The Power Of The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is able to convert the children of men into sons of God. With this conversion is the mind of Christ; his emotions, desires and purpose. The Comforter is just what the name implies. It provides us with the ability to live in a human body without experiencing the bondage, guilt and shame of sin. It also allows us to endure persecution, hardness, malice and hatred, without sinking into depression, despair or iniquity.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Let us see exactly how this preservation of the church will be accomplished. It is time for the Church to acknowledge and submit to the power of the Holy Ghost. He is the Spirit of God we have inherited and his power is the hope we have of making it to the Millennial Kingdom. We must understand our sojourning here in this world from God's perspective and take into account that He has given us all things that pertain to this life and godliness.

A. The Power to Bear the Weak

The scripture below is very straightforward as to our interaction with those who are weak in the faith.

Romans 15:1-3

1. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

I think this is one of the most powerful things we could ever learn; the forsaking of our own desires as we consider the influence and affect our actions will have on others. The Holy Ghost gives us the ability to bear the weaknesses of others without controversy, torment or regret in our own soul. First of all, this word infirmity does not refer to sin. Paul is not encouraging us to bear the sins of the saints. But it refers to physical or mental weakness, such as sickness or disease and social or economic deficiency. It is a need or want of strength, which indicates an inability to produce desired results. Infirmity is the Greek word asthenema, which also means a scruple of conscience. It refers to a lack of understanding that causes one to hesitate to perform an action not being sure of its right or wrong.

This infirmity is due to a lack of the knowledge of Christ. (Example: eating that which is offered to idols, or having a glass of wine for medicinal purposes). And again infirmity refers to our simple lack of knowledge.

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The word instructs us not to please ourselves when dealing with the infirmities of the weak. This simply means that we are not to do whatever we want to do without any regard or consideration for others. Paul gets even more specific by saying we are to please our neighbor for his good to edification. Over the years I have learned that our good fortune and health is given to us to make the way of others easier and their burdens lighter. This comes natural for the sons of God because the power of the Holy Ghost destroys all selfishness and self-serving mindsets.

B. The Power of Patience and Peace

Romans 15:4

4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

All the scriptures we have read and understood are for our learning. But this is where the Church has paused. It is a glutton for learning. It wants to know. But it only wants to know the word academically. But true knowledge of the word produces patience, hope and the power of the Comforter.

C. The Power of Oneness

Romans 15:5

5. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

The power of the Holy Ghost gives us the power to have the same mind toward one another as Jesus has towards us. When will we ever believe this? He is our example yes, but more than that He is our life. It is the life of Christ that lives within us that enables us to be as He is. Our emotions and sentiments toward each other ought to be his sentiments expressed through our flesh.

Romans 15:6

6. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The prayer Jesus prayed in the garden has been answered. God has made us one with Himself and His Son. With the life of Christ comes the mind of Christ. It is the same mind in all of us who are born of the Spirit. Thus we are able to feel, think and speak the same things. There should be no variation of emotion in any situation. Regardless of whatever the flesh has experienced in the past (days before Christ), its current disposition should be dictated by the power of the Holy Ghost.

D. The Power to Sanctify

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

3. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication:

4. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

5. Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

Here again we discover that God makes no provisions for sin. He will not accept excuses, nor will He acquit the guilty. Everyone is to possess his body in sanctification. This is simple and pure holiness. It is also the requirement that must be rendered if one is to see God’s face in peace. Note also that Paul makes a comparison between the church and those who know not God. Paul is simply reiterating the power we have been given to live holy. Therefore, we should in no wise be as the world in thought or in deeds.

1 Thessalonians 4:6-8

6. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

7. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

8. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.

The Holy Ghost is our power to live holy. In order to grow in the grace God has given us, we must accept the fact that His Spirit is the life we are to live. It was given so that we might be separated from the world and its ways. We have been washed in the blood of Jesus and made clean through his Spirit. Holiness is not an option for the saints, it is a commandment. Walking in the sanctification is to be true to our very nature.

E. The Power to preserve the Church

Philippians 1:6-7

6. Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

This is the dispensation of the Spirit of God. It is the Holy Ghost that will usher the Church into the millennium. He is the personage of God and His Christ. He will not change. His sentiments will always reflect the purpose of God. He is holy and will always demand holiness from us if we are to have a good conscience toward God. He will continue to be a holy, sinless life within us until the day our Lord returns. There will never be a time when the Holy Spirit is unable to supply us with the power of righteousness. There will never be a day in which we are simply unable to live holy. Paul makes it clear that the grace (Holy Spirit) we have received is also our ability to confirm the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our life in the Spirit is the only proof of His coming.

Philippians 1:10

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

In conclusion, Paul tells us to approve (allow, discern) things that are excellent or righteous, (acceptable unto God). At the end of the day, we must be found sincere (not a pretender) and without offence (free from sin, faultless and blameless) according to the judgment of the Word.