The Holy Spirit #1: In this episode, I emphasize that the Holy Spirit's primary manifestation is through the action of love. Although the word "love" is absent from the Book of Acts, the Spirit is mentioned 52 times because the apostle's deeds were inherently "love actions". To possess true Spiritual power, one must walk in love, as God is love, and His eternal purpose is to maintain a love relationship with His children. This transformation involves being "born of love" and moving from the kingdom of darkness ". . . into the kingdom of the Son of His Love" (Ephesians 1:13), where believers are empowered to destroy the works of the devil just as Jesus did [1 John 3:8]. Also, I trace the spiritual lineage from Creation in Genesis -- where man was made in God's Spiritual image to have dominion -- through the Fall and the entrance of spiritual death, to the promised "seed" that would bruise the serpent's head [Genesis 1:26; 2:17; 3:15].

A central theme of the message is the vital distinction between being born again and being baptized in the Holy Spirit. I argue that the apostles were born again when Jesus breathed on them in John 20:22, receiving His resurrected life, yet they still lacked the "dunamis" power required for global ministry. His power is the divine ability and strength from God's grace only obtained through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is illustrated as the difference between having water in a glass [salvation] verses placing that glass inside a full pitcher [immersion]. Believers are commanded to wait for this ". . . promise of the Father" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4) to be endued with power from on high, enabling them to witness with evidence such as healing, casting out devils and miracles (Mark 16:17-18). This baptism allows the Holy Spirit to not only reside within the believer but to completely surround and immerse their entire being, providing the boldness necessary to fulfill the Great Commission [Matthew 28:18-20]. Join me for this power introduction to a 7 part series in the Acts of the Apostles. Selah!

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A New Desire! Our New Nature has an inbred desire to serve God, doing what is right [1 John 2:29; 3:3; Psalm 51:10-12]. The writer of Hebrews says, ". . . the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God . . . in all things desiring to live honorably" (Hebrews 9:14; 13:18). John gives us insight into the nature of our new Spirit and desire when he wrote, "Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). This truth emphasizes the position of our new Spirit in Christ, which cannot sin and desires to serve God.

We are born of love [1 John 5:1-2], the salt of the earth and light of the world [Matthew 5:13; 16]. We have the power and life of God living in us [Acts 1:8]. We are a new creation and made right with God [2 Corinthians 5:17, 21]. We walk as disciplined children in newness of life [Romans 6:2-14] and in the heavenly places [Ephesians 1:16-2:6], as dear children knowing our God, "Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love" (Colossians 1:13). Yet, we still sin in certain areas of our soul [mind, will and emotions] that need to be confessed in humility. As Spirit-filled believers, we desire to live and act in a manner which is pleasing to God [Hebrews 11:6]. As new creations, our thoughts, choices and emotions shape our bodily actions into a new lifestyle. Like the Apostle Paul, our motto becomes, ". . . I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Join me as we study these Scriptures together. Selah!

[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT, "Create a Study Guide for Episode #811 A New Desire from Abounding Love Ministries" ].

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A New Life: Man is a triune being consisting of spirit, soul [mind, will and emotions] and body. When a person is born again, a miraculous transformation occurs within their spirit through the planting of an incorruptible seed, which is the Word of God [1 Peter 1:23]. This experience involves receiving a new Spirit and a new heart as prophesied in Ezekiel 36:26, resulting in the human spirit becoming 100% aligned with God's divine nature and "perfected forever" (Hebrews 10:14). Central to this process is Hebrews 4:12, which describes the Word of God as a two-edged sword that pierces and divides [cuts/parts] the spirit from the soul. Using the illustration of a bone, the Spirit is likened to the living marrow that produces life [blood], while the soul is the surrounding joint or bone that remains hardened and in need of further work.

While the Spirit [marrow] is instantaneously perfected through regeneration, the soul [bone] remains imperfect and must undergo a progressive renewal [Romans 12:2]. This "spiritual circumcision" made without hands [Colossians 2:11] strips away the corrupt carnal nature from the spirit, but the believer must still "put off" the old manner of life and "put on the new man" by being renewed in the spirit of their mind [Ephesians 4:22-24]. As the mind is renewed by learning Christ and agreeing with the Word, the Zoe life of God stored in the perfected Spirit is released into the soul and ultimately manifested through the body. This process fulfills the intent of Deuteronomy 30:6 -- that God circumcises the heart so the believer can love Him with all their heart and all their soul, allowing divine life to operate in their entire being -- Spirit, soul and body [1 Thessalonians 5:23]. Join me as I share these Scriptures and more to open your eyes to the sanctified life. Selah!

[For more: Copy and Paste or Enter into ChatGPT.com, "Create a Study Guide for Episode #810 A New Life from Abounding Love Ministries" ].

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