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Friday, December 30 2011 |
I Resolve, I Resolve, I Resolve….
By: Christine Agaibi
 As we wrap up 2011 most of us will spend the last few hours and moments of this year reflecting on the past year and pondering our goals for the year to come. New Year’s resolutions are often born of this reflection and of the ambitions we have for the future.
As we contemplate all our accomplishments, disappointments, joys, and sorrows from this year, let us not forget that regardless of your circumstances, the New Year can unfold with many wonderful possibilities and opportunities. Many of us spend the last moments of the old year contemplating how to best improve in the New Year and optimistically make commitments and resolutions to achieve new goals.
So, how can we make goals that are likely to be accomplished in the New Year? Additionally, how can we sustain our resolutions so that they last beyond just a few days or weeks and instead lead to long lasting triumphs? St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians states, “Indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus. That you put off concerning your former conduct the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:21-24).
Therefore, wherever we are currently in our lives, we need to create a fresh start that “takes off the old man” and “put on a new one” placing God at the center. Our resolutions first and foremost need to be dedicated to improving our relationship with God. All else will follow from there as the verse says, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33.
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Where does the Holy Spirit work in the Old Testament? |
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Monday, December 05 2011 |
Where does the Holy Spirit work in the Old Testament?
 The Holy Spirit is present from the very beginning of the Bible: "And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters." (Gen 1:2). After Man's sin and his separation from God, the Holy Spirit could not dwell in us. However, gifts of the Holy Spirit was given to Priests, Kings, and prophets. Even Pharaoh in the story of Joseph looked for a person filled with the spirit of God to help save Egypt (Gen 41:38).
We see the Holy Spirit filling Bezaleel to construct the Tabernacle (Exo 31:3). In the Tabernacle the Holy Spirit was represented by the Lampstand in the Holy of Holies. It was without dimension as no one has seen the Holy Spirit. In the prophets, we find a lot of direct work of the Holy Spirit with the prophets guiding them and giving them prophecies. For the kings, we find Saul being anointed with Oil to become a king (1 Sam 10:1), also with David (1 Sam 16:13). We find also the ordination of priests in Leviticus (8:2) in which they have received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the new testament we become a temple of God and the Holy Spirit dwells in us "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1Co 3:16).That is why St. Peter calls us Priests and Kings (1 Pe 2:9). Because we are given the Holy Spirit similar to the Priest and Kings of the Old testament.
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