HOLY SPIRIT

There are hundreds of Book on understanding the Holy Spirit,   but I was asked to teach on this subject.   I am not sure what I share here will give you any more light on the subject but here goes.

First of all God the Father, God the Word (now Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit are one.   God is like a family of Father, Son and Mother.   And as Jesus went to create a place for HIS Church/Body/Bride/Wife/Rod of Iron, He sent the Holy Spirit to replace HIM.   In the Amplified Bible the Holy Spirit is mentioned 176 time, 19 in the O.T. and 157 in the N.T.  So starting in the beginning Gen 1:26, Moses quotes God as saying, “Let US make man in OUR make man in our image…”  So we are to have a physical family that is like that of God.  Of course it was the Word of God speaking to the Father and Holy Spirit.   My understanding is that God is somewhat like water being the same H20 but solid, liquid and vapor for different needs.  And as for process of making man into being like God, obvious there is a process.   God started it out with the Word of God teaching Adam until Adam decided to allow lucifer to teach him and submitted to lucifer.  And then it took 4,000 years of world history to start over with a 2nd Adam in Jesus to get it right.  And Jesus was the first to graduate into becoming God as per the original vision.  And now Jesus is the Word of God returned into heaven to make a home for those who would make HIM Lord and learn to grow up in HIM and become sanctified (set apart) to become like HIM.   And Jesus, now the Word of God, sent the Holy Spirit for this purpose on Pentecost to complete the original vision in us.   Our Eternal Creator is in the process of creating a family like HIM and we have all be invited, Rev.22.

So let us look at a few Scriptures to confirm all this.  First of all Jesus teaches us, “You will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but the one who [patiently perseveres empowered by the Holy Spirit and] endures to the end, will be saved.”  Mark 13:13.  So it is not going too be a smooth ride as you decide to go for the Kingdom of God.  And that Jesus came to also Baptize us also in the Holy Spirit as HE was, “ John answered them all by saying, “As for me, I baptize you [only] with water; but One who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I is coming, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals [even as His slave]. He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Luke 3:16.  And through this the Holy Spirit would also speak through us, “ for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”  Luke 12:12.   And that the Holy Spirit would teach us all things.  “But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.”  John 14:26.  And that this could not have happened without the victory of Christ Jesus in HIS death.  “But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).”  So the Holy Spirit who had been with them, but upon the resurrection of Jesus, would then be in them.  “But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.”  John 14:26.  “ But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].”  John 16:7. And with the Holy Spirit flows the Power of God.  “But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8  And usually, as the tongue is most difficult to control, though the least of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit we get to pray in other languages as well.  or in evangelism use tongues to convert or with interpretation help built the LORD’S Church.  “And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].  Acts 2:4, 1 Cor.14,  Rom. 8:26-27,  Acts 19:6,   Isa. 28:11

So how do we become empowered by the Holy Spirit as the gift if available for everyone.  “ For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.” Acts 2:39.    First is to know the commandments of Jesus and be humble and obedient in them. ”The one who habitually keeps His commandments [obeying His word and following His precepts, abides and] remains in Him, and He in him. By this we know and have the proof that He [really] abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us [as a gift].  “ 1 John 3:24.  “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.”  Acts 5:32.

And then there is the desire, do you really want the Holy Spirit to guide you into God’s righteousness or do you want to try to do it yourself.   ““So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who [a] keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!”  Luke 11:9-13.  So how do I know this can happen as I am already a Christian?   The disciples were saved in the upper room but filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.   Paul was saved on the road but filled with the Holy Spirit 3 days later.   Samaria was saved under Philip’s ministry but several month later Peter and John went to Samaria to see to it that they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  And in Acts 19 , Paul was asking a stupid question if it were not possible: “ He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [in Jesus as the Christ]?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  Acts.19:2   (This was 17 yrs. after Pentecost.)    So it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can now have the fruit, gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit for power,   which we all need to be effective as Christians in the Kingdom of God to produce fruit.   We are born again into the Kingdom of God to also produce fruit. (converts)   John 15: 1-26.  More next week on the Fruit, Gifts & Ministries of the Holy Spirit to seek for in prayer.

Yours, in HIS great Love and wonderful Grace & Mercy,   Ken<><    www.OhanaChurch.Life