(Ruach HaKodesh, Session 21) This is the final session in the Ruach HaKodesh series. In this session we start off by reviewing the last seven sessions of the series. We talk about what it means to live by the Spirit. Paul uses this and similar phrases in his letters, such as “walking by the Spirit.” We discuss holiness, conviction, and the importance of obedience. We also discuss prayer and take time to evaluate our personal prayer life. We finish this session by emphasizing the need for discipline in prayer, and the connection between prayer and the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(Ruach HaKodesh, Session 20b) In the last session we defined revival as “a God-empowered widespread move of repentance.” We can also add a sense of renewal to that. It is a situation in which people turn their lives to Yeshua and away from sin in unusually high numbers. It is also a time when believers are rekindled in their passion for God. Revival has fruit of long-term believers; it is not just a fad. This begs the questions: * Is it possible to always have revival?* What conditions are necessary for God to send revival?* Who is to blame for our lack of revival? Here we discuss what conditions are supposed to be met before God will send a revival. We also discuss possible pitfalls to avoid in seeking revival, and steps for seeking revival. In the end, we talk about the events of Acts 2, and compare it to the coming future revival. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(Ruach HaKodesh, Session 20a) We have talked about the power of God’s Spirit working in us as individuals, but sometimes the Holy Spirit works on a large scale. Just as your body without your spirit is dead, so the Body of Messiah without the Spirit of Messiah is dead. The Holy Spirit is the life-force of the Kehillah. In this session, we look at revival. We discuss revival and define what this word means. What makes a revival? And what is not a revival? Revivals stand out in history. We look at some of those times of revival in the past, from Biblical times, such as Hezekiah’s reform, to more recent history, such as the Great Awakening and the Canadian revivals. What about revivals with which we disagree?  What is corporate versus individual filling? Do we long for Revival? For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(Ruach HaKodesh, Session 19b) In the Gospels we see Yeshua exercising authority over demonic powers and giving his disciples that same authority. But what does that look like in our world today? What methods or tactics are believers supposed to use as they battle against the forces of sin and darkness? In this episode, we continue the discussion from part one as we seek to obtain a Biblical perspective on spiritual warfare and assess common ideas among Christians today. We examine the practice of deliverance ministries and note the similarities and differences from what we see in Scripture. We also look at the role of ritual, symbolic actions and legal declarations often used among proponents of a certain style of spiritual warfare. We as believers face opposition on three fronts: the world, the devil, and the flesh (Ephesians 2:1–3). Spiritual warfare is both internal and external. Each one of us struggles with sin and must choose to follow God at every given moment. But we must also stand against evil and injustice in the world, combat ungodly ideologies, and preach the good news. Spiritual warfare is not a unique circumstance that requires special tactics, but part of our everyday life as we follow Yeshua. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(RuachHaKodesh, Session 19a) The Bible depicts an unseen struggle between good and evil that takes place in our hearts and in the world around us. While the phrase “spiritual warfare” is not found verbatim in Scripture, the concept is clearly expressed in passages like Ephesians 6:10–18. Here, Paul uses the metaphor of physical armour and warfare to describe the spiritual battle that we are in as believers. We have an enemy, and this world is currently under his domain. Our job is to overcome sin in our lives and darkness in the world around us as we serve the true King, Yeshua. In this two-part session of our series on the Holy Spirit, we look at several Scriptural passages depicting spiritual warfare. We then examine several modern Christian conceptions of spiritual warfare and assess them in the light of Scripture. For some believers, true spiritual warfare entails “mapping” territorial spirits, deliverance ministries, legal declarations, and symbolic actions. But does the Bible teach these concepts? This episode, part one, examines the notion of territorial spirits. We take a closer look at Daniel 10 and related passages which are often used to support the belief that Christians must identify and “bind” the evil spirits which rule over certain locations. As we will see, however, these passages convey a very different but equally powerful message about the spiritual realm. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(RuachHaKodesh, Session 18b) How can we tell the difference between the power of the Holy Spirit and man-made sensationalism? That is the question this episode seeks to address. It is necessary for us to hunger for more of God’s presence in our lives, but it is also necessary to exercise discernment. In part 1 of this topic, we looked at the Biblical basis for desiring God’s power in our lives, and then we touched on the topic of signs and wonders. This current episode continues the conversation, beginning with a look at the role of emotions. Like thoughts, emotions can be good or bad. The Spirit’s work is often accompanied by strong emotions, but emotions alone are not proof that He is at work, nor is their absence proof that He is absent. There is a clear difference between God’s empowerment and man-made emotionalism or hype. Next, we talk about how to discern the legitimacy of “manifestations.” There are three questions we can ask to help assess behaviours or events that people claim to be from God’s Spirit: (1) Is it Biblical? (2) What is the fruit? and (3) To whom is attention being drawn? Scripture commands us to “test the spirits,” so it is important to exercise discernment alongside our hunger for the legitimate work of God’s Spirit. Finally, we discuss our need for God power as we serve Him. While we are called to offer God our best, we must recognize that our best is never enough. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. A true life of obedience and service to God requires an attitude of deep humility in recognizing our utter dependence on Him. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(RuachHaKodesh, Session 18a) What does it mean to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit? A Spirit-filled life should not be just a passive enterprise. Our desire should be to serve God in a Spirit-empowered way. Unfortunately, however, there are many competing visions of what that looks like. Sadly, there are people out there who claim to be empowered by the Spirit to do things that are unbiblical and unedifying. How can we be discerning without quenching our zeal and hunger for more of God’s presence in our lives? This session begins by looking at Scriptural descriptions of Spirit-driven power. There is a clear Biblical basis for saying that we are called to serve God through the power of His Spirit. The first step is to truly desire that empowerment. We must be willing to overcome our apathy and lethargy enough to want God’s power in our lives. Next, we delve into the topic of signs and wonders. Some believers equate the power of the Spirit with particular manifestations. A full study of the terms “signs and wonders” throughout Scripture, however, demonstrates that these are not the focal point of the Holy Spirit’s work. In fact, Scripture specifically warns about the abundance of false signs and wonders in the last days. In our hunger for more of God in our lives, we must make sure that it is Him alone, not particular phenomena, that we are seeking. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(RuachHaKodesh, Session 17c) Is there an inherent antithesis between Torah and the Spirit? Some believers read 2 Corinthians 3 and conclude that the answer is “yes.” In this passage, Paul seems to contrast the Holy Spirit with Old Testament legislation. The implication for some interpreters is that any attempt to follow Torah (the “Letter”) is a failure to walk in God’s Spirit. But is that really what Paul is saying? This episode is the third installment of a three-part session addressing passages in Scripture that contrast the “Letter” with the “Spirit.” In part 1, we looked at the danger of legalism while also seeking to properly define the term. Part 2 examined the role of our intellect in a Spirit-filled life, noting that God wants our whole being to be sanctified to his purposes. This current episode, part 3, revisits 2 Corinthians 3 and related passages as we seek to properly understand the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Scripture is clear that the difference between the two covenants is not in the Torah, but in our ability as humans to keep it. It is only through the power of God’s Spirit that we can truly walk in obedience to God’s commandments. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(RuachHaKodesh, Session 17b) What role does our intellect play in our walk with God? Is the use of our rational thought processes or common sense at odds with God’s Spirit? Some people have a view of the Holy Spirit that is antithetical to human intellect, effort, and preparation. This is often related to the tendency to emphasize feeling over thinking, and for some people leads to anti-intellectualism. The problem is that both feelings and thoughts can be misguided or deceptive. What is the proper use of our intellectual capacity in a Spirit-filled life? This episode continues our discussion of passages in which Paul contrasts the letter with the Spirit. In part 1, we looked at the danger of legalism while also seeking a proper definition of the term. In this episode, we tackle a related issue as we examine the relationship between being led by the Spirit and using our God-given intellects for his glory. God desires to renew our minds so that we can serve him as a whole human being: heart, soul, mind and strength. He wants us to offer him our best, though our best is never enough. That is why we need his Spirit. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.

(RuachHaKodesh, Session 17a) What exactly is legalism? While that term gets thrown around a lot, it is not always clearly defined. Different people use it to mean different things. For some, legalism means salvation by works. For others, it is any attempt to follow a list of rules, no matter what list that might be. No one wants to be legalistic, but how would you know if you were? What does the Bible say about the topic? This episode of the RuachHaKodesh series looks at three passages in Paul’s letters where he contrasts “the letter” with “the Spirit”: Romans 2:29, Romans 7:6, and 2 Corinthians 3:6. For some people, these passages speak of the difference between two different ways of trying to please God: one by following rules, and one by following the Spirit. But is that really what Paul is saying? Is it wrong to follow God’s rules? Join us as we attempt to unravel some of these questions. On the one hand, there is a legitimate legalism that is unhealthy that we as followers of Yeshua must seek to avoid. But on the other hand, God did not give us His Spirit to excuse us from following His commandments. On the contrary, it is His Spirit that enables us to truly keep them. For an outline of all the sessions in this series, click on this link. To subscribe to this podcast, click here.