The Holy Spirit often has to do some work on us before we can do the work He has for us.

As we at Global Disciples help churches around the world train and send out a new generation of disciple-makers and church planters, we also see the Holy Spirit change hearts.

Both in those being reached with the Gospel and those who experience the training.

A report from a training program in Uganda includes two such examples.

Charlie said, “Before I attended the training, I didn’t know how to approach lost people. If I found a drunkard, I would straight away tell him you are going to hell! But through this training, I learned to build a relationship with him first, and take a better approach. And now I find joy in reaching out to lost people and many of them are coming to the Lord.”

As Charlie discovered this change, Andre learned to let the Holy Spirit develop self-control.

Andre shared, “Before this training, if I became angry, I felt like exchanging blows with someone who made me angry. Now I have learned to put the old man to death and to allow the Holy Spirit to take control of my life. As a true disciple of Jesus Christ, I’ve learned to deny myself and carry my own cross.”

For both men, the personal internal change made a difference when it came time to take the Gospel out to reach into the communities. Andre explained what they saw God do.

“We met with resistance from the community,” he explained. “They didn’t welcome us at the beginning. So we prayed and fasted for 24 hours. And out of this, God softened people’s hearts and 72 people came to Christ.”

As a result, a church has been planted. And Andre says they continue to fast and pray each month.

Plus, a new vision has been born, Andre said. “Our eyes have been opened to see beyond our local churches. Now we have a global vision and the idea is to multiply disciples who are Christ-like.”

Multiplying Christ-like disciples—that’s what we want to see. And it all begins with the Holy Spirit’s work.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18-20NLT).  ” Ephesians 5:18-20

One of the best parts of my job is welcoming students from out of the country into school in Canada. 

Moving into a different place, learning a different language, and navigating a new culture is a massive challenge. Sometimes there are so many changes that students become stressed and homesick. 

A few years ago, I met a new student from Columbia who had just entered Canada.  Right from the beginning, I noticed something different about her that I could not put my finger on.  As she entered classes and began the new chapter in Canada.  I noticed that there was such a consistent joy in her life that she shared with everyone she met.  Later that year, she confirmed my suspicion that she was a follower of Jesus.  The joy, that was so obvious in her life, came from the Spirit of God living inside her.

In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul tells them to “be filled” with the Holy Spirit. 

When people are discouraged, depressed or just having a bad day when they seek filling from different sources.

Drinking alcohol can make us feel carefree and lead to a great night of singing at the pub. In reality, it really doesn’t give lasting satisfaction. Others may attempt to use sex, food, shopping, fame, fitness, or fashion to numb the pain and difficulty of life. 

The apostle commands followers of Jesus to be filled with the Spirit of God. He want us to that deep, long-lasting satisfaction in Him. The logical question then is, “How can we be filled by God’s Spirit?”

The answer that scripture gives us is incredibly simple and difficult–a deep reliance on the Spirit’s power.  

One alternative to a deep reliance on the Spirit’s power is a deep reliance on self.

There is a popular myth in our culture that, believing in yourself is all you need to navigate lifes difficulties. This can easily slip into the matrix of our beliefs causing us to malfunction concerning God’s purpose for our lives. We can miss out on the true source of joy and power.

Samson’s life, described in Judges, illustrates the need for a deep reliance on the Spirit of God. 

The period of the Judges is one of the lowest points in Israel’s history.  Everyone was living in a way that seemed right to them (Judges 17:6) but very few of them were following God’s path. 

By the time we pick up Samson’s story in chapter 16, God has allowed the Philistines to conquer God’s people in hope that they will again follow Him…but they don’t.  God, in His mercy and patience, supplies judges (who were like warlords) that beat back their enemies for a time but they soon return to their old way of doing things.  Samson is one of the judges raised up by God to give relief to His people.  

Unlike some of the other judges, he is not a conventional military leader.  In fact, he does not lead an army at all. He is not even a team player. His life consists of several solo battles revolving around personal conflicts that have resulted from broken relationships with Philistine women. 

Samson’s dysfunctional relationships with Philistine women go badly in different ways but in each case, the end result is similar–violent, hand-to-hand combat with city guards and sometimes entire armies.   

Although Samson constantly disobeys his parents and lives by his own moral code, God graciously uses him for the good of His people. God’s gifting to Samson is super-human strength in battle. 

At one point, the Holy Spirit comes upon him and he kills 1000 soldiers with the jawbone of a donkey.  After this particular battle, Samson is so exhausted that he is near death.  He cries out to God for water and God miraculously provides him with water from a rock.  In this scene of the story, Samson is found relying on God as his provider but he soon grows proud, and that reliance changes into arrogance. 

Fast forwarding the story closer to the end (Judges 16:4), Samson falls in love with yet another Philistine woman named Delilah.  Seeking an opportunity to gain an advantage over Samson, the city leaders offer Delilah a huge sum of money to learn the secret of Samson’s strength.  Delilah uses her beauty and seductive powers to draw the secret out of Samson. 

After lying to her several times, Samson finally tells her the truth.  

 So he [Samson] told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him (Judges 16:17-19).

What’s interesting at this point in this story is that, even though Samson says that his strength is connected to his Nazarite vow, his response shows that he doesn’t believe this.

“Then she called, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free’” (Judges 16:20).

Samson’s thoughts at this moment show us an attitude that grieves the heart and Spirit of God. Samson has become so self-reliant that he begins to take credit for God’s gifting and power in his life. The results are immediate and devastating.    

Samson’s super-human powers were tied to God’s purpose and plan for Samson but when he became overconfident in his own abilities, God withdraws.

The retreat of the Spirit leads to Samson’s defeat and humiliation.

“Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison” (Judges 16:21). 

This low point of Samson’s life illustrates a massive roadblock to being filled by God’s spirit, and self-reliance. Self-reliance is an attitude that says, “I can be who God has called me to be and do what God has purposed me to do without the help and power of the Holy Spirit”  If we are honest with ourselves, I think all of us can identify with this mindset, we have all bought into the lie of self-sufficiency to one degree or another.    

Notice that God makes a temporary departure in Samson’s life here and this is a serious consequence of taking credit for God’s work in our lives.

God sometimes presses the pause button on His work in our lives at times to draw us back to Himself. It is not that God gives up on us or stops pursuing us. However, His loving discipline is sometimes required to bring us back to a life of faith and dependence on the Spirit. 

Are you feeling distant from God because you once orbited your life around God but now find yourself adrift?  

Thankfully Samson’s story doesn’t leave us there, it also gives us hope for renewed fullness of the Spirit.

Blinded and weak, Samson waited in his prison cell.  As he waits, a new humility and reliance on God emerge.  In the last chapter of his life, we find Samson making a desperate plea to God to renew his power one last time. This prayer signals a re-acknowledgment of the true source of power in His life.  God is merciful to Samson and gives him one last victory over the Philistines. 

In this last chapter, Samson gives us a glimpse of Jesus, who relied perfectly on the Father and fulfilled God’s purpose for his life. Jesus perfectly kept in step with the Spirit of God throughout his life.  His life was full of the Spirit’s joy and power.  Knowing that God would require a sacrifice for our sins, Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross. He took the punishment for our sins upon himself so that we could enjoy–new life, everlasting life, and the fullness of God’s spirit.   

God desires that you and I be filled with His Spirit, but in order to receive this filling, we must see Him as the only One who can generate true joy and power in our lives. Walk in step with God’s Spirit today so that you can fulfill His purpose for your life. 

Ask God to take your emptiness and replace it with his fullness.

Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit so that you experience His joy and power like never before.

Jordan Mayer – Global Disciples Canada Advocate & Prayer Supporter

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

In this blog, we’ll help you discover more about spiritual gifts, how to identify your personal gifts and how you can use them to serve God with an eternal impact!

Did you know that spiritual gifts are given to every Christian when they receive the gift of salvation. God The Holy Spirit gives us these gifts freely when we put our faith in Him.

In fact, each of us has our own spiritual gifts. Read on to discover what they could be and what they might mean for you.

The gift of “tongues” was more than just a language unknown to anyone else. Tongues was intended to be a sign to the church that a particular believer was ministering in a foreign tongue.

In reality, the spiritual gifts given for ministry are God’s way of using what believers do to meet the needs of others and serve them. The act of giving such gifts is called administration. To administer is to apply and bring into use.

The 5-Fold Ministry Gifts include the following:

The manifestations of the Holy Spirit are the ways that God uses to bring the truth of salvation to light. Consequently, they are actions that were performed by the early church and demonstrate the plan of salvation.

The gifts given by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit are the abilities that enable believers to confirm and strengthen other believers in the faith. They are the gifts that help to build up the body of Christ, the Church. The act of giving such gifts is called serving. The Greek word means to enter into spiritual service.

In fact, there are nine Manifestations of the Holy Spirit and they are:

Motivation is the spiritual gift of prayer that helps encourage others to do things that are God’s will, and to do them in a way that pleases God.

The gifts given by the motivation are spiritual gifts that help believers do what God wants them to do. They are the tools that help people to strengthen and encourage one another.

God The Holy Spirit gives us these gifts freely. Each believer has a different set of gifts. These gifts are given for the purpose of serving God and others.

Some churches provide tests to determine spiritual gifts. In this case, your pastor can administer the test for you and input the results for you. Why not take this test online?

Ask someone who knows you well. People who know you or who have worked with you in the church can usually tell you what you enjoy doing and what you do best.

Have you ever wondered which is the greatest spiritual gift? They say that love is the best gift. It means that love matters most. Gifts are great, but it’s more important to know how to love. God has given us His love as a gift. We love because He loved us first. Without love, all the actions supposed to be gifts are empty.

Spiritual gifts are given to every Christian when they receive the gift of salvation. As a reminder that salvation is a gift of grace, they are given freely by God when we place our faith in Him. He is constantly giving things to us.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Spiritual warfare is a reality for any follower of Christ. Discover how the power Holy Spirit will give you victory in every battle you face!

Take a moment to read begin to understand the Holy Spirit.  (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Ephesians 4:11-13; Romans 12:4-7)

In reality, spiritual warfare is a reality for any follower of Christ (Ephesians 6:10-12, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

In fact, the Bible tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against demonic forces. “For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Since his own fall, Satan is working to destroy humanity through deception (John 8:44; Genesis 2:1, Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:1-24) and war (Revelation 12:12, Revelation 12:17). Consequently, when we witness to people, we are engaging in spiritual warfare to set the captives free from spiritual bondage.

Many times, the enemy uses different strategies to war against us—through deception, temptation, accusation, negligence, rebelliousness, fear, ungodliness, etc.

In fact, the Lord has already won the victory over sin, Satan, death, and darkness on our behalf. His power enables us to live out and claim our victory the power of the darkness. And we must be empowered and led by the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God (Ephesians 6:12-18).

Did you know that winning the spiritual battle is accomplished “not by might, nor by power; but by God’s Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6)? The Lord has already won the victory over sin, Satan, death, and darkness on behalf of us. His power is first and foremost in securing spiritual victory for us as Christians. If we are attentive to the Holy Spirit we will grow into spiritual maturity. And we will secure the victory that Jesus has already won on behalf of us for the glory of our God.

The keys to victory in spiritual warfare are:

The gifts of the Holy Spirit will bring forth the fullness of His ministry in our lives.

In fact, it is through the gifts of the Spirit that we are able to minister effectively to one another and receive the help of the Comforter in our lives. All gifts should be used to glorify Christ and to benefit others. Not every Christian has the same gift, just as not every part of the human body performs the function of seeing, hearing, or walking (1 Corinthians 12:14-26). God desires our lives to display the fruit of the Spirit, His Christ-like character. It is great to be known by our fruit (Matthew 7:20). As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, He will produce more and more of His fruit in us and conquer our sinful natures to transform us into God’s image. The gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit will enable us to become victorious in our spiritual warfare.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are special abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to disciples of Jesus. They are for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ. They are divine abilities granted to followers of Jesus to accomplish what God has called them to do.

2 Peter 1:3 states, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” 

Some of these gifts are called the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Did you know each Christian has at least one spiritual gift?

There are nine expressions of the Spirit recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. And other gifts of the Spirit are also recorded in Romans 12:8-12 and Ephesians 4:7-13. Let’s briefly look at some of these gifts.

The word of knowledge is supernatural knowledge and insight that the Holy Spirit gives. The Holy Spirit gives us knowledge of something that is hidden or reveals a secret for benefit of His Church.  

Word of wisdom is instant supernatural wisdom given by the Holy Spirit to apply the word of knowledge. This gift enables the church to handle complex problems or issues in a constructive, God-honoring way.  

Gift of faith is the manifestation of divine faith when it is needed. Its given so that we can believe and act accordingly. To reveal this gift, God may ask us to do something that seems crazy. For example, walking on water requires supernatural faith. Or planting a church.

Gift of healing is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to someone who is sick.  There are two plural words—“gifts” and “healings. This means that there are different kinds of healings from different kinds of diseases.     

Working of miracles is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit that transcends the natural laws by which God reveals Himself to people. For example, the turning of water into wine, the feeding of the 5000 by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fishes, etc. Our God is a miracle-working God and He still loves miracles today.

Discerning of spirits is the supernatural ability to identify what is going on behind the spiritual scenes (1 John 4:1-4). This gift is needed to discern the source of any revelation or message because there are four sources (demonic, angelic, human, or divine). Missing this gift from the church of Jesus Christ brings confusion and division in the church.

Gift of prophecy is a divine ability to foretell the future and to explain the current situation. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul told us to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. The prophecy Paul mentioned here is a forth-telling one when someone gets a direct Word from the Lord to give to someone else or to the church so as to build up/restore.

Different kinds of tongues are the supernatural ability to speak in another language to edify self and to build up the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:2, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 1 Corinthians 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 14:39-40). There are gifts of tongues for the edification of oneself and for the edification of the Church. There are times when tongues are given as a sign of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6).

The interpretation of tongues is the supernatural ability to interpret what is spoken in another tongue (1 Corinthians 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 14:27-28). Sometimes the interpretation may be given to the one who is speaking in tongues or to another person.

There are also other ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit to equip the Church of Jesus Christ for the unfinished task of the mission of Jesus. Some of these gifts are people, such as apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, deacons, etc. These and other ministry gifts are given to every member of the body of Christ as the Spirit wills for the glory of God. Let us mention some of the ministry gifts.

Gift of serving is demonstrating the love of God by meeting practical needs. Those who have this gift have different eyes to see needs and respond promptly.

Gift of teaching is revealing the treasures in the Word of God. This gift discovers and validates truth for the edification of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Gift of giving is the sharing of resources in order to meet the needs of others.

Exhortation is the supernatural ability to encourage others to help them reach their life and ministry goals by walking alongside them.

Administration is a supernatural ability to keep things organized and in accordance with God’s principles and priorities.

Helping is the supernatural ability to help others to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished. 

Mercy is the supernatural ability to demonstrate God’s love and compassion by responding empathetically and graciously to another’s, or your own, hurt.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time when many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Discover how to live a Holy Spirit empowered daily life and bear fruit that lasts. Read on for an understanding of the Fruits of the Spirit.

A Holy Spirit empowered life results in victory over sin. He gives joy and peace in heart, and submission towards the Lord and others. So, we need to live and walk in total dependence on the Holy Spirit. We want to bear His fruit, the fruit that lasts!

The fruit of the Spirit is what the Holy Spirit produces and displays in the life of a disciple.

One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit’s coming into a Christian’s life is to change that life.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit that conforms us to the image of Christ. It is His presence within us that enables us to develop spiritual fruit in our lives. Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5, John 15:16).

He has chosen and ordained us, that we should go and bring forth fruit, and that our fruit should remain. God’s divine purpose for our life is to bear fruit. Abundant fruit is possible for those who live in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8).

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit enables us to eliminate spiritual barrenness. He allows us to escape the corruption of the world, and to become partakers in Christ’s nature (2 Peter 1:4-8).

It is our responsibility to walk in the Spirit. As we do we develop this fruit that is the character of Christ in our lives. This will it cause us to grow spiritually, and be a powerful witness to unbelievers as well (2 Peter 1:8-9).

Love is caring for someone else as much as I care for myself. Love is something in which we grow (1 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 3:18-19). Paul writes in Philippians 1:9, “And this I pray, that your love may abound [grow] yet more and more.” God wants His love to flow through us to call and win many to the Kingdom. Paul contrasts love with spiritual gifts and other manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit. He concludes that none of these gifts compare with the power of love (1 Corinthians 13). He does this to emphasize the importance, completeness, and supremacy of love over all other qualities.

Love will never end; it will always be of use. Such supernatural love flows into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It causes us to make a decision to love even when we don’t feel like it. When we walk in the love of God, everything else falls into place (Song of Songs 8:7; John 13:34-35; John 15:13; John 16:27; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 4:7-8).

Joy, a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, is defined as happiness, cheerfulness, great pleasure, gladness, and delight. Biblical joy is inseparable from our relationship with God. If God is actually present in our lives, the joy He experiences can begin to flow in and through us (Psalm 16:11). Joy is the sign that life has found its purpose and its reason for being.

When we are filled with this joy, we begin to rejoice in the Lord beyond the circumstances surrounding us (Philippians 4:4).

There is fullness of joy in every situation in the presence of God (Acts 2:46; Acts 16:34). God Himself, and our relationship with Him, are the source and cause of any real joy we have (2 Chronicles 20:27; Nehemiah 12:43. In fact,this is a supernatural joy that gives spiritual strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah both refer to it as the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:12; Psalm 35:9; Psalm 89:15-16; Isaiah 12:3; John 15:11; Jeremiah 15:16; Acts 2:28; Romans 14:17). Our joys must arise from yielding our will so as to fulfill God’s purpose and see it accomplished (Matthew 25:21).

Peace is a gift from God to those reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ, and it is the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in us as we grow in a continuing, trustful relationship with God through the daily affairs of our lives (John 14:27; Romans 5:1; Psalm 119:165). Such peace doesn’t come through any other means—not through drugs, alcohol, sex, wealth, or entertainment. The peace of God has a different source than that of the world. We cannot experience this peace without giving lordship to the Prince of Peace in our lives (Isaiah 9:6). His peace is a peace that surpasses all human understanding and keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7; Psalm 119:165; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 8:6; James 3:18).

Patience is a characteristic of our Lord that fills us with gratitude. It makes us mild, gentle, and constant in all circumstances. God’s patience delays His wrath, allowing time for good to occur (Jonah 4:2). Do we have such patience? As we desire others, especially God, to be patient and forgiving toward us in our faults, do we have patience ourselves? Patience is a two-way street, and God clearly demands reciprocity. He expects us to pass His patience and forgiveness on to others as Christ did (Matthew 18:23-35). When we develop this character in our lives, we can learn to enjoy life where we are while we are waiting for what we desire (Ephesians 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Peter 3:9).

The real test of patience is not in waiting but in how one acts while waiting. Patience is a vital part of the process that enables God to work over a long period of time, if necessary, to produce in us other important aspects of His image so that we “may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). Reaching this point is definitely a process which takes a lot of practice.

Kindness is simply putting others first. It is a quality that makes us great in God’s sight (James 3:17; 2 Samuel 22:36). Kindness is something that we must develop, and we can do it because the Holy Spirit has already enabled us. The mountains shall depart and the hills will be removed, but the Lord’s kindness shall not depart from us (Isaiah 54:10). In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Apostle Paul illustrates kindness by the example of a mother nourishing her children. Being Christ-like means being gentle, kind, loving, and compassionate as He is to us. We all have sinned and come short of His glory, yet God forgives and redeems us.

Being like Jesus is having His kindness manifested in our lives (Luke 23:33-34). Imitating Christ, Stephen also showed kindness; even in the midst of being stoned to death, he asked the Lord to forgive the sin of those who were killing him (Acts 7:59-60); the parable of the Good Samaritan is also a good example of kindness (Luke 10:29-37); Joseph’s story is one of the many stories of kindness we find in the Old Testament (Genesis 45:4-15). How kind are we?

Goodness and generosity enable us to do good things to those who hate us (Luke 6:27). The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:5). He created us in His image and draws out of us His own goodness to witness that He is our God. It is the goodness of God that leads men and women to repentance. His goodness goes beyond what is legally right—it goes the extra mile and gives what is needed to benefit, build up, and bless others. He wants His goodness to flow in and through us to impact others’ lives.

We are called to be lights in a dark world, and we must shine the goodness of our Father (Psalm 23:6; Psalm 52:1; Matthew 5:14-16). True goodness is inseparable from godliness; God is the source of all that can truly be called good. He does not just have it or do it, but He is good, and He greatly desires to give it to us (Exodus 34:6). He has recreated us in Jesus Christ for His good works (Ephesians 2:10). So we need to take every opportunity to yield to the Holy Spirit so as to develop this goodness in our lives.

Faithfulness is the quality of being faithful. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines faithfulness as “maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal; marked by or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; accurate; reliable; exact.” Faithfulness enables us to walk and live by faith (Romans 5:2). Without this kind of faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Since God is faithful, it has become our responsibility to imitate Him in being faithful by committing our lives to the leading of the Spirit.

There is never inconsistency in the life of Jesus. Our greatest obligation on earth is to imitate His faithfulness to a faithless world (Revelation 3:14; John 18:37; Matthew 24:45-47). Being faithful is not always easy—it requires making a decision and then sticking to it regardless of what our feelings tell us. However, when we are faithful and do what God tells us to do, we will be rewarded; the Bible says that if we’re faithful over little things, He will make us rulers of much (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:24; Romans 4:20-21; Ephesians 6:16).

Meekness is the quality of being free from pride and arrogance; it is a modest estimation of our own worth (Numbers 12:3). It is the meek who are blessed and share in Jesus’ inheritance of the earth (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11). People may relate meekness with weakness, but meekness is really power under control; it is a slave-like submission to God. Moses was a great example of meekness. While Moses had a high position, he did not try to defend himself with his social status (Numbers 12:3).

Once we crucify our pride and self-will, we do not think or care about ourselves. Meek people do not measure the importance of events by their relation to their personal comfort or what they gain from them. They begin to see everything from God’s perspective, seeking only to serve His purposes in every situation of life. Meekness enables us to bear patiently those insults and injuries we receive at the hand of the enemies of the Gospel. Meek people seek no private revenge; they leave revenge to God while they seek to remain true to their calling and meet God’s standards (Zephaniah 2:3). It is the hidden heart of a person—a meek and quiet spirit—which is greatly valued by God (1 Peter 3:4; Ephesians 4:1-2; Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:1-2).

Self-Control is that control over the whole person (spirit, soul, and body) which enables us to live a victorious life. Paul illustrates self-control by showing what it produces along the way and, most importantly, in the end (1 Corinthians 9:25). A person who has self-control is mild and calm, avoids extreme behavior, and exercises self-restraint in both actions and speech. Self-control is keeping our passions and desires in check. “Whoever has no rule over his spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28; Proverbs 16:32) Self-control is present in the one who is strong in the strength of the Lord having put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). If we lack this manifestation of the Spirit, we are like a car without brakes which has great potential to damage others as well as ourselves.

What is the best way you can encourage others to exercise the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Do you understand the Holy Spirit and His work? Did you know you can be empowered by the Holy Spirit for life and mission right now?

Who is the Holy Spirit? 

Did you know that the Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit is a personal being with a mind, will, and emotions? (1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10; Ephesians 4:30). He is a divine person.(John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:8-15). He speaks, teaches, testifies, convicts of sin, guides, intercedes, and sends. (Acts 13:1-4; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:8, John 16:12; Acts 16:6-7; Romans 8:26; Acts 13:4).  

In fact, Jesus taught His disciples that another divine person would come who would take his place to comfort, strengthen, and guide. (John 15:26; John 16:13). And that He would be eternal. (Hebrews 9:14); He would be all-knowing (1 Corinthians 2:11); He would be everywhere. (Psalm 139:7-8); He would be Holy (Romans 1:4).

Consequently, in 2 Corinthians 6:16, the Holy Spirit is called “the living God.” He is associated with the Father and Son (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Lying to the Holy Spirit is considered as great a sin as lying to God (Acts 5:3).

In fact, God has been involved in creating and sustaining life from the beginning. (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30). And,The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality from the Father and the Son. (John 15:26; Acts 2:32-33; Matthew 28:19, Acts 20:28).  

So, the Holy Spirit is not just some vague power. In fact, He is the God who was and is with God the Father and the Son from the very beginning. Did you know that He is sent by God the Father to be with us till the end of the world? (John 14:26; John 16:7). 

Take a minute and read how the Holy Spirit is manifested and known through the Bible.     

Genesis chapter 1 indicates that the Holy Spirit was involved in creation and was moving on the waters. (Genesis 1:2; Job 32:8; Job 33:4; Psalm 33:6-9). 

The work of the Holy Spirit is vividly present throughout the Old Testament. And particularly during the building of the Tabernacle. He empowers Bezalel with wisdom, skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craft works. (Exodus 31:3; Numbers 11፡25-26; Numbers 27:18). This is a great reminder that the Holy Spirit empowers all of our work too. 

The Holy Spirit empowers Judges (deliverers), kings, and leaders of the people for a mission. When Israel is in danger of defeat or capture by the surrounding nations and the people cry out for deliverance. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon various leaders (Judges 3:9; Judges 6:34; Judges 11:29; Judges 14:6, Judges 15:14).

The work of the Holy Spirit is also tangible in the account of Samson’s life and leadership (Judges 13-16). He is a dedicated Nazarene, and the Holy Spirit is upon him on many different occasions (Judges 13:24). The text affirms that the Spirit of Yahweh begins to “move” Samson “at times” (Judges 13:25). This statement teaches us that the work of the Spirit in Samson’s life is significant. The Spirit seems to come upon Samson according to the purposes of God. In Judges 14:6, the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to give him the strength to slay a lion.

And in Judges 14:19, the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to help him slay thirty Philistines. In Judges 15:14-15, The Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to help him slay a thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone. Consequently, the amazing strength and victory seen in the life of Samson is from the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that came upon King Saul and King David. 

When Saul is chosen to be the king of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him and he prophesies (1 Samuel 10:10). The same Spirit later comes upon him to give him victory in battle (1 Samuel 11:6; 1 Samuel 11:13).  

This same Spirit empowers the Old Testament prophets to give them prophetic inspiration and guidance. The Spirit-filled prophets speak the truth and stand for justice in contrast to the false prophets. We also read about kings Saul and David experiencing prophecy as a result of the Spirit’s power. (1 Samuel 10:1-7, 1 Samuel 10:10; 1 Samuel 11:1-11; 1 Samuel 19:19-24). 

David notes that “the Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me, and His word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). In 1 Kings 22:24-25, the Spirit of God is involved in the words of the prophets as shown by the argument between Zedekiah and Micah. Then, the role of the Spirit centers mainly on the prophet Elijah, to whom the Word of the Lord frequently came.(1 Kings 17:2; 1 Kings 17:8; 1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 18:7-12). 

Did you know that the Spirit can transport Himself from place to place. Elijah is not simply being “led by the Spirit” subjectively or falsely. This reality is reinforced when the Spirit of God is mentioned in reference to Elijah’s life and ministry. In 2 Kings 2:16, the sons of the prophets tell Elisha that they want to look for Elijah in case the Spirit of Yahweh has caught Elijah up and placed him on some mountain or in some valley. 

Elisha, the servant of Elijah, asks for a double portion of Elijah’s “Spirit” when Elijah is taken up to heaven by the Lord. (2 Kings 2:9-15). After Elijah is taken from Elisha, the prophets’ sons recognize that the Spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. (2 Kings 2:15). The work of the Holy Spirit was tangible in the lives of God’s people.  

Throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit comes upon several individuals for different purposes. (2 Chronicles 15:1-7; 2 Chronicles 20:1-23; 2 Chronicles 24:20). In Nehemiah 9:30, the Levites remind Israel that in Moses’ day, God gave His “good Spirit to instruct them.” And, in Ezekiel 11:5-12, the Spirit of the Lord falls upon the prophet to induce a prophetic utterance. In Ezekiel 2:2, the Spirit enters into the prophet as an introduction to his prophetic ministry recorded in the book. 

In all these instances, it appears that the Holy Spirit came upon these people or filled them to give prophecy. The Holy Spirit enabled the prophets both in receiving and delivering the message effectively. The prophets received revelation, inspiration, direction, strength, for the ministry of promoting true allegiance to the Most High God.  

In the future, when the Lord heals the land, He will pour out His Spirit on His people, on all people, and miracles will occur in the sky as part of the coming Day of the Lord. The New Testament portrays the heart of this message.

Acts 2:17-21 becomes an invitation to humanity to recognize God’s power in the end times. We have such a great hope to participate in the new era in which the Holy Spirit equips the faith community for victorious life and a special task of ministry through His power. Though we live in a world full of evil and oppression, crises, disease, injustices, and disappointments, we have God, the Holy Spirit, who is present and brings restoration and transformation to the broken world in which we live.  

Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. He knew that without the power of the Holy Spirit, it was impossible for them to carry out the great task that was given to them (Acts 1:5-8).  They waited in prayer, and when they received the power of the Holy Spirit, they became effective witnesses (Acts 2). Acts 2:17-21 is the fulfillment of the prophecy of God outpouring His Spirit as proclaimed in Joel 2:28-32.

In fact, the message is about God pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. In the context of Acts 2:17, the word used for flesh is sarx and it denotes all of humanity (the outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh, everyone who belongs to the restored community). It is all about the empowerment of the people of God to live lives of discipleship and serve His purpose with the power of the Holy Spirit. What was the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives and ministries of the disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost? 

The apostles witnessed to others by demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit that worked in them. Did you know the Holy Spirit filled them with boldness in the midst of persecution and their testimony was demonstrated with power (Acts 4:30-37). Like the early Church, we all need the same power that the Holy Spirit gave the apostles in order to have boldness in our ministry. The Holy Spirit united their hearts together to share a common purpose and possessions; the believers were unselfish and were willing to share all they had. 

As they continued to teach and proclaim the word of God with the power of the Holy Spirit, the number of disciples multiplied greatly. In Acts 1, there were 120; in Acts 2, their number grew to 3120; in Acts 4, to 5000. When persecution broke out in Jerusalem, Philip the evangelist took the Gospel to Samaria. The Samaritans listened to him, saw miracles (including healing and casting out of evil Spirits), had great joy, believed his message, and were baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 8:6-17).  

When Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans, they also received the power of the Holy Spirit for ministry. The gift of the Spirit to believers at Samaria demonstrates that all, even a despised group like the Samaritans, are to engage in the missionary task and bear the shared responsibility given by the Spirit (Acts 1:8; Acts 8:12). 

When Peter preached to Cornelius and his family and friends, the Holy Spirit came upon them in the same way as He had on the first disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2; Acts 11:12-18). The most significant implications of the Roman Pentecost are the impartiality of the gift of the Spirit (coming on all flesh), the unity of the body of Christ (just as the Spirit gave gifts of language on the day of the Pentecost), the sign of global unity of the body of Christ (as a reversal of the story of Babel), and the witnessing of God’s saving activity through their tongues (Acts 2:17-21; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48). 

In Acts 19:2, when Paul met with the believers in Ephesus, he asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Paul’s question implies something significant about the lives of these disciples. According to Luke’s narration, there is evidence indicating that these disciples lacked something critical—the outpouring of the Spirit for which Jesus commanded His own disciples to wait (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8).

From Luke’s narration, it appears these disciples in Ephesus did not reach out to anyone until Paul himself came to teach and preach to them for three years. These disciples were not part of the new movement and the initial experience of the Spirit’s power. Paul’s coming to Ephesus marks another decisive moment in missionary history—Ephesus was to be a new center for the Gentile mission, next in importance to Antioch, and these twelve disciples were to be the nucleus of the Ephesian church. 

Finally, Paul commanded the Ephesian church in his letter to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Consequently, you and I should live under the power of the Spirit on a daily basis. In fact, it is normative for Christians in the new era to be under the power of the Spirit. In his letter, Paul indicated that power and unity in the Christian life and mission come through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s power is to bring full knowledge of God (Ephesians 3:18) because God’s power extends beyond our imagination (Ephesians 3:20). Both Luke and Paul are not talking about a one-time experience—they expect the power of the Holy Spirit to be a normative experience for disciples of Christ in the new era. 

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

It is very important to understand who the Holy Spirit is as well as His work in our life and ministry. We can explore the personality and work of the Holy Spirit through;

Understanding who the Holy Spirit is and being empowered by the Holy Spirit are crucial to living a life of discipleship, witness, mission, and service. The balance between the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit as the Bible teaches us is very important. 

The Bible teaches us that all the Old Testament ministers, Jesus, and the apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit for effective ministry.

In the New Testament era, discipleship and ministry couldn’t happen without the work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:16-18; Acts 1:4-8; Luke 24:49; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18). Jesus modeled the way for us by being empowered and ministered to by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus’ entire earthly ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit, starting with His miracle birth (Luke 1:35). At His baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon Him and led Him into the wilderness to defeat the temptation of Satan, after which He led Jesus back to Galilee (Luke 4:1, Luke 4:14). Then Jesus went to a synagogue in Nazareth where He read from Isaiah 61:1-2 which said that the Holy Spirit would be upon Jesus. When He had finished reading the passage, Jesus declared that the prophecy had been fulfilled (Luke 4:18-21)—He was anointed by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News, to drive out demons, and to heal the sick (Matthew 12:28; Acts 10:38). Throughout His earthly ministry, and even in His death and resurrection, Jesus served by the power of the Holy Spirit. He both sorrowed and rejoiced through the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). 

Just as the Spirit worked in Jesus’ life, He will carry out all that God has for us and wants to do in our lives.

Every person needs the Holy Spirit to help him understand that he is a sinner; to help him repent; to lead him to God; to give him faith to believe; to place him into the family of God; to seal him; to regenerate him; to help him pray and understand the Bible; to empower him for ministry; to change his life; to help him minister to others through His spiritual gifts; to display the fruit of the Spirit in his life as a disciple of Jesus (John 3:5; John 14:26; John 16:7-15; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:16, Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 5:18).

No one can live a victorious life and fulfill the Great Commission without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 

How often do we depend on and are attentive the Holy Spirit teaching us, guiding our lives and giving us God’s wisdom for daily life?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!