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Key Bible Verse: "The world … doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you" (John 14:17). Bonus Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; 12:11; Ephesians 4:30

Several years ago, I attended a bizarre weekend at a retreat center in the Colorado mountains. Two groups—leaders from the evangelical Christian community and leaders from the new age movement—had been invited to see if any bridges of understanding could be erected.

Both groups referred to "the spirit" to articulate their positions. But it soon became obvious that to the new age group the "spirit" was some kind of impersonal cosmic energy force. You could possess more or less of this force, and of course, it was always with you. Their explanations gave me the sensation of entering a theological "Twilight Zone" or of becoming an extra on the set of Star Wars.

But the Holy Spirit is not a force. He's a person. As Jesus told his disciples [in today's Key Bible Verse] he's a he, not an it. Consistently throughout the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is referred to with masculine personal pronouns. The significance of the pronoun isn't so much in its gender as in its being personal. It's possible to become a modern gnostic, even as a Christian, when we think of the Spirit in terms of a force or entity rather than person.

—Bob Beltz in Becoming a Man of the Spirit

My Response: How do the Bonus Readings demonstrate the intellect, volition, and emotion of a person?

Thought to Apply: No human power can replace the power of the Spirit. —Lewi Pethrus (Swedish pastor)

Adapted from Becoming a Man of the Spirit (NavPress/navpress.com, 1999) by permission.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

I'm not strong enough, Lord, to live up to your standards on my own. Teach me how to rely on the internal power your Spirit provides.

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