Does the Holy Spirit in Person Help the Christian Today? (Series #2)

by Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

In the first series we made a comparison how Satan does his work and how the Holy Spirit works. If one believes that the Devil in person does his work of urging, nudging, encouraging, influencing, and guiding people that he tempts today, it would be unreasonable to deny the Holy Spirit the same personal action of urging, nudging, encouraging, influencing and guiding Christians. We have shown scriptures that the Holy Spirit could use the heavenly bodies to help create belief and partially know God without the Bible. We have shown that angels could be sent as personal messengers to help Christians. Thus it is clear that urging, nudging, encouraging, influencing and guiding to help Christians is not always and only through the oral/written Bible.

In this second lesson (series #2) we focus on the expression “personal indwelling” of the Holy Spirit. The term “indwelling” has been defined by two Filipino preachers who debated the issue this year as “guidance or influence of the Holy Spirit.” Care should be taken, however, not to create a dimensionalized abode or residence. We should not think of God (the Holy Spirit by extension) as present in heaven but not on earth. Or that when the Holy Spirit is felt on earth that He is not in heaven.

A very basic foundation in the understanding of this issue of “indwelling” is our acceptance of terms and principles recognized in dogmatic theology like omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, transcendence and immanence as attributes of the Godhead.

Claude B. Moss gives these definitions: “transcendence – God is above, beyond and outside all that He has made” and “immanence – God is inside all that He has made, as well as outside; He is the Creator, Preserver and Sustainer of all creation,” (The Christian Faith, pp. 15,16).

If the five terms above are recognized and accepted, then the debate should stop.

If God (the Holy Spirit by extension) is omnipresent and He is immanent, and we believe that there are three persons in the Godhead, then the immanent presence of the Holy Spirit is personal. Could we think of a corner of the universe where the omnipresent God (the Holy Spirit by extension) is not present in person?

Just to exercise our readers’ minds, may I force you to wrestle with the following questions so that you can go higher into the spiritual realm. Please read John 17:20-26 and answer the following:

1. How are all true believers one? (see vs. 21, 22)
2. How are the Father and the Son one? (vs. 21, 22)
3. How is the Father in (inside) Jesus Christ? (v. 21)
4. How is Jesus Christ in (inside) the Father? (v. 21)
5. How is Jesus Christ in (inside) all true believers? (vs. 23, 26)
6. How can person A be inside person B; but at the same time person B is inside person A?

Focalized Presence

Immanence, however, is not the same as focalized presence where help, urging, nudging, encouragement, influence, guidance is felt in some measure among chosen disciples. Think of the time that the Holy Spirit in a special way was with Jesus during His baptism at the Jordan River and in many miraculous works where Jesus demonstrated the explosions of the Holy Spirit’s power. On the other hand, think of the time of His arrest at Gethsemane and during the trial and crucifixion. Think of the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit’s exploding power was with Peter, but not during his arrest and imprisonment in Acts 4. The conclusion is that God (the Holy Spirit by extension) is omnipresent and omnipotent, but would only display sporadic presence and power that are felt by human senses.

During the Exodus, God was omnipresent but it was only at the locality of Mt. Sinai that God’s exploding grandeur and power was sensed by humanity. In like manner today, there are chosen people where the Holy Spirit chooses to nudge, urge, encourage, influence and guide according to the measure of the need, the intensity of the supplication for help that is lifted up to the heavens and the welcoming attitude of the individuals’ heart.

Indwelling

God (the Holy Spirit by extension) promised to dwell among the children of Israel (see 1 Kings 6:13), but God’s glorious personal presence did not explode in every corner of Canaan where the 12 tribes settled down. Neither was there a continuous day and night glorious personal presence exploding in the tabernacle and temple. There were only sporadic shekinahs in the holy of holies.

King Solomon said, “Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple which I have built!” (1Kings 8:27). The LORD says, “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool, where is the house that you will build me? And where is the place of my rest?” (Isaiah 61:1)

Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” If you want to insist on an Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) minister that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in that human body of Jesus Christ, why can’t you accept that the Holy Spirit can dwell in your human body? If we say that only through the word, the Bible, that the Holy Spirit would indwell the Christian, then it would follow that only through the word, the Bible, did the Godhead dwell in Jesus bodily.

These few verses quoted above express the simultaneous transcendence and immanence of God in the universe. Yes, it is difficult to accept this thing if our minds dwell in the dimensionalized material world. But we are talking about a spiritual persona. This should be accepted as true even if it could not be satisfactorily demonstrated physically, just as the Trinity is true yet it remains difficult to explain how three persons is one God. It is difficult to explain mathematically how the Father is in the Son, and at the same time the Son is in the Father.

There are what we call antinomies, seeming contradictions, but these things are true. They have to be accepted by faith because these things are in the higher realm.

(To be continued)

Music & Leadership Camp for Young People in Isabela

Young people in the province of Isabela will hold a Dec. 26-29 “Music & Leadership Camp” at the Provincial Sports Complex that is located near the Capitol Building in Ilagan town. Hosting this affair is the Bliss congregation of Ilagan.

Leadership Training Class Does Personal Evangelism

The Leadership Training Class that usually meets in San Mateo, Isabela transferred the venue to Diffun, Quirino on December 15. In the morning they had a lecture, but in the afternoon they knocked on doors and visited previous prospects. One visible result this set up was the baptism on Dec. 15 of sister Brigida Baniega who had been taught by Reggie Valdez and Francing Lumandaz. (Edward Tangunan)

Lecture Series at the Rabon Bible College

Rabon Bible College in Pangasinan, in cooperation with Philippine Bible College Alumni Association, sponsors a series of lectures on church issues to acquaint the younger generation with what happened in the past decades but these still linger among Philippine churches. The first of this series was conducted on Dec. 15 at the Rabon chapel in San Fabian town.

Brother Eusebio Tanicala presented the biblical basis of preaching schools/Bible Colleges as educational or training programs of congregations. In conjunction with Bible Colleges, the biblical basis of inter-congregational cooperation was also discussed. On the other hand, brother Jovencio Gundayao started his series on the person and gifts/influences of the Holy Spirit on Christians today. Brother Gundayao takes the position that aside from the influence through the Bible as processed by the mind, the Holy Spirit may also influence/nudge Christians. The second session will be on January 5 in the same venue.

Does the Holy Spirit Personally Help a Christian in the 21st Century? (Series #1)

by Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Members of the Churches of Christ believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, the third person in the Trinity. The question in this series is “Does the Holy Spirit directly or in person work,help, urge, nudge, influence, encourage, guide a Christian today?

It is an accepted issue that the Holy Spirit helps, urges, nudges, encourages, guides a Christian today through the Bible, through the word. But this writer denies that the Holy Spirit always and only work through the Bible in helping, urging, nudging, encouraging, guiding a Christian. “Thro the word only” means that a Christian has to always read/hear the Bible, then process the information in his mind (brain) and what is shifted and accepted becomes his conviction and persuasion. This position of “thro the word only” is too limited. .

The “thro the word only” is like the idea that Karl Marx or Jose Rizal could influence the 21st century man through their literary works only that are read or propagandized by ideologists. Their spiritual persons could not transmit any message or nudging to the minds and hearts of communists and Rizalists. Do you believe that the Holy Spirit is in the heavens, but He is as limited as the spirit of Karl Marx or the soul of Rizal?

This series of short articles shall endeavor to prove the reasonableness of the the position that aside from the Bible (the word), the Holy Spirit may choose to help, urge, nudge, encourage,influence, guide a Christian in a direct or personal way. We shall go step by step in this exploration.

STEP #1. MAKE A COMPARISON ON HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HOW THE DEVIL DO THEIR RESPECTIVE WORKS.

In my booklet, “19 Steps Towards a Better Understanding of the Humanity and Deity of Christ” the comparative chart showing what the Devil did and what Christ did opens the eyes of many Bible students about the deity of Christ. When this comparative method is applied in the present series, eyes will also be opened.

We ask questions.

1. When the Devil roars and prowls and devours people (1Pet.5:8), may he do it personally, or does he accomplish the act only and always through satanic prose and poetry? ____ On the other hand, when the Holy Spirit works, helps, urges, nudges, encourages, influences, guides a Christian, may He do it directly/personally if He chooses to? ___
2. When the Devil tempts a Christian by working on the libidinal or instinctive sexual, lustful desires (1 John 2:16; Gal. 5:19; Romans 7:14-25), may the Devil do the influencing directly or personally, or does he do the work through written/oral satanic prose and poetry always and only?___ On the other hand, when the Holy Spirit helps a Christian in controlling the lustful libido and encourages its legal expression within marriage, may He do the infuencing directly or personally (Rom. 1:24-27;2:12-16), or does He work through the written/oral Bible only? ___
3. Satan in his work of influencing atheists to believe in evolution as an explanation of the universe, does he do the work through satanic prose and poetry only and always? ____ On the other hand, the Holy Spirit garnished the heavens and God created the cosmos (Job 26:13; Romans 1:20), may the Holy Spirit use the material universe to persuade men to believe in God even without the written/oral Bible? _____
4. Ephesians 6:12; Mark 5:1-20 speak of wrestling with principalities and powers and rulers of the kingdom of darkness, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places, are these characters mentioned personalities that influence people or are these items listed mere philosophical ideas contained in prose and poetry only? ____ On the other hand, if Christians consider Eph. 6:12 & Mark 5:1-20 as pointing to spiritual personalities becoming victorious and the Holy Spirit is displaced in the Christian’s heart, the Holy Spirit is grieved (Eph. 4:30), is the Holy Spirit that is made sad a person or is the Bible the one grieved? ___
5. When a Christian resists the Devil (1 Peter 5:9), is he resisting a personal Devil or does he resist a message or an idea from the Bible? ____
6. When the guardian angel (Matt. 18:10) works, or angels are sent by God (Heb. 1:14; 13:1-2) to minister to the saved, or visit a Christian, are these personalities working in person as messengers of the Holy Spirit? ____

Seriously reflect on the above questions. Answer them.

(To be continued)

Baguio–Benguet Ladies Fellowship

Every November 30th, being a national non-working holiday, ladies in the congregations in the City of Baguio and province of Benguet come together for fellowship and edification. This year there were 98 in attendance. Host congregation was Center Point congregation. Speakers were Juliet Dayucos and Brenda Coloma. The venue was the auditorium at 18 Rimando Road, Baguio.

Evangelism Workshop in Kalookan City

Brethren in the Kalookan City congregation successfully hosted the 2007 National Evangelism Workshop-Seminar last Dec. 6-8. It was conducted in their 3 story building which is found at 74 Asuncion Road, Morning Breeze Subdivision. This assembly hall is within walking distance from the Monumento LRT staton and very proximate to the Manila Central University along Edsa.

Among the lecturers were Fred Angangan, Sid Banez, Jun Patricio, Eusebio Tanicala, Bob Buchanan and Ken Wilkey. (E. Tanicala)

December Events

• December 21-23, Family Camp in Paniqui, Tarlac
• December 22, Pangasinan speaking churches fellowship in Pozorrubio
• December 27-29, Youth Encampment in San Fabian, Pangasinan
• December26-29, Gospel Meeting in San Emilio, Ilocos Sur

Christianity & Islam — Comparison & Contrast (1)

by Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.

Several times I’ve been asked by brethren what the basic teachings of Islam are and how to counteract the claims of Muslims that don’t agree with Christianity. In the year 2001 I started reading the Qur’an. I also read several books written by Muslims and non-Muslims.

In this series of short articles, I shall endeavor to share with our readers some information. And I will show the weakness of some positions/beliefs taken by Muslim adherents.

A. A Brief Info About Muhammad’s Life

The complete name of the founder of Islam is Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Abd al Muttalib according to Stephen Schwartz (The Two Faces of Islam). It is generally believed that he was born in the year 570 of the Christian era in the city of Mecca, Arabia, a center of trade in the southwest of the Arabian peninsula. He died in the year 632 or at the age of 62. He belonged to the Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe. His father died before he was born. His mother’s name is Aminah who died when he was six; grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, caretaker of the Ka’bah, took him to the stone temple; uncle Abu Talib, raised him up and taught him the caravan trade. Muhammad became a commercial agent of a rich widow, Kadija bint Khuwaylid, 15 years his senior. When he was 25 years old, Kadija asked him to marry her and she bore him 4 daughters. At age 40 he claimed to have received divine revelations.

It is taught that the first words the Angel Gabriel told Muhammad was, “Recite! You are the Messenger of God.” The words that were recited to Muhammad is now Islam’s holy scriptures. Qur’an or Koran means “recitation.” You may refer to a standard dictionary. The word Islam means “submission to God” and Muslim is “one who submits to God” from the Arabic word aslama (surrender), islam (submission), salama (to be resigned).

B. Koranic Verse

From the volume “Interpretation of the Meaning of THE NOBLE QUR’AN in the English Language” (at the right side of the page is the Arabic text of the Qur’an and at the left side is the literalistic translation-interpretation), I copied the following verse from the section called Surat All-Araf [The Heights (Or The Wall With Elevations)] VII:

 

158. Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah — to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worlshipped but He); It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad) who believes in Allah and His Words [(this Qur'an), the Torah and the Gospel and also Allah's Word:"Be!" -- and he was i.e. Jesus--son of Mary,], and follow him so that you may be guided.”

This is my analysis of the verse: Islam teaches a Muslim adherent to do the following: (a) believe in God who is called Allah, (b) believe in God’s messenger who is Muhammad, (c) believe in God’s word which is the Qur’an, (d) believe in the Torah which is the first 5 books of the Old Testament section of the Christian Bible, (e) believe in the Gospel which is the first 4 books of the New Testament of the Christian Bible, and (f) believe in God’s Word: “Be!” that is the person of Jesus Christ the son of Mary who is called the Word in John 1:1-3.

Based on this verse of the Koran, a serious student of the Christian Bible can deduce several ideas like following: (a) Muhammad knew the Torah of the Hebrews because there were Jewish communities in Mecca and Medina during his time and he passed through the towns of Palestine and Syria during his caravan days; (b) Muhammad knew the Gospel of the Christians because there were Christian communities in Mecca and Medina and he passed through the towns of Palestine and Syria where there were many Christian congregations during his caravan days; (c) Muhammad evidently didn’t know our Restoration principle on the difference of the Christian dispensation from the Mosaical dispensation; (d) Muhammad didn’t know that the Christian system abrogated the Mosaical system; and (e) Muhammad didn’t understand the divinity messengership of Jesus Christ who is the Logos of John 1:1-3 as well as the finality of Jesus Christ covenant.

Confront the Muslim adherent along this line of reasoning: Islam enjoins recognition of and obedience to Jesus Christ, the Logos of God; Jesus Christ says that His words (John 12:45-50; 20:31) will be the basis of judgment at the last day; therefore, to supersede Jesus Christ with the claim of Muhammad and to supersede the Gospel with the claim of the Qur’an is to commit inconsistency or error. (To be continued)

National Evangelism Workshop/Seminar (NEWS)

We are inviting the brotherhood to this year’s

National Evangelism Workshop/Seminar (NEWS)

Date:Dec.6-8,2007

Venue: Kalookan Church of Christ

74 Asuncion St., Morning Breeze Subd. ,Kalookan City (near M.C.U.)

Speakers:

• Bob Buchanan
• Fred Angangan
• Kenneth Wilkey
• Eusebio Tanicala
• Edwin Valencia
• Bonifacio Patricio Jr.

Special lectures on Evangelism by Sid Banez.

Registration is PhP350.00/head

NOTE: You may choose to eat at nearby fastfoods or you may want to bring your own baon. That will be alright.

Leonardo Salta laid to rest

Brother Leonardo Salta has gone to his eternal rest after serving the Master for more than thirty five years in the province of Pampanga.

Leonardo was in the third grade when he saw the Japanese Imperial Army bombers rained fire on Clark Field in Angeles-Dau, Pampanga. He didn’t understand why his teacher in the classroom cried upon seeing the airplanes and hearing the bombs that exploded.

He was an active Bible study teacher in the Roman Catholic church before his real conversion to Christ based on the Bible happened. When his neighbor in Anao went home for vacation and upon learning that his neighbor has converted to a non Roman Catholic group, he went for a visit. Their conversation led to a study of the Bible. Brother Leonardo was pleased to know that what he read from his Bible are being practiced in the group his neighbor belongs to. More study sessions followed and in the first quarter of 1972 Leonardo and his friends in Anao, Mexico were baptized at the beach in Olongapo City. That same year, he and some younger members of the new congregation in Anao enrolled at the Philippine Bible College branch in Angeles City which was directed by our editor, Eusebio Tanicala.Brother Lleonardo was able to earn his associate in theology.

Brother Leonardo strengthened the congregation in Anao, Mexico and then moved his family to San Fernando City, the capital of Pampanga. Here in this city, he ministered to the community and nearby towns. Through his leadership and patience, together with the brethren in San Fernando, a lot and a building were purchased for the church at San Isidro Village.

He died on Nov. 25th in San Fernando City and his remains were buried in his beloved birthplace of Anao, Mexico, Pampanga on the 28th. (Eusebio Tanicala)

Daniel Juralbal called home

Brother Daniel Juralbal was called home by the Master in the afternoon of November 26th. Earlier he had surgery for gallbladder stones and went home. A few days after reaching home he had infection and was brought back to the hospital. He expired at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and his body was brought back to Pinmaludpud, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.  As of this writing, his body lies in state at the chapel in Pinmaludpud.

Originally, brother Daniel was from Cotabato. He finished his  degree in theology at Philippine Bible College in Baguio then preached in several towns in Pangasinan. He finally settled with his family in Urdaneta City.  He also earned secular degrees and taught school. While earning sustenance for his family by teaching school, he was at the same time active in preaching the gospel and leading a congregation in Pangasinan. (Eusebio Tanicala)

New workers settle in Ilocos Sur

Recent developments in the last quarter of this year led several workers to locate themselves in the province of Ilocos Sur.

This writer on his trip to Ilocos Norte in the last part of November met and visited with the new workers in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. Brother Rolando Toquero, originally from Burgos and until recently a Bible College teacher in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya went back to Narvacan, Ilocos Sur to stay with his family and work for the Lord. Brother Toquero’s wife is a public school teacher in Narvacan.

Brother Joe Arboleda who atltended theological studies in Solano and Angeles City will also help minister to the church in Narvacan and to evangelize in nearby towns. Brother Roland Lazo who hails from Ifugao province stays in the poblacion of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur to help build up the newly planted congregation in that town.

For a more effective ministry, the three brethren will closely work with brother Roger T. Nonog who has been working in Narvacan for close to twenty years now.

Our editor went around several blocks near the muncipal  hall of San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur on the 28th of November looking for the boarding house of Rogelio/Virginia Alcayde but failed to find them.  This couple has moved from Alaminos City, Pangasinan to help their cousin promote a product in the province of Ilocos Sur.

These five workers  will cooperate in extending the boundaries of the Lord’s kingdom in the central towns of Ilocos Sur. (Eusebio Tanicala)