Category: The Holy Ghost

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #7

Monday, March 25, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

Without the Holy Spirit, we would not understand the completed Holy Bible.

The doctrine of Bible preservation is best described by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:35: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (cf. Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). God the Holy Spirit not only wrote God’s words, He also preserved them so we could have them today, and He illuminates our minds so we can understand them today.

According to today’s Scripture and its context, the Holy Spirit uses the Holy Bible’s words to teach us, “that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (verse 12). Everything that God wants us to know, He tells us in the Holy Bible, that we may be “throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:17). The Holy Spirit takes those Bible verses we read and believe, and works in our souls to bring into our lives the reality of those doctrines. He takes the sound Bible doctrine He has inspired and preserved, the doctrine we read and believe, and He makes our lives the very life of Jesus Christ, the life the Bible describes!

This “filling with the Spirit” in Israel’s program empowered her regarding God’s will for her in her program (Acts 2:4; Acts 7:55). Likewise, God the Holy Spirit teaches us His will for us the Church the Body of Christ in our program. He enables us to do His will when we read and believe sound Pauline Bible doctrine (see Ephesians 5:18–6:9)—not to be confused with emotional highs, incontinence, gibberish, nonsense, or the other errors of denominationalism. When we prevent the indwelling Holy Spirit from using sound Bible doctrine to transform our inner man, we “quench [hinder] the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

In both Israel’s prophetic program and our mystery program, the Holy Spirit works using His Word, to publish His Word….

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #6

Sunday, March 24, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

Without the Holy Spirit, we would not have the completed Holy Bible.

The doctrine of Bible inspiration is best described by Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:4: “It is written [Deuteronomy 8:3], Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (cf. Luke 4:4).

In Acts 1:16, the Apostle Peter says about the Old Testament Scripture he is quoting, “which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake….” The Apostle Paul, also quoting the Old Testament, says in Acts 28:25, “Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers….” Jesus Christ Himself, when He quoted the Old Testament, commented: “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost…” (Mark 12:36). Our Lord Jesus asked, “Have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God…?” (Matthew 22:31).

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20,21).

Thus, the Bible says of itself in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Interestingly enough, the root spir in inspiration means “breath, air.” The Greek word translated “inspiration of God” in 2 Timothy 3:16 is theopneustos. The root pneu forms the Greek word pneuma, meaning “spirit, air.” Pneuma is paired with hagion (“holy”), thus becoming pneuma hagion, translated as “Holy Spirit” or “Holy Ghost.” When we say the Holy Bible is “inspired of God,” did you know we are actually emphasizing the Person (the Holy Ghost) who gave it to us? Wow!

But, the Holy Spirit also plays a role in preserving those inspired words of God, so we could have them and understand them today….

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #5

Saturday, March 23, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

In the Old Testament, King David said, “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2).

The Apostle Peter wrote of the Old Testament prophets: “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:10,11).

Peter elaborates in 2 Peter 1:20,21: “Knowing this first, that no scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

In Bible days, there were both preaching prophets and writing prophets. Some would speak forth God’s Word (Elijah, Elisha, et al.), others wrote it (David, Joel, et al.), and some prophets spoke it and wrote it (Daniel, Jeremiah, et cetera). Regardless of their ministry, it was the same Holy Spirit working in all of God’s prophets. This is true in both the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

When speaking of the spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 12:4,8,9,11 say: “Now there are many diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;… But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally [individually] as he will.”

The Holy Spirit gave believers spiritual gifts to further God’s Word before it was written down. Let us see how the Holy Ghost works today in light of the written, completed Holy Bible….

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #4

Friday, March 22, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

About a week after the Lord Jesus Christ left planet earth in Acts chapter 1, the Holy Spirit came to earth in Acts chapter 2 to take His place, as He had promised weeks earlier in John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he [a Person, not a force!] shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

The Holy Spirit enabled Israel’s believing remnant to remember what Jesus Christ taught for three years, causing them to write the Four Gospels of His earthly ministry. Also, the Holy Ghost revealed to them additional doctrine regarding their prophetic (kingdom) program, which they would later use to write their other New Testament Scriptures (Hebrews through Revelation).

Eventually, the ascended Lord Jesus Christ initiated a new program—our Dispensation of Grace—by saving Saul of Tarsus and making him Paul the apostle of the Gentiles. God had now begun forming a new group of believers, the Church the Body of Christ, who would do in the heavenly places what the nation Israel would do in the earth. The Apostle Paul received the doctrine for this dispensation by a direct revelation from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11,12; Ephesians 3:1-4).

Moreover, via Paul’s audible preaching and his written epistles, Romans through Philemon, the Holy Spirit was the Person of the Godhead responsible for revealing that secret (mystery) program and its respective doctrine to God’s holy apostles and prophets: “[The Dispensation of Grace] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:5). Even today, the Holy Spirit enables us to understand God’s Word (today’s Scripture).

Let us see how else the Holy Spirit works….

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #3

Thursday, March 21, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

For approximately three years, the Lord Jesus Christ ministered throughout the land of Israel. After the Jews had crucified Him, and after He resurrected, another prophecy needed fulfillment—His ascension to His Father’s right hand (Psalm 110:1). Once He ascended, His apostles and disciples were to continue His work on earth by leading all of unbelieving Israel to trust Him as Messiah. These Jewish believers were just ordinary people, weak and fallible. How could they execute the work that Jesus Christ had started?

The Lord Jesus promised: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he [a Person, not a force!] may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16,17).

Jesus Christ asked His Father to send the Holy Spirit on this “little flock” of Jewish believers, thereby equipping them to carry on His ministry in His absence. The Holy Ghost—“the Spirit of truth”—would testify of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost would speak to unbelieving Israel via the believing Jews “bearing witness” (John 15:26,27). Christ explains: “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:… when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth… He shall glorify me” (John 16:7-14).

When the Holy Spirit was poured out on believing Israel in Acts chapter 2, they were then able to preach God’s Word as Jesus Christ had done earlier….

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #2

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

When God wants something done, He speaks it, and it happens. For instance, during the creation week, as described in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, we repeatedly read the phrase: “And God said… And God said… And God said…,” et cetera. The various systems of creation came into existence and became operational whenever the Lord Jesus Christ spoke: the heaven, the heavens, the earth, all life forms, and so on appeared whenever their Creator commanded them to be so. Furthermore, we read in Genesis 1:2: “…And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Although “God created all things by Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:9), the Holy Spirit was also present during the creation week, and He too was active in the creation of the universe.

Our Lord Jesus Christ told His Jewish disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he [a Person, not a force!], 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” (John 16:12,13). Christ is referring to the (future) day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), when He will baptize Israel’s believing remnant with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5). The Holy Ghost will then speak words through them so unbelieving Jews can hear God’s Word, know what God is doing, and how to be saved from their sins. Later, the Holy Spirit will cause those men to write the New Testament Scriptures (the “all truth” and “things to come”).

The Holy Spirit does not operate haphazardly, nor does He work apart from God’s Word. Wherever the Holy Spirit is, the Word of God is present; wherever the Word of God is, the Holy Spirit is present….

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #1

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

The average Bible reader has many misconceptions about its characters, and the Holy Ghost is certainly one of these misunderstood persons. There are many absurd, superstitious beliefs about the Holy Spirit. Some view Him as a mystical, “spooky spirit.” Others think He is an inanimate, impersonal force. Even many who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour, have a strange understanding of who the Holy Ghost is and how He operates. In the next few studies, we will examine some key passages about the Holy Spirit: who He is, what He does, how He does it, and so on.

Firstly, the Holy Spirit is a Person, not some force; specifically, the Holy Ghost is God. Acts 5:3,4 is very clear: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” One cannot lie to a force, only to a person; lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God Himself!

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (1 John 5:7). The Holy Spirit is just as much God as the Father and the Son are!

Dozens of verses demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is a person. For instance, the Holy Spirit talks (1 Timothy 4:1), He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), and He lives within those individuals who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as their personal Saviour (2 Timothy 1:14). No “force” does any of those things!

Let us see what else Scripture says about the Holy Spirit and His work….

Saint, Why Sayest Thou Nothing? #7

Saturday, February 2, 2013

“Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews” (John 7:13 KJV).

You are not alone in being shy about witnessing for Jesus Christ….

Until we leave these physical bodies of sin, we will continue to deal with our weak, sinful flesh. Hence, we are not always bold in witnessing. The world still appeals to our flesh: we keep quiet about the Bible in order to keep our social standing—our “friends” and their “respect.” We want to avoid conflict and persecution. As our Lord Jesus Christ declared, “It is the spirit that quickeneth [makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Though our flesh is weak, and “good for nothing,” we who have trusted exclusively the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, have life in Christ! Rather than pining away in the old thinking patterns (the ‘say nothing’ attitude), we can have faith in God’s Word. We can believe Christ’s words and let them transform us. “…The word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

The Holy Spirit lives within us members of the Church the Body of Christ. “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit strengthens us through His Word, and gives us the boldness to preach and share Jesus Christ with this lost and dying world. As the Lord told Paul, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee…” (Acts 18:9,10). God says the same thing to us!

Remember, if the people suffering in hell could come back, they would urge you to tell their surviving family and friends about Jesus Christ, lest they too wind up suffering God’s righteous wrath forever. The rich man in hell told Abraham: “…Send [Lazarus] to my father’s house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27,28).

“Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee….”

Saint, Why Sayest Thou Nothing? #4

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

“Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews” (John 7:13 KJV).

You are not alone in being shy about witnessing for Jesus Christ….

In Mark 14:27 (cf. Matthew 26:31), just before His arrest, the Lord Jesus declared to His disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night.” Peter replied, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I” (Mark 14:29; cf. Matthew 26:33). When Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him thrice, Peter spake the more vehemently, and all the other disciples affirmed that, to the death, they would never be ashamed of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:34,35; Mark 14:30,31).

Once the multitude came and bound Jesus, “all the disciples forsook him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56). When thrice asked whether or not he was with Jesus Christ, Peter denied it all three times (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62). “And Peter went out, and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). The very men who claimed they were going to die for and with Jesus Christ, were the ones who abandoned Him during the moments leading up to His death!

Our flesh is weak, as the above verses demonstrate. We can say we will do one thing, but end up doing the opposite. Nevertheless, there is hope for them… and us! Many weeks after Calvary’s crosswork, these timid men, “…Prayed, [and] the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). Earlier, on the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter preached a magnificent sermon to Israel (Acts 2:14-40). “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (verse 4).

Notice this stark difference. Christ’s disciples were shy and weak in their own strength. However, when they relied on the power of the Holy Ghost, they boldly proclaimed God’s Word! The same is true with us today. We grow timid and fearful when witnessing because that is our weak flesh. However, God the Holy Spirit is more than willing to speak through us!

Established Saints #4

Saturday, January 5, 2013

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me” (Romans 1:11,12 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is God’s will for every believer.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

The Bible’s canon—the arrangement of its books—is no coincidence, especially the order of Paul’s epistles. They follow the “doctrine, reproof, correction” pattern listed in the above verses. The Holy Spirit worked through believers in centuries past when they copied and collated the Bible manuscripts, and He supervised even the order of the Bible books!

Paul’s epistles are usually not arranged in the order he wrote them. The doctrine in the book of Romans is the most basic information for this the Dispensation of Grace, so it is the first of Paul’s epistles in the canon of Scripture (though Romans was not Paul’s first letter written). As we progress in reading through his epistles, we delve into deeper material (especially in Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians). Before we try to grasp his latter epistles, we must first gain an understanding of the basic doctrine in Romans.

“Doctrine” is what we are to believe, “reproof” is a reprimand for misbehavior, and “correction” is to fix bad thinking. Paul’s epistles serve in all three capacities for the Body of Christ; the remainder of the Bible serves a similar purpose for the nation Israel. The Bible serves in these three capacities to “instruct in righteousness,” and its overall purpose is that, “the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:17). God’s Word completely equips you to do everything He has for you to do and tells you everything you need to know. When you learn that information, you are “established” (today’s Scripture). God can then use you for His purposes because you know what He is doing.