Post by pitbull on Jul 8, 2009 10:32:32 GMT -5
WHO IS THE SPIRIT?
The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost seems very confusing to many Christian circles. Have you ever wondered who the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is? Did you know the Lord Jesus Christ called Him “another Comforter”? [John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14] This is where Jesus is comparing the Spirit to Himself, since He was the primary Comforter while physically present with the Twelve.
This is just one of many sections in the Word of God where the Spirit’s personage or deity is proclaimed. Check out the following sampling of Biblical passages for more details about the identity of the Holy Spirit: Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Matthew 3:16-17; 12:31-32; 28:19; John 3:3-8; 14:16,17,26; 15:26; 16:13-14; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-27; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; 3:16; 12:11; 2 Corinthians 3:14,17-18; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 9:14; 10:15-17; 1 Peter 1:2.
Other Biblical passages proclaim the following about Him:
a. He, as a Person, can be "grieved". [Ephesians 4:30]
b. He, as a Person, can be lied to. [Acts 5:1-4]
c. He, as a Person, can be resisted [strive against]. [Acts 7:51]
d. He, as a Person, can be vexed [upset to point of feeling ill] [Isaiah 63:10]
e. He, as a Person, restrains others. [Acts 16:6-7]
f. He, as a Person, fellowships [has communion] with Christians. [2 Corinthians 13:14]
g. He, as God, can be blasphemed against. [Matthew 12:31]
What really confuses some is what is recorded in the following two passages:
• “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;” [Revelation 1:4]
• “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” [Revelation 4:5]
Is He one Spirit? Or are there seven Holy Spirits? This actually refers back to Isaiah 11:2 where the seven ministries, attributes, or aspects of the Holy Spirit are described – “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;”
As long as you keep each passage in context to the Bible as a whole, it is not hard to understand the Holy Spirit, His nature, His roles, and His ministries. But do you have the Holy Spirit residing in you? There is only one way to receive the Holy Spirit and that is by getting saved. We need to be willing to admit to God and ourselves that we are nothing more than vile, wretched sinners. [Psalm 14:1, 3; 51:5; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6; Romans 3:10, 23; 5:19; Galatians 3:22; 1 John 1:8] This is the first thing that must take place in order to get saved. Once you reach that point then you can obey Mark 1:15, John 6:28-29, Acts 16:30-31, Acts 17:30, and Romans 10:9, 13 to repent and ask Jesus to save you. Humble your heart and do this today.