GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Bible says, “Avoid sin as if it were a snake.  If you get too near it will sink its teeth into your soul like a lion and destroy you” (Sirach 21:2)

                                    

THE FEAR OF GOD

The reverence and fear of God create fear of sin that is the consciousness of our lawless acts that hurt our Heavenly Father-who loves each one of us as His own son and daughter, more than our own mother. It teaches us that if we depend on our own strength a fall awaits us.

A childlike dependence towards God is prompt in this gift.  It is not the fear of punishment or shame of insults, etc. but it stems up from our emotional displeasure towards hurting God, who showers motherly love upon us, that we ought to apply self control not only in deeds, but also in his words and thoughts. One must seek, work and search with a thirsty heart to obtain this gift. 

Though Reverence for God and Fear of God may seem alike but the work of these two gifts – when intervene with God and His services with piety produces an amazing spiritual joy in a person to exhale the fear of God that produces tremendous courage to avoid evil ways.

A person who fears God will surely obey Him because it is painful for him to displease God.  For example, it was not so easy for Abraham to sacrifice his son to God.  The pain in displeasing God made him to pick up the knife to sacrifice his son.  “There the angel of God called him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham……..don’t hurt the boy or do anything to him….. Now I know that you honor and obey God because you have not kept back your only son for me.” (Gen.22)

Fear of God allows the person to obey everything God commands.  The thought that - even a minute disobedience can give pain to God will make the person conscious about his deeds and keep on doing penance for the purification of his actions and even for others.

“Because of you I am afraid; I am filled with fear because of your judgment.”  (Psalms 119:120)

Fear of God cannot tolerate fraud, partiality or taking of bribes.  The Holy Bible says, “Sinners have not known the path of peace nor they have learned reverence for God.”  (Romans) 

The one who fears God rejects every wickedness of men.  So then let us purify ourselves from everything that makes our body or soul unclean and let us be completely holy by living in awe of God.  Fear of God is the origin of wisdom and understanding. 

It is rigid for an ordinary person to understand the attitudes and actions of a pious personality. Kindness and loyal submissiveness can be seen in their actions. Submit yourself to one another because of your reverence for Christ.

Let us take the example of life of Christ Jesus.  “You have authority over me only because it was given to you by God”.  Here Lord Jesus submits His life to the authorities according to the will of God. 

The Fear of God always inspires in one’s heart, “Death than sin.”  Martyrdom of St. Maria Goretti is an inspiring example of Fear of God.

So serve the Lord with fear, be holy in all that you do, just as God who calls you is holy.

St. Paul says about the state of one who is not lead by the power of God.

 “I am a mortal man, sold as a slave to sin.  I do not understand what I do.  For I don’t do what I would like to do, but instead I do what I hate.….. This means it is the sin that lives in me…..  My inner being delights in the law of God, but I see a different law at work. What an unhappy man I am.  Who will rescue me from this body that is taking me to death? (Rom 7)

The Bible says, “Physical exercise has got some value but spiritual exercise is more valuable in every way because it promises life both for the present and the future.” (1Tim. 4:8)

 So keep yourself training for a godly life.  If you decide a word against your sinful life it will help you to turn away. 

But along with your decision, if you tell your God to send His grace upon you, He will guard the decision taken by you and you will achieve success. 

The Holy Bible says, “For we do not know how we ought to pray.  The Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that word cannot express and God who sees into our hearts knows what the thought of the Spirit is, because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with His will.”  (Rom 8:26)

Kindly Note:

As per the message from God of KLWC, our team will be conducting an in-house 48 hours fasting prayer service from the 28th Aug 2015 to 30th Aug 2015.  Your Thanksgivings and Prayer Requests are welcome.  

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“Those who are led by God’s spirit are God’s son.” (Rom 8:14)

                                    

PIETY

A pious person is faithful to God as well as to his co-brothers. 

He does all his duties towards God and to his status wholeheartedly and faithfully. Since it is the gift of God, the person having this virtue is called the child of God. 

The mutual love between a son and father are relevant vividly in this blessing.

The experience of immeasurable love of God is beyond the control of human mind and it overflows in the form of tears.  It is so deep that nothing can separate him from the Love of God. 

St. Paul was a faithful servant of God who said once, “Who then can separate us from the love of Christ?  Can trouble do it or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?  (Rom 8:35)

The gift of piety grants us the strength to tolerate the trials and troubles of day to day life.  Even in the midst of severe hardships one can confess his faith courageously. 

The Holy Spirit is also known as the ‘God of Reverence”.  The Holy Bible says reverence for the Lord is one of the greatest treasures.  God alone trains this gift to His children. “Come young friends and listen to me.  I will teach you to honor your Lord.”  (Psalms 34)

A pious person is able to please his God and enjoy prolonged conversation with Him, as well as obtain a generous heart.  The way to become wise is to honor the Lord.

 St. Paul says, “For what is life?  To me it is Christ, death will bring more.”  (Phil 1: 21)

A pious man would love to sacrifice his life for Christ. In whatever circumstances he is, he chooses the Will of God cheerfully and enjoy praising Him at all times. 

Lord Jesus says, “I always do what pleases Him.”  (John 8:29)

Once Lord Jesus plainly explained to His disciples, “My food is to obey the will of the One who sent me and to finish the work He gave me to do.”  (John 4:34). 

In great anguish also Lord Jesus prayed more fervently, “Not My will, however but Your will be done.”  (Luke 22:42)

Through the above verses Lord Jesus teach us the gifts of Holy Spirit are essential to loyally obey God’s law which is beneficial for us. A pious man can love God’s laws more than he loves himself.

The example of a brave mother and her seven sons encouraging each other to die for the sake of their faithfulness to God is worth meditating.  The mother was the most amazing person who deserves a special place is our memory.  She endured her 7 sons’ cruel death in a single day for the sake of their great trust in God.  She encouraged her sons to die for their faith. She said to them, “I don’t know how your life began in my womb.  She would say, “I was not the one who gave life and breath and put together each part of your body.”  (2 Macc. 7: 22)

Here we can see the reverence of God gives courage to a person to be obedient to God and his authorities till death.  The natural way of obedience will take root in a person when God writes His laws into his heart (Jeremiah 31).  Reverence for the Lord is holy and it has to live forever.

 “To honor the Lord is to hate evil such as pride, arrogance, all evil ways and false words.”  (Prov. 8:13)

The gift of reverence is the key to wisdom and fear of God.  Whoever learns to practice the reverence of God knows the path of peace. (Rom 3 : 17-18).

“Reverence for Lord is the fountain on life which gives confidence and security to a man and his family” (Prov. 14:26)

“Obey the Lord, be humble and you will get riches, honor and a long life.”  (Prov. 22: 4)

God prepares a banquet for him were all his enemies can see it and a good fortune awaits him.  Whoever seeks, receives the gift of piety.  

The Holy Bible says, “Look for it as hard as you would for silver or some hidden treasure.”

The Lord Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “Whoever is thirsty should come to Me and drink it.”  One can experience the flow of streams of love of God in his life through the gift of reverence of God.

Kindly Note:

As per the message from God of KLWC, our team will be conducting an in-house 48 hours fasting prayer service from the 28th Aug 2015 to 30th Aug 2015.  Your Thanksgivings and Prayer Requests are welcome.  

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“May grace and peace be yours in full measure through your knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”     (2 Peter 1: 2)

                                    

                                          KNOWLEDGE

The gift of knowledge helps us to know the spiritual welfare of a person.  Those blessed with this virtue gets the wisdom to do what is best in God’s sight as well as to omit that which displeases Him.  It also enables him to have intense thirst to know more about the mysteries of salvation and a desire to reach God and rest in His arms. 

The Psalmist says, “I wish I had wings like a dove, I would fly away and find rest. I would fly far away and live in the wilderness.  I would quickly find myself shelter from the raging wind and the storm………… I see violence and riots in the city surrounding it day and night.” (Psalms 55:6-9)

Reaching Eternity leaving all the perishable profits and pleasure will be the aim of his living. 

St. Augustine was blessed with the gift of knowledge.  The moment he tasted the love of God, he understood it is the sweetest and happiest enjoyment one can achieve in this world.  God’s love made possible a continual process of repentance in him.  Never again did he turn against God’s love.  Praise the Lord!

The gift of knowledge assists one to proclaim the glory and beauty of God unceasingly. What St. Paul who, once found happiness in persecuting the Lord and his people, emphatically says after his conversion is notable.  “Not only those things, I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for His sake I have thrown everything I consider it all as mere refuse, so that I may gain Christ.”

The gift of knowledge is also a richest virtue from God and He gives it to us through His Son Jesus Christ.  He created everything with His knowledge and brought us out of darkness through the knowledge of God.  The Son of God is the treasury of knowledge.  “He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge.”  (Col. 2: 3)

So when we live in Christ Jesus in a trustworthy manner and with thanksgiving, we allow His spirit to abide within us.  St. Paul instructs us, “Ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glorious Father to give you the Spirit who will make you wise and reveal God to you so that you will know Him.”  (Eph. 1:17)

God Himself is knowledge, so the more you seek God, He reveals Himself to us.  So the Holy Bible insists us to pray for the knowledge and constantly seek for it.  God fills His children with His gifts. 

To obtain the gift of Knowledge it is very essential to fulfill God’s Will by listening to the Word of God, to mingle with His anointed devotees and to behave in a proper manner with everyone.

 “For in union with Christ you have become rich in all things including all speech and all knowledge.”  (1 Cor. 1: 5)

The gift of knowledge will make you strong and active. A person blessed with this gift is bestowed with discernment, humility, self-control, joy and peace and will grow in piety and love of God. 

An individual anointed with this gift will truly love God although he has not seen Him and he will believe in Him although he does not now see Him. He rejoices with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express.

The Bible explains about the pathetic state of the fall of a gifted one.  “If people have escaped from the corrupting forces of the world through their knowledge of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then are again caught and conquered by them, such people are in a worse state at the end than they were at the beginning.”  (2 Peter 2: 20)

So the Bible says that it would have been much better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn away from the holy gifts.  St. Paul says “For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sin, if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us.” (Heb. 10:26)

The Holy Bible states that it is difficult to regain these blessed gifts, if we lose it due to negligence or careless behavior. Those who neglect the gift of knowledge are called as ‘foolish’ by the Holy Scriptures.

“Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish?  How long will you enjoy pouring scorn on knowledge? Will you never learn?  Listen when I reprimand you, I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you.  Pay attention when I correct you so then you will get what you deserve and your own actions will make you sick.  Experienced people die because they reject wisdom.  Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern, but whoever listens to me will have security, he will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”  (Sirach 1)

“It is true of course that ‘all of us have knowledge,’ however, such knowledge, puffs a person up with pride; but love builds up.  Whoever thinks he knows something really doesn't know as he ought to know.  But the person who loves God is known by Him.” (1Cor. 8:1-3)

So let us love one another and accept the gift of knowledge which can rebuild us in Christ.  Try to arouse pure thoughts in your minds which can create the qualities of God our Heavenly Father.  So choose what is best and dedicate yourself unto Him.

Kindly Note:

As per the message from God of KLWC, our team will be conducting an in-house 48 hours fasting prayer service from the 28th Aug 2015 to 30th Aug 2015.  Your Thanksgivings and Prayer Requests are welcome.  

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Bible says, “God purposely considers what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise and He chooses what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.” (1 Cor. 1:27)

FORTITUDE

The Gift of Fortitude is also one of the richest holy blessings of God that grants us the skill to handle difficult situations wisely and peacefully.  It produces will power and a spirit filled inspiration to handle the problems smoothly and calmly. The dependency on God can be clearly observed in the one who is blessed with this gift.  The above Bible verse proves that man has got nothing to boast in himself.  The confidence and the determination towards the promise of God strongly infuse the one who is blessed.  The God of refuge and fortress abundantly pours out His courage and power upon him and transforms the one to be obedient to His will.  The one who is having the gift of fortitude can say that he is a total instrument of God.  Tranquility and contentment overflows along with the gift of fortitude. 

The Fall of Jericho is an example of the power of ‘fortitude’ which was given to Joshua, His servant.  He said to him ‘I will be with you as I was with Moses.  I will always be with you.  I will never abandon you. 

(Joshua 6). 

God constantly encourages and provides assurance to His obedient servants just as how we appreciate and admire to uplift our dear ones.  To be His servant or His people, one must make sure that you obey the whole Law He gave through His servant Moses.    Be sure that the Book of Law is always read; study it day and night and make sure that you obey everything written in.  You will be prosperous and successful.  No one will be able to defeat you as long as you live.  This is the assurance that God gives to His righteous ones.

The Holy Bible says in the Gospel of St. Matthew, “Whoever holds out to the end will be saved.” Faithfulness to the gift of the Holy Spirit in all circumstances is very essential to succeed.  By keeping the word of God in heart as holy and using it in a proper manner will help us to safeguard our gifts.  To be faithful always, the gifts are to be used for the spiritual purposes.  Happy is the person who remains faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1 :12)

The Life of Job - a good man who suffers total disaster -is worth recollecting.  God does not give answers to his questions, but He does respond to his faith by His divine power full of fortitude which makes Job to humbly acknowledge God as wise and great. 

In the book of James admires the prolonged sufferings of Job. “You have heard of Job’s patience and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end.”  (James 5:11).  Job was blessed with patience and endurance through the gift of fortitude.  When we exalt, praise and honour the Almighty God and offer gratitude for His marvelous works we gain mental courage which enables us to accept the sufferings and pain.

St. Stephen’s martyrdom is also an example for us.  At the time of his death the gift of fortitude made him to pray for the people who were stoning him to death.  Stephen knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord do not remember this sin against them.”  (Acts 7:60).  The gifts of God can perform marvelous change in our lives also.  In the form of Holy Spirit God pours out His love into our hearts where there is no pain, hatred or grudge and other evils.  His love produces all virtues in fullness into our hearts and when it flows through our blood we become stainless.  All complaints against one another vanish.

By practicing fortitude you will obtain the grace of prolonged suffering and patience.  Piety and fortitude work together.

Do not lose courage because it blesses us with great patience and endurance to do the will of God i.e. to live in love. He who is coming will come, He will not delay. So let us be righteous.  He is not a God who is pleased with the fall of any one of us but He is the one calling us near to Him and encouraging us to love one another which is safe and sure and takes us to our repentance that is made possible by God.  Amen.

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 The Holy Bible says, “When you are arrested and taken to court, do not worry beforehand about what you are going to say, when the time comes say whatever is then given to you. For the words you speak will not be yours they will come from the Holy Spirit”. (Mark 13:11)

COUNSEL

Prophet Isaiah visualizing our God proclaimed Him as a ‘Wonderful Counselor.’ (Isaiah 9:6)

The Gift of Counsel guides us with an appropriate Word of God amidst our trials and troubles of life. The one who exercises this gift can solve problems easily while revealing God’s plan.

“……..the Lord will bring to light the dark secrets and expose hidden purposes of peoples’ mind”. (1 Cor. 4:5)

God has wisdom, insight and power to act.

The Psalmist says. “God guides me and in the night my conscience warns me.” (Psalms 16:7). The plans that God makes are wise and they always succeed.

Those blessed with this gift stretch their hands out to God and remain close to God in every circumstance. God leads them by holding their hands. Whoever asks for the gift of counsel He guides them with instructions and at the end you will receive them with honor. He makes wise plans and does mighty things; He rewards His people according to their actions.

In the Book of Jeremiah, the Lord says “I alone know the plans I have for you. The plans to bring you prosperity.”

When we seek His goodwill with the help of this gift He reveals us His plans.

God our Father revealed His plan to Lord Jesus while praying in the garden of Gethsemane (refer. Luke 22:40-45). 

Jesus the Wonderful Counselor said to His disciples, “The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.” (John 14:26) 

People could not catch Jesus Christ in anything because He gave them amazing answers.  God’s plans endure forever and His purposes last eternally. 

The one who truly denies self whole-heartedly and follow the footstep of Lord Jesus by obeying His advice will not stumble because the Holy Spirit and His gifts work in him. 

Mankind has freewill to refuse the plan of God, but it will destroy him and bring disasters.  If you seek His plan and wait to act patiently, you will flourish and succeed. 

What happens if you disobey the law of God and live according to your own way?  “You will look for peace and will never find it.  One disaster will follow another and a steady stream of bad news will pour in. You will beg the prophets to reveal what they foresee.  The priest will have nothing to teach and elders will have no advice to give.” (Ezekiel 7:26)

God shows the path that leads to life and His presence through gifts and fruits fill us with everlasting joy.  His advices are eternal and unchangeable.  The one who asks His decision are obliged to obey reverently.  People who met the Lord in their lives have the pattern to seek His will in everything they do.  Our God is the Lord who answers His people.  It is a wise practice to submit our ideas and plans to His attention and seek the will of Lord in all worship. 

Being still and waiting patiently for a few moments to listen to His voice is an awesome experience.

Gradually, you will be blessed with the gift of counsel. 

Welcoming the Holy Spirit and opening your Holy Bible as per the Spirit’s inspiration is another way to grow in gift of counsel.  Be truthful to God even if the message is against your plans.  Human counsel may fail and disappear, but the one which comes from God will fulfill the purpose in it.  

God says in the book of Isaiah 46:10, “……… from the beginning I predicted……… long ago I foretold……. I said that my plans would never fail, I would do what I intended.”

This is the reason behind why devotees fast and offer prayers and wait patiently so as to seek the Will of God prior to planning their decisions. The one who follows His decision is enabled with the gift of vision and he/she can lead others easily towards the Will of God. 

The one who show contempt towards the gift of God can lose it as well as become a slave of darkness.

So faithful devotees of Christ, your negligence made you stumble or fall.  The Sovereign Lord says “Return to me”.  The Lord is always merciful to us, His own people.  Although He punishes us, even with disasters He never abandons us.  He is the source of all our blessings.  You are wise enough to understand what I mean here.  Take it to your heart.  The Lord’s ways are right and righteous people live by following them. 

So let us consecrate all our plans to Him, who longs to communicate with you.  He will make you a good listener and it will be an important record of your spiritual walk with your Savior. 

When you patiently allow Him to fondle you through the release of His Holy Spirit slowly you will be empowered and the gifts and fruits will bring marvelous changes in your world as Christ Jesus confidently blessed His followers……. “You will be my witness to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8)

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Bible says, “The hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out His love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.”           (Romans 5:5)

UNDERSTANDING

God gives the gift of understanding to reveal the inner sight of faith mysterious. It facilitates a person to grasp and trust in the Word of God and to lead a life in union with Christ Jesus. Whoever regularly studies and meditates the Word of God can obtain the gift of Understanding.

Lord Jesus was filled with the gift of Understanding from childhood. At the age of 12, during the Festival, Jesus was with the Jewish Teachers, listening to them and asking questions, proves it. “All who heard Him were amazed at His intelligent answers.” (Luke 2:47)

After the death of Jesus, on their way to Emmaus, the disciples of Jesus Christ were sharing the events of His death. Then He appeared amidst them and comforted them. He gave them the power to understand the mysteries. They said to each other, “Wasn’t it like a fire burning in us when He talked to us.”

(Luke 24:32)

St. Paul too was gifted with understanding which enabled him to explain deeply the Passion of Christ and the hope brought by The Resurrection.  His description about the marital relationship also proved the depth of his insight of the mysteries.

The explanation of the submission of a husband and wife compared to that of Christ who gave His life in submission towards His Love for the Church. (Ephesians 5:24-25)

Let us therefore wish and try to gain understanding which can deepen the faith in love of God and to obtain a lovable nature. Let us accept all creations of God as how He visualizes it- with no discrimination or indifference.

Since it is Holy and bestowed from heaven a selfless attitude is very essential to achieve the Gift of Understanding. No intellectual effort can achieve it. As the Scriptures says that the world’s wisdom or any other qualities cannot know the understanding of God.

“A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out.” (Proverbs. 20:5)

It provides good knowledge of praise and gives courage to do good in life.

Whoever is intelligent can receive the mysteries of truth, which produces joy and cheerfulness to the mind and reminds us of the protection and constant love of God. It imparts confidence and determination to obey the Law of God.

Understanding grants us to have peaceful, long prosperous life in union with Christ and inspires us to seek the knowledge of God.

A person who is blessed with the Gift of Understanding can truly confess that Jesus is the Only Redeemer and that God has accepted us as His children and believe that we belong to Him.

An anointed person can undoubtedly trust the meaning of the Word of God and believe it easily.

For e.g. “Where two or three comes together in My name I am there with them.” (Matt.18:20) The blessed person can firmly feel the presence of the Lord while confessing the Word of God. 

St John in his letter gives us a better knowledge regarding it. “We know that no child of God keeps on sinning, for the Son of God keeps him safe and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the evil one. We know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with true God- in union with His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and this is eternal life.” (1 John 5:18-20).

The above verses teaches us that the knowledge of Eternal life which we gain through the gift of understanding.

Dear devotees of True God, let us keep ourselves safe from deceivers who bring misleading understanding.

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 The Holy Bible says, “The hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out His love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.” (Romans 5:5)

WISDOM  

                                                           … (continued)

Wisdom of God is holy and innocent, which obtains peace and brings others to peace.  It is full of truth and humbleness.

“The wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.” (James 3:17) The one who receives this peace, these qualities abide in his life.

Wisdom clears doubts and chooses what is right.  It is sincere and faithful and creates a stern and steady mind.  Wisdom and courage move hand in hand. 

Lord Jesus taught in the synagogue and those who heard him were amazed, “Where did he get such wisdom” they asked. (Matt 13 :54)

“……What kind of words are these?  With authority and power this man gives orders to the evils spirits, and they come out!”  (Luke 4: 36)  It proves that wisdom is full of authority and power. 

The Almighty God allows hardships and sufferings which produces endurance which leads one to wisdom.  In Isaiah 48 : 10 the Lord says, “I have tested you in the fire of suffering, as silver is refined in a furnace.…….What I do is done for My own sake.”

St. Peter says “My dear friends do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering as though something unusual were happening to you. (1 Pet 4:12)

Merciful and Sovereign Lord your wisdom protected Noah a righteous man and she guided him in his flimsy wooden boat.  

Wisdom gave strength to Abraham a righteous man to obey God’s command, inspite of the love for his son.  

Wisdom rescued her righteous servant Lot from danger. 

Wisdom guided a righteous man Jacob through the right path and made him prosperous and victorious in his hard fight.  

Wisdom rescued Joseph a righteous man who was sold into slavery. Without being abandoned she kept him safe and gave him eternal honor. 

She once rescued an innocent and holy people from a nation of oppression.  She guided them in a miraculous journey and defended them.  

Wisdom gives speech to those who could not speak.  She even causes babies to speak clearly. 

So let us pray to the origin of wisdom, our Abba Father to grant the grace of righteousness so as to obtain this gracious gift through the name of Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.