The Holy Spirit and the Ministry of the Disciples

I do not believe that Christians are able to live the Christian life on their own steam. The normal Christian life is a life of walking, empowerment, guidance, and provision by the Holy Spirit, with God’s generous gifts being used and his fruits growing within to bless others. The healings that happen as we lay on hands and pray are accomplished by God using his “cracked pots.” We must always keep in mind the personal but mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit, who operates in perfect union with God the Father and his only Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation and transformation.

A List of Scriptures About the Holy Spirit in the Christian Life

1.  “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 11:13)
2. “[ Jesus answered,] I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5–6:8)
3. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
4. “And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (John 20:22)
5.  “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . .” (Acts 1:5, 8)
6.  “The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52)
7. “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Rom. 5:5)
8. “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. . . . The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Rom. 8:6, 16)
9. “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 Cor. 6:19)
10.  “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” (1Cor. 12:7–11)
11. “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. . . . The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:16, 22)
12. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18)
13. “The Spirit and the bride say, Come! . . . Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, and let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Rev. 22:17)

 

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Read Part 1 in the Winter 2016 issue: “The Holy Spirit and the Ministries of Jesus“

 

This chapter is reprinted with permission from New Testament Healing by Peter E. Ostrander (Xulon, 2011).

Tags: disciples, featured, holy, ministry, spirit

Category: Spirit, Spring 2016