Over the next few weeks in Sunday School AND here on the blog, we will be studying:
Twenty-two years ago when I first began working with the Banner Ministry at my church, God birthed in me a lifelong passion for studying the names of God. I will be eternally grateful for how studying God's names has enriched my knowledge of Him and deepened the intimacy of my relationship with Him.I've studied and taught: the Old Testament names of God, the Jehovah covenant names of God and how Jesus fulfills them, the "I AM" names of Jesus, and the birth names of Jesus. But I've never specifically studied the names of the Holy Spirit. I cannot wait for the truths God will unfold and apply as we journey through this study!
Why Names?
There are MANY reasons - but these three stand out to me:
- Every name of God is a DUAL REVELATION. It tells us something about Who He is and it tells us something He wants to do for us.
- Our capacity to TRUST the Lord is clearly linked in scripture to our knowledge of His name. "Those who know Your name will put their trust in You" - Psalm 9:10
- VICTORY in the daily battles of life is also linked to the power of His name. "Through You [O God] we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us." - Psalm 44:5
Why the Holy Spirit?
We cannot truly know God until we know Him as Father, Son, AND Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is NOT one-third of God; or simply the power of God. He is NOT a Pentecostal or a charismatic doctrine or denomination. He is NOT wind or fire or a dove; NEITHER is He some olive oil in a bottle. He IS an equal Person of the God-head - a vital part of the Holy Trinity - and One who should be an integral part of our daily life.
To many Christians, the Holy Spirit is a mystery. He is the "hidden" member of the Trinity. The Father we know. The Son we know. But what about the Holy Spirit? Many believers do not understand who He is, why He came, or what He does in the world today. Even fewer understand the vital role He plays in our Christian life.
A proper knowledge of the Holy Spirit's ministry is absolutely essential to our being able to find peace, joy and victory as a Christian. Many of us, as believers, live FAR below our potential because we know little about the Holy Spirit's indwelling, anointing, intercession, gifts, and the fruit He longs to produce in us.
Living the Christian life without the Holy Spirit is like trying to drive a car with an empty gas tank. We certainly don't have to understand all the workings of an internal combustion engine to drive our cars. (Thank goodness!) But if we don't understand the need for gasoline, the car isn't going to get out of the driveway.
God doesn't demand that we be able to explain all the intricacies of Pneumatology (the doctrine of the Holy Spirit) in order to enjoy His blessings. However - we DO need some basic knowledge of Him for His power to be released in our lives.
That's what I am praying that we will achieve through this study - basic knowledge of the Holy Spirit so that we can more fully experience Him at work in our lives.
Our study is divided into three sections:
- The Nature of the Holy Spirit
- The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Believer
- The General Work of the Holy Spirit
As we study the Nature of the Holy Spirit we will explore
- His identity as a Person
- His character - including the qualities He wants to replicate in us
- His relationship within the Trinity
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Believer will explain
- His work in atonement
- His maturing work in our lives
- His teaching ministry
In the last section - His General Work - we will learn about
- His Bible Authorship names
- His Creation names
- His Revival names
- His symbolic Pictorial Names
YOU, my friend, are invited to join us on this journey. I have a feeling it's going to be an exciting and enlightening adventure!
1 comment:
Sounds so exciting!! Wish I could be there on Sunday mornings dear friend!
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