Where do we start with Romans 8? It’s a sumptuous banquet – but which of its dishes do we sample? It’s a glorious symphony – but which of its themes do we to attune our ears to? It’s a lofty mountain range – but which of its peaks do we try to scale?
As always, it’s good to get our bearings from the context. Chapter 5 – in Christ, we have victory over sin and death. …
Peter and John are under fire for two reasons: they have been speaking boldly for Jesus and they have been performing miracles in his name.
They’re thrown into jail, and the next day they are hauled in front of the Jerusalem authorities. Peter and John explain that the crippled man has been healed in the name of Jesus, and, since the man himself is standing there, the accusers are left speechless. Peter and John are released, but given a stern warning not to teach any more in the name of Jesus.…
I’ve been blogging, over the past day or so, in response to various questions about the Holy Spirit that I’ve been asked to discuss with a small group from my church.
Here I want to put it all together in some kind of order.
We should feel a little nervous about discussing the person and work of the Holy Spirit. We should, no doubt, focus less on analysis and more on obedience:-
Gal 5:25 Let us keep in step with the Spirit.…
According to the Network Participant’s Guide, the traits of a prophet are that s/he is discerning, compelling, uncompromising, outspoken, authoritative, convicting, and confronting. Phew! no wonder the gift of prophecy can sometimes seem too hot to handle! Such a set of traits raises important questions about the authority of the prophet, and how this relates to other kinds of authority within the church. I’m going to argue that that the authority (and therefore the accountability) of the prophet is similar to the authority (and accountability) of the teacher.…
I wrote the following to some Christian friends, a number of whom wished their church to move in a more ‘charismatic’ direction. It is a plea to listen carefully and patiently to those who are more cautious.
To many Christians, the whole discussion about spiritual gifts is simply debating the Blindingly Obvious: God has promised gifts, and it’s down to us to receive them joyfully and use them effectively.
But there are still people around who are cautious about some of the gifts.…
I should like to offer a few bits of historical evidence regarding the prophetic gift. One point about this particular evidence is that it comes from the centre, not the fringe, of the evangelical tradition. I would also point out that these examples all relate to times of spiritual awakening (revival).
The Scottish reformer Robert Bruce was renowned for his extraordinary spiritual powers. He himself said,
…‘There comes never thing to me, trouble or alteration, but He gives me warning before.’
Continuing this series of posts on questions about the Holy Spirit.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is both a free gift, 1 Thess 4:8, and a solemn responsibility, Eph 5:18. There are certain attitudes which open the way to the blessing of the Spirit. We are to ask, Lk 11:13, to thirst and drink, Jn 7:37, to repent, Acts 2:38, to obey, Acts 5:32, to have faith, Jn 7:39; Gal 3:1-5,14. On the other hand, certain negative attitudes can oppose the work of the Spirit.…
1. Fire, Lk 3:16; Acts 2:3; 1 Thess 5:19. Warms, energises, purifies, illuminates, consumes, spreads.
2. Wind, Jn 3:8; Acts 2:2. Empowers, refreshes, independent, invisible.
3. Oil, Lk 4:18. Consecrates, comforts, heals.
4. Water, Jn 7:38. Cleansing, reviving, satisfying, fertilising, freeness, abundance.
1. the definitive revelation of Christ to and through the New Testament writers.
2.…
I’d like to sketch an answer to this question under two headings:-
(a) His personality
This becomes clear in the NT, as in Jesus’ promise of ‘another Counsellor’, Jn 14:16, and the fact that the Spirit:-
1. Speaks, Acts 1:16; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 28:25.
2. Teaches, Jn 14:26.
3. Witnesses, Jn 15:26.
4. Searches, 1 Cor 2:11.
5. Determines, 1 Cor 12:11.
6. Intercedes, Rom 8:26f.
7. Is lied to, Acts 5:3.
8. Can be grieved, Eph 4:30.…
This is another question about the Holy Spirit which has recently been posed to me. Once again, I am reluctant to discuss such a ‘shy sovereign’, who is more to be experienced than analysed. Nevertheless, I offer a few thoughts:-
The Bible does teach a certain order in the operations and activities of the members of the Trinity. For example, according to Jn 14:26, the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father in the name of the Son.…
