| Chapter
4
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THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead.
1
John 5:7
"For
there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
The
Holy Spirit is mentioned together with God the Father
and Jesus Christ in various scriptures.
(Matthew
3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
He
is part of the Godhead mentioned in:
Acts
17:29
The
Holy Spirit has several aspects:
He
is Holy.
One
hundred times He is referred to as the Holy Spirit.
There
must be a reason why this adjective "Holy" is used to
describe Him. It is because His character is holy.
He
is called the Spirit of Holiness which is the very essence
of His being.
Romans
1:4
"And
declared to be the Son of God with power, according
to the spirit of holiness..."
He
is Spirit.
He
is a Spirit, does not have a fleshly body and does not
have fleshly limitations. He can come, go and move like
wind, water, rain and fire.
He
is a Person.
Now
we know that the Holy Spirit is a Person and has all
the elements of Personality. He has distinctive elements
such as a mind, emotions and a will. He sees, hears,
feels, speaks and makes decisions. He has intelligence,
knowledge, reason and feelings.
In
all His plans and works there is precision and perfection.
The
following scriptures clearly reveal the mind, emotions,
will and actions of the person of the Holy Spirit:
Romans
8:27
"And
he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind
of the Spirit."
Romans
15:30
"And
for the love of the Spirit."
Acts
9:31
"And
walking in the comfort of the Holy Ghost."
Acts
8:29
" >Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near,
and join thyself to this chariot."
Acts
10:19-20
"While
Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him,
behold, three men seek thee.
Arise
therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting
nothing: for I have sent them."
Acts
16:6-7
"Now
when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region
of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to
preach the word in Asia,
After
they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia:
but the Spirit suffered them not."
1
Corinthians 2:10
"For
the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things
of God."
Revelation
2:7
"He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches;"
Romans
8:26
"But
the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us."
He
is active.
Over
one hundred and sixty passages in the Bible reveal the
activities of the Holy Spirit and here are some of them:
Genesis
1:2
"And
the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
Job
26:13
"By
his spirit he hath garnished the heavens;"
It
is clear in the Bible, that the Holy Spirit had a significant
role in the creation of the heavens and the earth. He
was the co-creator of the Universe and helped to garnish
and beautify it. He had a part in the creation of man.
Psalm
104:30
"Thou
sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou
renewest the face of the earth."
Job
33:4
"The
spirit of God hath made me."
The
Holy Spirit works in the lives of men and women.
People
receive special enduements, special power and creative
abilities from Him.
Here
is an example:
Exodus
31:1-5
"And
the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
See,
I have called by name Bezaleel:
And
I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom,
and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner
of workmanship."
The
Holy Spirit comes upon men.
He
literally clothes them with His presence.
Judges
6:34
"But
the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon."
1
Samuel 16:13
"And
the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day
forward."
The
Holy Spirit rests upon men
Numbers
11:25-26
"And
the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and
took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto
the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when
the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did
not cease."
The
Holy Spirit moves men into action.
Judges
13:25
And
the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in
the camp of Dan.
The
Holy Spirit comes into men.
Genesis
41:38
"And
Pharaoh said unto his servants, can we find such a one
as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?"
Numbers
27:18
"Take
thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit."
Daniel
4:8
"But
at the last Daniel came in before me in whom is the
Spirit of the holy gods:"
There
are ninety New Testament references to the Holy Spirit.
He
is given eighteen titles that are divided into three
groups:
Titles
that express His relationship to God namely:
>The
Spirit of God
>The
Spirit of the Lord
>The
Spirit of the Lord God
>Thy
Spirit
>My
Spirit
>His
Spirit
>Voice
of the Almighty
>Breath
of the Almighty
Titles
that express His character namely:
>Holy
Spirit
>Spirit
of Power
>Spirit
of Life
>New
Spirit
Titles
that express His operations in and through men:
>Spirit
of wisdom
>Spirit
of understanding
>Spirit
of power
>Spirit
of might
>Spirit
of knowledge
>Spirit
of the fear of the Lord
>Spirit
of grace
>Spirit
of supplication
>Spirit
of burning
There
are also nine symbols of the Holy Spirit given in the
Bible.
These
symbols are:
1.
A Dove
Matthew
3:16
"And
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove."
2.
Wind
John
3:8
"The
wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh,
and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of
the Spirit."
3.
Water
John
4:14
"But
whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him
shall never thirst;"
4.
Rivers
John
7:38-39
"He
that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out
of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
But
this spake he of the Spirit."
5.
Rain and Showers
Psalm
72:6
"He
shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers
that water the earth."
6.
A well of water
John
4:14
"But
the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well
of water springing up into everlasting life."
7.
Tongues of fire
Acts
2:3
"And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them."
8.
Oil and anointing
Matthew
25:4
"But
the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps."
Acts
10:38
"How
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power:"
9.
New Wine
Luke
5:38
"But
new wine must be put into new bottles."
Ephesians
5:18
"And
be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit;"
The
Holy Spirit reveals Himself in the life of Jesus, in
seven ways:
1.
The Holy Spirit prophesied about Jesus before His birth.
1
Peter 1:11
"The
Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify,
when it testified beforehand the sufferings of
Christ."
2.
Jesus was physically born of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew
1:18
"Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: she was
found with child of the Holy Ghost."
3.
Jesus was anointed of the Holy Spirit.
Acts
10:38
"How
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost."
4.
Jesus rejoiced by the Holy Spirit.
Luke
10:21
"In
that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit."
5.
Jesus died by the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews
9:14
"Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself."
6.
Jesus was resurrected, by the Holy Spirit.
Romans
8:11
"But
if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead."
7.
Jesus gave commands to his disciples by the Holy Spirit.
Acts
1:2
"Until
the day in which he was taken up, after that he through
the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles
whom he had chosen:"
The
present day Ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The
Holy Spirit continues to reveal Himself during the New
Testament Church dispensation. It is approximately two
thousand years from Christ's ascension to His Second
Coming. This
period is divided into seven church periods and they
are described in Revelation chapters two and three.
Ephesus was symbolical of the first Apostolic Church
and Laodicea of the last end time Church that will be
raptured.
The
Holy Spirit manifests Himself as seven lamps. Each lamp
is for one of the seven churches. The lamps are symbolical
of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the church
dispensation.
This
is the initial prophecy given for the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit:
Joel
2:28
"And
it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out
my spirit upon all flesh;"
When
Peter spoke of their experience of receiving the Holy
Spirit on the day of Pentecost, he spoke of them only
receiving a portion. He uses the word "of".
Acts
2:18
"And
on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out
in those days of my Spirit;"
They
received the first portion. (The former rain.)
The
last church would receive the last portion. (The latter
rain.)
There
are three different seven-fold manifestations
>of the Holy Spirit
to each Church:
As seven
lamps.
Revelation
4:5
"And
there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne."
This
refers to the perfect light of truth and revelation
that the Holy Spirit has and brings.
As seven
horns.
Revelations
5:6
"Having
seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits
of God."
This
refers to the perfect power and authority the Holy Spirit
has and brings.
As seven
eyes.
This
refers to the perfect insight, knowledge and discernment
the Holy Spirit has and brings.
More
specifically the Holy Spirit deals with each Christian
in seven ways:
1. He reaches out to change sinful people
into Christians.
He
convicts them of sin and strives with them to bring
them to salvation.
Genesis
6:3
"And
the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with
man, for that he also is flesh."
John
16:8
"And
when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin."
2.
The Holy Spirit causes our spiritual rebirth.
He
does this by giving life to the seed of God's Word sown
in our hearts. He causes this seed to come alive, it
becomes a spiritual embryo and we are born again
into Gods Kingdom.
John
3:5
"Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God."
I
Peter 1:23
"Being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,
by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
2
Corinthians 3:6
"For
the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life."
3.
The Holy Spirit fills us with Himself, empowers us and
seals us.
Ephesians
5:18
"Be
filled with the Spirit."
Acts
1:8
"But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you:"
Ephesians
1:13
"In
whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with
that Holy Spirit of promise."
4.
The Holy Spirit fellowships with us.
2
Corinthians 13:14
"The
communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all."
He
walks and talks with us, teaches, helps and comforts
us.
5.
He imparts the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit to us.
Galatians
5:22-23
"But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness,
temperance:"
6.
He imparts the nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit
to us.
1
Corinthians 12:4-10
"Now
there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
For
to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to
another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To
another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts
of healing by the same Spirit;
To
another the working of miracles; to another prophecy;
to another discerning of spirits; to another divers
kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"
7. He imparts the nine ministries of the Spirit to us and uses us in His ministry
program.
1
Corinthians 12:13-28
"For
by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...But
now hath God set the members every one of them in the
body as it hath pleased him... And God hath set some in
the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after
that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments,
diversities of tongues."
Ephesians
4:11
"And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
He
places Christians in their right order and position.
An example is given of the Holy Spirit appointing Paul
and Barnabas into Apostolic ministry.
Acts
13:2
"The
Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the
work whereunto I have called them."
We
should recognize, appreciate and reverence the work
of the Holy Spirit.
There
are three things we should never do:
1.
We should never sadden or disappoint the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians
4:30
"And
grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed
unto the day of redemption."
2.
We should never hold back or resist the work of the
Holy Spirit.
1
Thessalonians 5:19
" >Quench not the Spirit."
3.
We should never speak against the work or person of
Holy Spirit.
Matthew
12:31
"But
the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven
unto men."
Christians
should enjoy a very personal relationship with the Holy
Spirit.
Eliezer
was a servant of Abraham.(Genesis 24) >Abraham placed
his child Isaac into the hands of Eliezer his servant,
for care and tutoring. This relationship continued until
Isaac reached maturity at thirty years of age. Eliezer
is a type of the Holy Spirit. God the Father has given
His children into the tender loving care of the Holy
Spirit who governs their life.
The Holy Spirit is described as
our Spirit of adoption:
Romans
8:15
"But
ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father."
In
Old Testament times, a child was placed under the tutoring
and governing of the servant until the child's maturity.
This was known as an adoption process and is very similar
to the adoption of children today.
Similarly,
we are placed under the Governorship of the Holy Spirit
until we reach spiritual maturity.
Galatians
4:1-6
"Now
I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth
nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed
of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under
the elements of the world:
That we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit
of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
In
this adoption process the Holy Spirit does five things:
1.
He convicts us of Sin, Righteousness and Judgment.
John
16:8
"And
when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and
of righteousness, and of judgment:"
2.
He teaches and guides us in all truth.
John
16:13
"Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide
you into all truth:"
3.
He brings us to full spiritual maturity.
4.
He comforts us.
John
14:16
"And
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter."
5.
He guarantees our inheritance.
Ephesians
1: 13
"In
whom ye also trusted, ye were sealed with that Holy
Spirit of promise... which is the earnest of our inheritance."
Do
you want to have a fruitful, prosperous and successful
relationship with the Holy Spirit?
Yield
yourself to His authority and do four things:
1.
Use all your spiritual senses to hear what the Holy
Spirit says to you.
Revelations
2:7
"He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith."
Pay attention
to and meditate upon the things the Holy Spirit says
to you.
Romans
8:5
"For
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of
the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things
of the Spirit."
3.
Be obedient and do what the Holy Spirit commands.
Romans
8:14
"For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
sons of God."
4.
Live and walk in the presence and anointing of the Holy
Spirit.
Galatians
5:16
"Walk
in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh."
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