A. Charity (Agape, ag-ah’-pay) and Holy Ghost.  1Cor 13:13  See item #1 under Home menu.

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

13. Most modern translations of English Bible changed the word 'charity' to 'love' and this is wrong since charity is more specific and implies sacrificial nature whereas love is too general with diverse meaning including negative 'eros.'  

In Greek, there are two different words.  The first one is G26 (agape noun), G25 (agapao. verb).  This is translted into love many times (Mat 24:12 for example), cahrity as shown above, or dear (Col 1:13) in KJV.  The word charity in KJV Bible appears 28 times.  The second one is G5368 (phielo).  This is translated into love 10 times, far less than G26 (agape) which was 84 times.

Certainly Agape (G26) is stronger and deeper than Phileo (G5368).  The former requires Holy Ghost, that is, one needs to be born again or saved to have, feel, or express it while the latter does not, that is, average people (lost sinners) who have devil spirit naturally, with which everybody is born can have, feel, or express it.

Faith is very important word in the Bible since it  makes a person be saved in Christ (Eph 2:8).  Paul is saying that charity is even more important or greater than faith and hope.  

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three: The word ‘abideth’ means together or concurrently so that one can not have just one or two of them only but he will have all three of them together to begin with.  

So when one is saved by the faith in Christ (Eph 2:8), he receives hope and charity simultaneously.  Charity is the foundational character or makes who and what born again Christian is all about.  In other words it shows or demonstrates outwardly the inward, hidden character of a born again (saved) believer.

One can draw another trinity for these three words.  Apostle John listed what one might call heavenly and earthly Trinity in 1Joh 5:7 and 8 respectively.  

These three words, faith, hope, and charity, can be considered as trinity also since they work together in harmony.  Paul’s definition for faith includes the word hope (Heb 11:1).  

A man gets saved with faith in Christ and becomes a born again Christian.  He receives Holy Ghost at the same time.  Then he should develop charity while he grows spiritually.

Jesus said that the most important commandment was to love our Father very dearly and then  to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mat 22:37-39).  

Here both Jesus and Paul are talking about the same love, that is, if one loves Father dearly, he has charity.

Now one needs to be born again after receiving Holy Ghost to acquire charity, that is, to have higher level of love than phileo which is ordinary love for unsaved, lost people who are sinners  

Unsaved men without Holy Ghost have this lower level of love (phileo) what one might can call filial love between unsaved parents and unsaved children and so do animals between mother and her offspring.  They can not have charity (Agape), Christian love.  Then Greek word phileo can be called ‘animal love’ so to speak.

Animals can not have charity since they do not have spirit and soul; they just have vitality and once they die, that is final.  They do not have second life after death like men.  

So only born again men with Holy Ghost can have charity (Agape) which is sacrificial love and more powerful than ordinary love (phileo), not to mention Eros which is selfish and physical lust.

1. Earthly (carnally) or heavenly (Spiritually) minded

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

1Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

There are just two kinds of spirit, Holy Spirit which is heavenly and devil spirit which is earthly.  Just follow along the two annotations on two verses below.

1Cor 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

11. For what man knoweth…the spirit of man (devil spirit) which is in him?: Men's knowledge is limited to what his spirit (earthly wisdom or Satanic spirit) teaches or allows him to understand or to know. Everybody inherits Adam’s sin and is born with an evil spirit naturally.  

So everybody is separated from GOD and is a sinner by birth (Rom 5:12).  He must replace his evil spirit with Holy Ghost by accepting Christ as his personal saviour during his life time later.  

This is not automatic; some people do and become born again (saved) but others do not and remain as sinners throughout their life time on earth, and will die as sinners unfortunately. 

no man, but [by] the Spirit of GOD: Nobody can know the things of GOD (the most important of these being the love of HIM) unless one has the Spirit of HIM (Holy Spirit).  

Then receiving of HIM is required before one can be saved or born again and can know the spiritual things, that is, about HIM intimately.

All truly saved or born again Christians have already received HIM in their heart (Joh 3:3).  However they might not know about it in the very beginning when they are spiritually weak and need to grow spiritually to know or experience HIM personally.

Only Holy Spirit knows what is in man’s heart since nobody can read another’s mind.  Likewise natural men who are sinners by birth can not discern or know GOD’S wisdom (1Cor 2:7) or HIS presence unless Holy Spirit teaches or tells them since nobody saw HIM or heard of HIS audible voice. 

1Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

3. This verse is related to 2:11 above very much and has the same idea fundamentally.  

calleth Jesus accursed: Nobody filled with Holy Ghost would curse Christ. 

and that no man can say…Ghost: very useful verse to prove that one without Holy Spirit can not recognize and truly believe in Jesus Christ as the LORD and saviour.  

Anybody can say or call HIM as the LORD without really meaning it from the heart since talk is cheap.  

Paul here means Holy Spirit transforming or teaching one's mind to correctly believe in Jesus' true identity.  One must receive Holy Ghost before he can be saved or born again (Joh 3:3).

Paul is telling Corinthian people one very important theology in this one verse that nobody with Holy Ghost can curse Christ or nobody without HIM can believe in Christ.  

Holy Ghost is the connector or bridge among born again believers filled with HIM and Trinity, THREE members of it.

Based on that idea of Trinity that all three (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) are equal and work in unison, one can further say that anybody loving truly the Father can not curse the Son (Christ), nobody can love (approach) the Son unless the Father draws him to the Son (Joh 6:44, 45), or nobody can approach the Father except through the Son (Joh 14:6).

Also more importantly we have so called Quartet or Four Part Theology after adding born again believers to Trinity, that is, they are all one body (Joh 17:11, 20-23).  Then born again believers are gods; they are equal to GOD the Father, Son Christ, and Holy Ghost.

Go to article #2 under Theology menu.

2. Spiritual battle or warfare

Most people whether believers or unbelievers are not aware of the fact that they are under spiritual warfare always simply because it is not apparent, that is, it is invisible but Satan and his army (legion, Mar 5:9) are tempting people all the time.

Unbelievers are not aware of spiritual realm at all, that is, they do not know about spiritual aspect or influence.  They just know and concern about things around them which they can see or hear simply because they are very far from spiritual world in awareness or understanding unfortunately.

Spiritual battle is not vain imagination, far from it,  but it is happening around us constantly affecting both believers and unbelievers very negatively one way or another.

Now believers who are born again with Holy Ghost are supposed to be aware of it, hence to win the battle whenever or wherever it might occur.  Apostle Paul in Eph 6:10-18 talked about it exactly.

¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Eph 6:10-18)

I remember hearing my mother condemning devil, Right now go away Satan in the name of Jesus Christ!  We born again believers are supposed to be aware of his spiritual attacks and be on guard and then he will flee from us (Jam 4:7).  

When Jesus was tempted by Satan, HE rebuked him to be gone and then he was said to leave HIM. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him (Mat 4:10, 11). 

3. Body, soul, and Spirit  This topic was mentioned also in the item #7 under the Daily devotion menu.

Only men have either Holy Spirit or devil  spirit on earth.  A baby is born with a devil spirit and becomes a sinner  automatically simply because men inherited Adam's sin by birth (Rom 5:12-14).  So everybody starts his life on earth as a sinner dictated or influenced by devil spirit always until he replaces it with Holy Ghost once he accepts Christ as his personal saviour and becomes a born again believer during his life time.  Read item #13 on Exegesis menu.  Jesus called it 'born again' meaning spiritual rebirth and it allows the born again person to enter into kingdom of GOD (heaven, Joh 3:16) after death (Joh 3:3).   See item #10 under Theology menu.

Besides either devil spirit or Holy Ghost, each person has a soul which is an unique identification for him so that one's soul shall stay with him eternally into either heaven or hell after death, that is, one's soul shall never leave him even after death (Mat 16:26).  One's soul will be sleeping in the  grave after death if he is saved before death (Joh 6:39, 11:11-14, 24) until so called rapture (1Th 4:13-18).  See item number 9 under the Theology menu.  Only men on earth have second life in either heaven or hell after death.   

The term 'rapture' applies only to those who died as born again or saved.  They will be sleeping in the grave after death and Holy Ghost will leave them but their souls will get resurrected from the grave, receive spiritual body (1Cor 15:44), and receive back Holy Spirit upon HIS second coming right after 3 and half years (42 months, Rev 13:5; Dan 9:27) of tribulation period.   See item number 9 under the Theology menu.

For those who died as a sinner or unsaved without salvation, they will not be sleeping in the grave like saved people but they will be 'rushed' into hell immediately to suffer there (Luk 16:23) until the 1,000-year Christ kingdom will be completed.   Bible says that the sea, death, and hell cast out or gave them up in order that they would be judged according to their works or deeds apparently after the 1,000-year Christ kingdom (Rev 20:4, 13).    As one can imagine majority of people on earth die as unsaved and will end up with hell after the common or first death for 1,000 or more years.  Afterwards they will be sent to a place called 'lake of fire' or second death (Rev 20:14, 15).  See item numbers 11 and 23 under the Theology menu for more information.

Born again (saved) people will receive so called spiritual body and receive back Holy Spirit or Ghost during rapture, that is, when they wake up from the grave (1Cor 15:35-38, 43, 44).   The idea is that it is unthinkable that Holy Spirit shall be locked up in the grave while sleeping in the grave after the first or common death (Psa 16:10; Act 2:27, 31).  See Psa 86:13; Mat 10:28.  Unsaved people will receive spiritual body and devil spirit still present with them, and they will be sent to hell right after the first or common death on earth to suffer there for 1,000 or more years.  See item number 7 under the Daily Devotion menu.

Holy Spirit was not given to men widely during OT as HE was during NT since Pentecost in Act 2:1-4.  GOD gave HIM to certain people during OT but all saved people received HIM during NT (Joh 3:3).

Holy spirit was replacement of Jesus Christ and was called comforter.  So all born again believers can rely on Holy Spirit to lead and to teach them as needs arise (Joh 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7).  In other words, Israelites relied on prophets to know GOD'S will and to act accordingly during OT but born again believers can inquire Holy Spirit instead for the same reason during NT.

OT people sometimes heard the voice or instructions from angels but NT people do not need it because they can inquire Holy Spirit in their heart for the same purpose.  This explains the reason why we do not need prophets or angels' instructions to tell us what and how to do nowadays simply because Holy Spirit in our hearts will do the same thing.  Now we are talking about this Holy Spirit privilege for born again believers only obviously; unsaved people still have devil spirit with which they were born with.  Maybe most born again believers do not take advantage of Holy Spirit by not inquiring HIM for different occasions but once they realize HIS assistance is available always and use HIS invaluable services, they will feel blessed certainly.

There is only one Holy Ghost as in Trinity (GOD the Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Ghost) but there are many devil spirits and one can possess more than one devil spirit (Mar 16:9; Luk 8:2).  It seems the more devil spirits one possess, the worse he can be (Mar 5:9).  Jesus healed many demon possessed men during HIS 3-year ministry on earth (Mat 4:24, 8:16).  

Mt 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 

Mt 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Mt 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Mt 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. 

Surely there are as many people possessed with devil spirit nowadays, for example psychiatric patients in the hospital or elsewhere on earth as there were in Jesus time.  Notice the plural word ‘devils' above.  One can possess multiple devils or devil spirits while one can possess only one Holy Spirit since there is only one Holy Spirit or also called Holy Ghost.  It is not clear how one can possess multiple devil spirits and why there is more than one devil spirit to begin with.  See Mar 5:9, 16:9; Luk 8:2, 30.   

They must be fallen angels who were cast out of heaven to earth along with Satan who is their master after Michael and his good angels overcame them in heaven (Rev 12:7-10).  These fallen angels and Satan were tempting and vexing innocent men on earth ever since they were cast out of heaven (Rev 12:11, 12).  Basically this explains who these many devil spirits are.  A baby is born with a devil spirit since he inherits Adam’s sin, and he is a sinner naturally by birth (Rom 5:12, 17).   So all unsaved people carry a devil spirit naturally.

If a man becomes a born again Christian during his life time, then he will receive Holy Spirit (Joh 3:3) and evil spirit shall leave from him.  Obviously nobody can have both spirits together at the same time.  Then after Jesus cast out these men's devil spirits as indicated in verses above and elsewhere in the NT, one can wonder what spirit is left in them since there is no third spirit beside devil spirit and Holy Spirit.  

Maybe they still have inherent devil spirit which they acquired at birth.  In other words Christ did not remove ALL devil spirits from men when HE healed them but rather HE just removed additional evil spirits acquired during one’s life time.  A sinner would be without any evil spirit if Christ removed ALL evil spirits from him.  Is it possible for a man to exist without either devil spirit(s) or Holy Ghost?  In other words, is either spirit required all the time during a man’s life on earth?  This is a very hard question.

Every human being is comprised of spirit, body, and soul fundamentally at minimum (1Th 5:23).  And we see in the scripture where Christ cast out devil spirits from men, and there must be people with multiple evil spirits, who are sick mentally, nowadays.  Spirit, either Holy or Devil, and soul make a man different from others living creatures on earth since they do not have them but just vitality or being alive.  

A man’s spirit enables him to determine what is right or wrong, moral or immoral, and etc and leaves him after death whereas a man’s soul makes him intelligent and creative, and is his unique identity and it will stay with him to the second life either heaven or hell after death.  Once all other creatures die on earth, their life is final and over.

The origin of devil spirits goes back to very ancient time (only GOD knows when) when there was a war in heaven between a good archangel Michael (and his angels) and presumably a bad archangel called Satan, Devil, great dragon, old serpent (and his subordinate angels).  Understandably and predictably the bad angels were defeated and were cast out of heaven to earth afterwards.  They were said to tempt and to torment innocent people on earth since then (Rev 12:7-11).  

Satan and his devil spirits must be tempting and tormenting innocent people nowadays as they were during Bible time.  It is not clear how effectively modern medicine can heal or expel them from affected people or whether people try to correct demon possessed men with prayer.  Certainly Holy Ghost can expel them out on behalf of fervent and intercessory prayer.  Jesus expelled them out from a affected man and woman by the power of Holy Ghost (Mar 5:8, 9, 13, 16:9).

GOD the Father controls devil spirit completely, that is, HE can give or take devil spirt(S) from a man or people.  This assumption is based on the story of king Saul in the Old Testament.  GOD was said to give or take away either spirit from him (1Sam 10:11, 12, 11:6, 16:14, 15, 19:20).  The idea that GOD is above devil sprit (Satan) is definitely understatement and it is pathetic to even imagine differently or to doubt about it since nobody in heaven and earth can challenge our almighty Father who is the creator of heaven and earth, and no beginning and ending.  Alleluia!  Praise the LORD!  Amen

4. Personal Testimony regarding Holy Ghost

The words 'flipping the coin' come from the Biblical idea.  After Joshua and Israelites crossed the Jordan river and conquered Canaan, they divided the land among 12 tribes by 'casting lots' for fairness.  When new home builders divide a large piece of land to build new houses on it, they assign lot numbers.  Likewise all real estate properties have lot numbers assigned by county registrar

During Bible time people inquired GOD by way of prophets and ephod before they made an important decision because they could not decide by themselves one way or another.  Sometime an angel instructed them what decision to make in person.  David inquired GOD before he went to war if he could defeat enemies and GOD assured him, yes go ahead; I will deliver them into thine hand (2Sam 5:19).  How nice!  See 2Sam 2:1, 5:23, 11:3, 16:23, 21:1.  King Saul inquired GOD also but HE refused to answer him because of his disobedience (1Sam 15:23, 24, 28:6).  Eleven disciples of Jesus Christ cast lots to choose another disciple between two candidates to replace Judas Iscariot who betrayed HIM and committed suicide afterwards (Act 1:16-19, 23-26).

Now we are living under new dispensation (NT period), so we would not expect the similar privilege which OT people had obviously like what David enjoyed.  Yes we have Holy Ghost in all  born again people's heart and HE will tell us what decision to make through inspiration.  Nevertheless we find helpless and can not make a decision one way or another occasionally.  What shall we do?

I started flipping a coin, head or tail to find out GOD'S will.  First I prayed to HIM very sincerely--this is very crucial-- and asked for HIS help  for me to make an important decision one way or another.  Of course the premise was that I would obey the outcome whether I like it or not.  In other words It was only one time deal, that is, I do not flip it more than once if I did not like the outcome first time.

I was thinking about publishing my church website long time ago.   I had no experience about it at all, so I browsed internet to gather information for some time before I could carry out this monumental project.  I prayed hard and flipped a coin, and the outcome was tail, that is, do not do it.  Then I felt good and thanked HIM.  I praised HIM very hard back then.

Then the idea came back to my mind lately.  So I started browsing internet again and it was easier this time than before since I had searched and studied for it before.  I selected one company out of a dozen companies that sell domains and hosting plan to build a new website.  This time it was head, bingo.  I was very happy and excited.  What can go wrong when I have assurance of HIM?  So I purchased a domain (web address) and started building it.  It was very slow since I was learning as I go along.  Sadly enough I ended up cancelling my account because I could not build even one page after spending several hours, talking to technical support on the phone even though almost all companies advertised how easy and simple it was to build a beautiful website. 

I was very disappointed and was wondering why it did not work after I inquired of HIM.  However Holy Ghost--yes it was HIM definitely--led me to go back to internet and to try a different company.  And you know what happened afterwards as you are looking at my well organized so called blog website.  This software or application (app) was much easier than one before to build for a beginner like me.  Alleluia!  Praise the LORD.  Now I know Holy Ghost let me choose an inferior company first before HE led me to a better company and software.  

I'll have another domain available at my disposal in mid-August, which I purchased from previous company and I am the legitimate owner of it still; I was told that I could transfer it to my current company after 60 days.  Now I feel very rich and lucky to have two personal domains, not just any domain name in random but very meaningful and coveted one called UISCMinistry.ORG.  Isn't it nice?  I thank thee Father very much.  This web building for my or rather HIS new church is a turning point definitely and I'm looking forward to start it whenever and however thou wouldest lead me.  I pray in the name of our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen

5. Receiving or being filled with Holy Ghost by measure

It appears that men receive Holy Ghost in quantitative measurement gradually.  So when one is born again and saved the very first time, he receives or is filled with Holy Ghost at minimum and hence  he is a baby spiritually even though he is a mature and independent man physically.   Then he needs to grow spiritually by receiving HIM more and more as time goes.  A just born baby is fed with milk first since he can not digest hard food.  Likewise GOD would not give HIM to a just born again believer too much spiritually since he can not handle higher level spiritually.

So as a newly born baby needs care and to be fed with milk and soft food to grow up physically, a newly born again believer needs likewise to grow up spiritually.  If he is not taken care of and is not fed with spiritual food gradually so to speak, he will become a stagnant believer.  In other words he needs to feed on word of GOD (Bible), attend worship service, be involved with ministry, and etc consistently to move on and to become a mature believer spiritually.

This idea comes from John 3:34-36.  GOD the Father was said to not give Son Christ the Spirit by measure, that is, HE gave HIM Holy Ghost in full measure, maximum, at once to begin with.  Praise the LORD!  Alleluia.  GOD the Father is the original owner of Holy Ghost (Gen 1:2; Joh 4:24), and HE owns and controls devil spirit completely also as mentioned above.

Christ received all GOD'S attributes from HIS Father, Jehovah in its entirety 100 percent in the beginning upon HIS incarnation (virgin birth); Not in a small amount little by little gradually; but fully at once.   This has a very amazing proposition that Christ was as if HE was present eternal past and shall be eternal future just like GOD the Father so that all three members of Trinity share the exact same attribute, that is, no beginning and no ending, just timeless.  See item number six under the Theology menu.

The prophets were inspired on particular occasions to deliver special messages. The Messiah was continually filled with the Spirit of God. "The Spirit dwelt in him, not as a vessel, but as in a fountain, as in a bottomless ocean." (quote from Matthew Henry).

So born again Christians with limited amount of Holy Ghost can not perform miracles what Christ could do freely without limitation.  In other words GOD gave or assigned limited amount of Holy Ghost to men---very important to remember.   More importantly Holy Ghost HIMSELF knows to whom and when to empower the miracle power.  In other words HE knows very well that it is no longer necessary and will not happen nowadays.  C.H. Spurgeon likened HIM to an intellectual man to guide and to lead born again (saved) people filled with HIM properly .  Read item number 12 below.

Born again Christians, GOD the Father, and GOD the Son all have the same Holy Ghost but GOD gave  Holy Ghost fully (completely) to Son Christ (Joh 3:35) while HE gave men very limited measure.  

Jesus prayed to GOD that born again Christians from above become one body with trinity to have four part theology, that is, they and trinity are one (17:20-23).  This is a very amazing theology.  Then we born from above are gods! (10:34;Psa 82:6; Isa 41:23).  See the item number two under the Theology menu.

6. Joh 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 

And after the sop Satan entered him: These are very interesting words because it makes more sense if Satan had already entered into Judas even before Jesus and HIS disciples came to the Passover table.  In fact Satan entered into Judas’ mind early on because he was said to betray Jesus after he agreed with the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver (Mat 26:14-16) before the Passover meal (Mat 26:17).  So it was devil spirit which entered into Judas’ mind and enticed him to betray Jesus.  

Devil spirit from Satan must enter into or influence people’s mind whether they are saved or not to tempt and to lead them astray to the wrong or bad direction.  Born again Christians should resist him better than unbelievers who are condemned to eternal death without hope unless they repent and turn around by any chance through evangelism.  When Eve was tempted by the serpent and ate the forbidden fruit of knowledge and evil in the garden of Eden, devil spirit must have entered into her heart (Gen 3:1-6).

Basically every unsaved person needs to get saved by receiving Christ as his personal saviour, and this is the first defense or step in order to resist the devil’s temptation.  This is true because when he gets saved by believing in Christ, he shall receive Holy Ghost and become born again.  In other words, he will replace devil spirit he was born with from his mother's womb with Holy Ghost.

The strength or depth of Holy Ghost of a believer, that is, the strength of his faith, shall determine whether he will fall into temptation.  See 'About the degree of faithfulness of each believer' under the Home menu.  

Devil searches for a weak faith (Holy Spirit) who can be enticed easily. Judas Iscariot had either a weak faith (Holy Spirit) or he had just evil spirit(s) only compared to other 11 disciples, so he was tempted by Satan, evil spirit, to betray Christ.  His weak Holy Spirit was replaced by evil spirit(s) or he received more evil spirits so to speak after Satan entered his mind as the verse above says since nobody can have both spirits at the same time.  He was said to repent of his betrayal later and to hang himself to commit suicide (Mat 27:3-5). If a man has very strong Holy Spirit, that is, he is filled with HIM greatly and his faith is very strong, he can resist evil spirit which is nothing but temptation to do evil things.

Any born again can increase his faith by reading scripture and praying as often as he can, and by getting involved with local congregation ministry.

7. seven Spirits

One can find this exact phrase throughout the Bible in Rev 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6.  In Isaiah 11:1, 2, prophet Isaiah listed seven attributes, characters, qualities, or whatever you want to call them of Holy Ghost such as GOD, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear.  In it prophet Isaiah said that GOD gave them to rest upon Jesus Christ. So these are not seven different Holy Spirits obviously.  In Exo 31:1-5, GOD was said to give four of these and all manner of workmanship to Bezaleel "to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver...."  In other words GOD gave him special skill to work on stones, timber, brass, and etc to build instruments inside the newly built tabernacle of congregation after Israelites were liberated from Egyptian bondage for 400 years.

There is only one Holy Ghost even though there are many devil or evil spirit as mentioned above, and every baby is born with at least one evil spirit and therefore he is a sinner by birth.  One can find a phrase 'seven eyes' throughout the scripture in Zec 3:9 and Rev 5:6 so that it had to do with 'seven Spirits.  Compare 2Ch 16:9; Zec 4:10; Eze 10:12; Rev 4:6.  The number seven has a spiritual significance of perfection and there are other numbers with different special meaning in the scripture.    

Again spiritual growth of a just born again believer is exactly like physical and mental growth of a baby.  By birth everybody starts with a devil or evil spirt from scratch.  Luckily some people become born again after Holy Ghost enters into their hearts and they grow spiritually while some never experience HIM, die as sinners, and then go to hell.  Yet Some receive HIM but do not mature and die as babies.  However they are bound to heaven for sure (Joh 3:16).   Alleluia, Praise the LORD.   Amen

8. Personal testimony on Comforter (Holy Ghost) part II

This is another exciting personal testimony as to how Comforter guides born again believers like me  step by step and leads them to the very desirable outcome.    I will quote two verses to support or testify my testimony from the scripture.  A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps (Pro 16:9).   Go to item Number 3 under the Exegesis menu.  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28). 

Last April I received a letter inviting me to join an organization or a club which advocates and supports the interest of senior citizens nationwide.  I ignored it before few times but free gifts and low membership fee really drew my attention this time, so I joined it.  And it turned out to be a good decision for me as explained below.

I received a bimonthly member-only magazine from it recently and saw an advertisement for a free auto. insurance quote with a bait of a free duffel bag for just asking for a quote.  I called and found out that their quote was about 20% cheaper.  I called my current insurance company and found out that my premium went up dramatically last time simply because I sent back a questionnaire with annual mileage 12,000. It was used to be the lowest threshold mileage for insurance companies to calculate premium many years ago but it is 3,000 miles nowadays.  Things are changing, aren't they?.  Had I known about it, I could have entered it but I did not know about it.

I drive very low miles, just for shopping for example, less than 3,000 miles a year.  I was told that my premium would decrease dramatically if I send back another questionnaire.  Then the company will give me credit for the current billing cycle.  I was so excited about it as you can imagine.  Here we are talking about well over $100 saving for a six month premium on my auto insurance.

Afterwards I immediately felt that Holy Spirit led me to join the club; otherwise, I will keep paying higher premium down the road, won't I?  I had no plan whatsoever to switch a company to save.  When I received higher premium bill after I had filled out the questionnaire incorrectly, I just assumed that the large increase was across the board for many customers due to the inflation pressure and more importantly the company did not raise my premium much, maybe negligible increase here and there, for about last seven years.

I had many experiences of Holy Ghost guiding and helping me many times throughout my Christian life, and I remember my mother, a very devout believer, telling my family that she had felt HE was helping us and her during a very critical moment or time.  I praise our heavenly Father, Son Christ, and Holy Ghost lifting up my hands high.  I thank thee oh my Father so much, so I will be faithful more and more, and never cease spreading gospel since that is what thou wantest us to do here on earth until we die.  Amen

Jesus promised to send Comforter (Joh 14:16, 26,15:26, 16:7) after HE would leave HIS disciples in order that Comforter would take care of them and other born again believers on earth down the road.  Then we saved people are not left out alone by Satan's temptation but rather we are being watched by angels all the time.  Alleluia, Praise the LORD.  Yes, believers will face all kinds of calamities still but it was for HIS glory as mentioned in item number eight under Theology menu.

Pray hard and obey HIS commandments, Mt 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

9. Testimony part III

It has been quite warm summer circulating 100 degrees for many days last few years.   It was worse this year starting from early July.  Never seen almost everyday 100 degrees in July before.   The average in July is from 85 to 90.

When I woke up this morning to battle with another hot day, I felt Holy Ghost suggesting me to open up two more windows in my bedroom.  I used to open just one window in the morning but was hesitant to open more windows since I moved to my house many years ago simply because it has two vertical springs on both sides of it to hold it up.  I was lazy to remove it first, and then to take them out to lubricate with lubricant and then to reinstall it.  They must have been corroded by now.   I just thought too much hassle to open more windows during summer time only.  I don't like AC because it makes me feel sick.

This all changed this morning.  So I spent about 45' to make two more windows ready for the service.  Now I can open up three windows in my bedroom during early morning and after sunset for cool air!  Praise the LORD, Alleluia.  Why didn't I do it early?  I used to stay in the living room with the large window open after sunset for cool air.  Now I can sit at my desk for study in my bedroom after sunset enjoying cool breeze.  How nice!  Thannnnnnk you LORD! 

10. Holy Spirit is wisdom.

Who does not want to be wise?  We all want to possess wisdom whether we are born again (saved) or not.  Unbelievers seek wisdom from other men's wisdom or philosophy, that is, earthly wisdom but born again people shall seek it from above, that is, heavenly wisdom from GOD almighty, which is a lot better.  King Solomon who wrote Proverbs in the OT desired wisdom when GOD asked him what he wanted (1Ki 3:5, 9).

Basically Holy Spirit is the source of wisdom.  Holy Spirit speaks in Pro 1:20-33 as if wisdom is speaking, that is, wisdom is personalized.  Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.  Here the word 'spirit' is the same as Hebrew word roo'-akh (H7306), Holy Spirit.  

Bible records just one way to get the heavenly wisdom from Holy Spirit and that is fearing GOD (Job 28:28; Pro 1:7, 2:5, 3:7; Psa 111:10, and etc).  Fearing GOD means reverence, deference, adoration, awe, obedience, veneration, worship, and etc.  See Ask GOD for wisdom item Number 4 under the Daily Devotion menu.

The opposite of fearing GOD is pride (Pro 3:7), that is, proud men do not fear HIM and would not recognize as a sinner (Psa 10:4), hence it is impossible for them to be saved unless they become humble.  See item #7 under the Theology menu.  GOD really, really hates men's pride but gives grace to the humble (Pro 6:16, 17; 1Pe 5:5).  So we should fear HIM with reverence and obey HIS commandments in order to become a wise man.  

Holy Spirit built the church building of Christ.  Pro 9:1, 24:3

Pro 9:1  Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

In this verse, wisdom was represented as having a house at whose portals persons waited eagerly for admission (Pro 8:34).  

As the "strange woman" in 7:14-18 possessed a house to which she seduced her victim, so wisdom is represented here as having a house which she has made and adorned, and to which she invites her pupils (Pro 9:1-5). 

her seven pillars: which adorn her palace and give it stability.  The number 7 has a spiritual significance like perfection or completeness throughout the Bible so that it did not come about by random occurrence.  By seven pillars, they mean seven attributes of Holy Ghost (Isa 11:1, 2).  

Pro 24:3  Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

an house: referring to the Church built by Jesus Christ. 

Through wisdom is an house builded: A family is built up, furnished and supplied with the necessaries and conveniences of life, and brought into flourishing and prosperous circumstances, by wise and prudent management, by diligence and industry, through the blessing of God upon them, without taking such methods as evil men do. 

The house of God, the church of the living God, is built by Wisdom, that is, by Christ; on a good foundation, a rock, upon himself, against which the gates of hell can never prevail (Mat 16:18); see Pro 9:1 above again.

and by understanding it is established: the prosperity of a man's family is continued and secured by his prudent conduct. 

The church of God is established by Christ, who is understanding as well as wisdom; see Pro 8:14; and every true believer is established in Christ, and in the faith of HIM; and that as he has more and more an understanding of HIM and of divine things.  Compare Pro 14:1.

Again the source of wisdom is Holy Ghost, that is, Holy Ghost is wisdom (Pro 1:23).  Then the house in this verse must point to the Church built by Christ’s wisdom and the seven pillars in 9:1 must mean seven spirits of GOD or Christ (Isa 11:1, 2), that is, seven characters or attributes of Holy Ghost. 

Christ was said to be corner stone of HIS own church building (Isa 28:16; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:6) so that HE is both seven pillars and corner stone of HIS own church building.  When GOD the Father was addressing to Job in the book of Job, HE mentioned that HE had laid the corner stone of the foundations of the earth in regard to the creation of heaven and earth in the beginning (Gen 1:1) (Job 38:4-6).

This verse (Pro 24:3) above reminds of Jesus' saying about building a house with sufficient money to be able to finish it (Luk 14:28-30).  Amen.

11. The fear of the LORD  See item B and #47 under Theology menu.

Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. 

I explained in item #10 above that fearing GOD was the only way to get wisdom and the opposite is pride.  I also explained in item 7 under the theology menu that pride is the number one reason why it is very difficult for lost sinners to be saved.  In other words they do not fear HIM because of their pride which is the stumbling block and  separates them from HIM.  Then the more people fear HIM, the more humble they are.

When a spiritually lost man kills his pride and becomes humble for the time being, he can confess, I'm a sinner; he can receive Christ as his personal saviour.  Then he will replace his evil spirit with whom he was born.  Holy Ghost will enter into his heart and he becomes a born again believer.  He shall start fearing HIM and obey HIS commandments.  Basically he will love HIM very much first, then he will love his neighbors also.

King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes stated that everything men do on earth is vanity and just repetition of same thing over and over again (Ec 1:2, 9), and then he concluded his preaching in the last two verses very nicely Ec 12:13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  Ec 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.  Every thing in heaven and earth is in GOD'S hand.  HE is omniscient,omnipotent, and omnipresent.  Holy Ghost is the source of wisdom, makes a man humble and a born again believer, makes him obey HIS commandments, and etc.  Then he shall start fearing GOD the Father in heaven.  So Let us fear HIM all the time!  Read on the following very fascinating sermon.  

 12. Spiritually dead church  1Sam 16:5

There are many spiritually dead churches out there.  People still attend the spiritually dead churches and have the worship service as usual week after week, and it appears normal and OK from outside, but Holy Ghost is gone from them long time ago. 

They are wasting their time since GOD does not accept any worship service from a spiritually dead church.  When we say that Holy Ghost is present in the spiritually filled church, we are talking about all three members of Trinity are present simply because nobody can separate them individually; they are one body (1Th 5:7, 8).  See item #1 under Theology menu.

How do we know if a particular church is filled with Holy Ghost, and hence spiritually alive?  Spiritually live church has and demonstrates charity (Jam 2:14-18); otherwise, it is dead spiritually.  Read article #1 under Home menu.  Also read my exegesis on 1Sam 16:5 to get some idea about it.

1Sa 16:5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

5. sanctified Jesse and his sons: GOD looks at not only the sacrifice itself but also the people who offer it whether both of them are holy and acceptable to HIS expectation. 

GOD commanded Israelites to sanctify themselves for three days before they would meet HIM in person in mount Sinai (Exo 19:10, 11).

In today’s application, GOD looks at the church worship service in itself and kind of people who worship HIM—they must be born again--- to see if both of them meet HIS expectation or standard of holiness so that church pastor and those who are in the leadership position must examine if their worship service is holy, and congregation must prepare and sanctify themselves before they attend worship service.

Holy Ghost or all three members of Trinty (GOD the Father, Son Christ, and Holy Ghost) will leave any church or worship service which does not meet HIS expectation in holiness. Then that church is dead spiritually even though its building still stands and its worship service continues still.  Jesus told us to worship GOD the Father in spirit and in truth (Joh 4:23, 24).

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

13. Personal testimony part IV   Rom 8:28; Pro 16:9

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Pro 16:9  A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

These are my favorite verses, which talk about Holy Spirit guiding Holy Spirit filled person like me to the best outcome despite ups and downs through the courses of a particular event.  I felt that HE was helping me get through the difficult situation with uncertainty when I looked back how things were unfolding and how it ended up with finally to my satisfaction.  HE is my guide and I can feel it in my heart when I pray to GOD for guidance.

I woke up suddenly one morning very early in late June 2023 after a very short dream about a German shepherd dog.  In the dream I felt guilty for neglecting to feed him, and I had this sort of dream few times before but just ignored them.  However I woke up suddenly this time and this never happened in my life so that I took this very unusual incidence as if Holy Spirit telling me to adopt a German Shepherd, so I did and brought one called Chicago to my house from LA county animal shelter in Lancaster on the same day gladly.   

I noticed one morning that he destroyed a plastic container in the back yard in early November, so I surrendered him to LA county animal shelter.  I missed him badly and wanted to bring him back to my house again some days afterwards.  I prayed to GOD hard for guidance first and flipped a coin to ask Holy Ghost about it and it was no.  I was disappointed and ended up praying and then flipping it a few more times until I saw ‘head’ for yes.  I should not have done it since I was supposed to flip it just once and follow it through no matter what.  So I brought him back to my house.  See article #4 above

Then one morning in late January 2024, this thought of returning him to the animal shelter came to my mind because I wanted to free up my time for more important things in my life, that is, to study Bible and to prepare for my ministry.  So I surrendered him early Feb. 2024 and in the mean time I prayed to GOD that HE finds a good Christian home that is better than my place and I had no doubt that HE would lead him to it.  

About a week later early Feb. 2024, I checked online to see if somebody adopted Chicago and I did not see him, that is, somebody has already taken him.  So I drove to the shelter to see if I could contact the new owner but he was still there by my surprise.  So I just went to his cage to see him again.  Then lo and behold, an elderly lady came to the cage and told me that she would adopt him right away.  I could not believe what was being unfolded before my eyes and asked her if she was born again, and she replied yes.  So it definitely looked like GOD was answering my prayer request.  She followed me to my house and I gave her beef bones and four jumbo eggs which were boiled so that she could feed him and her other German shepherd in her house.  I gave her my contact information and she said she would contact me.

She never contacted me for a while, so I drove to the shelter to see if I could get her contact information but animal shelter would not release it to me.  So I came home very much disappointed.  Then Holy Spirit just led me by accident to browse the animal shelter website one evening.  Lo and behold again, I saw him available for adoption.  It turned out that she surrendered him few days afterwards but she never called me about it.  Darn it!  Had not Holy Ghost guided me to check it out, I would have just kept waiting for her phone call or text message for nothing.  Then I thanked HIM for HIS wisdom and guidance for the whole matter so far.  She lied to me that she was a Christian.  We born again believers do not betray others like she did to me, do we?  

I drove back to the shelter to make sure that the animal shelter to release my contact information to a new owner.  Lo and behold a young couple was interested in him right there on the same day and I asked them if they were believers but they said they were Catholics to my dismay.  They ended up not taking him to their home, so I made a sudden decision to take him to my home again.

In late April 2024 about 3 months later I decided to surrender him again even though he and I were enjoying fellowship very much because I wanted more time for Bible study.  I did not plan to keep him for many months to begin with anyway.  I started praying to GOD again that HE finds a good Christian home for him.  See article #50 under Theology menu.

Nobody picked him up from the shelter for long six weeks and I missed him also, so I tried to bring him back to my house but Holy Ghost would not allow me.  HE made the shelter manager require what I consider non-sense requirements like backyard inspection, dietary plan approval by a veterinarian, and he would even charge me kennel fee per day for two weeks before he would release him back to me again.  

GOD can manipulate both saved and unsaved people’s mind through Holy Ghost and devil spirit respectively.  It was not the manager to come up with these unusual requirements or conditions simply because I had surrendered him three times before but GOD made him do them to prevent me from bringing him back to my house.  If I had brought him to my house again, then it would have defeated my original prayer request that HE would find a good Christian home for him, wouldn’t it?    See article #49 under Theology menu.

In late June 2024 somebody adopted him finally to my delight but they were not cooperative about releasing my contact info to this new owner in order for him to contact me; definitely they would not release his contact info to me for privacy.  I just wanted see him at a new home.  

They just called him twice and left a voice mail for him to call them back instead of just giving him my contact info directly and he never called them back apparently.  Again here is another stupid privacy thing.  Nevertheless I was sure that GOD answered my prayer request by sending Chicago to a faithful family home whoever or wherever it might be.  Again article #50 under Theology menu.  Maybe Holy Ghost will move his mind to contact me later in order for me to see Chicago at a new, nice home.

Holy Ghost is involved with anybody’s life very much, who is filled with HIM in his heart.  What Jesus Christ told HIS disciples in regard to “Comforter” speaks out all things as follows, 

Joh 14:26 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.  Amen.

14. More personal testimonies on Holy Ghost

May 2, 2024

I ordered two wood chairs few weeks ago and liked them.  Then I just browsed internet for another dining wood chair for curiosity and found one, and fell in love with it right away yesterday.  This one was somewhat more expensive and bigger than they.  It looked pure solid wood which I love and cherish very much instead of imitation, composite wood and was just like a classic wood chair which I purchased long time ago, was still sitting on it, and hence I loved it very much.  However I could not justify myself to buy another one since I bought two of them not long ago and did not need any more chair.  If I buy it now, I can sit on it and it might be investment for the future need.

I could not decide whether I should order it or not, so I flipped a coin, head or tail, for Holy Ghost to guide me.  See article #4 above.

I prayed to GOD sincerely first and then I tossed it in the air.  It was head (buy).  I was excited and went to the computer to order it but ended up not ordering it at the last minute.  I felt very guilty for not following up through since I was supposed to carry it out accordingly whatever the outcome was. See article #4 above.  So I prayed to GOD for forgiveness hard.

When I woke up next morning, I thought about ordering it to get rid of my guilty feeling toward GOD or rather toward Holy Ghost but I said myself, Nay I don’t need another chair.  When I was checking email in the morning as usual, lo and behold, the vendor sent me an email with a coupon code for discount; maybe their computer system noticed that I added the chair to the cart but did not order it.

I ordered it gladly and felt so good since I followed through the original Holy Ghost’s guide to order it yesterday.  Had I ordered it yesterday, I could not have used any discount coupon, could I?  Did HE guide me to order it today instead?  Very likely!  The principle or rule is very simple that when we ask Holy Ghost for guidance one way or another, we must follow through absolutely; otherwise, what good is it to ask for HIS guidance? 

The following day (5/4) they sent me an email that the delivery would be delayed and gave me an option to cancel the order by responding to the email if I do not accept delay.  Then I responded that they cancel it.  A few hours later they sent me another email that it has been shipped to my dismay.  Then I flipped a coin again to ask GOD or Holy Ghost rather whether I should use it or return it to a nearby store without opening it and HIS response was that I return it.  Then I will return it gladly.

This was another exciting experience for me with Holy Ghost and it was indeed happy ending.  I will seek HIS guidance again in the future if I can not decide.  Amen