Discover the Different Works of the Holy Spirit in Believers

Bernie

Monty, I’m glad you had us leave our cell phones behind
to go backpacking out here.
It’s refreshing to be in God’s raw nature with no distractions.
I love it! Climbing this mountain helps us face harsh reality.

Prompter & Echoes

Revitalizing!

Monty

Good, Bernie.
Those who experience this adventure with me often
come to know Jesus Christ as their savior,
or find a deeper relationship with him.
I’m pleased that all of you on this trip already know Jesus.
Let’s compare your different church backgrounds.
Bernie, you’re the youngest. Go first.

Bernie

Okay. My Baptist church just held a class on the Holy Spirit
and its attributes.

Luther

Ouch! It hurts my ears to hear you call the Holy Spirit an “it.”
You’d never say “God the Father and its attributes,”
or call God the Son an “it.”

Bernie

Oh! You’re right. I’m a new believer…

Prompter & Echoes

And eager to learn!

Monty

Let’s compare our churches’ views of the Holy Spirit.
All our churches emphasize that we are born again by his work,
 and receive help to live holy lives.
What else have you learned about the Holy Spirit, Bernie?

Bernie

Well, my Baptist church emphasizes
that he gives us power to witness for Jesus.

Prompter & Echoes

Divine energizing!

Monty

Good, Bernie. How about you, Orville?

Orville

My background is Russian Orthodox.
There’s no orthodox church of any kind near my current home,
so I worship with Roman Catholics.
They emphasize that the Holy Spirit gives
their priests authority to forgive sins.

Charles

Not true!

Prompter & Echoes

Oh, oh!

Monty

Now wait, Charles. There is some truth to that,
provided it’s not taken to a non-biblical extreme.
Jesus promised all his disciples power to forgive sins.

Orville

My Orthodox Church’s view of holiness raises a question.
Is our holiness ours, or is it on loan from Christ
through the Holy Spirit?

Homer

It’s Christ’s holiness, imparted to us, not strictly ours.

Orville

Well the Orthodox view differs.
They say the holiness is ours. We are a “sword in the fire.”
Put the blade in flames and it turns red, then white.
Touch paper with it, and the paper flames. Its heat is its own.
Before long the glow dims, and the blade cools’

Prompter & Echoes

Back in the fire it goes.

Luther

My parents are Lutheran, and named me Luther.
We emphasize the Holy Spirit’s quiet assurance.

Prompter & Echoes

Our Comforter!

Luther

My uncle is of the Reformed faith, Presbyterian.
He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth  
and gives us understanding. My uncle loves theology.

Charles

I was a Pentecostal; now I serve with the Charismatics.
Like the original Methodists, we emphasize that the Holy Spirit
transforms us; we experience grace, not just read about it.
We also heal in Jesus’ name.
Recently, we charismatics have been multiplying thousands of
simple house churches all over the world.

Prompter & Echoes

Millions are coming to Christ!

Charles

We emphasize that the Holy Spirit equips even the newest
believer to shepherd his family and share Christ
with his relatives and friends. It’s happening.

Prompter & Echoes

All over the world!

Monty

Good! There is valuable truth in these different emphases.

Bernie

Yes! Now I see that my own view is not the only true one.

Prompter & Echoes

We learn from each other.