THE FIERY SPIRIT - Coptic Orthodox Electronic Publishing

means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway” (1Cor. 9:27). What is more is the fear, St. John Saba
used to declare least he comes out only with his black clothes
(i.e. his priesthood or monasticism).
CONSTANT RENEWAL
As I once spoke in my book, “The Holy Spirit In
Between The New Birth And Constant Renewal,” about the gift
of the Holy Spirit who renews our corrupt nature, through the
new birth in the water of baptism... still this beginning of the
new man has to grow continuously day after day, to depict
constantly the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, we may
come unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
(Eph. 4:13).
How can the daily renewal be unceasing? By being
keen to edify our inside person through the Spirit of God, who
overflows to work apparently. That’s what David the King and
Prophet had done.
David was not preocupied by ascending on the thrown,
even after getting the divine promise, and being anointed as
King. Thus, even then he cried out: “Create in me a clean heart,
O God: and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51).
Through this concern for renewal, the prophet realized
the work of Spirit within his life. As an example, we remember
what he once said: "He teaches my hands to war”...
Another example of Elihu the youth, Job’s fourth friend.
Job’s three elderly friends were truly destructive sympathizers,
as they discouraged Job, instead of uplifting him spiritually.
They looked to the outside rather than the inside. Elihu, on the
other hand, spoke to Job through the Spirit saying, “the spirit
within me compels me. Indeed my belly is like wine that has no
vent; it is ready to burst like new wineskins” (Job 32:18-19).
Elihu responded to the Spirit of God, who was within
him, and was able to console Job in his anguish. But joy (wine)
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