Post by Jeff G on Feb 3, 2017 2:51:50 GMT
So, I want to discuss the details about how sin can keep a person from getting their cup full. (Aside from it just being obvious)
Specifically, I want to talk about Luke 11:13b - "...how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
I have in mind a person who is already a Christian, and so has the Holy Spirit in some measure, but who wants to get their cup totally full. But the sin in their life keeps this from happening. Now, this verse sounds like an unconditional promise. That is, if someone asks for more of the Holy Spirit, then God will respond. So how does this fit with the idea that sin can act like a "cork" that will keep you from getting your cup full? Here's what I think: If a person has sin that needs to be dealt with, and asks for more of the Spirit, then I would strongly suspect that the Holy Spirit will respond by convicting them of their sin. That is to say, the conviction is the greater level of the Spirit that they asked for. Therefore the verse is fulfilled. Now, if the person repents and gets the sin out, great! Next, this process could continue until all of the sin has been dealt with. At that point, if the person again prays for more of the Spirit, rather than conviction for sin they may get a new gift of the Spirit or more love or joy or wisdom or whatever.
I don't wish to make it sound like the Lord can't or won't give a person some good thing, other than convicting them, prior to dealing with all of their sin. But the situation I described above seems to me like a definite possibility. What do you think?
Specifically, I want to talk about Luke 11:13b - "...how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
I have in mind a person who is already a Christian, and so has the Holy Spirit in some measure, but who wants to get their cup totally full. But the sin in their life keeps this from happening. Now, this verse sounds like an unconditional promise. That is, if someone asks for more of the Holy Spirit, then God will respond. So how does this fit with the idea that sin can act like a "cork" that will keep you from getting your cup full? Here's what I think: If a person has sin that needs to be dealt with, and asks for more of the Spirit, then I would strongly suspect that the Holy Spirit will respond by convicting them of their sin. That is to say, the conviction is the greater level of the Spirit that they asked for. Therefore the verse is fulfilled. Now, if the person repents and gets the sin out, great! Next, this process could continue until all of the sin has been dealt with. At that point, if the person again prays for more of the Spirit, rather than conviction for sin they may get a new gift of the Spirit or more love or joy or wisdom or whatever.
I don't wish to make it sound like the Lord can't or won't give a person some good thing, other than convicting them, prior to dealing with all of their sin. But the situation I described above seems to me like a definite possibility. What do you think?