I regret having too many women

Dear Pastor,

I have a little problem, and I believe I can talk to you about it. I have five children. I believe I actually have six, but her mother didn't give me that one. I still recognise her as my daughter, and she visits me regularly.

Of all the children, she is the one who calls to check on me. Whenever she visits, she always brings something for me. I have two sons who are policemen. They are not married, but I encourage them all the time to get married. They often ask why I am so insistent on marriage when I didn't get married myself.

That was a mistake I made. I had too many women and couldn't decide which one to marry. Looking back now, I regret that decision. My life hasn't turned out the way I would have hoped. I have a few dollars saved, but I know if I had a wife, I could have saved more.

I know that your column does not usually focus on religious questions, but I would like you to address something for me. What is the Holy Spirit? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

B.K.

Dear B.K.,

The Holy Spirit is a gift of God to Christians. When we come to know Christ as our saviour and Lord, God gives us the Holy Spirit. Some people believe that they should have special meetings and pray that the Holy Spirit would descend on them. And as proof that they have the Holy Spirit, they will speak in tongues to the Christians on the day of Pentecost. They say that speaking in tongues is the evidence that one is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told his disciples that when he leaves this world he would not leave them comfortless. He promised to give them the Holy Spirit as a gift. The Holy Spirit took the place of Jesus. God gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Jesus. We do not earn the Holy Spirit. The Holy

Spirit cannot be bought. We do not earn a gift. When we work, we get a pay cheque. It's all right to get that cheque; it's our money because we have put in the hours for it, but not so with a gift. But the gift of the Holy Spirit is to all who believe in Jesus. God doesn't owe us anything. What we deserve from God is death (eternal separation from God).

The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Romans 6:23.) When one receives the Holy Spirit as a gift, one's life is under God's control. God tells him where to go and what to do. The Holy Spirit is not just a force. The Holy Spirit should be referred to as a person. He is the third person of the God head. I repeat, the Holy Spirit is a gift that God gives and we do not control the Holy Spirit.

he Bible says the Holy Spirit guides and He is our comforter. He is in the believer. Every believer needs guidance, so the Holy Spirit gives guidance. And the Holy Spirit is always working. And that is why people should wait on the Lord and don't try to go ahead of God. Pray and let Jesus Christ, through his Holy Spirit, do a mighty work in your life.

Ask God to lead you wherever you go and, by his Holy Spirit, He will. Christians are helpless without the Holy Spirit. If you feel that you are spiritually poor, perhaps you are indeed poor if you do not have the Holy Spirit. One who is spiritually healthy is one whose life is controlled by the Lord himself.

Pastor