Holy spirit?
Hi there! I have a couple questions about the Holy Spirit. First, how do you know if you have the it? Second, can you lose it once you get it? And lastly, how does your life change? Thanks! God bless!
Are "fire-and-brimstone" sermons sitll effective today?
Biblical sermons are as effective as the presence of the Holy Spirit causes them to be. However, with the current common belief, or rather lack of belief system that permeates our society, some people seem to think that preaching about God's love and about the potential for having a better life here on earth while ignoring the need for repentance and passing over the penalty of remaining in sin is the way to go. One of the problems with preaching like that, besides it not being a presentation of the whole counsel of God's word, is that a large number of the "converts" fall into the second two of the four categories of soil that Jesus described in this parable. Luke 8:11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Do you believe that the Holy Spirit exists?
Yes I do, without a doubt. I don't know why some Christians would think that He's not there; He's mentioned in the Bible time and time again, and I have felt His presence on many an amazing occasion.
Does it ever say that God/Holy Spirit cannot dwell in an unlcean temple?
No, that is not in the Bible. It's only an assumption based on 2 Corinthians 6:16-18: 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. In fact, if you are a believer in the essentiality of baptism for salvation, in Acts 10, the Holy Ghost came to dwell in the new converts at the household of Cornelius while they were still "unclean vessels."