by Mr. Carlos D'Souza
Lk 12:10
When we do not use the spiritual gifts (Mt 25:14ff)
All of us have been blessed by God thru His Holy Spirit with spiritual gifts. However, many baptized Christians do not cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the use of the spiritual gifts. We like the servant who received the one talent in the parable narrated by Jesus prefer to keep our talents buried in the ground. Many of us are reluctant to come forward and make ourselves available for the Kingdom of God. We prefer to be spectators and be at the receiving end all the time. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Giving is a sign of growth and maturity. Only to be at the receiving end is a sign of childishness.
Misuse of the spiritual gifts (Acts 8:18-20)
Simon the magician wants to purchase the power whereby he could place his hands on people and they would receive the Holy Spirit. Peter rebukes Simon because his heart is not right in God’s sight and calls him to repentance. Spiritual gifts are meant to glorify God, evangelise and build up the body of Christ but often they are misused to acquire money, cheap popularity and self glorification. This defeats the very purpose for which the spiritual gifts are given to each one of us by the Holy Spirit.
When we destroy God’s temple (1Cor 3:16)
We are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells within us. St Paul warns us that if anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. God’s temple is holy and each one of us is that temple. Yet in our present time human beings have taken upon themselves to destroy fellow human beings through wars, terrorist attacks, suicide bombings, murders, abortions, mercy killing, tortures, rapes, gossip and slander.
Misuse & abuse of the Body-Temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19)
St Paul states that our body is sacred and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our body is meant for the Lord and the Lord for the body. The body is not meant for fornication. However today the burning issue among us is that of sexual immorality. We are influenced by our society, media, literature. The sacredness of marriage is no longer held in esteem. Premarital and extra marital sex , live in relationships seems to the modern trend.
Life & Fruits of the Flesh (Rom 8:5-6) and (Gal 5:19-20)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh. To set one’s mind on things of the flesh is death.
The works of the flesh are fornication, impurity, licentiousness i.e. sexual promiscuisity idolatory, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissension i.e angry disagreements, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like these.
Refusal to yield and be led by the Holy Spirit.
How to please the Holy Spirit
1) To lead a life worthy of our calling (Eph 4:1 ff) by putting off the old & fallen nature by being renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the new nature of Christ created in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:22-24).This means that there should be an actual living of Christ in us and by us everyday
2) To manifest the Fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23)
3) Allow the Holy Spirit to control our life (Gal 5:25) If we live by the spirit let us also be guided by the Holy Spirit.