) to pray silently.  This program included more information to learn and took some practice to be able to be the speaker.  The progress of the evangelistic presentation led to a time of opening to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  This program was known as Evangelism Explosion or EE.

I have not shared these training programs to share my expertise or experience.  As I have confessed over the past couple years, "I cannot remember the last time I personally led someone to salvation by witnessing to them."  Yes, I have witnessed but haven't prayed with someone for salvation personally in too many months - even years.  I have prayed with people but have not prayed with them for salvation - or at least to hear their testimony of being saved.  God help me to continue witnessing in your power and love to make much of Jesus.

All of the above programs are for the purpose of helping to win the lost to Christ.  Each one of the programs have some good points.  In fact, using the positive points of each program could help in reaching and winning the lost to Christ.  Many people have been won to Christ with these tools.  I believe the Holy Spirit has used these tools in winning people to Christ.  Yet, much of the emphasis in these evangelistic tools is on giving something to the person, doing something with or for the person and/or techniques and steps on how to witness and what to say to people who need Christ as Savior and Lord.  These tools and steps are beneficial but can become rote or mechanical without prayerfully seeking the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.

There is great need for Holy Spirit power in being a witnessing disciple of Christ.  Further, there is need of moving from compartmentalizing Christian witness and being a witnessing disciple of Christ 24/7.  We come to church to worship openly and publicly.  As disciples of Christ our daily lives are acts and actions of worship moment by moment.  This requires being sensitive to the Holy Spirit since He wants to glorify Christ in our lives everywhere and anywhere we are and being a witnessing disciple of Christ every moment of the day ready to share our personal testimony and lead them in prayer for salvation.  Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit through prayer and being intentional and alert to what the Holy Spirit is doing in people's hearts and lives is vital for being a witness for Christ.

The Holy Spirit desires to use Christ's disciples as powerful witnesses for Him.  The Holy Spirit wants to glorify Christ in our lives.  Each day the disciple of Christ should pray for opportunities to share Christ with others and remain alert to His leading and prompting.  The Holy Spirit has been given for power to witness.  As a disciple of Christ lives day by day, whether at work, school, at home or at the gas station, grocery store, neighbor next door - where ever and whoever we meet there is a golden opportunity to share our personal testimony for Christ and lead them to Him.  It was said of Dwight Moody that he would not end a day without sharing his testimony and the gospel of Christ with someone.  He preached many revivals but also witnessed daily to anyone and everyone who would hear him.  The fire of the Holy Spirit was burning inside and he fanned the flame to burn brighter and brighter day by day as he intentionally surrendered to the power of God to be a powerful witness for Christ.

Is the Holy Ghost burning in your heart to be a live-wire witness to someone of the awesome salvation that Christ brought to you?  Be alert!  Be ready!  The Holy Spirit is preparing hearts and lives for you to witness to and minister to.  People will feel the red-hot flame of the Holy Spirit burning in your heart.   Jesus said, after the Holy Ghost comes upon you ye shall be witnesses.  Burn, fire of God, burn to tell others the message of Jesus Christ - Savior, Lord and King of Kings.   God valued lost souls so much to give His only begotten Son to die on a cruel cross.  Help me to have the burden for lost souls until I can't rest until they are born into the kingdom of God.  To Him be glory for ever and ever!

Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman - The Tragedy

Can an "old-timer" chime in about this Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman tragedy?  At 63, I suppose I qualify as senior even if I still feel young at heart and continue to learn.   There are older folks that likely have more wisdom than I but surely we can all agree that it is a tragedy.  I call it a tragedy because that is what it is.  It is a tragedy for the Martin family, for the Zimmerman family and for the United States.  It is a tragedy for the Martin family of a son shot and killed.  It is the tragedy of threats and being in hiding for Zimmerman and his family after he has been found not guilty by a trial and jury.  It is a tragedy about divisiveness, ignorance, control and bitterness for the United States.  It is a tragedy that the devil is using to divide people in this nation over racism.  Forbear with me if you will and let me share some personal historical examples.

Let me begin with a little history of my boyhood days.  The following may sound distant, unrelated and unreal to those under age 40 or who grew up without the racial overtones.  I grew up hearing the N word frequently and a lot of negative stories about black people.  There were people in my family (sadly, still are) that used the N word with an extreme negative connotation.  There were off-colored (no pun intended) jokes and a general feeling of contempt for ALL blacks as being lazy and ignorant.  Of course that is not true.  That is not true of any race or ethnic group.  Certainly God knows more about ethnic groups in the world than any human and there are hundreds of races and thousands of ethnic groups - some that the Western world may not know about.  His Son died for all of them.

Even though the younger generation often uses the N word in a friendly manner towards each other, to this day, when I hear the N word I cringe because of the history of my boyhood days.  There were two elements, however, that kept me from being swallowed up in that negative N word divisive cultured atmosphere, the Bible and a church that taught the truth about races and ethnicity.  Sadly not every town and city where our local churches are/were in our denomination practice(d) it.  More about that later.

My Junior year of high school (1966) was the first year that black students were integrated into our school.  There was only one student - the son of one of the teachers at the African American school (Hampton School) in our county.  I was anxious for this student because I felt he was being unduly used to test the relational atmosphere of the white students for accepting a darker skinned student.  However, things went well, as far as I could tell, and there were no incidents or negative things said or done to this student.  The next year more black students came and, as far as I know, there was no racial tension and the relational atmosphere of the school was good.  Little did I realize that twenty-something years later I would face a different response to race than the peaceful integration of our high school.

Let me share this example that occurred at a church I served as pastor in the mid-late 1980s.  I am not going to name the church or location since I don't want to add an opportunity for more ignorance, control issues and bitterness to surface.  Some of those who are continuing to cry racism in the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy are showing their ignorance, control issues and bitterness.  Sending Zimmerman to the death table will not appease some or silence their racist rhetoric.  I honestly thought Zimmerman would get a guilty charge and some type of sentence but I accept and agree with the jury as a US citizen.  I digress.  My prayer is, "Dear Lord, save our nation from this divisive junk of the devil."  On with the example.

I was friends with a black evangelist (we are still friends) and felt led of the Lord and wanted to schedule him for revival.  The church and county was predominately white, in fact I did not see a dark-skinned person in the county the whole time I was there.  We scheduled the revival and the evangelist and his family came to stay with us in our rented house.  One day, I was in a local grocery store and one of the people who was an owner of the business said, "Preacher you better be careful, that house you are living in may get burned down with that black family in it."  This came as a shock to me even though I had heard some passing remarks about blacks not being welcomed in the county.  I remarked, "We are in revival at our church and he (the black evangelist) is doing some good preaching and you are welcome to come."  He just looked at me.  I left at that point thanking them for serving me.  Anyway, the revival continued.  The people at the church stated it was one of the best that the church ever had.  Our rented house did not get burned down.  God blessed greatly and lives were transformed by God's grace.  Now another twenty-something years has passed since that time.

Where are we today in the United States in regards to racism and the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy?  In my opinion, we are dealing with the divisive ways and lifestyles of those who continue in ignorance, and are used by controlling spirits and bitterness.  There are those who are truly ignorant and join in with the racist overtones, the racist marches and the racist riots that destroy property and human lives.  There are those who use the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy to thrust their control issues on a nation led by politically charged leaders that bring further division to a society that needs unity of purpose for accepting all races as creations of God to be respected and held in esteem as persons.  There are those who are so full of bitterness that every word spews out of their poisoned attitude with contempt and hate for those in any ethnic group but theirs.  Their attitudes, actions and speeches create a dangerous atmosphere of division that often leads to destructive rioting.  The media shows people roaming the streets all in the name of supporting Trayvon but what about the people who become violent and destructive?  Is that supporting any just cause?

One black pastor described the negative attitudes, actions and activities of some as only seeing through black eyes.  He could have as easily or rightly have said some are seeing only through their white eyes or whatever race they are.  What would happen if some of those who are captured in ignorance, control issues and bitterness would follow the example of some of the new generation that uses the N word for endearment?  What would happen if their focus was the unity and purpose of a nation that desperately needs God and His righteousness?  Yes the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy is real and it seems that it is leading to a travesty - a travesty for many in a nation who lose their common sense and join the emotionally charged actions of the ignorant, controlling and bitter.  We must seek God, rise above the racist attitudes, actions and activities and be what God has created us to be - ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

SHARING MY DISSERTATION

A couple weeks ago, I graduated with a doctoral degree in ministry (D.Min.) with a counseling concentration.  The degree was academic and practical.  The practical aspect was completed in the ministry where I serve as volunteer co-pastor with my wife who is the lead co-pastor.  We work together in ministry.  I was intially appointed as interim pastor since the church had no pastor for six months and was to the point of being served by a sister church and/or possibly being closed.  After some discussion with the State Bishop, my wife and I were appointed as co-pastors.

The hypothesis of my dissertation was, "Prayer, Leadership training and development in prayer ministries, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will transform a declining Pentecostal-holiness church from a 'maintenance' focus to a 'missional' focus."  The dissertation focuses on researching the causes and possible solution(s) for bringing the local church where we minister (may also be applicable to other churches) back from decline and possible death and disbandenment to being active in reaching people and the community.  There are some sensitive issues in the dissertation as is noted in the preface.  There are no names included other than those who are directly involved in the study, research and some historical figures.  The writing involved three years and is 247 pages counting the literature review and the bibliography.

Some have asked to read my dissertation.  I explained the above to give those who are interested in reading the dissertation a "heads up" about the sensitive nature of the materials in the treatise.  Since it is a counseling concentration, case studies are included in the body.  I do not recommend it for novice ministers, lay members, immature local leaders or those looking for "tongue" material.  Those who desire to read it will be asked their reasoning for wanting to read it.  I do not mean to discourage anyone from reading it but do not want unnecessary potential "gossip" being spread about any of the sensitive materials in it.

If you are interested in reading the dissertation, with the above considerations, I will email you a copy.  I will ask you to write me two or three sentences as to why you wish to read it and type your name so that it will be on my Facebook message or email.  I will ask you to also be confidential about any sensitive matters.  I only printed three hard copies and had them bound.  Two are required for the seminary and I will have one.  An electronic copy will serve anyone better since there will be no cost involved and time involved to copy it.  Send me a message on Facebook or email me @ milt.gordon@gmail.com if you are interested.  If I choose not to send you a copy, I ask that you not take it personal or be offended.  I also require that anyone recieving an email copy NOT to copy or email a copy to anyone else without my permission.  Short sections (3-4 sentences) can be used for research references without my permission.  

Study To Show Thyself Approved

Eight days from now, June 1, graduation of the 2010-2013 Doctor of Ministry cohort group is scheduled to take place (10 am - 12 noon) at Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, TN.  I  (Milton) am scheduled to be in that group.  This is a milestone in my studies and ministry and has been of great benefit in many ways.  I must confess, I am bit worn out with formal studies since this is my fourth post-secondary earned degree to be awarded.  The writer of Ecclesiastes expresses my sentiment in 12:12 (KJV) "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh."  After writing dozens of papers, reading dozens of books, sitting in hours of classes and covenant group meetings, doing the practical ministry aspect of the program and completing my dissertation of 247 pages over the past three years, I am ready for some mental and physical rest.  Yet, I realize that study for approval of God continues and is more than reading books, writing papers and sitting in class.  The Apostle Paul admonished Timothy to, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

The doctor of ministry degree that I earned and will be awarded is secondary to my desire to be approved of God.  Although, the doctoral degree is part of the lifetime learning experience that I believe God is pleased with, it is not the primary reason for studying and learning.  The Apostle Paul advised the Corinthians "For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth."  2 Corinthians 10:18 (KJV)  His Apostleship was constantly being challenged by the so-called "super apostles" who disparaged his ministry and ability to be a dynamic orator.  He did not let that distract and deter him from the call that Christ placed on his life.  His call was about reaching people, mostly the Gentile people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He did not shun any people group.

I believe, it is the desire of every God-called minister/preacher/teacher to fulfill the work that God has designed for them.  Most all ministry of the church is directed to people.  Some of the helping ministries is indirect to people but people is what ministry is about.  I ask my congregation two times a while back to give me one word that describes or defines Christ's practical ministry on this earth when He was here and what ministry is about now.  I waited for a couple minutes and the congregation looked at me puzzled with no answer.  Do you know what the word is?

The past thirty three years of my pastoral ministry has brought many challenges and many opportunities for ministry to people.  There are many spiritual needs in and among people today.  Ministers who fail to gain skills in relating to people will find themselves struggling to have the teamwork, participation and backing to see a fruitful ministry.  Jesus looked over the multitudes of people as sheep scattered without a shepherd.  Did you catch that one word yet?  One of the first requisites for being in ministry, I believe, is to love and get along people.  If people get on a ministers nerves or if people's ways, statements, struggles, personalities, idiosyncrasies, needs, attitudes or any other peculiarities of people bother a minister - better find some other vocation.  Oh, I don't mean to say that I have never had a problem with some of these things but anyone who lets these things be a constant snare to them is in the wrong vocation.  One of the greatest ways for a minister to study to show himself or herself approved to God is to study people, learn to love them, care for them, pray for them and be there for them as much as possible.  This more often comes from God's call, being among people and learning through practical ministry.  So, the admonishment to "study to show thyself approved to God" continues......

Pentecost - Glorifying & Exalting Jesus

Tomorrow, Sunday May18, is what is called Pentecost Sunday.  The word Pentecost is a Greek derivative word which has reference to fifty.  Fifty is the number of days from the time of the passover to the feast of Pentecost.  It is the Sunday that Christians recognize and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost as recorded in the book of Acts.  Some Christians get uneasy when a preacher preaches a message on the Holy Spirit.  There is mystery in the Holy Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit.  People don't understand the tongues and are often mystified by those who speak in tongues. 

I remember when I worked in youth camp several years ago.  The Holy Spirit was moving is a magnificent way.  People were worshipping God in the Spirit through the gift of unknown tongues.  Campers were praying in the altar and staff was praying and counseling with them to share the gospel and help lead them to Christ.  Most everyone was moving around worshipping and praising the Lord.  I was in one of the corners of the chapel worshipping the Lord speaking in unknown tongues while praying for the campers.  After the service, a young boy camper came up to me and said, "Jabber me some more of them words."  At first I was surprised, then it was a point of humor for me.  I smiled and shared with the young man, that the tongues were a form of worship, prayer and speaking to the Father through the Holy Spirit.  He smiled and nodded but I'm sure, as it is with most, it was a mystical thing for him to hear me and others speaking in unknown tongues.  Yet, we have clarity from Jesus in John 16:13-15 as to why the Holy Spirit has come.  Tongues accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to empower and enable the disciples to witness the gospel of Christ in several dialects or languages of the people who had come for the feast of Pentecost but there is more that Jesus tells His disciples about the Holy Spirit

Listen to John 16:13-15 (KJV)  [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.[14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. [15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

The Holy Spirit is One of the Trinity.  He is to be revered, honored and worshipped as God.  God is Trinity.  God is Trinity in unity.  These three are one.  The Holy Spirit is one of the Trinity.  1 John 5:7 (KJV)  [7] For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  It is vital that we give due respect, place and reverence to the Holy Spirit.  Jesus says here in John 16:13, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth."   We do not to have to be in the dark, confused, or frustrated about truth.  Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us and guide us into all truth.  The Bible, God's holy Word is truth.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."  Not only will the Holy Spirit lead us into the truth of the Word,  He will lead us into the truth of Jesus and truths about Jesus.  He wants disciples of Christ to have a close interactive, intimate relationship with Jesus and He will lead the disciple into that relationship.

Notice the next part of verse 13, "for he will not speak of himself."  The Holy Spirit is not here to make a name for himself, just as Jesus was not here to make a name for himself.  He is not here to make any name great or famous but One - that is Jesus.  He is here to empower and enable Christ's disciples to finish the work of the Great Commission.  He is here to equip Christ's disciples to finish the work of the Great Commission through the ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  The completeness of the Holy Spirit's work does not include speaking of himself.  The Amplified Bible translates it like this, But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. (John 16:13 AMP)  The Holy Spirit will guide into all truth and show things to come.

Finally Jesus says,  "He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify me (Jesus): for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. This clarifies more specifically what the Holy Spirit will bring to us of Christ.  He then says, "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you."   Jesus shows the unity of the Trinity here - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He honors His Father as he did all through His earthly ministry as we are expected to do.  The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Jesus.  The Spirit Filled Life Bible says, "The Spirit’s ministry is not only directed to believers and to the world, but also to Christ. What the Spirit teaches He draws from and conveys in the authority of Christ, and glorifies Christ in all that He does. True ministry in the Holy Spirit never serves a private agenda. Rather, working in us and through us, He never exalts Himself, but He continually glorifies Christ who glorifies the Father."  Neither does the Holy Spirit glorify human ministry.

We need the guidance, teaching and forth-telling of the Holy Spirit in our time.  There are many voices in the world but one God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We must listen and hear the Holy Spirit.  He will not lead us wrong.  He is here to lift up Jesus and glorify Him.  He is here to speak of Jesus.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in unity.  We must come into unity with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and as we submit He will bring us into that unity.  Thank God for the Holy Spirit and His work in the last days.

Pentecost - Greater Is He

After Jesus' resurrection He appeared to the disciples at least three times (John 21:14).  During one of His appearances to His disciples, he said these words, "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).  Jesus encouraged the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the power of the promise.  We need this power more than ever today to be effective as His witnesses.

The coming of the Promise on the day of Pentecost (50 days after the resurrection of Christ) was to endue them with power or cause them, the disciples, to be effective witnesses.  We understand that most of the people were Galileans who lacked higher academic education and were not learned in speaking other dialects.  Yet, when the Promise came upon them they began to speak various dialects of the people who came to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost.  When the Holy Spirit came upon them, the disciples spoke the praises and wonderful words and works of God in several different dialects or languages.  The basic thrust of the disciples speaking the various dialects was to be witnesses for Christ and His finished work on the cross and His subsequent resurrection.  The Scripture validates this, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The disciples of that time continued sharing, speaking, living and witnessing to others the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They went to the known world and spread the glorious gospel.  From that day of Pentecost when thousands were witnessed to and added to the kingdom of God and Christ's church, many others were witnessed to throughout the known world of that day as the disciples dispersed throughout the land and other countries.  Today the gospel is continuing to the "uttermost part of the earth."  Our challenge, as His disciples, is to share the gospel daily with every person in our world.  Just as the disciples of that day needed to be "endued with power from on high," so do we the disciples of this day need to be "endued with power from on high," to witness to those we meet each day who need the Savior.

My mother shared with me of the time when my grandmother, Hettie (Hill) Thompson, was ministering with a group on the streets in Chicago back in the early 1900's and the Holy Spirit spoke through her.  A Chinese man came up to the group and in broken English said, "Your God say to me to be saved."  The group prayed with him and the joy of Christ's salvation came over the man as he joyfully lifted his hands to worship God.  The miracle of salvation in Christ was not hindered by lack of my grandmother's knowledge of speaking the man's dialect because the Holy Spirit knew how to speak to him.

Today, as disciples of Christ, we need the Holy Spirit as much or more than ever in our witnessing.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit for witnessing for Christ are as real today as ever.  The battle to discount Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh to live, die and rise again are prevalent against His disciples today.  The book of 1 John encourages us with these words, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (the spirits of anti-Christ): because greater is he (the Holy Spirit to witness for Christ) that is in you, than he (the anti-Christ) that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).  Let us be encouraged to be involved in witnessing for Christ.  The Holy Spirit in us is greater than all opposing forces of anti-Christ and we have been given the charge to witness for Christ.  Stand strong and rest assured in the One that is greater than any others that would hinder or stop the witness of Christ.  He lived, laid down His life on the cross for the sins of the world, rose from the tomb and is alive forever more interceding for His disciples and those who need to trust Him to be saved.  TRUST HIM NOW!