Hello friends, welcome to In Bolden. I'm Chris Shatter, an ordinary Christian living with and learning about an extraordinary God. In the book of Jude we read about the grumblers and the fault-finders following their own evil desires and boasting about themselves. I find the best way not to be a grumbler and a fault-finder which I struggle with is instead to look for ways to be thankful and grateful.
That's why on The In Bolden Podcast we're doing 30 Days of Thankfulness. Please join me. Today's thankful verse comes from John 1426, But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you. About 10 years ago the church I attended began a series about the Holy Spirit.
I was fairly new in my walk with God and didn't realize what a big deal this series was for this particular church. As the pastor began his first sermon, he kept taking care to deal with the congregation's feeling of discomfort. And I kept wondering what the issue was. So I finally asked someone.
And I learned the Holy Spirit just wasn't something this denomination talked about, ever. I've also since learned other denominations avoid teaching about the Holy Spirit out of a fear of being too, quote, charismatic. 1 Corinthians 6-19 says, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? Who is in you?
whom you have received from God? You are not your own. Oh, we crazy Christians. How often is our religious life marred by the fears of how we will be seen or just really downright lack of knowledge about biblical truths?
Christians who consider themselves proper and dignified because they don't acknowledge the gifts of the Spirit are denying Jesus' own words. But to deny the Holy Spirit as an equal part of the majestic Trinity is unbiblical. Jesus himself told us he would send another in his place to guide us. If we deny this great gift from God, what else are we prepared to deny from him?
And then on the flip side, I know of a young woman whose church taught that everyone has the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. That's also denying biblical truths and the work of the Holy Spirit in each of our individual lives. In the past, I've described hearing from the Holy Spirit like a tap on the shoulder, a whisper in my ear which spurs me to either act for God or to be honest, sometimes stop in my tracks for him. To keep my mouth shut when needed and to speak when the Spirit puts the right words in my mouth.
I'm so thankful I know the Holy Spirit and love when the Spirit weaves throughout my day. I can't do this thing called life alone and I don't want to. The Holy Spirit helped breathe life into us during creation. It was the Holy Spirit that brought so many to Jesus at Pentecost.
It speaks to us and guides us in Jesus' stead. If you don't know about the Holy Spirit, call on him in your prayers. Read what Jesus and the disciples said about him. I for one am so thankful we have this helper to bring us through our days until Jesus' return.
Have a grateful day. I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Enfolden Podcast. Be sure to follow along so you don't miss any episode. And check out my blog at Enfolden.net.