|
Does The Holy Spirit Control Us As Christians?
Does The Holy Spirit Control Us As Christians?
Question:
Does the Holy Spirit supernaturally control us when we are a Chrisitian?
Answer:
To answer this question please join me in a short study of the Holy Spirit.
We know God put the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). as a deposit (Corinthians 1:21-22 & Ephesians 1:12-14) guaranteeing what is to come.
The Holy Spirit, which God gives more of, if we ask (Luke 11:13), Counsels us (John 16:6-8), teaches us (Luke 12:12), renews and makes us reborn (Titus 3:5), strengthens us (Ephesians 3 14-19), helps us guard our faith (2 Timothy 1:13-15), reminds us of what we have learned in the Bible (John 14:26), manifests Himself through our conscience (Romans 9:1), and convicts the world of sin (John 16:6-8).
And we know that during the apostolic age or early church age, which the apostle Peter said was “the last days” (Acts 2:14-17), the Holy Spirit gave supernatural powers to Christians; such as healing, and speaking in the tongues of foreign languages and tongues of angels, and gave prophesies and visions to Christians and spoke through dreams. Also in Mark 13:11 Jesus said that in the end times the Holy Spirit would speak directly through those brought to trial for being a Christian.
And when we know from the story of Ananias in Acts 5:3 that if we say we love God and are devoted to God and yet we lie and keep our wealth for ourselves; this can be considered a lie to the Holy Spirit and is not taken lightly by God.
We know the church can be strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31) and we know the Holy Spirit did not want to burden gentile converts and so the Holy Spirit said the converts needed to only keep a few of the laws in the Old Testament (Acts 15:28-29).
We know Paul felt compelled by the Holy Spirit go to certain places and preach the gospel and we know the Holy Spirit warned him that he was in danger. (Acts 20:22-24)
We know people can resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51), we know God's Holy Spirit lives in us (2 Timothy 1:13-15), and we know our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
In Romans 8 verses 13 and 14, Paul states that those who put to death the deeds of the flesh (because they are led by the Spirit of God); these are sons of God. And in Galatians 5:16 Paul says if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
We know in 2 Corinthians 13:14 that Paul prayed that the Holy Spirit would be with those who read his letter. Again in Ephesians 3 14-19 Paul prays that his readers would be strengthened with power through God's Holy Spirit, that they would understand God's love.
In 1 Corinthians 12:3 Paul says that those who say “Jesus Is Lord” are saying it because of the Holy Spirit.
The author of Hebrews 10:14-6 says it best, “because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds."
And from Romans 8:16 we know that the Holy Spirit ‘testifies with our spirit” that we are God's children. This verse Romans 8:16 points out that we do have our own spirit. It says that the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are God’s children, and that our own spirit confirms this. Please notice that the Holy Spirit does not take over or replace our spirit.
Our study on the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus sent His Spirit to us to write God's laws on our hearts or minds (our conscience), and convict us and helps us obey Him. But it is still up to us to walk in (obey) the Spirit because we know from Galatians 5:16, that if we do not walk in the Spirit we will revert to fulfilling the lusts of the flesh And we know from Romans 8 13 and 14 that only those who do walk in the Spirit will be called sons of God.
While it would be nice if the Holy Spirit supernaturally controlled us like robots; the truth from the Bible is that the Holy Spirit convicts and encourages us; and the Holy Spirit did do supernatural things through the Christians of the early church and may still do them now or in the future through Christians, but even so we still have a free will as Christians and God is still counting on us to listen and obey the Holy Spirit through our mind and conscience and do God's will.
We are called to good works (Ephesians 2:10) and we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) as we show God we love Him by loving others.
Below are the verses referenced in our short study of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:11
Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Luke 12:12
for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 16:6-8, Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
Acts 2:4
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2: 14-21
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
Acts 5:3
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
Acts 5:32
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
Acts 7:51
"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Acts 15:28-29
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
Acts 20:22-24
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Romans 8 13,14
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 9:1
I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—
Corinthians 1:21-22
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Ephesians 1:12-14
in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 3 14-19
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 4:29-31
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
1 Thessalonians 4:7-9
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:13-15
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Hebrews 2:4
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 10:14-16
because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds."
Romans 8:16
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
|
|