The Influence Of The Holy Ghost On Our Ability To Think

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)

That’s the real question. What will a man give in exchange for his soul? The spirit and soul of righteousness or the carnal nature of sin.

Here’s the problem. The spirit, encased in a carnal, fleshy shell, has to suffer the influences of sin in the skin and battle with its whims of lust and desire. These things contradict and confound the spirit and soul.

Will and reason faithfully serve whichever is in control, be it our righteous spirit or sinful self. Fortunately for the elect, “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:26). The Spirit of Christ mingles with our spirit. It quickens our spirit and soul and awakens us to the truth.

Do we choose the Holy Ghost? No.

Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you” (John 15:16)

Without the influx and the influence of the Holy Ghost, we would all surely burn in Hell.

No man can win the battle of life and death without the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

Now I’ll leave you to decide. Do you have free will? Yes. Do you have a free choice? Yes. But this must be understood. No man can overcome sin on his own. Sin controls your thoughts and actions.

Without the Holy Ghost quickening us to the truth, we would never be able to see or know the truth. The ability to think clearly and choose would be lost on us.

The Holy Ghost is a gift from God given to whomever He sees fit to give it to. Not all are of the elect. Not all are chosen.

“That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:38)

“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Bill Hitchcock