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The Holy Spirit: The Power of God
Sermon by Kim MyersBrethren, understanding what God's Holy Spirit is may be the most crucial element in all of theology. It is the Spirit of God within us that enables us to comprehend God's way of life, His laws, and His doctrines, transforming us into true Christians or Firstfruits. The Holy Spirit makes us children of God and imparts eternal life to us. When the Holy Spirit works within us, our lives produce the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, meekness, and self-control—elements of the very character of God. There is no law against these qualities anywhere in the world. What is the Holy Spirit? It is the power of God, not a third being or part of a trinity. It is the great power that moved upon the face of the waters, the very power and mind of God. It is not a person that can be poured out, but God can pour out His Holy Spirit to us. It resides in us as the power of God and a portion of His mind, granting us the ability to understand His laws, doctrines, and way of life. Through baptism, God gives us the Holy Spirit, opening our minds to the mysteries of truth vital for salvation. The Holy Spirit also intercedes for us, helping us pray for things we may not even know to include in our requests. It comforts and aids us in expressing ourselves to God. As we grow spiritually by keeping God's laws and living His way of life, God lives in us through the Holy Spirit, shaping traits that produce spiritual fruit. Only through the Holy Spirit, given to those called by God, who repent, and are baptized, can we understand the whole truth of God. It provides wisdom, teaches us God's way, and leads us to eternal life if we remain faithful and obedient to His laws and doctrines. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, not something we can earn. After receiving it through baptism, we begin to understand God's laws and doctrines, and it gives us the power to change. We must yield to it, allowing it to lead us and bear spiritual fruit, demonstrating a sound mind. It is the vine of God's divine nature, through which He carries out His will, granting us the power to understand spiritual things and the faith to overcome sin. Though God has not yet offered salvation to most of mankind, when Christ established His church, He began offering His Holy Spirit to those called as Firstfruits, providing the gift of eternal life to the faithful.
Powerful Effects of the Holy Spirit
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe Holy Spirit manifests as a profound power in the lives of those called by God, marking the Day of Pentecost as a pivotal moment of spiritual empowerment. On that day, the Holy Spirit descended with abundance and strength upon the first 120 members of God's church, accompanied by supernatural signs such as the sound of a mighty, rushing wind and tongues as of fire resting on each disciple. This wind, though not felt physically, filled the house with its powerful sound, symbolizing the invisible force of God's Spirit producing audible effects. The tongues of fire further represented God's presence and holiness, signifying the gift of understanding the things of Christ and the proclamation of God's truth through preaching. The Holy Spirit serves as the spiritual power essential for overcoming a self-centered way of life, enabling believers to turn toward a God-centered existence. It is through this power that individuals triumph over the temptations of the world and the influence of Satan, as the Spirit of God within is mightier than any opposing force. This power is not of human origin but is granted by God dwelling within, preserving and strengthening through His grace. Moreover, the Holy Spirit is the power by which believers develop holy, righteous, and perfect character, aligning with God's purpose for humanity. It is described as a flame to be kindled, requiring personal effort to maintain the zeal for God's truth, yet fueled by the Spirit's energizing force. This Spirit imparts courage, love, and a sound mind, equipping individuals to face trials, endure persecution, and meet challenges with confidence, casting out fear and fostering a balanced, spiritually mature perspective. Through the Holy Spirit, God provides the strength needed to uphold those afflicted for their faithfulness, ensuring they are sustained beyond their own capabilities.
The Wonderful, Powerful Gift of God's Holy Spirit
Sermon by John O. ReidThe Holy Spirit, as the power of God in action, manifests in extraordinary ways to accomplish His will. At Pentecost, this power was displayed with the sound of a mighty wind filling the house, though no air moved, and with flames appearing as cloven tongues of fire resting on each disciple, yet without heat. This divine power enabled the disciples to speak in unfamiliar languages, astonishing all who heard, as every man understood in his own dialect the wonderful works of God, despite the crude reputation of the Galileans. The Holy Spirit's power continued as a miracle of hearing, ensuring the message reached a multitude, leading to thousands repenting. This same power of God's Holy Spirit performs mighty acts throughout history, inspiring individuals with superhuman strength and courage, as seen in David's mighty men who achieved impossible feats. It intervenes in critical moments, guiding events to protect and support His people. The Holy Spirit's power is evident in miracles like the ax head floating, the sun moving backward for Hezekiah, and the parting of the Red Sea, all demonstrating God's command over creation. Given as an awesome gift, the Holy Spirit assists in fulfilling the calling to become members of God's family. It teaches personally, shaping the will of each individual with righteous knowledge, reminding them of Jesus Christ's obedience, faith, and character to imitate. As a witness, it testifies to the truth of Christ's life and amplifies God's laws, urging obedience amidst a world of persecution and hatred. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, revealing the necessity of righteous living through Christ's victory and resurrection, guiding into divine truth and freeing from worldly lies. This power enables overcoming, providing the strength to resist Satan's lies and temptations, which appear as fiery darts aimed to destroy. It equips with the shield of faith to stand against the wiles of the devil in personal, hand-to-hand combat within the mind. The Holy Spirit's power supports developing godly character, essential for eternal life in God's Kingdom, by urging resistance to sin and fostering obedience. Sealed with this Spirit of promise, it serves as a down payment of the inheritance to live as members of the God family, marking authenticity and approval by God.
Misconceptions and Malarkey About the Holy Spirit (Part Two)
'Ready Answer' by David F. MaasThe Holy Spirit is depicted as a profound power and essence from God, not a separate personality, but a vital force that aids in spiritual understanding and strength. In Acts 13:2, the original Greek term "pneuma hagion" (spirit holy) without the article suggests that Paul was inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26 indicates that the Holy Spirit serves as an instrument, helping us become more spiritually articulate in our requests before God. God's Holy Spirit must become an integral part of us if we aspire to sonship as offspring of God, as noted in Romans 8:11 and 14, making the difference between deification or oblivion. In Zechariah 4:6, the Spirit is likened to oil poured out upon a person to accomplish His work, showing how pervasive and fluid this Spirit is, permeating the universe. Jesus, in John 7:38-39, compares the Holy Spirit to a gushing river flowing from those who believe in Him. In I Corinthians 2:16, Paul describes the Holy Spirit as the gift received from God, specifically called the mind of Christ, helping us understand spiritual things. Ephesians 3:16-17 further elaborates that God's Spirit supplies internal spiritual strength, being the means by which Christ dwells in our hearts through faith, rooting and grounding us in love. Just as man has a spirit that provides the power of mind and will, God also has a Spirit, far more potent and effective, an essence of mind and power that accomplishes His will. This basic understanding, upheld throughout Scripture, cuts through misconceptions, revealing the wondrous nature of God's Spirit as a source of understanding and power to do His will and ultimately become His glorified children.
The Holy Spirit
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeGod's Holy Spirit typically refers to the mind of God and Christ, which is added to our human spirit to create a sound mind by which we witness of God.
What Is the Holy Spirit?
'Ready Answer' by David C. GrabbeThe Holy Spirit, as described, is a spirit of power, linked with the capacity for achieving and accomplishing God's will and work through individuals. This power, from the Greek word dunamis, translates to ability, strength, or mighty works, and is not a personal power but the outworking of God the Father. It is critical that this power is constrained by the love and sound-mindedness of God's Spirit, ensuring it is not used for self-gratification or self-glorification, but to focus on God Himself. In Acts 1:8, the resurrected Christ tells the apostles that they shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, enabling them to be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. This capability to witness is not limited to the apostles; everyone who has received God's Spirit has the capacity to reflect His glory to the world by becoming like Him. However, this power can be sought for wrong reasons or misused, as seen with Simon Magus who tried to buy it for his own ends, and the Corinthian congregation who needed admonishment for not using their spiritual gifts for the benefit of the Body. The use of God's power must always be guided by godly love and sobriety, ensuring that any spiritual ability or gift remains a testimony to the goodness, mind, love, holiness, and stability of God.
Misconceptions and Malarkey About the Holy Spirit (Part One)
'Ready Answer' by David F. MaasEphesians 1:13-14 reveals that the Holy Spirit serves as the instrument of our regeneration as children of God, acting as a pledge or down payment on the life to come. The Bible describes the Holy Spirit as the spirit and mind of Christ, emphasizing its role as a transformative power. Romans 8:9 underscores that without this spirit displacing our carnal minds, we are not in the process of conversion and thus not candidates for the God Family. Numerous verses throughout Scripture, particularly in Luke's writings, demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is a power rather than a personality, as seen in the original Greek where no article is used with "pneuma hagion," indicating it is an essence rather than an entity. Additionally, Matthew 28:19 suggests that baptism into the name of the Father and the Son is accomplished by means of the Holy Spirit, further highlighting its function as a powerful force in spiritual transformation.
The Holy Spirit
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe Holy Spirit is the power of God, not a personage or entity. It is described as the power or mind of God, the power of love and of a sound mind, emanating from Him. This power can be poured out, breathed, used to fill, and anoint those who receive it. It is through this divine power that God imparts wisdom and understanding, teaches His way of life, comforts, and helps His children. Even in moments when we struggle to express ourselves in prayer, this power aids us in making our requests before God. God gives this powerful Spirit only to those who have repented, demonstrated obedience through their attitude and behavior, been baptized, and follow His commandments. It is by this power that God calls us to the knowledge of the truth, opening our minds to the mysteries of His will through divine revelation. Without this power, no one can comprehend the whole truth of God by mere human reason or intelligence. This power of God works within us to create and shape traits that produce the fruit of the Spirit, by which a person is known. It delivers us from death and leads us to the gift of eternal life, a gift that cannot be earned or inherited at birth but is bestowed by God on His faithful and obedient children. Once received, we must continually be led by this power, bearing spiritual fruit throughout our lives. If we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and a sound mind, we know this power is active within us, empowering our minds to comprehend spiritual matters, produce conversion, and give us the strength, will, and faith to overcome our sins.
The Trinity and the Holy Spirit (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The Holy Spirit is consistently described as the power of God, emanating from the Father and the Son to accomplish His will. It is not portrayed as a personality but as an inanimate force, evident in descriptions such as a rushing mighty wind, falling upon individuals, or being poured out, as seen in Acts 2 and Acts 10. This power fills entire spaces and affects events anywhere in creation, demonstrating God's ability to insert Himself into circumstances at any time, as noted in Psalm 139:7. The Holy Spirit is the means by which God directs and carries out His purposes, joining believers into one spiritual family with each other, the Father, and Jesus Christ, enabling communion with Him, as highlighted in John 16:7. Unlike the Father and the Son, who are shown to have shape and express personality, the Holy Spirit lacks such characteristics, further described metaphorically as wind, water, or oil, invisible yet observable in its effects, according to John 3:8 and John 7:37. The absence of the Holy Spirit as a personality in greetings, fellowship, or authority alongside the Father and the Son in apostolic writings reinforces its role as a power rather than a person. Even in translations assigning masculine pronouns to the Holy Spirit, grammatical analysis reveals the subject as neuter, aligning with its depiction as an inanimate force rather than a distinct being within the God family.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit is the power that issues forth from the Father and the Son, emanating directly from Them for the express purpose of influencing us personally. It is the essence of Their mind, a force that stirs and excites our minds to understand things we would never grasp without Their intervention. When we accept this power, it manifests in us as fruits such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Unlike the indirect influence of satan, which affects everyone generally, God's relationship through His Spirit is direct and personal, specifically targeting those He has chosen to call, to shape, and to prepare for His Kingdom. This divine power is not a separate entity but a projection of the Father's and the Son's mind, interfacing with ours to transfer Their thoughts, attitudes, and character, enabling us to choose life and fulfill His purpose.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit is the essence of God's mind, embodying His power over all creation. This power resides in His mind, where His sovereignty governs and carries out His purpose. The Holy Spirit, as the fundamental nature of God's mind, enables His instantaneous awareness and reaction across His creation, ensuring His will is done by sending forth His Spirit. Unlike human spirit, God's Spirit is holy, transcending in purity and infinite goodness, motivating and energizing actions of the highest quality. It possesses infinite knowledge and wisdom, reflecting His perfect morality and character, which empower creation and judgment with a purifying purpose. God's Spirit interfaces with man's spirit, facilitating revelation, illumination, and inspiration. Through these, God reveals Himself, illuminates understanding, and inspires action, initiating a spiritual creation process. This process mirrors physical renewal, as when God sends forth His Spirit to renew the earth, but applies to spiritual transformation, beginning with a personal invitation and touch from Him. The Holy Spirit replaces destructive inclinations with joyous, positive, and selfless attitudes, essential for true success and alignment with God's purpose. This transformative power is conveyed through words, which are spirit and life when they come from Him, activating and motivating those who receive them.
Jesus on the Holy Spirit
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit is the power by which God accomplishes His work. In the Old Testament, this power is evident in physical manifestations, such as the strength given to Samson to tear apart a lion, demonstrating the Spirit's ability to endow extraordinary might for God's purposes. It also equipped Bezaleel with skill to construct the tabernacle, showing the Spirit's role in providing practical abilities for divine tasks. Additionally, the Spirit inspired Jahaziel to speak encouraging words to Judah and Jehoshaphat before battle, revealing its capacity to guide and uplift through speech. In the New Testament, the understanding of the Holy Spirit's power expands to a more spiritual dimension. Jesus reveals that this same Spirit, which once acted in physical ways, now fills believers with spiritual strength to perform works in a spiritual realm. It is the means by which God casts out demons, as seen when Jesus used the Spirit's power to free individuals from bondage, a power that demons cannot resist. This authority extends to resisting and ultimately defeating satan and his influence, whether through direct possession or general enslavement to his ways. The Holy Spirit is central to all aspects of God's work, including creation, redemption, salvation, and governance. It is the agency through which He acts, ensuring that His will is fulfilled without fail. This power transforms believers, working invisibly within them to produce visible fruits such as love, joy, and peace, guiding them toward becoming sons and daughters of God. Jesus emphasizes that the Spirit's work is like the wind—unseen but evident in its effects—motivating godly behavior and service when allowed to flow freely through a willing heart. Moreover, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to worship God in spirit and truth, facilitating a direct response to His work in their lives. It is the vital connection that binds them to God and to each other, fostering fellowship and harmony. Jesus teaches that this power must not be quenched but should overflow like rivers of living water, inspiring acts of kindness, encouragement, and service. Immersed in this Spirit, believers are equipped to be witnesses of Christ, using this divine power to glorify God in every aspect of their lives.
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit embodies the power through which God's creative energy is manifested, serving as the channel for His transformative work. As seen in Psalm 104, without God sending forth His Spirit, there would be neither creation nor renewal; the earth would remain in destruction. In Isaiah 32 and Ezekiel 37, it is clear that God uses His Spirit to bring about change, to sprinkle clean water, to alter nature, and to cause growth, ensuring that without His Spirit, destruction would persist and nothing would transform. Jesus Christ declares in John 5:17 that He and His Father are continually working, engaged in the act of creation. God, as the Potter, shapes us, the clay, using the Holy Spirit akin to water that brings the clay to the right consistency for molding. This transformative power of the Holy Spirit moves us from confusion and destruction to order, purity, and life, mirroring the creation in Genesis 1 where God's Spirit brooded over the deep, bringing beauty out of chaos. When God sends His Spirit to us, transformation begins from our state of disorder, as we were in Babylon, headed for the grave. God's Spirit initiates a new life, creating and forming us into the righteousness of God, a process of sanctification and daily application of His righteousness. This power is not for us to control or manipulate for personal gain, as seen in the error of Simon, who sought the Spirit for self-glorification, revealing a profound misunderstanding of God's nature and gifts. God gives His Spirit for specific purposes: to act as a bridge for His creative work within us, to benefit the church by empowering it according to His will, and for our spiritual growth and well-being. This empowerment enables us to yield to God, preparing us for His Kingdom and glorifying Him. Through His Spirit, termed the Spirit of truth, God imparts essential knowledge about relationships with Him and others, providing the truth about our destiny and how to achieve it. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit instills hope, a powerful motivator that drives us to choose and yield in anticipation of eternal life. It also fills us with God's love, as noted in Romans 5:5, and grants inward strength and power, allowing Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith. This enables us to grasp the vast dimensions of Christ's love and be filled with the fullness of God, achieving far more through His power at work among us than we could ever ask or conceive.
What the Holy Spirit Does
Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit, as revealed through Scripture, is a powerful force under God's command, always ready to act according to His will. From the very beginning in Genesis 1, we see the Spirit of God hovering over the waters, poised for action, illustrating constant activity and readiness to work at a moment's notice. When God speaks, as in the creation of light, the Spirit responds immediately, demonstrating its role as a tool directed solely by Him, acting only at His command to fulfill His purposes. In the life of Samson, as recorded in Judges 14, the Holy Spirit provides sudden strength to overcome a fierce enemy, energizing and empowering him to meet an unexpected attack. This physical illustration points to a spiritual reality, showing how the Spirit strengthens us inwardly to endure trials, resist what is not good, and overcome spiritual enemies, including our own weaknesses. Without this divine power, we would be unable to withstand such challenges, as it equips us to stand firm and repel adversarial forces. Through the example of Jesus Christ in Acts 10, we see the Holy Spirit's power turned outward for the benefit of others. He used this strength not for personal gain but to go about doing good, helping and healing countless people with compassion. This sets a pattern for us, showing that the Spirit's power within us is meant to be used to serve others, to do good, and to support those in need, reflecting the selflessness of Christ. Additionally, in II Timothy 1:6-7, the Holy Spirit is described as imparting power, love, and a sound mind, rather than fear. This power enables courageous and strong actions, grounded in love and sound reasoning, ensuring that any inspiration from the Spirit leads to helpful and good outcomes, never to foolishness or harm. Thus, the Holy Spirit's power is a transformative force, equipping us to act wisely, lovingly, and effectively in accordance with God's will.
The Holy Spirit
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit, as presented in the Bible, is not a personality co-equal with the Father and the Son, but rather an impersonal power or force directed by a personal God. It is the means through which God accomplishes His will, emanating from His mind to insert Himself into and affect events anywhere in His creation. This power enables Him to be everywhere at once, to concentrate His attention in multiple areas simultaneously, and to keep track of His people across vast distances. The Holy Spirit is often referred to with masculine pronouns due to grammatical necessity, as spirit is a masculine noun, which can make it appear as though it performs actions like a person; however, this is a literary device similar to personifications found throughout Scripture, where inanimate objects like the heavens, earth, or even a foot are given voice or action for illustrative purposes. Numerous biblical references consistently mention the Father and the Son as Personalities within the God Family, while the Holy Spirit is conspicuously absent from such contexts, including greetings in apostolic letters, chains of command, and descriptions of divine authority or mediation. The Holy Spirit is not presented as a mediator between humanity and the Father, a role solely attributed to the Son. It is not depicted as having a place in the transference of power or in the Kingdom, nor is it shown expressing personality through emotions or physical form as the Father and Son do, who are described in human-like terms reflecting Their image in which humanity is created. Instead, the Holy Spirit is likened to wind, water, oil, and other inanimate elements, emphasizing its nature as a force rather than a being. It is poured out, fills spaces indiscriminately, and binds believers together as one body, serving as the instrument by which God regenerates and unites His family. Even in rare instances where it appears alongside the Father and Son, such as in certain verses, there is no inherent indication of personality; any such interpretation must be read into the context rather than derived from it. The depiction of the Holy Spirit as a dove in one instance is not indicative of a personal form but rather a symbolic representation of God's gentle power, further underscored by descriptions of it fluttering or moving without shape or life. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is the power the Father and the Son use to carry out Their purposes in creation, lacking any scriptural basis for being considered a distinct personality within the God Family.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit, as an aspect of spirit, embodies an invisible and immaterial source of power that can surpass human limitations. This power, often external and supernatural, enables individuals to perform beyond their natural abilities when acting in service to God. For instance, God enhanced the skills of Bezaleel and Aholiab, empowering them to construct the tabernacle with abilities exceeding normal human capacity. Similarly, Samson was endowed with extraordinary strength by the Spirit of the Lord, allowing him to accomplish feats no ordinary man could, such as slaying thirty men or carrying city gates miles away. This supernatural empowerment illustrates that it is not merely the individual acting, but God working through them by His Spirit. Moreover, this divine power is not limited to physical strength but extends to spiritual transformation and understanding. God works within individuals to will and to act according to His good pleasure, enabling supernatural outcomes that could not be achieved otherwise. This includes opening minds to comprehend truth and guiding choices without negating free will. The Spirit of God communicates this power, stirring the spirit within to produce good fruit aligned with His purpose. Thus, the Holy Spirit as power is a vital force, driving both extraordinary actions and the internal renewal necessary for alignment with God's will.
The Power of the Holy People
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeThe Holy Spirit, the essence of God's mind and the agency by which the Father and the Son live in the begotten Christian, is the power of the holy people where the church is concerned. More specifically, the church's power is God Himself, the Source of that Spirit. Jesus even declared that all power had been given to Him in heaven and on earth. God empowers His servants to preach the gospel, but to limit the church's power merely to public preaching is to limit God Himself, for His work is centered on true belief, which begins with the prodding of the Holy Spirit and ends in the regenerated Christian inheriting the Kingdom of God. This transformation from sinful humans to spirit-composed members of the God Family requires the power of God through the agency of His Spirit. If the church's power, Jesus Christ living in us by His Spirit, were ever completely shattered, the gates of the grave would prevail against the church, and God's purpose would fail. Yet, we know that cannot be so. Even though the church of God may not always have an open door to preach the gospel powerfully to the world, depending on what God is doing at any point in time, we can have every confidence that the power of the New Covenant church will never be shattered, for that power is God Himself.
What the Holy Spirit Does (2005)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit is presented as a dynamic and powerful force that belongs to God, constantly active and ready to act at His command. It is not a static or passive entity but a vibrant power that moves with eager readiness, as seen in its hovering over the waters in Genesis, depicting constant movement and expectancy. The Spirit does not act independently but operates as the means by which God's will is accomplished, responding to His spoken word to bring about creation, such as when light was formed at His command. The Holy Spirit empowers individuals by enhancing their natural talents and abilities for God's work, as illustrated by Bezaleel, who was filled with the Spirit to craft the Tabernacle with exceptional skill and excellence. It also provides strength, exemplified by Samson, who was infused with power to overcome a lion, symbolizing the spiritual strength given to resist and prevail over challenges. Similarly, Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform acts of service and good, showing that this power is not only for defense but also for aiding others. Paul, too, was filled with this might to perform signs, wonders, and to preach, demonstrating the Spirit's role in equipping for service. Additionally, the Holy Spirit imparts the power to speak fitting words at the right time, as seen with Jahaziel, who encouraged Judah in a moment of crisis, and as affirmed by Jesus, who promised that the Spirit would provide words for witness in times of need. This same power inspired the prophets and apostles to write and preach God's truth, revealing reality and opening eyes to see as God sees, as with Balaam, whose vision was broadened by the Spirit to perceive truth, and Elisha's servant, who was shown the unseen reality of God's protection. The Spirit also serves as the link that connects believers to the Father and to Christ, facilitating fellowship among those who share it, uniting them in thought and purpose. It is a force of love, pouring out God's love into hearts, ensuring that its inspirations are always acts of love, grounded in sound mind and godly reason, never leading to foolish or harmful actions but always to courage, strength, and helpful deeds.
A Primer On Spirit
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Spirit is an invisible force, the effects of which are clear by its manifestations. Spirit can be discerned by thinking through and evaluating its effects.
The Father's Promise of Power!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe first fruits who have received the gift of God's Holy Spirit have a second spirit to bring the spirit in man in line with God's will.
Using Power Righteously (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)When we yield to God's Spirit, we receive the power to do the things God has prepared His firstfruits to accomplish, adding to the capabilities of the spirit in man.
The Right Use of Power
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWith dominion comes responsibility to maintain. The sad history of mankind shows that he has mismanaged his power, bringing about disease, war, and famine.
Using Power Righteously (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God has singled each one of us out individually, calling us, gifting us with capabilities, and preparing us for eternal life as members of His family.
Gifted With Power From on High
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWith the Holy Spirit, we receive spiritual gifts that amplify extant physical abilities for the expressed purpose of edifying the church.
Powers of Christ
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAfter His resurrection, Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples, reminding them of His limitless power to help them in their work.
Power
Article by David C. GrabbeThe church of the Philadelphians has a 'little strength', suggesting that Christ commends them for being 'faithful in little' and will reward them with much.
Psalms: Book Four (Part Four): God as Creator
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe creation offers compelling testimony to the intricacies which preclude even the possibility of evolution. Evolution is a futile attempt to get rid of God.
The Spirit of Bondage
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod did not give us a spirit of fear or bondage. Faith is the antidote to a spirit of slavish cowardice and timidity, the opposite of boldness from the Holy Spirit.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit is never venerated as a separate being. Our hope is the indwelling of Christ, used interchangeably with 'Spirit of God' and 'Spirit of Truth.'
What Does God Really Want? (Part 6)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod provides the gift before it is actually needed so that when it is needed, everything is prepared for the person to do as he has been commissioned to do.
Teaching Us to Think (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod instructs us to be living sacrifices. Too many drag this change out over decades, thereby self-limiting the process of sanctification.
The Pentecost Witness
Article by David C. GrabbePentecost is known for its stupendous signs, particularly in Acts 2. Yet it teaches us of another witness: our own display of Christ's way of life in us.
Made Alive by Exceeding Greatness!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod granted humans a limited measure of power and dominion at creation, but not until the Day of Pentecost of 31 AD did their potential become fully operative.
Acts (Part Two)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughOur historical and theological roots are advanced in a polished, chronological narrative (Acts), perhaps designed as a trial document authored by Luke.
Announcing . . . Christ's Birth!
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe blending of paganism with inspired Scripture has degraded and obscured the meaning and glory of what happened in the announcement of Jesus Christ's birth.