THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:1-2.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2.

“Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:26.

 

Here we see the Holy Spirit in the opening verses of the Bible. The Spirit of God is seen opening the Bible in operation at Creation, “Brooding on the face of the Waters” in Genesis 1:2; and closes the Bible in Revelation 22:7 “The Spirit and the Bride say “Come.”

In the Old Testament the work of the Holy Spirit is seen in men and their work, like:

Joshua, Deuteronomy 34:9 “Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So, the people of Israel obeyed him, doing just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

Samson, Judges 14:6 “At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands.

He did it as easily as if it were a young goat. But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it.”

In the anointing and appointing of the Prophets, Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released, and prisoners will be freed.”

Also, in the anointing of the king, 1 Samuel 16:13 “So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.”

And in the future, there was seen a large extension of the Spirit’s activities and power.

For the Holy Spirit is not new to the New Testament only but is seen throughout the Old Testament also. The Holy Spirit is seen in the Hebrew text 378 times and 11 times in Aramaic in the book of Daniel. And in the New Testament Greek the Holy Spirit is found 379 times.

By looking at 2 Timothy 3:16 we will see the work of the Spirit in the Word of God, for “All Scripture is God-breathed.”

 

Each word used for the Holy Spirit covers the meaning of:

a. Wind, an invisible, mysterious, powerful force.

b. Breath, air on a small scale, or spirit.

c. Divine power used to describe occasions when men seemed to be carried out of themselves.

The Holy Spirit plays a large part as an instrument of Divine action, both in nature and in the human heart. But the greatest outworking of the Holy Spirit is seen in the New Testament both in the life and work of Christ Jesus, and His fullness outworked in the Church of Christ.

In Acts 2 Peter saw this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, of the new dispensation prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-32).

The Apostles were conscious of receiving direct communications from the Spirit.

          In the theology and the writings of Paul, the thought of the Spirit occupies central place. Paul associates the exalted Christ so closely with the Spirit that Christ and the Spirit are almost identified.

Note Paul’s “Life in Christ.”

Note Paul’s “Life in the Holy Spirit.”

Paul sees the work of the Holy Spirit as:

a. The Christian’s body is the temple of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).

b. The Spirit is our Intercessor with the Father (Romans 8:26).

c. The Spirit is the giver of gifts as He wills (1 Corinthians 12).

 

Some symbols of the Holy Spirit found in the Scriptures.

1. DOVE.                         Matthew 3:16.

2. WIND.                         Job 33:4; John 3:8.

3. BREATH.                    Ezekiel 37:9.

4. WATER.                      John 4:4; 7:38-39; Hebrews 10:22.

5. FIRE.                           Matthew 3:2, 11; Acts 2:3.

6. CLOUD.                      Nehemiah 9:19-20.

7. RAIN.                          Psalm 72:6.

8. DEW.                           Hosea 14:5.

9. SEAL.                          2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13.

10. OIL.                           Luke 4:18; Hebrews 1:9.

11. WINE.                        Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 9:17.

12. CLOTHING.              Luke 24:49; Romans 13:12.

Names, Titles, and Descriptions of the Holy Spirit:

 

1. The Holy Spirit.

          Luke 11:13 ^“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” “Holy,” This title is found 250 times in the New Testament. It is the Spirit who is charged with performing divine holiness within mankind and throughout the universe. This title is also used to distinguish Him from all unholy spirits that are at work in this world.

 

2. Spirit of God.

          Ephesians 4:30 ^“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Paul linked the Spirit to God the Father and implied that the Spirit is the Father's representative upon the earth. The Father promised, has been sent for He has given the Holy Spirit. L. T. Holdcroft in his book, “The Holy Spirit,” gives 11 Scriptural titles which relate to the Holy Spirit:

Spirit of God.                            

The Spirit.                                            

My Spirit.

Spirit of the Lord.                      

Spirit of Jehovah.                                

Spirit of Him.

Spirit of our God.                      

Spirit of the Father.                             

His Spirit.

Spirit of the Lord God.              

Spirit of the Living God.

 

3. Spirit of Christ.  

          Romans 8:9 “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all).”

It is as the Spirit of Christ that the Holy Spirit imparts life to the believer. The Spirit ministers to make Christ present in the Church. Jesus Christ may be seen is all the Spirit says and ultimately every work of the Spirit leads to the exaltation and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Again, we have 5 titles that speak of this work:

Spirit of Christ.                         

Spirit of the Lord.                                

Spirit of Jesus.

Spirit of His Son.                      

Spirit of Jesus Christ.

 

4. Comforter.

          John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter), that He may abide with you forever.” “Helper.” The “Paraclete,” or instructor, guide, advocate, partaker, adviser, giver, interpreter, governor, assistant, helper, caretaker, and barrister. It is a word for one who toils and strengthens and gives battle on behalf of another. The Holy Spirit is ready to provide counsel, wisdom, guidance, strength and grace in all needed ways.

 

5. The Spirit of Grace.

          Hebrews 10:29 “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Such a title portrays the Spirit as the one through whom all the provisions of divine grace because available to mankind. God the Father sent His Son, Christ Jesus gave His life for us, and the Holy Spirit leads us to find Salvation by grace.

 

6. The Spirit of Glory.

          1 Peter 4:14 “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified.” The term glory is associated with worship. The Holy Spirit in this role is an essential part of every genuine source of worship that ascribes praise and honour to God. The need to worship in the Spirit is a must for all believers.

 

7. The Spirit of Truth.

          John 16:13 ^“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” The Holy Spirit reveals truth, witnesses the truth and He personify truth. Since God is the author of truth it follows that His Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit reveals to the believer truths concerning the Christian walk. The Holy Spirit inspired Word of God is the eternal account of divine truth.

 

8. The Spirit of Life.

          Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” At conversion, the Spirit quickens, and makes alive again the one who is dead in trespasses and sins.

 

9. The Spirit of Fire.

          Isaiah 4:4 “When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning.” “Burning.” In the believer, such characteristics as pride, self-righteousness, doubt or bitterness are successfully consumed by the Holy Spirit.

 

10. The Spirit of Adoption.

          Romans 8:14-15 ^“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit makes real the Sonship of the believer, partnership in the “family of God.” The Spirit imparts the divine nature that qualifies for Sonship with God.

 

11. The Spirit of Promise.

          Ephesians 1:13 ^“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Much of God's promised power and spiritual provisions that are enjoyed by the believer are made real by the direct working of the Holy Spirit of Promise.

 

12. The Spirit of Wisdom.

          Ephesians 1:17 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, The Spirit of wisdom is wise, informed, thoughtful, sensitive, relevant and resourceful.