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A Primer On Spirit
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus Christ teaches a profound truth about the nature of words as spirit, emphasizing their invisible yet powerful influence. He declares that the words He speaks are spirit, carrying a depth that, when believed, become spiritual influences leading to salvation. Words, though immaterial and unseen, are the essence of a mind, communicating concepts that can inspire, motivate, exhort, depress, inform, or even destroy reputations. They hold the power to create faith, love, hope, determination, courage, endurance, fear, enthusiasm, morality, and repentance by influencing thought processes within another's mind. This invisible force of words can move one to action or inaction, as they plant ideas from one mind into another, often without being seen or touched. When accompanied by visible emotions or gestures, their impact intensifies, driving responses like weeping, anger, reconciliation, or conviction of sin. Words, as spirit, provide solutions, create awareness of needs, or even instigate problems, demonstrating their capacity to shape behavior and thought. Moreover, the spirit of words can be used for evil purposes, as seen in the influence of satan, the liar and murderer, whose temptations often come through words. These fiery darts penetrate minds and hearts, motivating destructive actions such as covetousness, anger, pride, or deceit unless resisted. In contrast, the solution lies in God's words, which counteract evil influences with purity and righteousness, offering a holy spirit that liberates and produces life on the God level. By spending time with God and immersing oneself in Their words, one imbibes Their holy essence, growing in the quality and use of that spirit to resist negative influences and embrace the good.
Wind and God's Spirit
Sermon by Charles WhitakerThe connection between wind and words, or wind and voice, reveals a profound relationship in the Scriptures. Wind does not always need to be powerful or destructive; it can manifest as a gentle breeze, refreshing and invigorating. In I Kings 19:11-12, God speaks to Elijah not in the strong wind that shattered rocks, nor in the earthquake or fire, but in a gentle breeze, described as a still small voice or a low whisper. The Hebrew word kole, often translated as voice, noise, or sound, is used here, emphasizing the quietness of this breeze as the medium through which God expressed Himself. Elijah perceived God not through sight but through sound, through His voice and words, highlighting that faith comes by hearing, as noted in Romans 10:17. Breath, on a small scale, is wind, and this breath is essential for voice and speech. In human beings, the spirit in man shapes and controls breath, transforming it into words. These words, influenced by the spirit's disposition, can be hateful or comforting, reflecting the nature of the spirit that forms them. This process is evident in a child learning to speak, as the spirit in man translates thoughts into words for communication. Thoughts, without words, remain unmanifested and ineffective; it is through words, shaped by the spirit, that thoughts can be refined and shared. In Acts 2:4, God's Spirit enables speech, as seen on the day of Pentecost when the disciples spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Spirit, whether God's Spirit or the spirit in man, is the source and author of speech. Words, as breath disciplined by a spirit, play a significant role in creating a social and psychological environment. At a micro level, words can encourage or discourage, shaping attitudes and emotions. At a macro level, words can influence the character of a nation, as seen in historical speeches that inspired hope and sacrifice during dark times. God's Spirit, likened to wind, plays a major role in building a spiritual environment through His Word and voice. In Genesis 2:7, God's breath, symbolically His wind, became internal to man, representing the potential for His Spirit to dwell within. This spiritual realm, described in Colossians 2:5 and Romans 8:9, is an internal environment, invisible like the wind, where God and Jesus Christ reside within us. As Christ stated in Luke 17:21, the kingdom of God is within you, a realm shaped by the power of God's Word, His wind, and His voice, transferring us into a spiritual kingdom of light.
The Gift of Discerning Spirits
'Ready Answer' by David F. MaasThe words of Jesus Christ carry a profound spiritual essence, as He declares in John 6:63, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." This truth underscores the importance of engaging with God's Word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to tap into the spiritual realm, understand the things of God, and make right judgments. Merely reading or reciting Scripture without comprehension is futile; it is through understanding, facilitated by the Holy Spirit, that we connect with the life-giving power of His words. One of the most reliable methods to discern the nature of a spirit is to compare its message with the Word of God, ensuring alignment with biblical themes and principles.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Bible reveals a profound connection between words and spirit, emphasizing their invisible yet powerful influence. Jesus declared in John 6:63 that His words are spirit and they are life, indicating that words carry a dynamic, immaterial essence that can inspire and transform. This principle extends beyond His words, as the Scriptures show that anyone's words can be considered spirit, generating emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral reactions. Proverbs 25:11 illustrates this with the imagery of a word fitly spoken being like apples of gold in pictures of silver, highlighting the beauty and impact of well-chosen words. Similarly, Proverbs 25:25 compares good news from a far country to cold waters for a thirsty soul, underscoring the refreshing power of positive communication. Words, though intangible, possess a magnetic force that can compel powerful responses, ranging from deep joy to destructive anger. Proverbs 15:1 teaches that a soft answer turns away wrath, while grievous words stir up anger, demonstrating how the spirit conveyed through words can diffuse conflict or ignite it. Furthermore, Proverbs 18:21 warns that death and life are in the power of the tongue, revealing the profound consequences of spoken words, as they emerge from the heart where spirit resides. The disposition and environment in which words are delivered and received play a critical role in their impact, as miscommunication often arises from the spirit with which words are interpreted. This concept of words as spirit aligns with the broader biblical usage of spirit as an invisible, activating dimension of mind. Just as heart and spirit are used in parallel to reflect inner motivations and attitudes, words serve as a conduit for spirit, transmitting influence beyond their point of origin. Whether they build up or break down, words carry the essence of spirit, affecting both the speaker and the listener in ways that are not physical but deeply felt.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe concept of words as spirit reveals a profound connection between the mind and the invisible essence that drives actions. Words are spirit, embodying the essence of one's mind, whether it be God's or man's. They originate from the mind, serving as symbols of concepts with the power to inspire, encourage, exhort, depress, inform, cut to the quick, destroy reputations, mislead, or calm. Words can create faith, love, hope, determination, courage, endurance, fear, enthusiasm, morality, and ethics, forming the foundation of every technical development and invention by man. Every word of God is pure, as expressed in Proverbs 30:5 and Psalm 12:6, where the words of the Lord are likened to silver purified seven times. This purity reflects the holiness of God's Spirit, distinct and transcendently pure, setting it apart from the spirit of man. Isaiah 55:8-9 further illustrates that God's thoughts and ways, which are formed by words in the mind, are higher than those of man, emphasizing that thoughts, words, and ways are all functions of the mind and are spirit. In John 6:63, Jesus declares that the words He speaks are spirit and life, highlighting the life-giving nature of God's Spirit. Unlike man's spirit, which produces death through sin, God's Spirit always produces eternal life. This transformative power is evident in John 5:24 and John 8:51, where hearing and keeping Jesus' words leads to everlasting life, passing from death to life. Romans 8:2 reinforces this by stating that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees one from the law of sin and death. Furthermore, Psalm 104:30 shows that God sends forth His Spirit to create and renew, paralleling the human process of creation through thoughts and words in the mind. This invisible, immaterial essence begins within the recesses of the mind and manifests in actions, demonstrating that while spirit itself is unseen, its effects are profoundly visible and impactful.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's Spirit is the essence of His mind rather than a third person. With this Spirit, God opens our minds, dwells in us, and transfers His nature to us.
Metaphors of God's Word
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughChrist says His words are Spirit and Life; they have a quality above human words because their source is divine. If ingested, these words lead to eternal life.
Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 6)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughChrist emphasizes that the internal, weightier matters, which change the heart, take precedence over external ceremonial concerns that don't change the heart.
Words of Life, Words of Death
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. MaasBy exposing the negative self-talk, we can turn the self-imposed words of death into words of life.
Our Spiritual Reality
Sermonette by Bill OnisickNeither virtual reality nor spiritual reality can be seen with the naked eye—the first requires equipment, and the second requires eyes of faith.
Communication and Coming Out of Babylon (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAll of us are influenced by the culture of the world, guided and inspired by the prince of the power of the air. Satan has deceived the whole world.
The Cunning of Satan
Sermon by Kim MyersThe process of being taken over by sin usually takes place over a lengthy period of time as we allow Satan's deceptive words to corrode our attitudes.
Communication and Leaving Babylon (Part Two)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughOur human nature reflects the nature of malevolent spirits' attitudes. The only way to overcome it is through God's creating a new heart in us by His Spirit.
Mightier Than the Sword (Part Six)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Rousseau's malignant ideas have metastasized into a virulent cancer of collectivism, socialism and Communism, the centralization of power.
Freedom, Liberty, and Bondage
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Grace places limits on our freedom, training us for the Kingdom of God. Our behavior must be clearly distinguishable from the non-believers in society.
Strategies for Escaping Babylon (Part Seven)
Sermon by David F. MaasWe draw closer to God through Bible study and prayer. Here are practical techniques for augmenting our Bible study, gathering our daily spiritual manna.