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Today we talk about the PERSONHOOD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! I've been studying for what feels like months on this special topic and this is my first installment on a series of the Holy Spirit.
I had to repent myself for being ignorant of the Holy Spirit. I could potentially blame all the churches I attended for their lack of teaching, but the reality is that I myself am 100% responsible for searching the scriptures myself. I am 100% responsible for what I ultimately learn or not. So, who is at fault? Me, myself and I. We are the ones who should know better. But like millions of Christians out there, I leave my learning to the guy or gal behind the pulpit.
I do not subscribe to any particular denomination. So, I do see why there are in many churches a huge disconnect between scripture and Bible. No one wants to take the time to read. I myself, I refuse to be one of those “average” Christians. Yes, I am separating myself from the average people. I want more and to get more, I will invest as much time as I can in the Bible.
The thing about kingdom thinking is it is not world or church thinking. And honestly, I am fed up to the gills with the motivational preachers. I’m sorry, but take your love and fluff and stuff a teddy bear. I want MEAT! And by all the cats of this world, I am going to get me some!
I have attended church for the better part of 40 years. Maybe longer. But for the first little while, I was a literal child, and had no interest in learning anything. Now, 40 years on, I am getting restless in the pews and getting very tired of the same boring lectures of nothing that is valuable to getting souls saved.
I’m sorry, but the reason the church is dying is because the preachers have no foundations. Their roots are drying up and they are blowing away.
Like I said in my first paragraph, if I want to know something, I am going to have to search the scriptures for what I need to know.
Now, what I need to know and so do millions of others is the PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Most people have no use for Him and have zero understanding of who He is, what He does, and His connection to the Godhead.
It is my hope that I can accurately explain what I have learned. I have been trying my hardest to understand and as you can tell, I am not some biblically educated person, I am a humble disciple of Jesus. No title necessary for me. Just a person who wants all that God is willing to give, and from what I have read, it’s a lot!
Lets dig deep now into what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me on my journey to finding out who HE IS!
THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
I first heard about the Holy Spirit when I was a kid. I learned to speak in tongues when I was a barely a teen and I pray in tongues often. Tongues is one of the many giftings of the Holy Spirit. But what good is speaking in tongues if one does not understand the gift, let alone the giver?
The Holy Spirit is NOT:
• Abstract
• Impersonal Force
• Fluffy
• Quality
• Divine Essence
The Holy Spirit IS:
• GOD
• 3rd Person of the God Head
• Power of God
• Comforter
• Present
• Powerful
This is by no means the definitive list of WHO He is, but it is a very good start.
WHY ARE PEOPLE SO AFRAID OF HIM?
This is a good question. I know of many denominations that have little to no use for Him. The refuse to recognize Him as a person. They relegate Him to some abstract thought. As some secondary thought. I have heard people say that “it” is just a feeling, like the love of a mother. The warm fuzzy feeling you get. They speak of Him as an “it”. When we call something an it, we lessen the value of the object we are describing. We don’t call people “it” they have personage. When I think as something as abstract, I think of the modern art, just masses of colour thrown against a canvas in the hopes that something will come out of the mess that we are causing. The Holy Spirit is NOT Chaos. He is NOT confusion. He is NOT abstract.
Scott McKnight says:
“In the Church there is a broad ignorance, a lack of knowledge about what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit or the importance of the Holy Spirit," McKnight said when asked to comment on the joke some make when they refer to their church as being a "Father, Son, and Holy Bible" kind of place. Unfortunately, the frame of reference for many Christians regarding the Holy Spirit is informed by strange individuals they might have encountered in their life who have claimed odd things about the Holy Ghost or goofy phenomena they have observed on Christian television, he explained. Such experiences make people extra cautious, but that heavy cautiousness often results in a "let's not talk about it" kind of approach and the Holy Spirit winds up almost forgotten entirely, he said.”
There seems to be a general consensus that among these certain denominations that the time of the Holy Spirit ended when the bible was finished being written.
I grew up in a charismatic church, I have seen the power of the Holy Spirit first hand and yet my husband who grew up in a Baptist church state that he never heard of it. He was never exposed to the gifts; he was never encouraged to even seek the Holy Spirit.
Yes, In my opinion, Scott McKnight is correct in his assertation that people have seen “goofy” things that some folks claim to be the Holy Spirit, but that’s because people have not truly experienced the Power of the Holy Spirit. So, when they see something goofy, they are afraid of it. Now I’m not dismissing healings and moving’s of the Holy Spirit, but there is order in God and some of the things we witness are not from the Holy Spirit, but unless you know Him, you will not understand Him or how He does things.
The Holy Spirit is an Individual in the Trinity. He has His own personality, ways, expressions. He is very much God and He has a mandate here on earth that was given to Him by Jesus.
He is for EVERY believer, EVERYWHERE, not just the charismatics. He goes where He is wanted and is absent where He is not wanted, but is always with us. By “Absent” I mean, He doesn’t move like He would if allowed. If you ever been to a service that was on the brink of a Holy Spirit breakthrough and you know you can feel Him moving then all of sudden some dummy gets on the Mic and kills the movement – that’s what I’m talking about. A quenching, and the Holy Spirit withdrawals. He isn’t going to force Himself where He is not wanted.
The Holy Spirit is like Jesus, He loves the whole world and wants to be with us all. Dwelling within us and with us. Even Jesus submitted to Him here on earth.
Jesus never moved without Him. The Holy Spirit directed every earthly step Jesus took and if the Holy Spirit could guide Jesus’s, then He is more than able to lead me and you.
I get why people are afraid of Him, they don’t want to submit themselves to Him. They want to remain in total control of their lives and destinies. I’m sorry, but have you looked at your track record, if it’s as poor as mine, literally, Jesus, take the wheel! We can not do anything of our own self. We need the Holy Spirit to lead us and if you let Him, He will lead you into all truth.
John 14: 15-17 – If you live me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you
13 times in John, Jesus refers to the person of the Holy Spirit. He is a gift that we can not live without.
I get it, we are scared of anything we don’t understand. But trust me, if you get into your bible, you will know Him. He is nothing to be scared of but someone we should desperately chase after.
ASPECTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Let’s discuss some of the aspects of the Holy Spirit.
• He is the Spirit of Truth – Real, Eternal, Spiritual
John 2: 24 – God is Spirit and those who worship must worship in Spirit and Truth.
John 16:12 – I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth…
• He is not a “stretched truth”, He only speaks what He hears from Jesus.
John 16:13-15 – For He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears he will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me (Jesus), for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine, therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you.
• He is our Comforter sent to us from Jesus:
John 16:7 – Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
• He has a purpose here, a mandate:
John 16: 8 - …And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me, concerning righteousness, because I go to the father and you will see me no longer. Concerning judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.
• He bears witness of Jesus – that Jesus came by water and blood
1 John 5:6 - This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
• He bears witness of the Trinity
1 John 5:7-9 -For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.
• He, The Holy Spirit is our comforter, you can feel Him. He is our teacher; you can learn from Him. He is our guide and we can most assuredly trust Him to lead us! The Holy Spirit is more than we have imagine Him to be. He is literally POWER and ENERGY.
Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
• He will glorify Jesus; He will testify of Jesus.
John 16: 13 -14 - But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
• He is LIFE (Breath of life is the Spirit)
Rev 11:11- But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.
• HE LOVES! Anything that Loves has personality! He teaches us, no human can teach Him. He speaks what comes directly from Jesus and it is revealed to us. The Holy Spirit is a deep teacher, He doesn’t waste time on trivial, He gets to the meat of a subject. He teaches us unique revelations that are in line with the Bible and you can not remove the Word from Him! Everything He has to say is right there in your bible!
Rom 15:30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
1 Cor 2:10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. When we pray, He makes intercession for us! He is the middle man! He makes our case to Jesus so Jesus stands before the Father.
Rom 8: 26-28 -In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
• He has a will and mind
1Cor 12:11 – All these worketh that are one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing every man several as He will…
• He has emotions – grieved, vexed – You can resist Him. He isn’t going to force Himself on you, God never does. Everything He wants to do for you and with you is by your choice, He is a giver. You don’t have to accept Him and He will graciously wait. He is a gentleman. Humble and genuine.
Is 63:10 – But they rebelled and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy and He fought against them.
1 Cor 12: 7-10 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
• He is a Searcher
1 Cor 2:10 - these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
What is He searching for? The deep things of God. The Holy Spirit is an intelligent being. He is God. We can not forget that. He is GOD. God that dwells in us and with us. That tells you the deep dedication of the Christian God! No other gods want anything to do with mortal man except Jesus! He came from heaven to earth, shed His god-hood and put on flesh so He could be one of us, experience life like us, die for us so that we could become like Him!
• The Holy Spirit does the talking in the body of Christ. He encourages the believer, the overcomer to push onwards, not to quit, not to give up.
Rev 2: 7 - Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
• He won’t allow the 2nd death to harm us
Rev 2: 11 -Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
• He will allow us to eat the hidden mana and give us the white stone with our new name on it
Rev 2:17 - Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
• He is the one that bears witness to mans salvation. He is a Sanctifier.
2 Thess 2:13 - But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits [a] to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Dr. Lester Sumrall asks “How do we understand Personality”? He answers by our senses of feeling, sight and walk. So then we need to understand the personality of the Holy Spirit by our spiritual senses. We can not see Him, but we can see what He does. We can’t feel Him, but we bear witness to actions and miracles, we know Him because of the spiritual senses we have and we have a unique ability to know the Holy Spirit intimately if we want to. The bible is a spiritual book and therefore should be understood through the spirit not the natural. The natural mind tends to block what we can not understand. The spirit expounds on what we don’t understand.
1 John 4:2 – Hereby know ye the Spirit of God. Every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is coming in the flesh is of God
We should desire a deeper relationship as I mention before. The fear that is holding you back is not good, it is from the devil. He wants to hinder your walk and wants to stifle your growth. The more you grow and learn of the Holy Spirit and in the Holy Spirit, freaks the devil out. The Holy Spirit gives you power gifts that will destroy the kingdom of hell! More on that shortly.
• The Holy Spirit is a witness
Heb 10:15 – whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us
1Joh 5:10 – He that believeth on the son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son.
• The Holy Spirit is a mighty warrior! He has the face of a leader, He stands before us, our trusted guide we can follow Him into all truth as He is an instrument of the Most High!
John 16:13 – Howbeit, when He the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will show you things to come.
If you don’t know the way the Holy Spirit does! He is a faithful guide, He will not lead you anywhere you would be hurt, He will guide your steps if you allow Him too. He knows the path, follow Him.
• He is a Judge, upright and just. He is going to bring a stronger judgement! Don’t test Him, don’t think you can pull one over on Him. He is just!
John 16:8 - When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
Acts 5:9 - Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
• He is our teacher! He will teach you in everything you need if you allow Him. He gives wisdom and knowledge!
• He blessed Jesus to teach
• He blessed the disciples to teach
Luke 12:12 – The Holy Ghost will teach you in that hour what you ought to say.
The more we delve into the Holy Spirit, the more we begin to see Him as a person. This is by far the biggest hurdled that I had to jump. In my younger years, I didn’t understand this. I don’t think I could understand that He was a person. In my child mind, I doubt I understood very much. I guess this is why being in my late 40’s I’m learning to study more on the things that I never really could understand.
I have read the bible cover to cover numerous times and have been devoted to studying for years. I never set foot in a seminary, mind you that would be epic if I could, but everything I have learned is because I have asked the Holy Spirit to teach me. Even know, going over my hand written notes and putting them here, I am getting more understanding! It’s really cool how the Holy Spirit works. I mean, think about it, all we have to do is ask, so simple right! I don’t need anyone to tell me what is what because He is right here showing me scripture after scripture to prove to me the points that I wonder on.
Nothing is hidden when we diligently seek to know the Word of God. That’s why Jesus said, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, then all these things will be added to you. Whatever those “Things” may be to you, for me, as I am seeking, I am wanting to understand so that I will be able to share with others what I am learning.
I don’t ever want to stop learning. I want to go as deep as I can. And yes I do realize that it will cause friction in many areas of my life, but honestly, at this stage in life, there is really nothing more that I want than a deeper relationship with the Lord. I don’t have aspirations of being some big name preacher, I just want to be someone who if you ask a question, I might have a suitable answer for you. I know for myself, it’s something I would like.
Understanding someone as vast and as deep as the Holy Spirit is going to take a life time that this paper will only be a fraction of what I can describe. He has to be experienced. He is more than mere words on a page, He is the Holy God living inside of you and me! Mind blown fact. We need to know this! God isn’t going to bless our ignorance! We must dig for the truth! Seek ye first!
Comforter
The Holy Spirit was given to us our comforter. So, what exactly does that mean?
Easton's Bible Dictionary - Comforter
Comforter [N] [S] (Nave’s and Smith)
the designation of the Holy Ghost ( John 14:16 John 14:26 ; 15:26 ; 16:7 ; RSV marg., "or Advocate, or Helper; Gr. paracletos"). The same Greek word thus rendered is translated "Advocate" in 1 John 2:1 as applicable to Christ. It means properly "one who is summoned to the side of another" to help him in a court of justice by defending him, "one who is summoned to plead a cause." "Advocate" is the proper rendering of the word in every case where it occurs.
It is worthy of notice that although Paul nowhere uses the word paracletos, he yet presents the idea it embodies when he speaks of the "intercession" both of Christ and the Spirit (Romans 8:27 Romans 8:34 ).
Smith's Bible Dictionary - Comforter
Comforter. [N] [E] (Nave’s and Easton)
( John 14:16 ) The name given by Christ to the Holy Spirit. The original word is Paraclete , and means first Advocate, a defender, helper, strengthener, as well as comforter
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Comforter
COMFORTER
kum'-fer-ter:
This is translation of the word patakletos, in the Johannine writings. In the Gospel it occurs in John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7, and refers to the Holy Spirit. The word means literally, "called to one's side" for help. The translation "Comforter" covers only a small part of the meaning as shown in the context. The word "Helper" would be a more adequate translation. The Spirit does a great deal for disciples besides comforting them, although to comfort was a part of His work for them. The Spirit guides into truth; indeed, He is called the Spirit of truth. He teaches and quickens the memory of disciples and glorifies Christ in them. He also has a work to do in the hearts of unbelievers, convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 14-16). The Comforter remains permanently with disciples after He comes in response to the prayers of Christ. The word parakletos does not occur elsewhere in the Scriptures except in 1 John 2:1. In Job 16:2 the active form of the word (parakletos is passive) is found in the plural, where Job calls his friends "miserable comforters." The word "Comforter" being an inadequate, and the word "Helper" a too indefinite, translation of the word in the Gospel of John, it would probably be best to transfer the Greek word into English in so far as it relates to the Holy Spirit (see PARACLETE).
In 1John 2:1 the word parakletos refers to Christ:
"If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Here the translation Advocate is quite correct. As the next verse shows the writer has in mind the intercession of Christ for Christians on the basis of His mediatorial work: "And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
See ADVOCATE; HOLY SPIRIT; PARACLETE.
E. Y. Mullins
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From these references we gain the very clear distinction that the Holy Spirit is a fighter on our behalf! Comforter means more than warm and snuggly; it means that the Holy Spirit has got our back! He will fight for us, He will defend us, He will take care of us and provide for us! This is a pretty sweet deal if you ask me! He is calming, soothing, compassionate, caring. He is our Counselor, He is our Strength, Power and Boldness! He is justice and generosity! We also need to recognize that in all of this, the Holy Spirit is the leader in this and every Generation.
Lester Sumrall knew Smith Wigglesworth, and both were very well acquainted with the Holy Spirit throughout their ministries, they saw things, experience things that we today can’t even fathom! Smith Wigglesworth had a vision of the end times, he told Lester Sumrall that there will be such a moving of the Holy Spirit that many will be saved, hospitals will be emptied and revival will over take the land!
“What a wonderful, divine position God intends us all to have, to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is something so remarkable, so divine; it is, as it were, a great open door into all the treasury of the Most High. As the Spirit comes like “rain upon the mown grass” (Ps. 72:6 kjv), He turns the barrenness into greenness and freshness and life. Oh, hallelujah! God wants you to know that
there is a place you may come to, in which you are dispensed with and God comes to be your assurance and sustaining power spiritually—until your dryness is turned into springs, until your barrenness becomes floods, until your whole life becomes vitalized by heaven, until heaven sweeps through you and dwells within you and turns everything inside out, until you are so
absolutely filled with divine possibilities that you begin to live as a new creation. The Spirit of the living God sweeps through all weaknesses.”
Smith Wigglesworth on the Holy Spirit page 11
POWER
There is Power and Energy in the Holy Spirit! And this is life changing power too! He gives us a boldness unlike anything ever, and it’s a boldness that isn’t arrogant and like the world, it’s one of power and assurance. The kind where you can stand in the day of trouble and have no fear because you know that the Holy Spirit is standing right with you, on you, in you!
Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the world! (THAT INCLUDES CANADA!)
• The Holy Spirit is achievement, He is the creative force in creation, He makes things happen. He is the breath of life that enters the believer when they receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. He is the life changer, the one who is with you in those dark moments, when you feel that there is nothing left, He is with you. He is holding you and comforting you. Wooing you to Himself. He loves us so very much and wants for us to accept Him and cleave to Him.
• The Holy Spirit is revealed in His Names:
Romans 8:9 - You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
1. Spirit of God
2. Spirit of Jesus
3. Spirit of Wisdom & Knowledge
4. Spirit of Truth
These names define Him and His purpose here on the earth. 160 times, the Holy Spirit was moving throughout the Old Testament. He proceeds from the Father and Son.
In creation, He proceeded from Elohim! Being a Plural name – Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
You saw Him in almost every book starting in Genesis. His imprint is left all throughout history. He was there hovering over the face of the deep in Genesis. He was there inside the burning bush, He was there when Samson gave his life for freedom, He was there with Daniel in the lions den and with the 3 children of Israel when they were in fire! He has always been present; we just did not recognize Him. Sinners can’t recognize Him; He is only revealed to the believer and can not be separated from us. For in Adam, our spirit died, we were only soul and body but in Jesus Christ! We are alive again through the Spirit who quickens our Spirits and our souls and bodies! We are made alive again!
DIRECTOR OF OUR STEPS
When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us, it wasn’t just for one day. I’m sure a lot of people were scared when He first appeared at Pentecost, with the tongues of fire resting on the heads of the 120 people there, but can you imagine if such a example would happen here? I speak only for my own country, Canada, the year is 2023, and the times are nothing short of evil and vile. Women murdering their babies, men lying with men, men pretending to be women, women chopping off their breasts to become me. I’m pretty sure we are worse than Noah’s day! Thankfully, we do not have to navigate these times alone. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us every step of the way!
The Holy Spirit is Absolute Truth. He is not of this world and therefore is not ruled by the powers of this earth, Babylon. No, our Father, who sent His only Son knew that during these difficult times, we would need all the help we could get as we wait upon the Lord. Luke 19:11-27 we are told to Occupy till Jesus returns.
Occupy means to inhabit, settle, do business, live… That means we must still be in this world, but we most assuredly do not need to be apart of it allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you to where you need to be!
Acts 8:26-27 - Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,…
During this time, we should be eagerly devouring the Word of the Lord as much as we can. We need to be asking for the Holy Spirit to lead us, teach us and we can ask for Wisdom and Knowledge. We need to begin to rely on the Holy Spirit like we do Jesus and our Heavenly Father! They, all 3 operate in concert in our lives when we give them permission to move.
Even know as you are reading this, ask the Holy Spirit to move in you, ask Him for insight and revelation knowledge of who He is.
He is a giver and if and when you ask, He will give generously! Especially when you are asking for the right things. Don’t waste your time asking for mountains of money, that’s not useful. Instead, ask for Wisdom as to where to work, where to put your time in, how to serve, how to be a witness for Jesus in your mission field. Seek ye first the kingdom! Kingdom thinking is much higher and much greater than what you can think of or imagine, and when you decide to allow the Holy Spirit to come in and lead you, He will give you desires in your heart that you didn’t even know you wanted! My desires are so vast and in my natural mind unobtainable, but I know with the Holy Spirit directing me, I can have them!
The Holy Spirit guarantees spiritual gifts to all who believe and WANT them. We call them the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. I will talk more on those shortly. But for now I’m still not 100% certain that I have brought enough light to WHO the Holy Spirit is. Without knowing Him, having His gifts are hard to understand.
HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
• Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father
• Is part of the Godhead
• All 3 are 1 – in action, thought, purpose, blessing and anointing
• All 3-bear witness to each other
1 John 5: 7-8 - For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
--Spirit = Salvation
--Water = Baptism
--Blood = Redemption (sins are washed away!)
• Holy Spirit is called God
Acts 11:9-12 - The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
John 4:24 - God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
The Father wants us to know Him, He wants us to know the mind of the Spirit. He wants us to learn from the Spirit and be taught. The Apostle Paul had 3 years private tutoring from the Holy Spirit! Imagine how amazing that would have been! You and I have this very same opportunity! We have every right to go to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to teach us! He’s better than any seminary, hands down!
• Christ was indwelled with the Holy Spirit here on earth and had Him without measure! Everything Jesus did, as I mention earlier, was under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Right from Jesus’s birth to His Victory on the Cross! All was directed and moved piece by piece by the Holy Spirit.
• Holy Spirit lead Him through the wilderness and into the beginnings of His earthly ministry
• The Holy Spirit was with Him while Jesus was on the cross
• The Holy Spirit brought Jesus back to Life
John 3:34 - For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
Luke 4: 1 - And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luke 4: 14 - And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
John 16:7- But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
John 6:63 - It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
We get to partake in this gift! We get to have a portion of the Holy Spirit for ourselves too!
• He Testifies of Jesus
John 15:26 - When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
He is the divine agent of the Godhead – omnipotence is His control over all things. His omniscience is His authority to declare what is true. And His omnipresence is His real existence in every time and place. So, when we talk about the Holy Spirit (as God) omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, we are talking about His lordship as well. He is co-equal with the Father and Son, He is not lesser. He is uncreated and eternal!
The Holy Spirit thinks and acts, He is powerful! He can shake buildings! He is more than just an influence.
He has been identified in every dispensation!
This is why we ought to desire relationship with Him as well. We need to know Him as God, know Him as truth and in turn we will know our errors. Pride misdirects us but the Holy Spirit redirects us!
I read online a few days ago, which spurred me to write this paper – and I am very sorry it isn’t written in a professional way, I am new to writing like this. I write blogs, I don’t normally sit down and hammer out large documents!
Anyways, I was reading online and a question popped up about the gender of the Holy Spirit and frankly, in my opinion the replies were grossly inadequate! The feeling was like people thought of the Holy Spirit like He was a pet of some sort. Like God sent some animal down to guard us. It’s very disturbing really. I read one comment that got my hair up, the comment was to the effect, it doesn’t matter because IT doesn’t really matter. I’m telling you! I could have screamed at the person for an hour and then some! How irreverent! Ignorant! You have that person to thank for this endeavor!
• We are to teach the world and baptize them
• We are to ask for Wisdom and Knowledge
• We are to have communion with Him
Matthew 28:19 - 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Ephesians 1:17 - 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
2 Corinthians 13:14 - 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
You are contrary to the Holy Spirit by nature. The flesh and the Spirit do not get along, and the flesh is always trying to get away from the things of God. We cannot function in the natural if we are trying to walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:17 - So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Romans 7:15 - I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.
Romans 7:18 - I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Romans 7:23 - But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.
Romans 8:5 - Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Only you can take you to the wrong place! God won’t and the devil can’t! It’s all on you to make up your own direction. Often times, it’s under our own steam that we end up getting in deep trouble.
Look at Jacob from the Old Testament. Every decision he ever made was done in the flesh. Had he ever stopped to listen to the Spirit, he probably wouldn’t have ended up working over and above! But he was stubborn, did it his way and suffered all the way through. Yes, God blessed him, but he didn’t have to do it the hard way! Why settle for good when you can have God’s very best? All you have to do is submit to the Holy Spirit!
ENEMIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is no surprise that the Holy Spirit has enemies. Father and Son do, so it’s a logical conclusion that He too has to put up with the powers of hell also, and of course people too. Humans being the worst offenders most of the time. We provoke the Holy Spirit all the time, speaking stupidly, then we insult Him and defame Him and blaspheme.
But not to be out done by mere humans, we must then see how the devil and his demons attack the Holy Spirit. They mock Him and His gifts by counterfeiting them. You can see this manifested in many “church” services where there is chaos and disorder. Even witches speak in tongues! The demons are liars and deceive as many as they can as they masquerade as giftings of the Holy Spirit. This is why we must know and understand Him completely. We cannot allow for this to continue! Is it any wonder why so many people are scared! All they have ever seen is the counterfeit spirits in action, because the church has been weak and laxed in their teachings! The Word says that we are perishing from a lack of knowledge!
Psalm 106:33 - 33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
Matthew 12:32 - 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
1 John 4:3 - 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1 John 4:1-2 - 4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Matthew 12:43 - 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
See, the devil wants to destroy us, but God!!! God wants to clean us up and fill us up with His Holy Spirit! What the devil has meant for destruction, God wants to turn around for His glory! Don’t get empty! Fill up with the Holy Spirit and His power, Jesus, doing good and loving this hate-filled world! We have a mandate, Christian! We are to go and tell the world of Jesus and His love!
Be ready for opposition! The spirit of the anti-christ is very strong in this generation and anyone who is going to stand up for Jesus is going to be attacked from all sides. Time is short and the devil knows this! He knows his days are numbered and he wants to take as many people with him as he can.
He will use anyone to get to you, to hurt you, to deter you from your assignments. But be of good cheer, Jesus has over come the world! We have nothing to fear. If they kill the body, instant glory!
The world opposes all that is good, they don’t want to see the truth because the lie is more comfortable and convenient. The flesh desires all that Babylon can offer! They want the wine, the jewels, the wealth the world. They think these “things” can bring them happiness and fulfillment, but in reality, they are just emptying themselves out. Hollow and hopeless. But Jesus came that we might have life and have that life abundantly! Stuff isn’t going to make anyone happy, it’s just stuff…but the Holy Spirit, He brings all the fruits of the good life with Him.
The good life is available only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Without Him we have nothing to go too. It was His blood that cleaned us and put us into right standing with the Holy Father.
Heb 9:14 – Jesus, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself to God without spot…
We now through the Holy Spirit have the honour to offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices. We can offer our bodies to Him to work for Him and the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and seals us in salvation.
Eph 1:13 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,…
• The Holy Spirit provides access to God for us
Eph 2:18 - For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
• The Leading of the Holy Spirit keeps us out from under the Law
Gal 5: 18 - 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law
• He gives us Hope
Romans 15
• He dwells IN us! In the Old Testament He worked ON us. It’s personal baby!!!
• He makes every believer a temple
• He births ever true believer
• He has always worked with man but our time is running out!
We have no clue how hard the Holy Spirit works on someone to draw them close to God! In my own personal experience, I can see all the choices that I made that lead me down the path of destruction and where I could have made a choice to follow God! This is why we must never stop praying for our family and friends to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! It may not happen today or even this year, but the Holy Spirit is working on the hearts and minds of the people we love AND DISLIKE!
THAT NONE SHOULD PERISH BUT ALL COME TO REPENTANCE!
In these end times, we must be ready for a working of the Holy Spirit! He is going to move and when He does, it’s will be more than we have ever experience before! The out pouring is going to be so great that His power will empty hospitals! I tell you what! I am excited! He has done millions of works through out the centuries so come expecting!
Ignorance of the Holy Spirit brings weakness to the body. This is why it is imperative that we as the church learn all we can about Him and then get out there and utilize the power gifts that He has given to us. When we operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will see the greatest movement of God this world will ever know!
Look at your own life and see what the Holy Spirit has done for you personally.
Before you were saved to the day of your salvation, are night and day! The Holy Spirit transformed you. He leads you into all truth. He reproved you, He brought you before the Holy Father spotless and blameless, and every day He is teaching you how to live a Holy life that is acceptable! What a transformation! Now imagine if that call to Holiness went out to all of Canada and thousands answered! MIND BLOWING! Even bigger than the 3000 converts on the day of Pentecost!! It’s going to be wild!
The Holy Spirit will convince the world of Jesus! That is what He does! He glorifies the Son! He bares Him witness. No one can stand against the Holy Spirit, He will convict the hearts of all men!
I’m sure however, lots will want to do it the hard way. But again, as we press in to the Holy Spirit, things will begin to change. We must develop the way that He wills. Our minds need to be given over to the Spirit and be renewed. (Philp 2:5) We need to live and walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:25) and it will not be easy.
