Queen's Road Cell

Today Chee Boon joined as as the visiting PLT member (they are going round to different SGs) Joshua asked if the Holy Spirit was active in sanctification of believers in the OT. We note that the Spirit was given only on select individuals prior to Pentecost - to kings (1 Sa 10:10, 11:6, Ps 51:11), prophets, judges and craftsmen (Ex 31:13).It is interesting that even in the OT the manifestations of the Spirit's power was different in different individuals. Joel 2:28-29 looks forward to the time when all God's p eople will be recepients of God's Spirit. And we are individually (1 Co 6:19) and corporately (1 Co 3:16) the temple of the Spirit. So we can be sure that we enjoy the blessings of the New Covenant paid in Christ's blood in a way that OT saints did not. But I believe the Bible does not rule out a lesser work of the Spirit in the preservation and sanctification of His people. Shaun asked about the bodily resurrection of the godly dead at the time of Jesus'...

We discussed the difference between 'pride' and confidence'. Pride is thinking highly of ourselves in a self-centered way. It is wanting to take credit for what we do, whereas confidence does not need to take credit for our achievements. Pride is lifting up our self esteem. Confidence is the assurance of our own capability. Confidence that rests in God is appropriate. We said that we should be speaking an interacting with others in a way that affirms their effort rather than their nature or character when they do well  or need encouragement. This balance is especially difficult when we interact with our own children. Self-dependence, lukewarmness and loss of spiritual insight are linked (Rev 3:15-20). Christ's reproves and disciplines the lukewarm believers that He nevertheless loves. His prescription for lukewarmness is to  have us be zealous and repent. We cannot earn the gold and garments He urges us to buy - we can only receive them by responding to His knock on...