Spiritual Growth
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The Holy Spirit was not sent just to make you feel good.
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Your growth in the Spirit will begin the moment you begin to see that the Spirit of God is truly God.
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The Holy Spirit is not only God; He’s also the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit was not sent just to make you feel good. He’ll certainly do that, but He is much more. He has equality in the Godhead and deserves our worship just as do God the Father and God the Son. But that is just the start. Your spiritual growth is not different from that of a giant oak tree. It must be fed and nourished.
Recently a man told me, “Benny, I want to thank you for introducing me to the Holy Spirit in 1978.”
I said, “That’s great. Tell me what’s been happening since?”
His face was a blank as he said, “Well, nothing really. I just remember what it was like when I met Him.”
“Why do you think nothing has happened?” I asked.
I’ll never forget his reply: “I guess I didn’t know what to do.”
Perhaps I’ve expected every person who’s been introduced to the Spirit to respond as I did. I literally shut myself away with the Word and the Spirit and absorbed what He had to offer like a sponge. It took time, hundreds and hundreds of hours with the precious Holy Spirit.
I realize that for many people it’s nearly impossible to find the time to search and search the Scriptures. But just by reading this book you are receiving in a succinct manner what it took the Spirit years to share with me. But there is one thing I cannot do for you.
I can’t wave a spiritual wand over your head and place an anointing on you. That only comes with a personal, deeply private encounter with the Spirit. And it continues and grows with a fellowship and communion that only you can establish.
Your growth in the Spirit will begin the moment you begin to see that the Spirit of God is truly God. I can’t repeat it enough because the mental picture of a weak personality has been drilled into our psyche from childhood.
I remember seeing a book that said, “The Holy Spirit is a servant to the Body of Christ.” That’s the kind of error I’m talking about. He’s not a servant; He’s in charge. He’s the leader of the body of Christ.
Let me share something I have come to know. The Holy Spirit is not only God; He’s also the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before you say, “Now hold it there, Benedictus,” let me point you to the Word.
You say, “I thought God the Father was the Father of Jesus.” Well, you’re right, but you’re also wrong. Let me show you why. In the first chapter of the Gospels we are told that the Holy Ghost is the Father of the Lord:
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).
Even Mary was concerned. Mary said to the angel, “‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her:
“‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Luke 1:34-35).
There you have it. He is called the Son of God, but it was the Holy Spirit that came upon the mother of Christ. That’s the closeness of the Trinity – a child of God the Father and a child of God the Spirit in one.
Even the attributes of Jesus were given Him by the Spirit. Speaking of the coming Christ, Isaiah wrote:
“There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord.” (Isa. 11:1-2)
As I was reading, this phrase was highlighted for me: Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.
Pastor Benny, I hear you speak from your heart response to what God opens for you as you worship/surrender – more than teaching a subject -you seem to give an account of Him drawing you to know Him from closer- blessed by this – I feel He is drawing me to know Him from closer too.
Father God, please carry us safely in the deep waters of Your Love, the Grace of Jesus and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
This is a very powerful word. Thank you so much for sharing my friend. Your teachings as with many others have encouraged the book I am to finish. I am learning so much through you and others, especially through the trinity. Thank you for your ongoing programs. I will have to send a copy of my book once it is published.
Many blessings upon you, your family and ministry …. always
Tayya
There is more for me to know about the holy spirit. Blessed Pastor Benny
Thank you Pastor Benny for sharing to us the Revelarions of the Holy Spirit for making Jesus real in our life..to know the knowledge of our Lord Jesus ,to Obey, Love & Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth..to have fellowship & Intimacy with Him..Wow what a wonderful God we have..and for you Pastor Benny for not being tired in sharing and giving to us your knowledge & expierienced of God..you are trully the man of God…God bless you Pastor Benny
I had a dream about Holy Spirit an hour ago. When I saw this post, my heart burning. Thank you, pastor Benny!
It is amazing how wide and deep is the mystery about God. I see it like a wave…..where you grow in his knowledge, and then you realize when you reach the top…is followed by another valley….then up and down as you progress in faith…from one glory to another. But it is possible to remain at one point if in the valley…you get enough grace not to give up but climb again…..and every level is a new revelation…..one feels like you have not known God yet. I realize people different levels have a different experience, but the word of God encourages us to grow…..to eat hard meat…….and is all by grace.Sometime you feel like you don’t know him yet….so many mysteries yet deep inside you can’t deny the encounter with him.ooh that i may know him and the power of his resurrection….Phi.3:10
Good evening sir.
Thank you for reaching out to us.So powerful.
Jo I allways pray to God for a spirit of understanding myself and the word of God.
Waiting for pastor in Cape town on the 25/26 January.
Be blessed pastor Bennie.