Not by might nor by power,
BUT BY MY SPIRIT,
says the LORD Almighty.
ZECHARIAH 4:6
How important is the Holy Spirit? Consider Martin Luther’s perspective.
Neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ, or believe on him and obtain him or our Lord, unless it were offered to us by and granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the gospel.
Where Christ is not preached, there is no Holy Ghost who creates, calls, and gathers the Christian church, without which no one can come to Christ the Lord. MARTIN LUTHER
Jesus knew how important the Spirit was. He told his disciples that his going away to the Father would be an advantage to them, since the Spirit would come to do what he is uniquely qualified to do.
When you send your Spirit, they are created…
PSALM 104:30
Without the Spirit, we are like a sailboat that has not wind in its sail, and we are reduced to rowing. Jesus cautioned his disciples to not resort to the flesh.
I am going to send you what my Father has promised;
but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. LUKE 24:49
This Sunday we finish the summer series The Habits of Grace with a reminder that we dare not resort to our own man-made devices to sanctify ourselves, or “do ministry.” May God powerfully use Erik Thoennes as he reminds us that “the Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” JOHN 6:63
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