Dennis Bennett - Nine oclock in the morning : with The Holy Spirit and you

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU

A Study-Guide to the Spirit-Filled Life

Dennis and Rita Bennett

BRIDGE PUBLISHING, INC. SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER,

GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Contents

Preface

This book shares some insights of a decade of active witnessing, teaching, traveling, and experiencing the work and manifestations of our Lord the Holy Spirit in many places. Much of the material was intended originally to form a second part to Dennis' book, Nine O'Clock in the Morning, but it seemed better to leave that volume to deal exclusively with telling the story of the modern renewal of the Faith as it has touched our lives, and leave teaching and explanation for a separate book.

The part on Spiritual Gifts and the Fruit of the Holy Spirit is taken largely from A Study Guide of the Spirit-Filled Life, a booklet prepared by Rita to instruct those who receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This booklet has enjoyed wide circulation, and many who know it will welcome it in expanded form here.

The last ten years have been a decade of testimony, as the word of the baptism in the Holy Spirit has penetrated the "old-line" churches. Today thousands of ministers and priests of the older denominations have received the Holy Spirit as on the Day of Pentecost, as have millions of lay people. Now, while the testimony goes forward with ever-increasing strength, there is great need for teaching. Someone has pointed out that the return of the appetite to a sick person is one of the first signs of recovery. God's People have been very sick, nigh unto death, but now the Church of God is convalescent, and very hungry! We hope this book will help to supply some of the nourishment needed for a full recovery!

We, Dennis and Rita, are Episcopalians (Anglicans), but in this study it will be evident that we are not pushing any particular brand of Christianity. Our greatest desire is for people to meet the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive the power of the Holy Spirit, regardless of their denominationif they have one. Occasionally we made references that would apply especially to our own denomination, or those similar, but the information we have given will also help others better understand these particular churches. We have dealt with the things that unite charismatic Christians, and have tried to avoid discussion of issues that have divided Christians through the centuries. The troubled questions are for the Holy Spirit to deal with, not us!

We do not claim or believe that we have all the truth, nor are we sure that in the coming years some of our views may not change, but we have presented these teachings sincerely and in the light we have at this time. During these years we have heard many outstanding speakers and teachers, and read numerous books on our subject. It would be impossible to give credit to all from whom the Lord has brought us knowledge and understanding. We can only thank the Holy Spirit Who has taught all of us. Where direct quotations are given throughout the book, we have, of course, given the source. Our most important written source, needless to say, has been Scripture itself. Also, we have learned many lessons through our own personal experiences.

We hope and pray that this book, The Holy Spirit and You, will be a help to many, both those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit for years, and those just entering or getting ready to enter this area of Christian experience. We close with St. Paul's words:

"Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing you are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge ... So that you come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (I Cor. 1:3-5, 7).

Seattle, Washington January 25, 1971

In the love of our Lord Jesus, Dennis and Rita Bennett

The First Step

Several years ago, in one of the New England states, the wife of a Christian businessman, a friend of ours, was busy cleaning up the breakfast dishes when a knock came at the door. She opened it, to see her neighbor standing therewith a woebegone look on her face.

"I've just come over to say good-bye," the visitor announced. "We've been neighbors for quite a while, and although we don't know one another real well, I just wanted to let you know we're leaving."

"Why?" asked my friend's wife. "Has your husband got a new job, or what? Sit down. Tell me about it."

The neighbor dropped wearily into a chair. "No," she said, "nothing like that. We're losing the housecan't make the payments. Losing the car, too, for that matter." She opened her hands. lying in her lap, and stared at them. Then she looked up. "Might as well give you the whole story. John and I are getting a divorce."

"But, why? What in the world has gone wrong?"

"My husband and I are both hopeless alcoholics," said the woman sadly. "Just can't seem to shake it. Money's all gone, and everything else with it. What gets me the most is our child; I don't like to see him the victim of a broken homeand all that." The little woman was nearly in tears.

"But," said my friend's wife, " don't you know there's an answer?"

The neighbor looked up abruptly: "What do you mean? We've tried everything we know! We just can't seem to stay on the program with AA. We've tried psychiatry, but even if that were a possible answer, we couldn't afford long-term counseling."

"Why don't you ask Jesus to help you?"

It was the neighbor's turn to look nonplussed. "Jesus? What's He got to do with it?"

"Why, He's the Savior!" exclaimed my friend's wife.

"Oh," said the visiting neighbor , "you mean religion and all that. Yeah, I'm religious. I mean, I believe in God, and I've tried to be a decent person." She laughed wryly. "I guess I haven't done too good a job of it though."

"No, no, that's not what I mean. I mean Jesus is a savior He saves, rescues people. He'll rescue you from your situation, if you ask Him to take over. You do want out of it, don't you? I mean, you want to be differentto get things straightened out?"

The neighbor looked at her companion for a moment or two. "Never heard it put that way before," she said slowly. "You mean it's that simple?just ask Him?"

My friend's wife nodded. "Uh-huh. He's alive, and He's right here. He'll do it!"

The neighbor sat for a moment or two in silence, then suddenly slipped out of the chair onto her knees and lifted her hands in a gesture of surrender. "I don't know how to say this," she said, "but, Jesus, please help me out of this mess. Please take over!" Then she stood up and without further comment, she went home.

Two days later the husband came over from next door. "What's happened to my wife?" he asked gruffly. "I want it, too!"

This Christian couple told him, and he got down on his knees on the kitchen floor and asked Jesus to take over his life!

What happened? The alcohol problem disappeared. It was only a symptom of their empty lives. The home was not lost. The marriage did not break up. Jesus saves He saved their home, their marriage, their health, and probably their lives. Jesus isn't hesitant to start with people's immediate needs. Two of His great miracles were performed to provide hungry people with food. Almost all of His miracles were done to meet the physical needs of people. Often the first step in becoming a Christian is just a cry for help (Acts 2:21).

But more than that happened to the one time alcoholic couple. Their whole way of life changed. They were different. Something happened to them inside.

The Greek word translated "save " in our English Bible is sozo , which means, according to the lexicon: