The Holy Spirit

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" Ephesians 1:13 (KJV).

There have recently, and not so recently, been debates on the nature of the Holy Spirit, how it operates today within the body of Christ, and so on. It has been a very heated discussion, and in many cases simply a raging argument. It is one of those subjects that has been divisive in the Body of Christ for a long time.

Christian love was usually the first casualty in these wars of the Word of God, and for obvious reasons, scripture was next. When you throw in Dispensationalism, Cessationalism, and all manner of other “isms” and etc, well you know where this all went rather quickly. 

I would like to point a few things about the Holy Spirit, without argument, censure or personalities involved. Just the Word of God and what He has to say on the subject. Perhaps herein we may find some common ground, and seek only God’s truth. and not our own righteousness.

And get away from the need to be right, and just let God be right. He always is anyhow.

What many Christians try to point out about the Holy Spirit, is that there is a difference between access to the Spirit, and activity within, and from, the Holy Spirit. In other words, having access to something does not describe it's nature, only your access.

The identity, work and nature of the Holy Spirit lies in these passages (among others):

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26 (KJV). 

And then again: 

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." John 16:7-15 (KJV).

Letting the Word Of God explain to us how this relationship works ends the fighting, unless you are prepared to fight God and His Word.

As many have one way or another agreed, when salvation is accepted, as it is a gift given, but NOT always taken, the Holy Spirit comes. But how you relate to, and in, that Spiritual Holiness of God is dependent on what you do, and allow to be done, in your life. Much in the same way we walk with the Lord, and how much we let Him into our lives, and thus influencing our lives (having a direct impact. It is a simple concept and speaks much on how God operates with His children. The principle is accept, allow use of, and be changed by whatever it is you are applying concerning God's actions in your life.

I know that was convoluted so let's look at it again. Accept what God is giving you, allow it to operate in your life, and then accept the changes it makes. All things of God follow this pattern, the Holy Spirit follows that plan and purpose for our lives. Let's not fight over semantics here. The Holy Spirit was the Holy Spirit of Promise only once, and that was BEFORE Pentecost. However, once the Second Comforter was established, so was a new understanding concerning God. The passages above tell us of it's work in our lives.

In the Old Testament, God the Father dealt directly (also through intermediaries, i.e., the prophets) with His Children. In the New Testament Jesus Christ dealt directly with His brothers and sisters. He also was, and is, THE intermediary in our Walk Of Faith. The Holy Spirit deals directly (and through intermediaries — Apostles, etc.) within the body of Christ. 

In all of this God, the Father, remains active, Jesus Christ, the Son, also is active, and the Holy Spirit is the active force promised by Christ to all believers. All were active from the very beginning. God has always been with us in all three divine beings. But now we begin to see the authority and pattern of God operating in our lives. It gives new meaning to the statement that the Lord God is one, even though defined by three distinct divine personages.

What does this say? It says that the power of God is consistent and knowable, as God wants us to know of Him and BE of Him. So He has always remained unchanged, though dynamically unchanged. And how He has, and does, deal with His children is the defining power in the dynamics.

Prophecy is a valid action of God in the character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Visions are a valid action of God in the character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and etc. So what can we point to in an unchanging God that denotes a change in how He relates to His children? 

We can not point to anything that has changed! There is no evidence where God said “I will now deal differently in how I relate to my children.” Simply because He never said that. So God has remained unchanging, as He has always said, the same yesterday, today and forever. So too in the specific beings of God, and the designated work, or recognized character, of each. Our understanding needs to stretch outwardly to embrace the truth of this. Each aspect or personage of God is defined by God. That is what I mean when I say knowable.

We may contend, and do, on what gifts are valid in the Holy Spirit, but the Word Of God is always the final arbiter of truth. I would dare say, that to argue the very nature of God is wrong AND dangerous. Dangerous to the body of Christ, and to ourselves, if we are truly of that body. We must believe in the steadfast and unchanging character of God, in ALL of His divine beings, now and forever. The need to be right must end and real understanding of the Word Of God must become our way of life in our Walk Of faith. There will always be the glass beads, trying to imitate the workings of the Holy Spirit, and we should, as Christians, be able to discern those from the real treasure. We must come to understand and believe what is the work and purpose of the Holy Spirit and all aspects of God.

I have had the arguments thrown at me that revelation is done, as well as the other end that God tells us everything, which negates the need for faith. Both are in error.

We must look to the treasure, of God's abundant presence, made real in our own lives through the dynamic, and living, power of the Holy Spirit. If you are not walking in a life of the miraculous, then you might want to reevaluate that your walk is with Him. 

In God's kingdom, miracles are the coin of the realm, and the very real treasure of God’s most Holy Spirit. 

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly loved.