Confirmation and the Holy Spirit
Spirituality…OR HOLINESS is our effort to cooperate with God’s Grace to become what we have been created by the Lord God to be! And it is therefore a…
- Cooperative Effort
- Continuing Effort
*It is helpful to know how the Trinity, especially the Holy Spirit works in our lives if we are to become Holy. And He works in our lives by:
- Giving us Gentle Promptings
- NOT…overriding compulsions
The Holy Spirit works in 3 main ways with it’s Gentle Promptings:
1) The Spirit is a UNIFIER
2) The Spirit is a ENLIGHTENER
3) The Spirit is an ENABLER
The Spirit as UNIFIER
1) In the New Testament and through Christian Tradition, the Primary effect of the INDWELLING of the Spirit is UNION and LOVE.
2) The Trinity = 3 persons (Father-Son-Spirit) The Spirit = the Bond of love between Father and Son.
3) The thought is, the Spirit works outside the Trinity (Amongst you and I) the same way…and for the same reasons that it does within the Trinity.
4) This is the AFFECTIVE dimension of the Spirit.
The Spirit as ENLIGHTENER
The Spirit in it’s role as Enlightener or Guide is the most Recognized. The Spirit having 1st UNITED us with the Lord and Others in love…now guides us in the way to best express this love.
1) This is the INTELLECTUAL dimension of the Spirit.
2) As Express in 4 of the 7 Gifts of the Spirit.
- -WISDOM
- -UNDERSTANDING
- -COUNSEL
- -KNOWLEDGE
(Essential Cognitive aspects of Spirit as Enlightener)
The Spirit as ENLIGHTENER Continued:
1) As an ENLIGHTENER the Spirit:
-Helps us to Recognize God as Father
-Helps us to Recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior
-Helps us to Accept and Understand the Teachings connected with the Gift of Faith.
a. We are given the ability to preach / evangelize
b. We are given the ability to hear the word of God
2) As the Spirit of GUIDANCEM
– it guides the conscience of the believers.
– Helps us to know the negative aspects of self indulgence
– It helps to ILLUMINATE our minds / hearts to make Practical choices according to the will of God.
a. Vocation in life
b. Life’s daily activities
c. To follow church practices
THE SPIRIT AS ENABLER
The Spirit as Enabler is our source of strength by which we serve God and others.
1) This is the PRACTICAL dimension of the Spirit
2)As expressed in the last 3 of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
–FORTITUDE
–PIETY
–FEAR OF THE LORD
The Spirit as Enabler works in 3 major ways:
1) The Spirit gives us the STRENGTH to witness to the Gospel in word and action and portrayed
-The Pentecost Event
-The whole Acts of the Apostles
2) The Spirit gives the POWER to perform special Roles Within the Christian Community.
-These gifts or CHARISMS transform our natural talents or capacities. (Cor 12: 4-11)
-Preaching
-Faith
-Healing
-Prophecy
-Spirit of Recognition
-Tongues
-Interpretations
3) The Spirit gives us the DESIRE to work for the Poor – Jesus Identified himself with the poor (Isaiah 61)
FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
LOVE; JOY; PEACE; FAITHFULNESS; PATIENCE; KINDNESS; SELF-CONTROL; GOODNESS; MEEKNESS
WORKS OF THE FLESH
PRIDE; LUST; GLUTTONY; SLOTH; ENVY; ANGER; COVETOUSNESS
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT vs. WORKS OF THE FLESH
-SELF is the battle ground
-And the WAR is between the FLESH and the SPIRIT
-The goal is to master the soul
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