Understanding the Holy Spirit
In contemplating a study of
Spiritual Gifts given by the Holy Spirit, I began reading Genesis 1. I didn’t have long to wait, for in the first
two verses, I had an introduction to The Holy Spirit. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And
the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the
deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Spiritual Gifts given by the Holy Spirit, I began reading Genesis 1. I didn’t have long to wait, for in the first
two verses, I had an introduction to The Holy Spirit. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And
the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the
deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The ‘when’ is answered, ‘in the beginning.’ What does the word Spirit mean? The transliteration of spirit in Greek is pneuma and in Hebrew it is ruwach. Ruwach and pneuma express
energy, motion, life and activity.
energy, motion, life and activity.
When I was a child The
Holy Spirit was called the Holy Ghost. That
word led to a misunderstanding. Then the translation moved to Spirit. When I learned that there is a triune (three in one), a
threesome that works together, I didn’t realize there was more to learn. Emphasis was always on God the Father, Jesus
the Only Son, but The Holy Spirit was barely mentioned.
Holy Spirit was called the Holy Ghost. That
word led to a misunderstanding. Then the translation moved to Spirit. When I learned that there is a triune (three in one), a
threesome that works together, I didn’t realize there was more to learn. Emphasis was always on God the Father, Jesus
the Only Son, but The Holy Spirit was barely mentioned.
Job (33:4) wrote – For the
Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty
gives me life, I
realize that God knows the number of breaths that I will breathe, because he
breathed life into me. Genesis 2:7 – The time came when the Lord God formed a
man’s body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And man
became a living person.
Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty
gives me life, I
realize that God knows the number of breaths that I will breathe, because he
breathed life into me. Genesis 2:7 – The time came when the Lord God formed a
man’s body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And man
became a living person.
After the coming of Jesus, and his death, burial and
resurrection, what was the work of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit belongs to God. He is God’s power and presence among his
people. In the Old Testament the Holy
Spirit was instrumental in the exodus (Isaiah 64:7-14). He gifted God’s people for equipping God’s
people to serve God. The Holy Spirit
rested on different people, such as Balaam, Gideon, Jepthah, Samson and Azariah
for special acts of serving and speaking.
resurrection, what was the work of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit belongs to God. He is God’s power and presence among his
people. In the Old Testament the Holy
Spirit was instrumental in the exodus (Isaiah 64:7-14). He gifted God’s people for equipping God’s
people to serve God. The Holy Spirit
rested on different people, such as Balaam, Gideon, Jepthah, Samson and Azariah
for special acts of serving and speaking.
Joel 2:28-32, Ezekiel 36:22-37, and Isaiah 11:1-5,
prophesy a day of salvation for Israel. The spiritual gifts are now given to us
by The Holy Spirit when we belong to Jesus through confession, repentance and
baptism.
prophesy a day of salvation for Israel. The spiritual gifts are now given to us
by The Holy Spirit when we belong to Jesus through confession, repentance and
baptism.
A young man prayed with me after counseling me
concerning the care of my husband as dementia continues to fog his mind. He prayed, Dear Holy Spirit…. And now as I study about the Holy Spirit, I understand
why. After searching for Holy Spirit and
The Spirit of God, I read the verses in which popped up on Bible Gateway.
concerning the care of my husband as dementia continues to fog his mind. He prayed, Dear Holy Spirit…. And now as I study about the Holy Spirit, I understand
why. After searching for Holy Spirit and
The Spirit of God, I read the verses in which popped up on Bible Gateway.
The questions kept popping in my mind:
The burning
bush Moses saw – was that The Holy Spirit?
bush Moses saw – was that The Holy Spirit?
Daniel in the
Lions’ Den – did he see The Holy Spirit?
Lions’ Den – did he see The Holy Spirit?
Did Samson
experience the strength of The Holy Spirit?
experience the strength of The Holy Spirit?
What caused
the pillar of fire by night that the Children of Israel followed in the wilderness?
the pillar of fire by night that the Children of Israel followed in the wilderness?
Did the Holy Spirit fill King Xerxes’ heart
when Queen Esther entered the throne room
when Queen Esther entered the throne room
unbidden?
There are many more questions and answers concerning
the power that is not of this world. We
open our eyes and our hearts to know that God is with us. His power is awaiting us. The Holy Spirit,
His Comforter, fills us with God’s Love. I want to know The Holy Spirit, the
giver of the gifts.
the power that is not of this world. We
open our eyes and our hearts to know that God is with us. His power is awaiting us. The Holy Spirit,
His Comforter, fills us with God’s Love. I want to know The Holy Spirit, the
giver of the gifts.
– Holy Spirit, You are GOD – 1
John 5:6-8 – And we know he is, because God said
so with a voice from heaven when Jesus was baptized, and again as he was facing
death—yes, not only at his baptism but also as he faced death.* And the Holy
Spirit, forever truthful, says it too. So we have these three witnesses: the
voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the voice from heaven at Christ’s
baptism, and the voice before he died.* And they all say the same thing: that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God.*
John 5:6-8 – And we know he is, because God said
so with a voice from heaven when Jesus was baptized, and again as he was facing
death—yes, not only at his baptism but also as he faced death.* And the Holy
Spirit, forever truthful, says it too. So we have these three witnesses: the
voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the voice from heaven at Christ’s
baptism, and the voice before he died.* And they all say the same thing: that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God.*
– Holy Spirit, You are my COMFORTER – John 14:26 – But when the
Father sends the Comforter instead of me*—and by the Comforter I mean the
Holy Spirit—he will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I
myself have told you.
Father sends the Comforter instead of me*—and by the Comforter I mean the
Holy Spirit—he will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I
myself have told you.
– Holy Spirit, You are my HELPER – John 14:26 – You
are the PARACLETOS (the One who stands by. But when the Father sends the
Comforter instead of me*—and by the Comforter I mean the Holy Spirit—he
will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I myself have told
you.
are the PARACLETOS (the One who stands by. But when the Father sends the
Comforter instead of me*—and by the Comforter I mean the Holy Spirit—he
will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I myself have told
you.
– Holy Spirit, You are the WIND of heaven – Acts
2:1-3 – Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus’
death and resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost had now arrived. As the
believers met together that day, suddenly there was a sound like the
roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house
where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire
appeared and settled on their heads.
2:1-3 – Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus’
death and resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost had now arrived. As the
believers met together that day, suddenly there was a sound like the
roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house
where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire
appeared and settled on their heads.
– Holy Spirit, You are the BREATH OF GOD – Gen.
2:7 – The time came when the Lord God formed a man’s body
from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And
man became a living person; John 20:22
– Then he breathed on them and told them, “Receive
the Holy Spirit”.
2:7 – The time came when the Lord God formed a man’s body
from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And
man became a living person; John 20:22
– Then he breathed on them and told them, “Receive
the Holy Spirit”.
– Holy Spirit, You are RIVERS OF LIVING WATER – John 7:38
– For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water
shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.”
– For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water
shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.”
– Holy Spirit, You are the OIL OF JOY and the OIL OF
GLADNESS – Ps. 45:7 – You love what is good, And hate what is wrong. Therefore God, your God, Has given you more gladness than anyone else.
GLADNESS – Ps. 45:7 – You love what is good, And hate what is wrong. Therefore God, your God, Has given you more gladness than anyone else.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF TRUTH – John 15:26
– “But I will send you the Comforter—the Holy Spirit,
the source of all truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you
all about me.
– “But I will send you the Comforter—the Holy Spirit,
the source of all truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you
all about me.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF FAITH – 2
Cor. 4:13 – We boldly say what we believe,
trusting God to care for us, just as the psalm writer did when he said, “I
believe and therefore I speak.”
Cor. 4:13 – We boldly say what we believe,
trusting God to care for us, just as the psalm writer did when he said, “I
believe and therefore I speak.”
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF LIFE – Rom.
8:1-2 – So
there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ
Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this
power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin
and death.
8:1-2 – So
there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ
Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this
power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin
and death.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF HOLINESS – Rom. 1:3-4 – It is
the Good News about his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came as a human baby,
born into King David’s royal family line; and by being raised from the
dead he was proved to be the mighty Son of God, with the holy nature of God
himself.
the Good News about his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came as a human baby,
born into King David’s royal family line; and by being raised from the
dead he was proved to be the mighty Son of God, with the holy nature of God
himself.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF LOVE, SPIRIT OF
POWER and A SOUND MIND –
2 Tim. 1:7 – For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does
not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love
them and enjoy being with them.
POWER and A SOUND MIND –
2 Tim. 1:7 – For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does
not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love
them and enjoy being with them.
Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND
UNDERSTANDING, SPIRIT OF COUNSEL AND MIGHT, SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE and FEAR OF THE
LORD – Isaiah.11:2 – And the Spirit of the
Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and
might; the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
UNDERSTANDING, SPIRIT OF COUNSEL AND MIGHT, SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE and FEAR OF THE
LORD – Isaiah.11:2 – And the Spirit of the
Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and
might; the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
– Holy Spirit,
You are the SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION – Eph. 1:17 – I have never stopped
thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you wisdom to see clearly and really
understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you.
You are the SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION – Eph. 1:17 – I have never stopped
thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you wisdom to see clearly and really
understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF PROMISE – Eph. 1:13 – And because of what
Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved,
and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who
long ago had been promised to all of us Christians.
Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved,
and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who
long ago had been promised to all of us Christians.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF GLORY, THE
SHEKINAH -1 Pet. 4:14 – Be
happy if you are cursed and insulted for being a Christian, for when that
happens the Spirit of God will come upon you with great glory.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY– Rev. 19:10 – Then I fell down at his
feet to worship him, but he said, “No! Don’t! For I am a servant of God just as
you are, and as your brother Christians are, who testify of their faith in
Jesus. Worship God. The purpose of all prophecy and of all I have shown you is
to tell about Jesus.
SHEKINAH -1 Pet. 4:14 – Be
happy if you are cursed and insulted for being a Christian, for when that
happens the Spirit of God will come upon you with great glory.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY– Rev. 19:10 – Then I fell down at his
feet to worship him, but he said, “No! Don’t! For I am a servant of God just as
you are, and as your brother Christians are, who testify of their faith in
Jesus. Worship God. The purpose of all prophecy and of all I have shown you is
to tell about Jesus.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, the
SPIRIT OF THE MESSIAH, and the ANOINTING that destroys the yoke – 1 Pet. 1:11 – They wondered what the
Spirit of Christ within them was talking about, for he told
them to write down the events which, since then, have happened to Christ: his
suffering, and his great glory afterwards. And they wondered when and to whom
all this would happen.
SPIRIT OF THE MESSIAH, and the ANOINTING that destroys the yoke – 1 Pet. 1:11 – They wondered what the
Spirit of Christ within them was talking about, for he told
them to write down the events which, since then, have happened to Christ: his
suffering, and his great glory afterwards. And they wondered when and to whom
all this would happen.
– Holy Spirit, You are the GUARANTEE OF MY
INHERITANCE and SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD – Eph.
1:13-14 – And because of what Christ did, all
you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted
Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had
been promised to all of us Christians. His presence within us is God’s
guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; and the Spirit’s seal
upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring
us to himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.
INHERITANCE and SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD – Eph.
1:13-14 – And because of what Christ did, all
you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted
Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had
been promised to all of us Christians. His presence within us is God’s
guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; and the Spirit’s seal
upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring
us to himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.
– Holy Spirit, You are the ETERNAL SPIRIT – Heb.
9:14b – For by the help of the eternal Holy
Spirit, Christ willingly gave himself to God to die for our sins—he being
perfect, without a single sin or fault.
9:14b – For by the help of the eternal Holy
Spirit, Christ willingly gave himself to God to die for our sins—he being
perfect, without a single sin or fault.
– Holy Spirit, You are the SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION – Eph.
2:18 – Now all
of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, may come to God the Father with the Holy
Spirit’s help because of what Christ has done for us.
2:18 – Now all
of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, may come to God the Father with the Holy
Spirit’s help because of what Christ has done for us.
From: http://www.modernghana.com/lifestyle/7109/16/30-essential-ways-to-express-worship-to-the-holy-s.html
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