THE HOLY SPIRIT – YOUR HELPER TODAY
(Hebrew :R U A C H H A K O D E S H)
Introduction:
And the earth was without form and void; and the darkness was upon the face of the deep. And The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1.2) GOD said “Let us make man in Our Image, after Our Likeness, and let them have dominion…..(Genesis 1.26a) Time and time again, history has repeated similar errors of not PRESENTING accurately The Third Person of The God-Head – The Holy Spirit, and some have conveniently left out discussing about HIM and refer to The Holy Spirit as “it”. The above verses and many other similar verses prove that The Holy Spirit was as much involved with and in Creation, like The Father and The Son. Ever since the fall of Adam/Eve that was caused by their { I N - D E P E N D E N C E } from God and His Wisdom, every man/woman thus received the impartation genetically and did likewise, from their original parents. THE GENETICAL VIRUS OF SENSUAL KNOWLEDGE
Subsequently as their spirit-life was dead, survival through the sensual knowledge
dominated, and has kept even today’s so-called believers in The Lord Jesus Christ, ignorant of their inheritance in Christ. Sensual Knowledge being carnal would always elevate and pride in one’s achievements, as it allows the man/woman to live by worship of self, unconsciously. Sensual knowledge rotates information about one’s self-image, and ultimately leads to an inflated ego distorted image. This Distortion in one’s life, is like the earth without form and void, and hence darkness would magnify itself in every kind. But the above verse in Genesis 1.2 says: And “The Spirit of GOD moved upon”. Until The Spirit of God moves upon our lives, we would be living void and formless, resulting in Darkness- {IGNORANCE of God’s Thoughts & Ways}. WHY IS THE HOLY SPIRIT SO IMPORTANT TO US?Right from the eternal beginning, God {Elohim} had a Blueprint from His Heart to be released into His Creation. Ever since the fall of Lucifer {the anointed cherub} from heaven, God desired to SEE of His-kind dominate like-Him on the earth. Hence though the original earth was destroyed by Lucifer and 1/3 of the angels falling on the earth (Revelation 12.4, 9) and (Genesis 1.2), God over-ruled this destruction by releasing His WORD-LIGHT into the darkness (Genesis 1.3) Now God released the heavens/planets/stars into orbit and space. Then He separated the light from darkness (as each have their own identity), then chose to create the animals (beasts), the fish and birds, every creeping creature, and every tree to bring forth of its kind and saw that they were good. Finally God desired to release His Best Workmanship – Man (male/female) (Psalms 8.3-8). Just try to visualize all this was done for man alone.
NOTE: Every part of God’s Creation was birthed through the release of God’s Word from His mouth, but when man was created, not only was the Word released but God Himself chose to PUT HIS BREATH - OF- LIFE into man to make Him a living-soul. Such was the Longing to SEE of HIS KIND, that God imprinted on this man His OWN IMAGE {His Character} and His OWN LIKENESS {His Mind-set}. Thus started the seal of God on the man, and Paul gets the revelation of this Sealing in (Ephesians 1.13, 14). The Spirit of True Worship began right here in (Genesis 1.27) and would begin in us, when we understand that we are not our OWN and that we were bought with a price (1Corinthians 6.19, 20). So God {Elohim} designed man to be-long (intimacy) to Him and to be-hold (minister) Him (Revelation 4.11) just like His angels do in (Mathew 18.10).
THE DWELLING PLACE:
David:called the man after God’s heart (Acts 13.22) had drawn enough from his intimacy with Elohim, to understand that God desired to be in a Tabernacle of His own. Nevertheless David pursued God with his deepest longing, and that was to raise a House {Dwelling Place} for The Lord. (2 Samuel 7.1-16). Yet God would not allow David whose hands were covered with blood to do this, but allowed his seed Solomon to raise this House. Why was this house so significant to God, and what was the purpose of the same? Then wouldn’t the Word contradict itself, that God doesn’t dwell in buildings made by man (Acts 17.24-25). What was put in the heart of David was a Pattern of what God intended, and that was to DWELL with His friend-man all the time, so that we would be the offspring of God (Acts17.26-29). So the only way God could dwell with us, was by LIVING within us, to be called Emmanuel (Isaiah 7.14) Right through the scriptures we see Dimensions of God in the Light of 3 persons emerging, each being God. God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit. In the world that God created, He revealed Himself to us as Light and this Light was displayed through the 7 colours of the rainbow. Now 7 also is the number associated with The Holy Spirit. We read about the 7 spirits of God in (Revelation 4.5) and we also see in (Isaiah 11.2) the 7 mantles of The Holy Spirit – The Spirit of Wisdom, The Spirit of Understanding, The Spirit of Counsel, The Spirit of Might, The Spirit of Knowledge, The Spirit of the Fear of The Lord, and The Spirit of The Lord. Now in every stage of Redemption, we see the unique role of each of The Godhead as below:a) The Conception of Jesus (Luke 1.35)b)The Beginning of the ministry of Jesus (Mathew 3.16,17)c) The Ministry of Jesus (Acts.10.38)d) The Sacrifice of Jesus on The Cross (Hebrews 9.14)e) The Resurrection of Jesus (Romans.1.4 and Romans 8.11)f) Pentecost (Acts.2.30-33)So we see The role played by The Holy Spirit as The Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10.29) and The Spirit of Glory (1 Peter 4.14). We also must know that at Pentecost, when The Holy Spirit descended on the 120 disciples in the upper room, HE SPOKE in other tongues through the disciples, and this signified that which the patriarch David wanted to build – A Temple for God. Now The Holy Spirit as a PERSON took up His dwelling on the earth. He NOW is the permanent representative of The Godhead on earth, and how is this so? Each time The Holy Spirit comes to be a Resident in the body of a believer, it is also appropriate that He should manifest His Presence by speaking out of the believer in The New Tongue supernaturally released. We are His Temples (1 Corinthians 6.19,20). So Heavenly tongues is a sign of The Holy Spirit dwelling in a believer’ body, making it a sacred temple. Hence the requirement to keep the body holy is a pre-requisite. We see many verses in the New testament that reveal the dimensions of The Holy Spirit. (Mark 3.29) (Mark 13.11) (Luke 12.12) (John 14.26 & John 16.13, 14) (Acts 2.38) (Acts 5.3) (Acts 13.2, 4) (Acts 15.28) (Acts 16.6) (Acts 20.28) (Acts 21.11) (1 Corinthians 6.19, 20).We also notice that there are many TITLES given in Scripture to The Holy Spirit like: The Spirit of Truth (John 15.26 & 16.13), The Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10.29), The Spirit of Glory (1 Peter 4.14), The Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1.4), The Spirit of Wisdom, Counsel (Isaiah 11.2), The Spirit of Prophecy (Revelation 19.10), The Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8.15), The Spirit of love, power and sound mind {self-control} (2 Timothy 1.7).NOW The Holy Spirit like The Father and The Son is:OMNISCIENT(Jonah 4.6-11), (1 Corinthians 2.9-11), (1 John 3.20)OMNIPRESENT(Jeremiah 23.23-24), (Psalms 139.7-13), (John 14.26) OMNIPOTENT (Luke 1.35), (Acts 1.8)
Now the primary Revelation of The Holy Spirit is related to His Title: H O L Y.
Now this is The Standard by which we must judge in our assembly’s, every experience, every message and every movement that claims to be of The Holy Spirit. Does it bring us into His Holiness? Now we must also understand apart from this,
(a) the SERVANTHOOD of THE TRINITY.
Servanthood originated in eternity, not on earth but in heaven. Eternally Jesus The Son is the willing and obedient servant of God The Father. The Holy Spirit in turn is the obedient, self-effacing servant of The Father and The Son. There is no demand for “Rights”, as He perfectly does His appointed role as The servant of God. Now The Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself … He will testify of Me… He will not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears He will speak …. He will take of Mine and declare it to you. (John 16.13, 14). This brings us to a valid issue that may arise – Can we pray to The Holy Spirit, since He is also a part of The Godhead? The pattern prayer of the disciples, Jesus taught commences with “Our Father who art in heaven…….Jesus also said “And whatsoever you ask in My Name , that will I do, that The father may be glorified in The Son.” (John 14.13). Therefore All prayer as per the scriptures is to God The father. The ministry of the Holy Spirit helps us to reach The Father, not to give us an option.
But We Must “Pray in The Spirit, but not to The Spirit"(Ephesians 6.18)
(b) a CONSUMING FIRE.
Very often The Holy Spirit has manifested Himself as FIRE. Even the last time The Holy Spirit visibly appears in The scriptures is as “seven lamps of fire”.... burning before the throne of God. Remember God is NOT LIKE A FIRE, but a CONSUMING FIRE. Hence serving God with reverence and godly-fear is not optional. The Holy Spirit came down as fire…(Leviticus 9.23, 24) and also in (2 Chronicles 7.1-3). But in the famous episode at mount Carmel, when Elijah prays and calls on God (1 Kings 18.35-39) the fire of God fell ………But fire can be a blessing in purifying or a destroyer in destruction. (Leviticus 10. 1-4).The same fire that brought God’ blessing on Aaron’s obedience, brought instant death to his 2 sons Nadab and Abihu who turned the fire into profanity because of a presumptuous and counterfeit spirit. (Hebrews 12.28, 29).
(c) The SPIRIT OF TRUTH.
When Jesus promised His disciples that He would ask The father to send them a Helper, He named The Helper as THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, and also said that the world would not receive nor accept Him. Why is this so? A) Men turned away from God in rebellion, thus unwilling to expose their unrighteousness by the truth. Hence they suppress the truth in unrighteousness.B) Rebellion against God exposes man to the god of this age and the enemy’s main weapon is Deception. No wonder human philosophy has tried in vain to define truth. But the Bible is explicit about “TRUTH”.Jesus said: I am The Truth …… (John 14.6a). While praying to The Father, Jesus said: Your Word is Truth (John 17.17a). John in (1John 5.6, 7) says: The Holy Spirit is Truth. Note how Jesus, The Word and The Holy Spirit are in total agreement in the above verses.
FUNCTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Creates and gives light(Job 33.4),
The source of all wisdom (Isaiah 11.2) , ( 1 Corinthians 12.8),Source of Miraculous Power (Mathew 12.28), (Luke 11.20), Author of the New Birth (John 3.5, 6) (1 John 5.4).
Abiding with Saints forever (John 14.16),
Dwelling in the saints (John 14.17) (1 Corinthians 14.25) Enables to testify of Christ (John 15.26),
Convinces of sin, righteousness & judgement (John 16.8-11)Speaking in and by the prophets(Acts.1.16),Sanctifying the church (Ezekiel 37.28) (Romans 15.16)
Comforter of the church (Acts 9.31) (2 Corinthians 1.3),Direction where gospel must be preached (Acts 16. 6-10)
Appointment and sending of ministers (Acts.20.28), Teaching (John 14.26), Imparting God’s love (Romans 5.3-5)
Imparts hope (Romans 15.13) (Galatians 5.5), Inspired Scriptures (2 Timothy 3.16) (2 Peter 1.21)
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
By accepting the gifts given to her by Abraham’s servant Rebecca committed herself to become Isaac’s Bride. Had she refused these gifts, she would have dishonoured and rejected Isaac and hence never become Isaac’s bride. Similarly God sent His Holy Spirit with every gift and provision for the bride of His Son Jesus –The Church. And included in it are 9 spiritual gifts, hence the Church is marked as the Committed Bride of Christ. There are 9 Supernatural gifts/manifestations of The Holy Spirit mentioned in (1 Corinthians 12.8-10) given by The Holy Spirit. These gifts, could be further categorized into 3 parts. They are:
The Revelation Gifts:
(1) the word of wisdom (2) the word knowledge (3) The Discernment Spirits
Power Gifts:
(1) the gifts of healing (2) the working of miracles (3) the gift of faith
The Communion Gifts:
(1) the gift of prophecy (2) divers kinds of tongues (3) the interpretation of tongues
A VERY VITAL POINT TO NOTE IS THAT GOD TRUSTED THE CHURCH, WITH THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE ABOVE GIFTS. NONE OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED GIFTS CAN BE EITHER EARNED OR RECEIVED BY MERIT OF ONE’S EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE GIFTS OF GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL GRACE NOR WILL THESE GIFTS BE TAKEN BACK FROM YOU BASED ON YOUR BACK-SLIDING CHARACTER OR PERSONAL SIN IN ONE’S LIFE.
NOR EVEN IF YOU ABUSE THESE GIFTS BY MERCHAND-ISING THEM FOR PERSONAL FAME/NAME /GAME LIKE JUDAS ISCARIOT DID with 30 pieces silver. (Please have a glimpse of God’s heart with us, in Romans 11.29).
Now ALL these gifts, apart from The Gifts mentioned in Romans 12.5-15 are released in us for the “Profit of all” so that through them, Christians can serve each other affectively in The Body. These gifts are Tools for Service, not to be Toyed around with. So these gifts are not biasedly given to us based on our education or intelligence etc. Now there are some who would claim the gifts days are over. They were only for that apostolic era. To them Paul Thanked God for the Corinthians because “you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for Our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed (1 Corinthians 1. 5, 6). Also this would refute the verse that Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13. 8) THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT:For fruit to develop, roots must be there. STRONGER THE TREE, STRONGER THE ROOTS. Fruit production goes through series of stages that may take several years in its formation. Let’s look at these stages. Before we look at these stages it depends what tree or fruit we need. Hence the soil and the ground has to be carefully looked at. Once the seed is sown into the earth, a root goes down into the soil and simultaneously a sprout grows upwards. This sprout grows into the tree and in due course young fruit appear on the tree. Then these fall off and fruit begins to develop. Then the blossoms or the young fruit must be plucked off in the 1st years so that the tree’s root system develops to support the strength of the tree. Several years must pass before the fruit is fit to eat. So seed and fruit are inseparably linked to each other. Fruit must grow from a seed, but on the other hand it takes fruit to produce more seeds. In fact God spoke this into being in (Genesis 1.12, 29). Hence we can say: That a unfruitful Christian would not be able to sow seed in others. Now just like there are 9 gifts of The Holy Spirit, there are also 9 fruit of The Holy Spirit.
They are listed down in Galatians 5.22,23 and each one are embedded into each other. They're listed as: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS,
TEMPERANCE.
When all the parts of the fruit are Fully Developed, it would be as though Jesus Christ by The Holy Spirit has come amongst men. Remember they are not fruit of the Holy Spirit, but all these qualities develop the Character of Jesus’s fruit in us. In the New Testament there are many references of how to Develop the Fruit of The Spirit and Peter classifies them in (2 Peter 1.4-10).To walk in these virtues, one of the main requirements Peter identifies the High-Call of not mere Diligence, but all Diligence. The word ALL is important, and then the list is as stated below.
ALL D I L I G E N C E
+FAITH– Seed of God’s Word which is the Foundational Growth in and the Maturity to stand
+ V I R T U E -Moral Excellence in every area of life
+ K N O W L E D G E- God’s Will as in Scripture, requiring systematic study of the Whole Bible (2 Timothy 3.16,17)
+T E M P E R A N C E- Self-Control or discipline needed in every major area of thought-life, emotions, attitudes and appetites.There must be control of actions as well as reactions.
+ P A T I E N C E- The ability to overcome various personality trials and Tests in order to expose all undisciplined areas. They must develop endurance and self-control.
+ G O D L I N E S S- is the mark of one whose life is God-centered, one who Knows the Presence of God and carries the fragrance of God everywhere. These need’nt preach, but their life carries the unique nature of God everywhere they go.
+ B R O T H E R L Y K I N D N E S S – This is the love for one anotherJesus prayed for amongst fellow-In 2000 years Strife and contention has destroyed this reality,and only The mature would love for what they mean to Jesus, Who shed His blood for each of us.
+ C H A R I T Y – This is the love that Christ demonstrated on the Cross, for those who crucified Him. Stephen demonstrated also this Love when he was stoned in (Acts 7.60) This love changed Saul of Tarsus into Paul.Now that we have seen the Gifts, and the fruit, we must be Endued with The Power of The Holy Spirit to walk in all of these, and hence we need MORE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Some dear Saint said and I quote: “WE DON’T NEED MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT NEEDS MORE OF US.”
How true this is today when we are seeing so much of :TORMENTORS instead of MENTORS, MISERY instead of MINISTRY, ANNOYING instead of the ANOINTING, and in the process how many precious souls have faced the adverse attacks of the enemy, instead of receiving Life from many a so-called servant.
WHAT IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The word BAPTISM comes from the Greek word- BAPTISMO which means “to Immerse into something”. Some thing has to be empty, to be filled up with something else. Isn’t it? (Mathew 3.15-17)So the believer must be emptied of Self, (Romans 3.10,23) by going to The Cross of Jesus Christ for one’s Redemption. (Romans 6.23) Believing from his heart and confessing with His Mouth, The Lordship of Jesus Christ. (Romans 10.9,10) Also one must acknowledge that Christ was raised from the dead, Crossing over from sin’s penalty -death into the life of Jesus Christ by being translated into the Kingdom of His Dear Son Jesus Christ, (Colossians 1.13)thus being born again by the Holy Spirit. So Baptism now starts with being Filled with The Holy Spirit each day and living in the Power of The Holy Spirit for Him alone (Ephesians 5.18, 19).Only The “NEW CREATION” believer (2 Corinthians 5.14-17) can be baptized with The Holy Spirit, not the church-goer, doesn’t matter which church one goes to. How is all this Possible in one’s life? Simple. BY FAITH ALONE in the finished work of Jesus Christ and His Word. (Ephesians 2.8, 9). Now The Holy Spirit will bring His Divine nature as He begins to reside in you. One’s attitude to life will change as a New Dimension to Life will be released from within. Life will be exciting, more fulfilling, more rewarding and more than all joy and peaceful. But of course there is the old adversary, the enemy of your soul Satan. He is not going to be happy with you as the ownership of your spirit has been handed over to The Lordship of Jesus. So he would try to cause problems and will try to do all to hinder you going forward. But one needs to Search the Word of God to combat this problem. (John 5.39), (2 Timothy 2.15), (Mathew 4.4 and Luke 4.4). {What FOOD is to the physical body, The WORD (Manna) is for the spirit/soul}. In (Mathew 6.11), Jesus was not asking “The Father for physical bread”, but Manna (Spiritual Word Food). (Cross check with Mathew 6.25-33). Read (1 Peter 2.1-3) and desire the milk of the Word. (Psalms 119.9-11,50,105,130).
HOW DOES ONE NEED TO BE BAPTISED?
One must desire, and ask The Lord to baptize them with The Holy Spirit. (Acts. 2.4) Why? Because He (The Holy Spirit) is the Promise of the Father (Luke 24.49,50 and Acts.1.4,5 ) Who can be baptized? Jesus said in (Luke 11.9-13) – Any of GOD’s NEW CREATION, even little children if they are Born Again by The Spirit. (John 3.3-5) (Joel 2.28,29). How to ask? (Read James 4.2, 3)Conditions that need to be fulfilled for Receiving this: (A) One must be God’s NEW CREATION to Ask. (John 14.17)
(B) One must believe and receive by faith
(C) One must be Thirsty for The Holy Spirit Dimension (Isaiah 55.1-3,6-13) (John 4.10-15) (John 7.37-39).
(D) One must be Forgiven of EVERY KNOWN SIN, and
(E) One must Forgive everyone as Christ has forgiven you NO FORGETTING means NO FORGIVING also).
(F) All believers are commanded by Christ to receive (Acts.1.4,5) G) In order to speak in New heavenly Tongues, one must be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11.15-17) & (1 Corinthians 14.39).
(H) Worshipping and Praying in Tongues will become part of the devotion to God, thus bringing Refreshing and Restfulness (Isaiah 28.11-12) (1 Corinthians 14.4)
(I) The Holy Spirit will draw one daily to The Cross, and will enable you to see All things through the Cross of Jesus Christ.(Romans 8.1,2)
(J) The Holy Spirit will teach and show you to pray “The will of God” (Romans 8.23-27) (John 16.13-15).
Other verses on The Holy Spirit’s Baptism are:
(Isaiah 28.11,12) (Mathew 3.11) (Acts.1.5) (Acts 8.14-17) (Acts 10.44-46) (Acts 11.15-17) (Acts 19.2-6) Jude v.20)
Now the common evidence of being baptized with The Holy Spirit is Speaking in Other Tongues (Acts.2.4).The Baptism with The Holy Spirit is for Endowment of power from on High (Acts.1.8). Being born of the Spirit is at the new birth (Conversion), but being Baptized with The Holy Spirit is for having Power with and through God. In fact one of the sign of the believer in (Mark 16.17) is speaking in tongues, and this is the most common initial evidence of being Filled with The Spirit. (Acts.10.45,46) (Acts.19.1-7).In fact for what you ought to be in Christ, the Baptism with The Holy Spirit is absolute necessity. If Christ has to bring forth His Full Potential in us, The Helper needs to Guide us into All Truth (John 16.13) and this will become more clear, when The Holy Spirit becomes our Teacher too.
A SMALL NOTE on Reasons for Water-Baptism:
a) Jesus Christ set the example by being baptized in water “to fulfill all righteousness” (Mathew 3.13-15).
b) Water Baptism signifies the death, burial and resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6.3-11)
c) Our fathers passed through the cloud, and passed through the sea as a sign (1 Corinthians 10.1-4).
When Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan , it signified that which He would do in order to secure our Salvation. Likewise we in baptism proclaim our Submission to The Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Now water baptism doesn’t save us or contribute to our salvation, but is a sign of our salvation, which we publicly declare. In fact it testifies that one has given his heart and life to Jesus Christ. It also typifies our death to the old life and its burial, and entry into the Newness of Life in Christ Jesus. That’s why water-baptism must be done by Immersion alone. It also must be done as a result of coming to Jesus Christ, and should not be done to come to Jesus Christ. (Acts 2.38,39).
After all this, one must find and go to a Holy Spirit Filled church and that is as below: Remember the church is not how many thousands are there, or how big the building is (Acts 17.24-28). It could be a gathering of even 50 or 500, this doesn’t matter. What matters is whether they are doing what The Lord Requires from His Church today? This is a pattern church according to (Acts 2.42-47). Don’t try any other, as you would only waste your destiny and others too.
(a) where the Cross of Jesus Christ is preached in its totality, divine healing released
(b) where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are recognized and practiced in order to build one another, and the Baptism of The Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues as a platform.
(c) where the love of God is transparent from the leader and congregation likewise
(d) where the commission of making Disciples of all men is being fulfilled and going into all the world to spread the gospel of The Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Mathew 24.14)(Acts.1.3)
(e) where priority is given to family-life and healing broken-family relationships.
(f) Finally the preaching on the rapture of the church and the preparation of the Bride for The Lord’s Eminent Coming to earth.When the above order is continued in , there are chances to see greater Holy Spirit’s dimensions around.Your destiny and the destiny of others connected with you is VITALLY DEPENDANT on Following the above individual instructions carefully,without missing anyone.
Remember The HOLY SPIRIT above all can and will guide us into ALL TRUTH, as He is THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH (John. 14.26 and John 16.13).As you learn from HIM how to be with HIM discovering HIS WORD, your friendship will be birthed and you will become HIS Habitation (Dwelling Place).Amen.
