The Spirit Of The Holy Spirit

In this paper, I will review Robert Gromacki’s book The Holy Spirit: Who He is, What He Does I will detail what I feel the book is about. I will emphasize various points given by the author that stood out to me. Finally, I will give my personal evaluation of the book.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit contain a big role in the spiritual life of the believer. There are said to be seven gifts to around eighteen gifts of the Spirit to be brought upon those who believe in God. Each denomination has a certain gift that they focus on more then others. As Pentecostals believe that speaking in tongues is the ultimate gifts and thats what shows that a person has been filled with the Spirit, Mennonites dont focus on speaking in tongues at all. Each Gift of the Spirit has a certain use and person in the life of the believer. Some believers often confuse gifts of the Spirit with other things and get confused on when they have been filled with the Holy Spirit. No matter how spectacular, or miraculous, some of

The Holy Spirit of God is the active force or power in one’s life, which most certainly includes spiritual formation (Pettit, 2008, p. 46). When Jesus was speaking with his disciples he made it clear – by using the analogy of a vine and branches – that apart from him they could do nothing (John 15:5). Only if one is connected to Christ will they have the ability to bear fruit and the way Jesus empowers those connected to him is through the Holy Spirt that that father will send in his name (John 14:26). The fact is that the triune God dwells in the Christian in and through the Holy Spirit. One sees this when they place multiple passages together to gain a full understanding of this concept. For example, Jesus made it clear that he and the father would come and make their home with the disciple (John 14:23). In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul reminds the Corinthians that their bodies are the very temple of God because the Holy Spirit dwells in them which is similar to what Jesus said would happen when he sent the Holy Spirit after his resurrection and ascension (John 14:17, 16:7).

This week I have been struggling with centering my paper topic. I want to explore the use of psychedelics in spirit possessions. More specifically, I want to explore the validity of drug induced shamanistic experiences like in the case of Amazonian Shamans and their use of Ayahuasca. But I keep running into the problem of shifting my focus into something that doesn’t feel, at least to me, like topics of spirit possession. This is why I have devoted most of my research into attempting to define the type of spirit possession I am going to be talking about. I ran across an article by Emma Cohen that tackles this very task, she states that there are two main forms of possession. One is pathogenic which results “from the operation possession concepts result from the operation of cognitive tools that deal with the representation of contamination (both positive and negative); the presence of the spirit entity is typically (but not always) manifested in the form of illness.” The other is executive, this type of possession mobilizes “cognitive tools that deal with the world of intentional agents; the spirit entity is typically represented as taking over the host’s executive control, or replacing the host’s ‘mind’ (or intentional agency), thus assuming control of bodily behaviors.” For the purposes of the paper, I think that I am going to be using both models.

The Holy Spirit had an immeasurable impact on believers and nonbelievers in the book of Acts. He brought about significant conversions of nonbelievers throughout the text, including the conversions of Saul of Tarsus and the 3000 that heard Peter preach. The Holy Spirit used conviction, repentance, and baptism for conversion in the lives of many non-believers. In the case of Saul the prosecutor, Acts 9:1-30, the Holy Spirit spoke to him while in the midst of his Christian prosecution with instructions to follow His command. Saul was eventually converted, preaching the Gospel with boldness through the Holy Spirit (Woods, 1). Likewise, the 3000 who gave ear to Peter’s speech in Acts 2:22-41 were convicted, led to repentance, and baptized. Immediately following their conviction, their hearts sought repentance and right standing with God. Afterwards, they were fully adopted in to the faith and devoted to the ministry according to verses 42-44 (Woods, 1).

Paul, formerly known as Saul, is first introduced in Acts 7-8 as a persecutor of Christians, and one compliant during Stephen’s stoning. In Acts 9, Saul has an encounter with the risen Christ that changes his life forever. Throughout Paul’s ministry, whether preaching to Jews or Gentiles, he will always proclaim the resurrection. Paul is extremely important to the book of Acts as he picks up Peter’s ministry and continues to take the gospel further and further into the Gentile world. While Luke is recording Paul’s ministry in the book of Acts, Paul is also writing letters (also known as the Pauline epistles) which now make up a majority of the New Testament. It is in these letters that Paul goes into detail defending his apostleship, but Luke will also defend him by describing him as a man filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:9), an apostle (Acts 14:14), and showing the parallels between the miracles both he and Peter performed.

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, and is equal in essence and in power in the Trinity to the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit was originally sent by Jesus after his ascension into heaven, Jesus himself saying that he would send a “helper” after he departed from the earth. This spirit is worshipped just as the Father and the Son are, and also participated in the creation of the world, sustaining and giving life continually to all things, and exhibits the uniqueness and characteristics of the third person in the Trinity. This is the same Holy Spirit that divinely inspired the infallible word of God, and although the canon is now closed, the Holy Spirit still works powerfully and constantly in the life of the church and in believers. The Holy Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts, which are given at conversion and help the believer become more like their creator. The presence of the Holy Spirit is evident in the life of all true believers, and this Spirit turns cowardly men into mighty warriors for Christ who accomplish actions way beyond their natural ability.

Christianity believes that the Holy Spirit is the third person of God and is the same as the Son of God. He is the Lord and the Lord of Christ. Catholics and Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit by the Holy Father by the Communists, the Orthodox Church by the Father, the ages of faith, love, worship and worship. For by the grace of God, the Holy Spirit is the only one who is able to give birth to salvation; this salvation is completed by the bloodshed of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of the believer and becomes our Counselor and sanctifies us. The Spirit comes to reveal and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to lead us into all truths, and to manifest the sins of the world with righteousness and judgment. Through

Karl Barth’s book told me several different aspects of what he feels the Holy Spirit is. Barth believes there is a dualism between God and humanity. He would say the Holy Spirit is the connection but in my opinion, I would call that faith. Barth has the notion of the Holy Spirit being the act of God, but also an act of human being the subject of the Holy Spirit. In order to believe God and Holy Spirit as the same ideology, one must believe in the trinity. Again, if the trinity is true, I picture Jesus in the garden talking to himself and asking himself if he really has to die on the cross. I only know what I think, but the Jesus portrayed in the Bible does not seem like a crazy person that talks to himself.

One of the most important gifts of the Holy Spirit is courage. To me, courage is the ability to face your fears and stand up for what is right. It is required to be able to serve God in the harsh world we live in today. We could face ridicule wherever we go, and we must have the courage to continue to do what is right regardless. If we cower in fear at the smallest of obstacles, then we are showing God that we do not care enough to serve and love him. Having courage will show that we do care. Even if sometimes we don’t think we have any courage, I am confident that God will provide at the time of greatest need for such an influential virtue.

My word study portrays a sermon given on United States Independence Day weekend. The sermon’s topic related to liberty. One of the verses that were abused was the following: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) The pastor preached on the how this verse parallels the U.S. Constitution and the liberties it prescribed. Moreover, the pastor mixed metaphors from the Bible and the Constitution. The text is taken out of context. Indeed, the text alludes to the letters of the law written in stone versus those written with the Holy Spirit. And, Paul is referring to the superiority of having the Holy Spirit versus just adhering to the law. Thus, Paul explicitly speaks of a spiritual

Growing up in and out of church I have not only heard about the Holy Spirit but also seen the works of the Holy Spirit and the gifts that accompany it. The Holy Spirit plays a key role in a Christian’s daily life. God has given us this companion as a substitute for himself to lead and guide us on our Christian walk. With this companion comes gifts which we have the ability to receive through Christ to help us along our journey. Here, we will discuss the baptism

Today, it is not uncommon to see a witch depicted with familiar spirit or guide, referred to as simply “familiar.” Popular depictions of these companions include the black cat and the crow or raven. This image of a witch and her usually animal sidekick has been made popular through contemporary media, especially films. However, the general majority being acquainted with the visual does not suggest a complete understanding of familiars. The popular misconception suggests that familiars are either pets or perform menial favors for witches, such as eavesdropping. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a familiar spirit is “a spirit, often taking the form of an animal, which obeys and assists a witch or other person.” Thus, the animal is not

The spirit animal that you identify with is more than a symbol. Shamans believe that spirit animals are guides and protectors during your life 's journey. Finding and relating to your spirit animal provides you with power and insight into your subconscious that can help to guide you on the path that 's right for you. Identifying your spirit animal then understanding how they guide you is essential for finding your path.

The Holy Spirit plays a very vital role in the lives of each and every believer; He can strengthen us with a strength that we cannot even begin to muster up in ourselves. He can bring us joy that we cannot even begin to find in the things of this world. He can bring peace to our lives more than anything that we can ever find on this earth. “The Holy Spirit which is primarily an energizing process, is also a revealing, refining, consuming, illuminating process, and one by which we are made to glow with love to God, and love to man, and love to souls.”