Henry Blackaby: Church, World Need Believers Who Are Convicted by Holy Spirit
by Allie Martin
May 25, 2004
(AgapePress) - A well-known Bible teacher and preacher says many Christians don't truly understand and appreciate spiritual gifts.In his new book What's So Spiritual About Your Gifts?, Dr. Henry Blackaby says the Old Testament is filled with examples of the Holy Spirit works in a believer's life. Blackaby says the pattern is simple: God gives an assignment to a person; the Holy Spirit then equips the person; the assignment is then able to be completed through the Holy Spirit's power.
Blackaby says a proper understanding of the work and the role of the Holy Spirit would eliminate many of the problems plaguing churches today.
"We would not see any divorce among God's people, because suddenly we would realize God has said in Malachi 2 that [He] hates divorce -- and all of a sudden, the Spirit of God in the life of the child of God would convict him deeply," he says.
Blackaby contends that once convicted, the believer would then realize that by asking God's permission to divorce, they are asking God's permission to do something He hates -- and "He will not do that," Blackaby says.
The Christian minister adds that a proper understanding of the Holy Spirit would also enable the Church to fulfill God's mission on earth.
"We're asking the people of God to be alert to the Spirit of God as [His] Spirit takes the Word of God and leads us into the will of God -- and you'd see people forgiving one another, and you'd see marriages saved and families healed," he says. "I believe then that God's people would become a model to a watching world."
Blackaby's son, Dr. Mel Blackaby, co-authored the book, which is published by Multnomah Publishers. (See Earlier Article)
