Where will power meets the Holy Spirit

[KrisWampler]

Will power plays a significant role in the Christian life. We are told to resist the devil so he flees from us, another way of saying to not give in to temptation. We are also instructed that our works will reveal the transformation the Holy Spirit has done in us (not that works will save us). These are two examples of will power, free will, choice, whatever word or phrase you wish to use. The simple fact is, we have to choose to follow Christ and His commands, and that means living our lives in a way that honors him. It is a choice at least on some level, not only the moment we accept but every day when we bring our struggles and failures back to the cross.

Yet we also know our own weaknesses. We know where we fail, and fail daily. The Holy Spirit goes to work immediately to transform us once we accept Christ. We also rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, draw us closer to the Father, etc.

Where do you believe the line is between human will/our choices/et al and the Holy Spirit? Or is there a line at all? How do we view both with the proper perspective?

 

[wattie]

There is the base line will of God which is the likes of being prepared to share the faith, regular church attendance, regular prayer, giving money, etc..

When we do these, relying on the Holy Spirit, then the personal, more specific plan of God for us becomes clearer.

 

[Dino246]

Every time I read "will power" (instead of "willpower"), I think of Will Power, the IndyCar driver.

Then again, I may be the only one on this site who thinks that; I haven't come across any other IndyCar fans around here.

 

[RizenPhoenix]

Will power plays a significant role in the Christian life. We are told to resist the devil so he flees from us, another way of saying to not give in to temptation. We are also instructed that our works will reveal the transformation the Holy Spirit has done in us (not that works will save us). These are two examples of will power, free will, choice, whatever word or phrase you wish to use. The simple fact is, we have to choose to follow Christ and His commands, and that means living our lives in a way that honors him. It is a choice at least on some level, not only the moment we accept but every day when we bring our struggles and failures back to the cross.

Yet we also know our own weaknesses. We know where we fail, and fail daily. The Holy Spirit goes to work immediately to transform us once we accept Christ. We also rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, draw us closer to the Father, etc.

Where do you believe the line is between human will/our choices/et al and the Holy Spirit? Or is there a line at all? How do we view both with the proper perspective?

Our intrinsic self develops a will for good or a will for bad, and it is tied to our spiritual heart condition. We as humans have to work every day on our Christian personality and pray for God's Holy Spirit. The fruit of the spirit are listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Human's will and choice aligns together, and the HS constantly readjust us because by nature we are sinful. You have to work EVERY DAY to be a servant of the Most High. Therefore, do not become downhearted or saddened when you fall, get back up. If you possess the Spirit of God, it will help you not practice sin.

 

[TDidymas]

Will power plays a significant role in the Christian life. We are told to resist the devil so he flees from us, another way of saying to not give in to temptation. We are also instructed that our works will reveal the transformation the Holy Spirit has done in us (not that works will save us). These are two examples of will power, free will, choice, whatever word or phrase you wish to use. The simple fact is, we have to choose to follow Christ and His commands, and that means living our lives in a way that honors him. It is a choice at least on some level, not only the moment we accept but every day when we bring our struggles and failures back to the cross.

Yet we also know our own weaknesses. We know where we fail, and fail daily. The Holy Spirit goes to work immediately to transform us once we accept Christ. We also rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, draw us closer to the Father, etc.

Where do you believe the line is between human will/our choices/et al and the Holy Spirit? Or is there a line at all? How do we view both with the proper perspective?

It's a matter of faith. If we base our commitment to God on will power, we're guaranteed to fail, because we can't carry the burden. We must base our commitment on God's ability to direct us. "A man plans his way, but God directs his steps." "Abide in Me, for apart from Me you can do nothing." "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God is at work in you, to will and do His good pleasure." The works that please God are the works that are attached to the faith that God is at work, which begins with Christ's work.

Therefore I don't see a line of demarcation between the believer's will and the Holy Spirit. If we do (through believing) what pleases God, then our will is the will of the Spirit. But there will likely be room for improvement until the resurrection.

 

[RizenPhoenix]

It's a matter of faith. If we base our commitment to God on will power, we're guaranteed to fail, because we can't carry the burden. We must base our commitment on God's ability to direct us. "A man plans his way, but God directs his steps." "Abide in Me, for apart from Me you can do nothing." "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God is at work in you, to will and do His good pleasure." The works that please God are the works that are attached to the faith that God is at work, which begins with Christ's work.

Therefore I don't see a line of demarcation between the believer's will and the Holy Spirit. If we do (through believing) what pleases God, then our will is the will of the Spirit. But there will likely be room for improvement until the resurrection.

The line of demarcation is-- the will/choice is within a man; the Holy Spirit is outside man and is given to him.

 

[JaumeJ]

Will power plays a significant role in the Christian life. We are told to resist the devil so he flees from us, another way of saying to not give in to temptation. We are also instructed that our works will reveal the transformation the Holy Spirit has done in us (not that works will save us). These are two examples of will power, free will, choice, whatever word or phrase you wish to use. The simple fact is, we have to choose to follow Christ and His commands, and that means living our lives in a way that honors him. It is a choice at least on some level, not only the moment we accept but every day when we bring our struggles and failures back to the cross.





Where do you believe the line is between human will/our choices/et al and the Holy Spirit? Or is there a line at all? How do we view both with the proper perspective?

Wonderful sharing! As for a line between, my thinking and belief is that our personal behavior can only interfere with the Holy Spirit within each of us.
We must tolerate or suffer the self while in this age, however look only to the Holy Spirit for what is good, again while in this age.

 

[Magenta]

 

[justbyfaith]

Col 2:20, Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21, (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22, Which all are to perish with the using;~) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Col 2:23, Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

 

[Blik]

Where do you believe the line is between human will/our choices/et al and the Holy Spirit? Or is there a line at all? How do we view both with the proper perspective?

To me it is very simple. When we accept Christ within we give our will to Christ. We then put in our minds all we can learn of the ways of Christ through church, scripture reading, fellowship as these feed the holy spirit within us. We become very careful that what we put in our minds is clean as the commandments about food taught before Christ explained those commandments in a spiritual way.

Paul explains how we still sometimes fail to follow Christ when Paul said he sometimes did what he did not want to do in Romans 7:19. Paul had given his will to Christ so he lived in repentance of sin, so God forgave the sin he committed because Paul repented of that sin.

 

[p_rehbein]

The line of demarcation is-- the will/choice is within a man; the Holy Spirit is outside man and is given to him.

The Holy Spirit resides within man IF that man is sanctified. The Indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit is our Teacher, Comforter, and Strength to combat the evil of this world.

 

[Runningman]

Then the Christian discovers there are very few things that his or her willpower wields control over. The Christian will soon discover that they have possibly made strides in learning self-control in some parts of their life, but by and large are incapable of mastering the world around them. Even the devil, when he flees because of a Christian's stubborn resistance to giving into temptation, gets bored and returns again, again, again, and again a little nastier each time.

The Christian walks by path, by trust, and is meant to be as tough as nails. They are able to endure persecution, hardship, chaos, while still holding holy ground in a battle against the forces of evil. Sooner or later they discover that it is no longer their will that is controlling them, but they have become purchased property - literal slaves to righteousness.

 

[TDidymas]

The line of demarcation is-- the will/choice is within a man; the Holy Spirit is outside man and is given to him.

Your idea that the Holy Spirit is outside man applies only to those who are lost, that is, unregenerate, "without God in the world." That "line of demarcation" is irrelevant to what I wrote, since what I wrote applies to the believer.

 

[pottersclay]

It is written ...man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

If we believe in the words " thy kingdom come ...thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" then we must become a part of it. Weather large or small.

Jesus after being baptized was led into the wilderness and of the many teachings that come from this story there are 2 facts that remain.
1. He was sustained by the word of God.
2. He overcame all the world had offered.
I believe every christian will have and does have wilderness experiences.
Being led by the Holy Spirit has to be taught. I believe we are unique and exclusive for God's glory.
I believe the Holy Spirit shared this story with us as since there were no witnesses to this event.
The Lord said repeatedly....not by power nor by might but by my spirit says the Lord.
The battle of wills to take place can also be found with the story of paul.
How he wanted to teach his fellow jes but was sent to the gentiles.
Maybe I'm off on this and don't understand the op as his asking but that's a short take of what I believe.

 

[CS1]

We are not told to resist the devil......

 

[JaumeJ]

Where do we hear the teaching, Resist thedevil and he will flee from you?"

King James Bible
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

New King James Version
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

New American Standard Bible
Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

NASB 1995
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

 

[CS1]

Where do we hear the teaching, Resist thedevil and he will flee from you?"

we are told to SUBMIT TO GOD. in James 4. Then you resist the devil and he will flee from you.

MANY FORGET THE SUBMITTING PART, which if we are not doing the devil is not fleeing from you.

 

[pottersclay]

we are told to SUBMIT TO GOD. in James 4. Then you resist the devil and he will flee from you.

MANY FORGET THE SUBMITTING PART, which if we are not doing the devil is not fleeing from you.

Very good catch here CS1 I agree fully that many forget to submit to God.
We are not a match for the devil for even the angel says the Lord rebuke you.

 

[pottersclay]

Jesus had come to do the will of the father only.
Everything he had done and spoken came from the father through the Holy Spirit.
Even the Pharisees agreed that God had sent him. The pride of the Pharisees took over when jesus started to correct their teachings and deeds. To correct their understanding of scripture.
There again is the will of man vrs Gods will be done.
God knowing the end from the beginning did not reject Israel but paused his restoration of Israel to focus on the now invited gentiles to begin building the kingdom jesus spoke about.
The pause of restoration did not hinder the spoken prophecy of future scattering of Israel as we know was the 70 ad event and even after the anti-semitism that a few today witnessed during ww2 was part of the scattering.
God said that he will gather his people from the 4 corners of the earth and bring them back to the land he gave them. 1948 Israel is reborn. No longer called Palestine. The restoration begins again a prophecy fulfilled.
As I said in post 14 you must want to be a part of God's will to be in his will.
When I used to teach bible studies I would say ...God has a sign on the door that says " help wanted but not needed".

 

[Gardenias]

I see the " WIIL OF MAN," in opposition to the FUNCTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The word says that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Stubborn ways pull your soul away from God,it is quenching the Spirit or resisting his will in your life.
We MUST follow the Father's WILL,as Jesus did,regardless!