If God in the Old Testament sometimes feels less than all-loving to you, then you need to listen to this TruthTalk to find out something quite different.
Dr Christopher Peppler talks on THIS post in the Insights from Isaiah series. If you have an interest in AI (in this case an engine called Perplexity) and how much you can trust it, then this TruthTalk will also interest you as Chris takes us through just what AI says about Isaiah too.

If you missed the first part, it's not too late to hop on board. Click HERE to read Part 1 or HERE to listen to it.

Click on the button below to listen now, or you can delve through all the AudioVisual content supplied including sermons, YouTube videos, sermon notes and more.

Until next time.

 

Dr Christopher Peppler describes the book of Isaiah as being "... a ‘place’ where I often ‘hear’ the Holy Spirit speaking to me."
To find out why listen to the first part of this series by clicking on the play button below or click here to read the original post.

When you are in the mood to listen and watch the TruthTalks and sermons don't forget that they are all here in this handy AudioVisual library.

 

This is the third and final pillar in the series. Here, I speak on subjects such as the New Birth, Trichotomy, Spiritual Baptism and Infilling, practical dependence on the Holy Spirit, gifts, manifestations, and ministries, as well as the dangers of division and misunderstanding. The final section is a conclusion to the whole series, emphasising how the three pillars of truth stand together as foundations for the Christian Faith.
You can find:

PILLAR 3 Part 1 Video HERE

PILLAR 3 Part 2 Video HERE

PILLAR 3 Q&A Video HERE

Read on for a summary of the transcript of the two videos, which captures just the gist of the teaching.

Finally, the TruthTalks Audio is HERE or at the very bottom of the page.

 Summary of Transcript: Pillar Three: Spirit-Dependent
In this final part of the "Three Pillars of Truth" series, I focus on what it means to be Spirit-dependent. My aim isn’t to be dogmatic or try to dictate beliefs, but to encourage you to think deeply and perhaps differently about familiar topics.
The New Birth: Where Dependence Begins

For me, the most fundamental act of dependence on the Holy Spirit is the new birth. This is where spiritual life starts: the regeneration of a dead spirit, a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus. As Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, unless we are born again - born of water and the Spirit - we cannot even perceive the kingdom of God. Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 1:23, emphasising that this birth is not physical but spiritual. In my understanding, the process begins with conviction (a work of the Spirit), leading to confession, then a sincere request for new birth, and finally, spiritual regeneration. This sequence is vital to my theology and experience.

Understanding Human Nature: Why Trichotomy Matters

I subscribe to a trichotomist view of human nature: we are body, soul, and spirit. The spirit is the part of us dead to God until new birth. This distinction is crucial because it guards against a "mind-based Christianity," where faith is reduced to intellectual assent or cultural identity rather than spiritual transformation. I’ve seen too many people who identify as Christian but have never experienced the radical newness of being born again.

Spirit Baptism and Infilling: Power for Life and Ministry

The new birth is the Spirit’s work in making us alive to God, but the infilling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit, is about empowerment for Christian living and ministry. As Jesus promised in Acts 1, the Holy Spirit gives us power. I believe the disciples were born again when Jesus breathed on them before he ascended into Heaven, but the day of Pentecost was about receiving power for ministry.

Trichotomy best explains this: we need a living spirit to be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This isn’t just theory for me; it’s shaped my ministry and my understanding of how God works in and through us.

Practical Dependence on the Spirit

I have experienced the Spirit’s guidance in life-changing decisions - leaving a secure corporate job to pastor a tiny church, for example. It wasn’t a whim; it was a clear conviction from the Holy Spirit, confirmed by my wife, others, and circumstances.
I know I can’t transform myself; only the Holy Spirit can bring true, eternal change.
Ministry without the Spirit’s power is empty. I’ve seen how sermons and church activities lack life-changing power unless they are Spirit-empowered.
The Holy Spirit also illuminates Scripture for me. Even after years of study, it’s often the Spirit who brings understanding, sometimes years later.
I can’t witness, minister, or even hope for resurrection apart from the Spirit’s power.

Gifts, Manifestations, and Ministries

I hope you enjoyed the first Pillar in our series. If you have questions, the link below will take you to the video on YouTube, and the audio track is at the bottom of this post. As always feel free to reach out and contact Dr Christopher Peppler HERE
The questions asked and answered are:
1. How should we read and interpret texts about genocide in the Old Testament in the light of a Christ centred Bible understanding?
2. How do we know when a text in the Bible is meant to be literal and when is it being figurative?

Click HERE to go to the Q&A

If you would like to go to the first post in this series, then click HERE