My daughters have graciously informed me that when I’m preaching, I often talk too fast. They need more time to jot down or take a picture of the slide on the screen. I’m just glad they’re paying attention!
With that in mind, I thought I might offer, in writing, one of the statements we’ve been using related to the Doctrine of the Trinity, our statement of belief about the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine.
He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures.
Through illumination, He enables men to understand truth.
He exalts Christ.
He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
He calls men to the Savior and effects regeneration.
At the moment of regeneration, He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ.
He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church.
He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption.
His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ.
He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Empower: to give the authority or power to do something.
Whatever He’s calling you to, wherever He is asking you to serve, whatever good work He has prepared for you to do… … the Holy Spirit of God will empower you to accomplish it.
He’ll provide you with every gift, skill, and ability you need. As you continue to pray about the area of ministry in which God has called you to serve, be reminded… He may stretch you, He may ask you to step outside your comfort zone, but He’ll never ask you to go at it alone.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you in the power, the presence, and the person of the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 8:11).
That’s good stuff right there!