THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS

Dear friends, why is He called the Spirit of holiness? It tells us of the nature of God’s Spirit – holiness. That is why He is called the Holy Spirit because He does not tolerate anything unholy or unclean.

The Apostle Paul testifies to this by revealing to us the evidence or fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life. In other words, how do you know if one is truly baptized with the Holy Spirit?

In our age, as never before, much is said about the Holy Spirit, but so little is known about Him. Those are usually imitations, manipulations, sensual, spiritual, and even demonic manifestations which have nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. This is evidenced by the fruits, even in the face of today’s war in Ukraine, where Christians became so divisive as they want to die or fight for the earthly things, as well as on the basis of the results of the US elections (there were many false “prophecies” concerning that). Those predictions were or are being unfulfilled. Such people are spiritually proud and show a carnal disposition in many areas and issues of life. Their views are fleshly. In such movements, people’s minds are set on the earthly things rather than on the things from above. They are material “blessings”, the exaltation of one’s self, self-realization, emphasis on your special self, and upholding earthly priorities, where the focus is on a human being rather than Christ. Such people associate life with the earthly Homeland, and not with the Heavenly one. Being patriotic they get puffed up with the pride of their nationality. Are you ready to shed the blood for the Antichrist and His future government? Do you want to die for this cause? Didn’t we believe that “there is neither Greek nor Jew, …barbarian, Scythian, … but Christ is all and in all.”

‭‭(Colossians‬ ‭3:11‬)?

So, Paul in Romans 8 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans‬ ‭8:1-2‬)

Further, he continues, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, for the carnal mind is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” (Romans‬ ‭8:5-9‬)‭

Based on this passage we understand that if a person is really baptized with the Holy Spirit, then he sets his mind on the things of the Spirit. He is not only spiritually minded but also lives according to the Spirit, as Paul says, “IF indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” It is namely by this criterion that we know whether a believer has been baptized with the Holy Spirit or not.

Then Paul goes on, “Therefore, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭8:12-14‬)

Who, according to Paul, is led by the Holy Spirit? One who has the power of the Holy Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh.

In the Gospel of Matthew, in the seventh chapter, our Lord Jesus Christ teaches, warning us not to look at those who claim to cast out demons, prophesy, or heal, but that we should be able to recognize false teachers and false prophets by their fruits. We are supposed to look at the fruits, not the miracles.

Concluding His speech, Christ gives us as an example the parable of a wise man who built his house on the rock and a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The Lord Himself interpreted His parable in the following words: “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them will be likened to a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”

‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭7:24, 26‬)‭

This is the reason why He will say on the Judgment Day, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23) because they pursued false signs and wonders and carnal, earthly things rather than heavenly, spiritual things.

But the most interesting thing is that, when they stand before Christ in the spiritual realm fully exposed, they will still be sure that they had done everything in His name. That shows they had sincerely believed it but they were deceived by evil spirits because they were seeking their own fleshly will and neglected the things of the Spirit thus opening the spiritual doors of their hearts to any supernatural experience without testing the spirits.

Dear friends, the Holy Spirit will never contradict His Own Revelation – the Word of God. And listen, this is the Word of God Himself! Paul warns us: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”

‭‭(Galatians‬ ‭1:8‬)

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1). If there were many false prophets in the days of the early church, then there are many nowadays without a doubt. Do you test all things or accept anything that is or seems to be supernatural?

“And we have a more reliable word of prophecy, which you would do well to follow, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” (2 Peter‬ ‭1:19‬). And that more reliable word of prophecy is the Word of God! Study it on the knees and ask God to reveal His truth to you!

May the Lord be with us!

Max Volkov in Christ