Once Christians have achieved an understanding of the Holy Spirit based on Scripture, they need to accept the fact that the Spirit works uniquely in the lives of individual believers. We must be careful to present the concept of conversion fully, including the coming of the Holy Spirit, and then work to find the methods which will most closely harmonize with New Testament patterns.
We need to point one another to the Lord with the confidence that He indeed can teach each of us what it is we need. We must come to cherish our own experience, but not to the point of insisting that others duplicate it. We must delight in the unique way God calls each of us to holiness, and realize that His works among the children of men are as different from one another as the stars are from the sands of the seas. There are norms in Scripture, but even the record of the New Testament church shows how the Spirit acts differently as He sees fit!
How then do we know when we have received this gift of the Holy Spirit, which is the cornerstone of so much New Testament teaching? There are several ways. First there is an in assurance due to the active presence of the Spirit within. I John 2:26 reads,
“…but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
Personal certainty is difficult to prove to the outsider, but when you have it, you know have it.
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Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen Mains serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags. This micro-finance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.
Karen has long had an interest in Christian hospitality and is the author of the best-selling book, Open Heart, Open Home.
An award-winning author of several other books, Karen continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
For decades, Karen and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. The are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and churches at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
Likewise, pastors will find special resources to help them prepare effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.