Bio: Lee M. Cummings is the founding and senior
pastor of
Welcome, Pastor Lee. You say in your new book that the Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood person of the Trinity. Why is that? When we talk about God as “Father,” we have a frame of reference for what a Father does, or should do: procreates, protects and provides. When we talk about God the Son, we have four gospels to read about what Jesus was and is like. We see him teach, correct, laugh, cry, show compassion and pray to the Father. We see him sacrifice and lay his life down. But when we come to the Holy Spirit… it’s mysterious. Jesus said it’s like the wind (John 3). We see the effects of Him but cannot grasp him or relate. Sometimes our only point of reference is the way
You talk about the Western World having a bias
against the supernatural. What do you mean by that? Western civilization has
been infected with a deadly virus. That virus is secularism that is rooted in
the Enlightenment, which has produced a naturalistic worldview that only
believes in what our five natural senses can experience, and science can test.
We have become skeptical against claims of the supernatural and invisible. In
this way, man is at the center of the universe and the unseen realm has been
relegated to medieval myths, leaving our culture spiritually bankrupt.
You mention that sanctification is one role
of the Holy Spirit. Why is that not taught more often in our churches today? Our American gospel has
been reduced to praying a prayer of faith and then awaiting Heaven as our
reward when we die. We have not developed a healthy understanding of how God
wants to continue His work that began at salvation throughout all the days of our
lives, conforming us into the image of Christ.
You draw a parallel between Exodus 20 and the
day of Pentecost in Acts. Talk about that connection. The feast of Pentecost
was a commemoration of God coming in power to give the Law to
Many have equated salvation with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. What do you believe the Bible teaches about that? There are some evangelicals who argue that we receive the Holy Spirit at conversion and that’s all that there is. Yet, they read the book of Acts and see that the same disciples who received the Holy Spirit in the upper room with Jesus, receive Him again in Acts chapter two on the day of Pentecost and again in Acts chapter 4. Some claim that the phrase “baptism in or with the Holy Spirit” is problematic and we should just use the phrase “filled” with the Holy Spirit with the gifts of the spirit activated. Regardless of the semantics, what we can all agree upon is we need MORE of the Holy Spirit. Not quantitatively but qualitatively. We must be continually filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5) and this requires us having a starting point after conversion in which we recognize our need of more, and invite the Person of the Holy Spirit to have more control of us and to release the power Jesus promised to us.
Shall we open a can of worms? Is the
gift of tongues for everyone or is it a singular gift for some people? I
believe that the gift of tongues, like all the other manifestations, is
available for every believer. If the gift giver lives in us, then He can
manifest anyway He wants. Tongues is not proof of anything, but it is the
privilege and powerfully available gift for all who respond to Paul’s
admonition to “earnestly desire the gifts"
Some theologians believe the gifts of the Holy
Spirit are no longer in operation. Why are they wrong? You have to do some
theological gymnastics to make the Bible say that the gifts are gone. Church
history doesn’t support this statement and the experience of over 3/4 of
Christians globally begs to differ.
If you could explain the Holy Spirit to someone
in one or two sentences, what would you say? The Holy Spirit is the abiding Presence
of God with us, to lead and teach us, conform us to be like Jesus, intercede on
our behalf and empower us to follow Jesus supernaturally. The Holy Spirit is
your greatest advantage this side of eternity.
How can my blog readers find you on the
Internet?
https://www.facebook.com/leemcummings/
https://twitter.com/leemcummings
https://www.instagram.com/leemcummings/
Thank you, Pastor Lee, for sharing this book
with my blog readers and me.
Readers,
here’s a link to the book.
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2 comments:
This appears to be a valuable resource for all of us! Thanks for sharing.
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Enter me!!
Nichols SC.
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