"Divine DNA"
Humans can reproduce only human life,
but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.
John 3:6
There was a woman who was severely depressed. A friend tried to comfort her, but she was unable to receive it. “I’ve destroyed my life and all those around me, she cried. "I’m hopeless.” The friend noticed a framed picture of a young lady on the dresser next to her bed and asked, “Who is this?” The woman smiled as she softly said, “She’s my only child, the only good thing in my life." The friend asked, “Would you help her if she made a mistake? Would you forgive her? Would you still love her?” The woman cried, “Of course I would! I would do anything for her! Why do you ask me such questions?” The friend replied, “Because I wanted you to know God has a framed picture of you on His dresser.”
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Live in harmony with the Holy Spirit.
He is your partner for spiritual survival.
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DNA, in layman’s terms, is the “blueprint” of inherited genetic molecular material for our unique identities. Our DNA comes from the combination of genes contributed by each of our biological parents. When there is a question regarding a child’s parentage a paternity test, using blood samples from one or both parents, is taken. The results of this test undeniably reveals a child’s biological parents through their similar DNA structure.
When we experience salvation through acceptance of Jesus as Savior, God breathes new life into us bringing a spiritual birth. At that moment we receive heavenly DNA in the form of the Holy Spirit. Now, we possess two sets of DNA. One physical set from our earthly parents and one spiritual from our heavenly parent. With God’s DNA in us, the divine life of God grows. Now, we are radically different than the rest of the world. We are part of a distinct race. We resemble our heavenly Father as evidenced by our new Christ like attitudes, motivations, perspectives, desires, goals, and value system.
After our spiritual births we are connected eternally to God in such a way that no matter what happens in the future, our spiritual genetic link to him will not be broken. How can this be? Think about this: Is it scientifically possible to remove the DNA connection we have with our earthly parents? No, because new scientific breakthroughs in molecular research have proven DNA can't be completely removed or dramatically altered due to its complex structure. Is it spiritually possible to remove God's DNA from our souls once we are born again? No. We are linked eternally to him in such a way that no matter what happens in our futures, our heavenly genetic link to God can't be broken. In other words we won't lose or cut our eternal link with God, but we can break our relationship with him. How? By turning our back on him in rebellion. Similar to what a son or daughter does when they choose to disown their birth family. They may never see their family again, but whatever they do or wherever they go it will never change the fact they have a DNA connection to their biological parents. They are still family members, if only through their shared DNA. So if we ever think we've done something to lose eternal life and our spiritual position as a member of God's family, we need to ask ourselves this question: How can I undo my spiritual DNA or my spiritual birth or my salvation? The answer is: We can't.
1. Who is the Holy Spirit?
After our spiritual births we are connected eternally to God in such a way that no matter what happens in the future, our spiritual genetic link to him will not be broken. How can this be? Think about this: Is it scientifically possible to remove the DNA connection we have with our earthly parents? No, because new scientific breakthroughs in molecular research have proven DNA can't be completely removed or dramatically altered due to its complex structure. Is it spiritually possible to remove God's DNA from our souls once we are born again? No. We are linked eternally to him in such a way that no matter what happens in our futures, our heavenly genetic link to God can't be broken. In other words we won't lose or cut our eternal link with God, but we can break our relationship with him. How? By turning our back on him in rebellion. Similar to what a son or daughter does when they choose to disown their birth family. They may never see their family again, but whatever they do or wherever they go it will never change the fact they have a DNA connection to their biological parents. They are still family members, if only through their shared DNA. So if we ever think we've done something to lose eternal life and our spiritual position as a member of God's family, we need to ask ourselves this question: How can I undo my spiritual DNA or my spiritual birth or my salvation? The answer is: We can't.
1. Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the gift Jesus gave to the world after he ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons in God (The Trinity or as I refer to them as "The Magnificent Obsession"). The Holy Spiirt is compassionate, gentle, loving, comforting, and sensitive. He helps people believe in Jesus as Savior and enables them to embrace God's love. The Holy Spirit gives supernatural strength to Christ Followers to stand by faith in the face of extreme opposition and the ability to live out their God given purpose. The Holy Spirit is the:
• Advocate: "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth." (John 14:16)
• Counselor and Teacher: "When the Father sends the Counselor as my representative--and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything." (John 14:26)
2. What are the benefits to a relationship with the Holy Spirit?
• Anointing increased. The anointing is the supernatural manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life. It enables them to function beyond their natural abilities. It is observed through the operation of spiritual gifts. If you want this anointing, ask the Holy Spirit for it. The anointing is then maintained and grows by living a lifestyle of love toward others... choosing to forgive rather than take revenge... choosing to praise and worship the Lord rather than complaining or doubting.
• Ability to comprehend God’s Word.
• Improved health of body, mind, and soul.
• Empowered to reach others with God's love.
• Increased ability to trust God.
• Advocate: "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth." (John 14:16)
• Counselor and Teacher: "When the Father sends the Counselor as my representative--and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything." (John 14:26)
2. What are the benefits to a relationship with the Holy Spirit? • Anointing increased. The anointing is the supernatural manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life. It enables them to function beyond their natural abilities. It is observed through the operation of spiritual gifts. If you want this anointing, ask the Holy Spirit for it. The anointing is then maintained and grows by living a lifestyle of love toward others... choosing to forgive rather than take revenge... choosing to praise and worship the Lord rather than complaining or doubting.
• Ability to comprehend God’s Word.
• Improved health of body, mind, and soul.
• Empowered to reach others with God's love.
• Increased ability to trust God.
3. What is the Holy Spirit’s role in a Christian's life? The Holy Spirit is our best friend. He comforts: "The Father, he will give you another comforting Counselor like me." (John 14:16 CJB) He teaches: "He will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard." (John 16:13) He gives strength: "...he will empower you with inner strength by his Spirit." (Ephesians 3:16 CJB) He gives spiritual gifts: "Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,and your old men will dream dreams." (Acts 2:17) Dreams are given to bring guidance, understanding, and insight; to warn of some impending danger, and to reveal a situation which is going undetected by the natural mind. Visions are pictures given for clarification of a matter and to manifest the Lord’s plans on earth. Prophecy is not only about future events, but also encouraging words given to strengthen faith, bring comfort, and give direction. Usually the gifts we desire and receive are the ones we need in order to fulfill God’s purpose and destiny for our lives.
4. How do I use the spiritual gifts I receive? All the gifts work through love. Ask God to give you opportunities to love others by using your spiritual gifts. Then be expectant by looking for windows of opportunity he brings your way. This is similar to a professional singer. She has the gift of a beautiful voice, but if she doesn’t practice daily and sing for the public no one benefits from her gift. The gift lies dormant within her. Unused. Going to waste. So it is with us and the gifts God has given. Every spiritual gift increases in power as we mature spiritually. Spiritual gifts also enhance and stimulate our natural gifts.
5. What causes a shallow relationship with the Holy Spirit?
5. What causes a shallow relationship with the Holy Spirit? Anxiety. Compromise. Priorities out of order. Stresses in life. The Holy Spirit reduces the damage of our stressed out lives by activating spiritual and physical healing. He rejuvenates our tired, worn, and damaged bodies. What's more, the Holy Spirit not only heals our external conditions, but he reveals and delivers us from the underlying root causes and core issues when we say "Yes" to this process.
6. Is it possible to break the Holy Spirit's heart?
6. Is it possible to break the Holy Spirit's heart? Yes, it's similar to what a parent feels as he or she watches their adult child make choices they know will cause them pain. It breaks the parent's heart, but a loving parent does not withdraw their love nor abandon them. Like a loving parent, the Holy Spirit never abandons or withdraws his love from us even when we've grieved him. Ephesians 4:30-31 says, "Do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior." If these are active in a believer’s life it grieves the Holy Spirit.
7. What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
7. What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit? It is a supernatural experience that can take place at the time of our acceptance of Jesus as Savior or it can be a seperate spiritual experience. The baptism of the Holy Spirit’s true meaning is to be set free into the joy of God as it deposits divine power for the ministry of Jesus to flow through a Christian. This baptism is a one time entrance into a lifelong experience. It is a separate experience from spiritual birth. The Holy Spirit made his promised and awaited grand entrance on the day of Pentecost: “When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning, there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force - no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.”
8. How do I receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
You can ask others Christians to pray over you or you can pray this prayer when you are alone: “Lord, I ask you to baptize me in the Holy Spirit. I ask for the spiritual gifts you want to give me and for the gift of tongues, which will be my personal devotional prayer language. By faith, I receive this baptism. May your power fill me. Thank you Lord, for baptizing me in your Holy Spirit. Amen.” Now, it’s up to you to exercise what God has just given to you. “Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” Notice in that verse the Holy Spirit gave the words, but the disciples voluntarily began to speak? Just as they did and I did, yield your voice to God for the activation and expression of your new prayer language. Begin praising God in whatever words you think of. Tell Jesus how much you love Him. Thank Him and let the Holy Spirit give you new words of praise that you never heard before. Trust these words to be from God even though you don’t understand them with your intellect this will introduce you to Prayer Power .
Read the next chapter: Prayer Power or choose a title below.
Knowing God Power of Prayer Spiritual Warfare Glossary
Born to Love Renew the Mind Crisis Help What Readers Are Saying
Divine Connection Are You a Misfit? Love in Action ____________________________________________________________________________
Scriptures quotations taken from the New Living Translation® (NLT) Bible. Copyright © 1996 Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.
CJB denotes scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible® (CJB) Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern and used with the permission of Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 615, Clarksville, Maryland 21029. This Bible is available through Messianic Jewish Resources at: MessianicJewish.net
The story, 'I Won't Bow Down', is excerpted from the book "Jesus Freaks" 1999 and used with permission by Voice of the Martyrs (http://www.persecution.com) and DC Talk; published by Albury Publishing, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
8. How do I receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? You can ask others Christians to pray over you or you can pray this prayer when you are alone: “Lord, I ask you to baptize me in the Holy Spirit. I ask for the spiritual gifts you want to give me and for the gift of tongues, which will be my personal devotional prayer language. By faith, I receive this baptism. May your power fill me. Thank you Lord, for baptizing me in your Holy Spirit. Amen.” Now, it’s up to you to exercise what God has just given to you. “Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” Notice in that verse the Holy Spirit gave the words, but the disciples voluntarily began to speak? Just as they did and I did, yield your voice to God for the activation and expression of your new prayer language. Begin praising God in whatever words you think of. Tell Jesus how much you love Him. Thank Him and let the Holy Spirit give you new words of praise that you never heard before. Trust these words to be from God even though you don’t understand them with your intellect this will introduce you to Prayer Power .
Read the next chapter: Prayer Power or choose a title below.
Knowing God Power of Prayer Spiritual Warfare Glossary
Born to Love Renew the Mind Crisis Help What Readers Are Saying
Divine Connection Are You a Misfit? Love in Action ____________________________________________________________________________
Scriptures quotations taken from the New Living Translation® (NLT) Bible. Copyright © 1996 Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.
CJB denotes scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible® (CJB) Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern and used with the permission of Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 615, Clarksville, Maryland 21029. This Bible is available through Messianic Jewish Resources at: MessianicJewish.net
The story, 'I Won't Bow Down', is excerpted from the book "Jesus Freaks" 1999 and used with permission by Voice of the Martyrs (http://www.persecution.com) and DC Talk; published by Albury Publishing, Tulsa, Oklahoma.