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The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit by Rev. George Mastrontonis God The Holy Spirit by Rev. George Mastrontonis The Descent Of The Holy Spirit On Apostles by Rev. George Mastrontonis

The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit The Christian should be informed of the various gifts given him by God. Gifts are given only to those who believe in the true faith, and not to those who have gone astray by interpreting on their own or to those who believe in superstitions. There is no neutrality in matters of belief; either one believes in the "True God" or in his own man-made gods, such as astrology, fortune telling, witchcraft, greediness, etc., all as objects of worship (cf. John 17:3). The difference between the belief in the True God and in others is the acceptance of the gift of the Holy Spirit. For "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit", I Cor. 12:3. The acceptance of Christ as the Savior through confession in Christ as the True God is the highest gift given to the believer by the Holy Spirit. If one does not wish to accept this gift, he does not allow himself to understand the reality of the True God as opposed to his own ideas. This acceptance is his own choice through his own free will. This is why one is responsible for his own fate. As a result, those who believe in superstitions are enslaved in thoughts and feelings by their choice. Their preoccupation with superstitions, astrology, etc. does not permit them to accept the True God. This is true slavery of the mind. If one opens his mind and heart to accept the gift of the Holy Spirit in the belief in the True God, he will realize a great difference in himself, having peace of mind and harmony of living which bring about a living faith. "There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit", 1 Cor. 12:4. It is the Holy Spirit from Whom every gift is given with certain abilities and understanding. The faithful one is called to undertake the responsibility of gifts or charismata which are bestowed on him. "And there are varieties of service, but the same Lord, and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone" (vs. 4-6). In addition to the "varieties of gifts" of faith, there are the "varieties of service" by which the faithful one serves his fellow man with love and almsgiving. The one who receives the gifts of "service" considers himself a steward of the Lord. He devotes all his abilities with love in the service of God's commandments. The "varieties" of "service" in everyday life include: medicine, hospital care, nursing, social work, care for the elderly, teaching, missionary work, honest government and in general all services which deal in helping others when done in the name ofthe "same Lord". The "varieties of working" are the results of the energies and the actions of the "varieties of service". They are the wonderful results which come either in the everyday life of the people or in the spiritual world, when done in the name of the "same God". The varieties of gifts of service and of working, "All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills" (v. I 1). "To each (person) is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (v. 17). Each person is given the energy, charisma and grace to work for the common interest of the people. The successful achievements of this "service" and "working" should be attributed to one and the same power - the Holy Spirit - Who bestows them. These "varieties", although separate, contribute to the same goal - the helping one another - and depend upon the same authority, the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the God. These are not varieties for destruction, but energies of unification in the service of the Will of God. They are fruits coming from the same root - the inspiration of God Himself. The "varieties of gifts" are many: "To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophesy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills" (vs. 8-1 1 ). The gift of the "utterance of wisdom" means the deeper understanding of the Will of God and mysteries of salvation; the "utterance of knowledge" means the good sense of knowledge; "faith" means the supernatural achievements through the Spirit; "healing" means the ability to heal various sicknesses; "working of miracles" means supernatural achievements; "prophesy" means the miracle in the form of preaching; "ability to distinguish between spirits" means being able to distinguish between good and evil spirits by which various spiritual expressions exist; "various kinds of tongues" means the gift of speaking in many dialects of which the meaning is known only to him who speaks them, not even an interpreter; "interpretation of tongues" means the ability to interpret the language of the speaker of "tongues" to the people who do not understand what is being said. By: Rev. George Mastrontonis © 1990-1996 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

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God The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, of the same essence and equal rank as the Father and the Son. "And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree", 1 John 5:7-8. The Holy Spirit as God is revealed in many verses in Scripture: "Why has Satan filled your hearts to lie to the Holy Spirit ... you have not lied to men, but to God", Acts 5:3,4b; also "There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit . . . the same Lord . . . it is the same God", 1 Corinthians 12:5f (cf. Mtt. 28:19; 2. Cor. 13:13f). The Godhead of the Holy Spirit comes directly from the Father. As the Son is begotten by the Father, the Holy Spirit also is proceeded from the Father, for "When the Counselor (the Holy Spirit) comes, whom I (Christ) shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me", John 15:26. The Church has proclaimed this truth, that the Holy Spirit is of the same substance with the Father and the Son in the Godhead of the Trinity. The Church has incorporated this truth in the Nicene Creed as pronounced by the Second Ecumenical Synod (381). It states (I believe) "And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets." The Holy Spirit in truth remains in the Church, protects and preserves its Truths and sanctifies its members. The Holy Spirit is the Power and Comforter of the believers, and was promised by Christ. Being the third Person of the Holy Trinity does not mean He is not equal in substance with the Father and Son. The Spirit is the life-giving energy and bower which makes the Church "the pillar and ground of the truth", I Timothy 3:15. The Holy Spirit was the divine instrument in the birth of Jesus Christ as God-Man . "The Holy Spirit will come upon you (Virgin Mary), and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called Holy , the Son of God", Luke 1:35. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible and the Source of inspiration for its writers through those years. This is why the Bible, although it was written by different persons and in different eras over the span of 1000 years, is coherent and consistent in substance and meaning. This is a remarkable and overwhelming fact. There is no other literature in the world which has this outstanding coherence, while written over such a period of time and by different writers. What was prophesied in the Old Testament, dating back hundreds of years, was fulfilled in time, and in detail, in the New Testament. This is an extraordinary phenomenon. This coherence of the Old with the New was an evolutionary process in the course of time between the divine promise and its realization. This was not because of any change of the Truth as such, but because of its development for human acceptance, for "when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son . . . . God has sent the Spirit of his S on into our hearts", Galatians 4:4,6. The Holy Spirit throughout the centuries revealed the divine Truths and inspired chosen Prophets and Apostles to spread and proclaim them to all peoples of the inhabited earth. It was in the Design of Almighty God that chosen personalities were indispensable in teaching and preaching these Truths to "all nations". These chosen personalities did not proclaim their own ideas or philosophies, but only used their own abilities, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to serve the Will of God. These chosen personalities proved themselves outstanding co-workers of God. The Prophets, Apostles and an chosen personalities considered themselves instruments of the Holy Spirit, and they spoke with authority, as Christ said to the Apostles: "Receive the Holy Spirit", John 20:22. The "gift" of the Holy Spirit is a static one, but a transforming and sanctifying power leading the chosen one to accomplish the Will of God. Chosen personalities are exhorted to "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the church of the Lord", Acts 20:28. This "gift" of the Holy Spirit is given to both the clergy and laity who belong to the true Church. By: Rev. George Mastrontonis © 1990-1996 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

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The Descent Of The Holy Spirit On Apostles For centuries, from the beginning of the Christian Church just fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit has continuously inspired the faithful members and granted them the spiritual prerequisites for salvation. The fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ, the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit made His official entrance into the Church. This took place "When the day of Pentecost had come, they (the Apostles) were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance," Acts 2:1-4. This miraculous event changed the attitude of the, Apostles and others, who because of fear of arrest and punishment by the Jews were together in the "upper room". This attitude of fear and doubt was reversed, turning into courage and the bold faith to preach to all peoples. These Apostles and their disciples immediately became heralders and preachers of the Gospel of Christ. Despite their belief that the Lord had risen from the dead and appeared to them, showing them the wounds of His hands, walking with the two to Emmaous and speaking to them often, the Apostles were fearful and unable of themselves to face the people and begin their commission. From the day of the arrest of Christ, the Apostles showed great weakness. They not only were unable, to fight against the false accusations and slanders, but some also scattered and went into hiding. Even Peter, the pillar of the Apostles, denied under oath that he even knew Christ. Such was the condition of the Apostles and other disciples of Christ up to the day of Pentecost and the descent of the Holy Spirit. All these weaknesses were foretold by Christ, especially on the day before His arrest. But what an abrupt change came over the Apostles and disciples on this day of Pentecost. Fear and doubt turned to courage and strong faith. They recalled all that Christ had taught them; their conviction became deep and abiding. Their intention, spiritual power and attitude toward the killers of Christ was the, substance of their steadfast preaching. How did the Apostles receive so abruptly this changing power? How did the Apostles receive strength and durability? This changing power came from the Holy Spirit. He recalled to their minds the inexhaustible, eternal source of the Wisdom of the Christian Message. This changing Power came upon the Apostles and disciples on the day of Pentecost with the descent of the Holy Spirit. It engulfed them "like the rush of a mighty wind ... And there appeared to them tongues as of fire . . . distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (vs. 2, 3, 4). This changing Power transformed them into great heralders and preachers of the Word of God. The Apostles emerged boldly, from their hiding place into the open to preach, teach and heal everyone in the name of Christ, "and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (v 4). By: Rev. George Mastrontonis © 1990-1996 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

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