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What Is the Holy Spirit?
'Ready Answer' by David C. GrabbeThe power of God's Holy Spirit is a profound gift, bestowed upon believers to enable the outworking of His will. As described in Acts 1:8, Jesus Christ declared that His followers would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, equipping them to be witnesses to Him across the earth. This power, from the Greek word dunamis, signifies the capacity for achieving God's work through an individual, reflecting strength and the ability to perform mighty works. However, this is not a personal power for self-gratification or glorification; it is the outworking of God the Father, constrained by the love and sound-mindedness inherent in His Spirit. In II Timothy 1:6-7, Paul emphasizes that God's Spirit is a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, given as a gift through the laying on of hands. This power enables believers to overcome human fear and to act with disciplined, sensible minds, operating in ways often incomprehensible to the world. It impels God's children toward holiness, love, and spiritual understanding, aligning their thoughts and actions with the essence of His incredible mind. Furthermore, the power of the Holy Spirit, evident in the dramatic manifestations of Acts 2, serves a purpose beyond mere display. It equips every believer who receives God's Spirit to be a witness of Him, reflecting His character and glory to the world. As we yield to and make use of this Spirit, God grants more of it, shaping His image in us and enabling our lives to testify to His goodness, love, holiness, and stability. Thus, the power of God's Holy Spirit is the divine capacity to live as He lives and to fulfill His purpose through us.
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPentecost holds a unique significance among the holy days, marked by the extraordinary giving of God's Holy Spirit, which surpasses even the importance of the Old Covenant and the giving of the Law. This event is central to achieving God's purpose for humanity, enabling us to be transformed into His spiritual and moral image and to become sons in His family. Under the Old Covenant, as seen in Deuteronomy 29:2-4, most Israelites lacked God's Holy Spirit, limiting their spiritual understanding. However, the New Covenant ushered in a profound change with the outpouring of His Spirit, as evidenced on the day of Pentecost with the sound of a mighty rushing wind from heaven and flames of fire appearing on those who received it, marking them as set apart. The power of God's Holy Spirit is evident in its ability to transform and create. As described in Psalm 104:30, when God sends forth His Spirit, there is fresh creation; without it, the earth would remain in destruction. Isaiah 32:13-18 and Ezekiel 37:12-14 further illustrate that it is through His Spirit that God renews and changes the nature of His people, bringing order from confusion and life from disorder. Jesus Christ Himself affirmed in John 5:17 that He and His Father are continually working, shaping and molding humanity as a potter shapes clay, with the Holy Spirit acting as the essential element that enables this creative process. God's Holy Spirit empowers individuals with hope, as seen in Romans 15:13, motivating action and perseverance toward eternal life. It also instills love, as noted in Romans 5:5, fostering deep relationships with God and others. In II Timothy 1:7, it is confirmed that His Spirit grants power, not fear, enabling believers to accomplish what God intends. Furthermore, as prayed in Ephesians 3:14-21, through His Spirit, God grants inward strength and power, allowing Christ to dwell in hearts through faith and filling believers with the fullness of God, achieving far more than can be imagined. The Spirit is not a power to be controlled for personal gain, as demonstrated by Simon the magician's misguided desire to use it for self-glorification, an act of idolatry rebuked sternly by Peter. God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him, conditioned by the purity of their desire to glorify Him, not themselves, as emphasized in I Corinthians 14:1. It is given for the common good of the church, as stated in I Corinthians 12:7, apportioned according to His will to benefit the body of believers. Additionally, it is provided for personal spiritual growth, equipping individuals with essential truths about relationships and destiny, as outlined in II Peter 1:2-4, preparing them for God's Kingdom and enabling them to live a life of quality and eternal significance.
Jesus on the Holy Spirit
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe power of God's Holy Spirit is a profound force that permeates every aspect of divine work and human transformation. From the very beginning, as seen in Genesis 1:2, the Holy Spirit hovers expectantly, ready to execute God's creative commands, embodying the imagery of a bird fluttering in anticipation. This same Spirit empowered Joseph with wisdom and discernment before Pharaoh, endowed Bezaleel with strength and skill to construct the tabernacle, opened Balaam's eyes to truth, set Joshua apart to lead Israel, surged through Samson to tear apart a lion, and inspired Jahaziel with fitting words of encouragement for Judah and Jehoshaphat. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ expands our understanding of this Spirit, revealing its deeper spiritual significance. He teaches that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father, a divine power possessed by God, used to inspire speech, as when the disciples would testify before authorities. This Spirit is the means by which God performs all His works—creation, redemption, salvation, and governance. It is the power Jesus used to cast out demons, a force so authoritative that demons must obey, unable to resist the command of God's Spirit. The Holy Spirit is central to freeing individuals from demonic bondage and the broader grip of satan, rejecting, resisting, and ultimately defeating him and his forces. It is the vital connection linking us to God and to each other, fostering fellowship, harmony, and unity in thought and action. Jesus emphasizes that this Spirit transforms us, working invisibly within to produce visible fruits like love, joy, and peace, guiding us through a spiritual rebirth akin to physical birth, from conception to full inheritance of God's Kingdom. God's Spirit remains with us from our first contact with Him, actively drawing us to Christ, providing gifts, motivation, strength, inspiration, and communication with God. It transforms lowly, sinful humans into exalted, righteous sons and daughters of God, staying with us every step of the way. Jesus illustrates this transformative power as a river of living water flowing from within, urging us not to quench it but to let it overflow in godly behavior, service, encouragement, and kindness. Worship, as Jesus teaches, must be in spirit and truth, reflecting God's work in us back to Him through living His way. The Spirit is the essence of eternal life within us, ensuring no condemnation for those who live by it, setting our minds on divine things and promising resurrection to immortality. Jesus warns that rejecting this power, mercy, and love—blaspheming against the Holy Spirit—hardens the heart beyond repentance, leading to unforgivable consequences. Yet, for those who accept and use it, the Spirit immerses us fully, empowering us to be witnesses of Christ across the globe, a select few entrusted with this divine power to glorify God.

Lessons From First-Century Christianity
Sermon by David C. GrabbeEven though the believers of the first century experienced extraordinary events, because of entropy, their zeal atrophied after the shockwaves dissipated.
Pitfalls of Scholarship
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhile we find much biblical scholarship useful and productive, without God's Spirit, most biblical scholarship is at best a mixture of good and evil.
The Two Witnesses (Part Six)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Two Witnesses have authority from God to annihilate those who interfere with their work as well as power over weather patterns and natural elements.
John (Part Three)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughEven many extra-biblical sources such as Tacitus, Seconius, Justin Martyr, Pliny, and Josephus corroborate and validate the biblical accounts of Jesus.
The Purpose of Israel
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod chose ancient Israel 1) to be separate, 2) to demonstrate His love to them, 3) to keep His promises to Abraham, and 4) to make a covenant with them.
Should a Christian Go To War? (Part 2)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod alone has the prerogative of giving and taking life. As ambassadors of God's heavenly Kingdom, we do not take up arms on behalf of any nation on the earth.