Saturday Song: Blues Image, "Ride Captain Ride"

This song expresses the longing of people to find a place where they can start anew. "The old country" tends to become corrupt and a miserable place to live. Therefore, people strive to find some unspoiled place where they can escape the bad conditions.

There was a time where a person could do that. The discovery of the Americas led many people to leave their homelands to seek freedom from tyranny. Little did they know that they brought their human natures along with them, causing the same bad results as in their old world.

A band called Blues Image captured that sense of adventure in their 1970 hit, "Ride Captain Ride." Those 73 sailors came off their ship but found an unresponsive audience. So they sailed away to find a new place where they couldlaugh their lives away and be free once more.

Listen to the song here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8lf7RLYIww

What the people of  this world don't understand is that sin makes this place miserable. We cary this spiritual virus wherever we go and it always ruins any new attempts to start new lives.

But we need not dispair. Jesus provides us a way of escape. We read in Acts 2:38 (KJV)how to be changed from our miserable old ways. "Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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This is what Jesus told his disciples in John 16:13 (KJV) when he said, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."

So no matter how bad things might get around you, having this comforter and the new life Christ gives makes things so much more hopeful

I hope you enjoyed this song. It certainly brings back memories to me, that's for sure.

I'll be writing next time how people's misunderstanding of disabilities drove me away from God for nine years. Stay tuned for that.

When Does the Holy Spirit Come Into Us?

Now that we know what the Holy Spirit does, when does he enter a believer? Christians have quarreled over this matter down through the centuries but here's what the Bible, the final and ultimate authority, says.

Throughout the Old Testament, the Angel of the Lord came upon select individuals. This selective indwelling changed at the first Pentecost feast after Christ's resurrection.

Some Christians have become fixated on speaking in tongues but that isn't what Peter urged people to do on that awesome day. Luke wrote in Acts 2:38 (KJV) about the real question, namely what must people do to be forgiven and follow Christ. "Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'"

But does this happen immediately? Some Christians argue that the infilling of the Holy Spirit comes separately from the surrender we make to Christ's rule in our lives. They cite Acts 8:15 (KJV) which says, "Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:"

Additionally, the "second blessing" proponents point to Acts 9:17 (KJV) which states, "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.'"

In actual fact, it's belief which saves people and they receive the Holy Spirit at that time. Look what Luke wrote in Acts 10:44-47 (Bible in Basic English). "While Peter was saying these words, the Holy Spirit came on all those who were hearing the word. And the Jews of the faith, who had come with Peter, were full of wonder, because the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles, And they were talking in tongues, and giving glory to God. Then Peter said, 'Will any man say that these may not have baptism who have been given the Holy Spirit as we have?'"

This is a deep subject and one which I intend to expand upon in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Since so many people teach error regarding the Holy Spirit, I feel compelled to present the Bible truth of the matter. I was a victim of faith preachers and now I want to save naive believers from the fate I suffered.

What is the Holy Spirit's Job?

Now that I've explained the Holy Spirit's job, what does he do in us? I know that whole books could be written on that topic so I'll just sum up a few of his duties to the Father and Christ.

First and foremost, he's our teacher. As Jesus told his disciples in John 16:13 (KJV), "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."

The Holy Spirit also comforts us by strengthening us. Jesus' disciples felt as if he was about to abandon them so he promised to send the Holy Spirit. As John 14:26 (KJV) states, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Both promises were fulfilled at Pentecost.

And if we must testify in front of officials for our faith, the Holy Spirit will put his words into our mouths. Look at what Mark 13:11 (KJV) says. "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."

Additionally, the Holy Spirit emboldens believers. Christ's disciples were suffering horrendous persecution from the Pharisees soon after Pentecost. They wisely took the matter to the Lord in prayer. Look what Acts 4:31 (KJV) describes. "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

I could list more verses which outline the Holy Spirit's job description but this post would be far too long. Instead, I'll save that information for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many Christians know little or nothing at all about this neglected third person of the Trinity. I hope I can partially rectify this deficiency.