The Bible

 

Genesis 1:25

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25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Commentary

 

#123 What Does the Spirit of the Lord Do, Exactly?

By Jonathan S. Rose

Title: What Does the Spirit of the Lord Do Exactly

Topic: Word

Summary: The Bible tells us that the Spirit of the Lord does many different things and is very active in every phase of our spiritual lives.

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Genesis 1:1-2
Exodus 31:1-3
Numbers 11:27; 24:2
Judges 3:8; 6:34; 11:29; 13:24-25; 14:5-6, 19; 15:14
1 Samuel 10:6, 9-10; 11:6; 16:13-14; 19:20-24
2 Samuel 23:1-2
1 Kings 18:7, 12; 22:6
2 Kings 2:16
2 Chronicles 20:14; 24:20
Job 33:4
Isaiah 11:1-2; 40:13; 59:19; 61:1-3
Ezekiel 11:5, 24; 37:1
Micah 2:7; 3:8
Zechariah 7:12
Matthew 12:24-28
Acts of the Apostles 8:36
1 Corinthians 2:14
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Ephesians 3:14-16
John 7:37
Revelation 22:1
Proverbs 20:27

Play Video
Spirit and Life Bible Study broadcast from 1/9/2013. The complete series is available at: www.spiritandlifebiblestudy.com

Commentary

 

Miracles and signs

  
After, a photo of a bulb pushing up through the earth, by Brita Conroy

The Bible often speaks of signs and miracles as things that convinced people of the Lord's leading. "Signs" convince people to believe intellectually, and "miracles" convince people to believe emotionally. For instance, it was a "sign" for the shepherds that they would find the newborn Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. This was not something that defied explanation; there is nothing impossible about a baby being laid in a manger. On the other hand miracles such as the Nile turning into blood, the Red Sea parting or water being made wine were apparently impossible, striking awe and fear in the hearts of observers and thus compelling the emotions. Both signs and miracles, however, are external events that could only force people into compliance out of fear and awe, which is an external form of worship that has little to do with eternal life. The Lord used them in Biblical times because the people of that time were external in nature, and the Lord had to force them into forms of worship to preserve spiritual ideas and to allow for the Bible to be written. Through His advent and His teachings He opened the possibility that we could understand His spiritual meanings, which would allow us to believe and live internally, not just externally.