Dr Paul Allen

Do you know the reaction of many Christians when someone talks to them about walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit? They say, “That’s great for others, but I’m not good enough. I don’t qualify. If I were more dedicated and spent more time in Bible reading and prayer, I might eventually be worthy to walk in the Spirit.” But they’ve got it backward. The Holy Spirit is not given to those who have it all together spiritually; He is given to enable them to get it together spiritually! I’m struck with Paul’s words: “My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness” (Gal. 5:16 MSG). Notice the sequence. Paul does not say that if we stop carrying out the desires of the flesh we will walk in the Spirit; rather, he says that if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh! The order makes an incredible difference. Christians often ignore any thought of walking by the Spirit, because the...

The Brazen Serpent, by Benjamin West: Wikipedia ) We read in Numbers 11–14 that it is a period of turbulence in the life of Moses . As you read Numbers, you will notice the references to God ’s Spirit are rare.  The narratives of Moses’ life do not often refer to the Spirit of God. However, later Israelites were in no doubt at all that God had been very powerfully active through his Spirit in the life and work of Moses. Here, for example, is how a later prophet referred back to that era: Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them , who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand , who divided the waters before them,  to gain for himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like catt...

Power, basically, is neutral. It simply means the ability to do things. Power is needed if you are going to do anything good, as well as if it is used for evil. Power is the capacity to accomplish goals, or to influence the outcome of events and processes. That is why, when you find that you are unable do either of these things (accomplish your goals or influence events), you feel literally “power-less.” Power, then, is effective action, making a difference, influencing events, changing the way things are or will be. It is not surprising, then, that the Spirit of God in the Old Testament is commonly linked with power, for the biblical God is nothing if not effective in action and in bringing about change! Indeed, when the Israelites spoke of the Spirit of Yahweh, it was often simply a way of saying that God himself was exercising his power on the earth, either directly or, more commonly, through human agents. The Spirit of God is God’s power at work—either in direct action or in ...