God the Holy Spirit, Mentor's Guide, MG14

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G O D T H E H O L Y S P I R I T

If you are interested in pursuing some of the ideas of The Prophetic Work of the Holy Spirit , you might want to give these books a try: Thomas C. Oden. Chapter 3, “The Way of Repentance.” Life in the Spirit. Systematic Theology: Vol. Three . San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1992. Robert L. Saucy. The Bible: Breathed from God . The Victor Know and Believe Series. Bruce L. Shelly, ed. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1978. The Apostle James exhorts us to not just listen to the Word, but to obey it. He says that we are blessed, not when we hear the truth, but when we act on it (James 1.22-25). Now is the time to reflect on the implications of this teaching for the actual ministry that God has called you to. How do the doctrines of inspiration and illumination relate to the jobs that God has given you? Who needs to know about the truths you learned concerning conviction and repentance? What particular situation comes to mind when you think about the Holy Spirit’s role in drawing people to God and to his truth? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand, not only the central truths of this lesson, but also the applications of the truth that he wants to make to your life and ministry. Be specific. Ask the Spirit whether there is an application of this lesson that should be made this very week and then stay alert for the opportunities that he brings you in the coming days. We serve a living God and his Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance everything that we have learned at just the time we need it. Probably everyone in this class is already praying for someone they know who needs to repent and believe the Gospel. It is possible that you yourself are engaged in a struggle with a “sin that easily entangles” (Heb. 12.1). It is vitally important that we remind ourselves that the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit exists to deal with situations just like these. God worked (and is working) on behalf of people “while they were still sinners” (Rom. 5.8). Find a partner who can pray with you that God would grant repentance to loved ones who do not know Jesus. Pray that the Spirit would convict you, and those in your care, of any sinful action that is displeasing to God and that he would grant true repentance and change of life to everyone involved. We serve a gracious God who is more willing to extend mercy and help than we are to ask for it. The Spirit indwells each one of us who belongs to Christ. Let’s ask him to do in us “more than we could ask or imagine” (Eph. 3.20) through the power at work within us.

Resources and Bibliographies

Ministry Connections

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Counseling and Prayer

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