Who/What is the Holy Spirit? Do you know? Could you define Him if someone asked you to? Sometimes referred to as the Holy "Ghost", the Holy Spirit is mentioned over 90 times in the New Testament. In this blog, I want to educate each reader on what the Bible teaches regarding the Holy Spirit. I won't be able to cover everything mind you, but hopefully, I will succeed in helping you understand the third person of the Godhead. The word "Godhead" refers to Deity - three persons in One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To help clarify this fact I will share what the Lord spoke to me in my spirit in simple terms. Afterward, I will continue in a more complex explanation. Here is what God gave me:
GOD: "Think of your husband. Could he build anything with his hands?"
Me: "Yes. He even built a shed from scratch once. He was amazing."
God: "Then he was a carpenter! Could he fix a car if it wasn't running, or put on a set of brakes, fix a radiator, change a flat tire?"
Me: "Yes. He not only fixed my car before but other cars when people needed help."
God: "Then he was a mechanic! Was he also handy around the house?"
Me: The best! There wasn't a problem he couldn't tackle. He could repair anything from a lawnmower, dishwasher, garbage disposal, an electrical short to a computer!"
God: Then he was a handyman!"
Then God said, "Your husband was all three of these things, yet he was one man. It is the same with Me. I am the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yet ONE."
God functions in different capacities through these three who share the same purpose. As I said, the term HOLY GHOST is interchangeable with the HOLY SPIRIT. To be clear, the Holy Spirit is not some mystical force, mist, fog, or wind moving hither and thither in some mysterious manner. The Holy Spirit is not an "It." Though invisible to our human eyes, He manifests attributes of an individual personality. How so? Well, HE SPEAKS! (2 Samuel 23:2; Ezekiel 11:5; Matthew 10:20; Acts 8:29; Acts 10:19; Acts 13:2). HE ACTS! (Acts 8:39) ... He took Philip so that Eunuch saw him no more. HE LEADS! (Matthew 4:1)... He led Jesus to the wilderness. HE CALLS. (Acts 13:2)... He called Paul & Barnabus unto a specific work. HE GUIDES! (John 16:13; Acts 11:12) ... He guided the apostles into all truth and guided Peter to the house of Cornelius. HE FORBIDS! (Acts 16:7)... He forbade Paul and company to go into Asia. HE CAN TAKE A UNIQUE FORM! (Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22)... specifically a body shape. HE MAKES INTERCESSION! (Romans 8:27) He intercedes for us as believers. HE MAKES DECISIONS! (Acts 15:28). You should take the time to open your Bible and read these examples. Although He is a part of the Godhead, it is obvious He stands in distinction to the Father and Son. You can also find the distinction between the three in Ephesians 4:4-6; Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; Mark 1:10-11.
The Holy Spirit deals with mankind through inspiration. Of all the Godhead, He alone is responsible for inspiration! It was HE who inspired the Old Testament prophets "For the prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were "moved" (inspired) by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21 KJV). He also inspired the New Testament writers "All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." (1 Timothy 3:16) The Holy Spirit had a unique work in the physical creation of this earth! #1 HE SHAPED IT (Genesis 1:2; Psalms 104:30) #2 HE IS RESPONSIBLE IN CREATING MAN "The Spirit of God has made me" (Job 33:4). He's responsible for Jesus' physical form (Luke 1:35). Remember what I said about God showing me the different attributes of my husband yet my husband is just one man? In a similar way, we see the Godhead in 3 distinct roles. The role of the Father in creation is similar to an architect. He came with the blueprints! The second person of the Godhead, the SON Jesus Christ, is similar to a foreman. He tells what needs to be done! Then the third person, the Holy Spirit is similar to the craftsman. He takes the materials in hand and shapes them to the proper form! The Holy Spirit is very much alive; very active. It was the Holy Spirit who had a unique work in the creation of the Bible! Oh yes, again, read 2 Peter 1:21... "holy men of God spoke as they were "moved" (inspired) by the Holy Ghost." Again, you should clearly be able to distinguish the Holy Spirits role from the Father & Son. When it comes to His inspired Word (our Bibles), the Father is responsible for the creation of the message - the ideas. The Son is responsible for the formation of the message -the speechwriter. Finally, the Holy Spirit is responsible for the delivery if the message- the speech deliverer.
We aren't finished yet. The Holy Spirit has a unique work in SPIRITUAL CREATION- Refer to Isaiah 59:21. He uses those words to invite the sinner to be saved- Refer to Revelation 22:17. He is responsible for delivering the Word of God and the message of salvation in the BOOK we call the Bible- Refer to Ephesians 3:3-4. He helps us by giving us the power to obey through The Word through the Spirit -by the message of the Spirit- Refer to 1 Peter 1:22. When we do so, we are "born" of the Spirit (John 3:5). Then when we participate in the new birth, we receive the justification of the Spirit- Refer to 1 Corinthians 6:11. As a result? GOD'S HOUSE IS BUILT! Ephesians 4:12 says that work of the Spirit is for "the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ" which is His Church. Again, can you see the distinction of the Holy Spirit from the Father's and the Son's? Let me show you once again:
The Father was responsible for the plan ... the "eternal purpose" (see Ephesians 3: 9-11) FATHER: ARCHITECT OF THE CHURCH. The Son was responsible for the execution of the plan ... "I will build My church" (see Matthew 16:18). THE SON: FOREMAN OF THE CHURCH. The Holy Spirit is responsible for the application of that plan to man as CRAFTSMAN OF THE CHURCH.
In conclusion, WHO is the Holy Spirit? He is God; Divine. He is a unique person of the Godhead. He has a unique role. He has a mind, emotions, and will. He thinks and knows (1 Corinthians 2:10). He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). He intercedes for us (Romans 8: 26-27). He makes decisions according to His will (1 Corinthians 12: 7-11). He functions as the Comforter and Counselor that Jesus promised He would be and would send to us (John 14:16, 26; 15:26). The Holy Spirit is Omnipresent ... always there for the believer to comfort, guide, encourage, and strengthen. As I end this blog, I will repeat the words from Psalm 139:7-8, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."
I hope you have a more clear understanding of the third person of the Trinity.
Until next time,
-Pat-
That was a good analogy. I just finished praying very similar words about 5 mins ago...where can I go where You will not see me or hear me, God. You see me when I sit down or when I stand. It's the power of the Holy Spirit IN YOU, Pat, that guides and directs you to write these blogs! It's His inspiration that gives you to the right words and leads you to the correct scriptures. God really does speak to His people through His Holy Spirit. It's not in an audible voice but a quiet nudge in a particular direction or a silent thought or words to help in a situation. The Bible says when we are at a loss for words while trying to pray for a need or for someone, the Holy Spirit will pray on our behalf. He knows our hearts and thoughts and He can pray in a way we can't sometimes. Lots of scripture to look up and study!
ReplyDeleteThanks once again, Pat. You are a blessing. ❤
You have insight as well, Diane. Perhaps I should clarify for the readers that when I say GOD SPOKE TO MY SPIRIT, I hear HIM by way of thought. I know His thoughts as opposed to my own. When I think something over it is deliberate. I plan to think about something and roll it over in my brain, deciding what I want to do with it, how, when, and so forth. When God speaks to my spirit, the thought or thoughts come unexpectedly without forethought or planning. His "thoughts" also present themselves like a personal conversation with answers that come immediately if I question something. And finally, the thoughts He speaks to me are always aligned with Biblical truth and are presented with such wisdom, they could never have been of my own making. For instance, have you ever tried to work through a problem but you fail over and over to come up with a good solution? Only to have a friend approach and share an idea where you respond, "That's an excellent idea! Why didn't I think of that?" Not only that, but the idea your friend gave you was not complex but very simple sometimes making you feel foolish? THAT'S like what happens when the Lord speaks to me but it's more powerful and sure. His answers and or comments are not only brilliant and nothing I could have ever thought of, but they are also simple yet so wise! God did speak to people in the Old Testament (Hebrews 1:1)and He still speaks, moves, and motivates people today. God has not changed. Scripture says He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
ReplyDeletethx, pat. I've been so very busy at work, putting in extra hours. I am catching up on your blogs now. I "hear" God in my spirit and heart too. thank you for this blog. it was very thorough. good stuff.
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