In the great controversy between God and Satan two noticeable deity figures always gain prominence when it comes to issues of the salvation of man. The two noticeable characters are Christ and God the Father. Is our salvation exclusive of the other deity and based only on the other two? What do you think?
Is the Holy Ghost just a silent figure in this battle for mankind? Is the third member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit a person after all? Well, let’s find out.
He is another person – “another comforter”
John 14:16-18
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 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.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
The first comforter was definitely Jesus Christ himself also given to us from the Father. If the Holy Spirit did or does the same work as Jesus did then he is deity and equal in power as the Father and Son.
He has a mind
Rom 8:26-27
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Who else maketh intercession for the saints in the Holy place? That should be Jesus. Notice the same work is being done by the Holy Spirit separately.
He has a will
1 Cor 12:10-11
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
When Christ was here on earth his work was limited. He could only be in one particular place at a time. He was working with just a small team of disciples, family, and friends. After his ascension, there was a need for a worldwide proclamation of the gospel and that’s where the Spirit came in. Unlike Christ whose presence was restricted the Holy Ghost can minister everywhere at the same time.
Can be grieved
Eph 4:29-30
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
In the previous lesson we leant about the character of God. One of the things we came across is how he does not rejoice in wrong doing but in truth. Now we learn the same of the Holy Ghost.
Can be lied to
Acts 5:3-4
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?
4 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.
Ananias and his wife Saphira lied to the Holy Ghost and soon after lost their lives. This shows how much power the third member of the Godhead has upon us on this earth.
Can be insulted
Heb 10:29
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT
He inspires the prophets
The Holy Spirit was the first member of the Godhead to be introduced to us. The Bible in the book of Genesis says in the beginning there was darkness and the earth was without form and the Spirit of God hovered above the waters. His work is of old and like Jesus, it stretches back to the beginning of beginnings.
He reproves the world of sin
John 16:7-11
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.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
This is the most important work the Holy Spirit is doing today and it’s important to pay attention to this. ”Of sin because they believed not in me” Had we believed in Christ the whole controversy would have been put to an end. Because we did not therefore someone similar would have to take over instead. “Of righteousness because I go to the father” what is Jesus implying here? Remember Jesus is the only person to live a sin-free life. If he were here on earth forever we would have an example always before us. Since he was leaving we still needed someone to show us or teach us perfect righteousness and the Spirit has been sent for this very purpose. “Of judgment because the prince of the world is judged”
In the previous lesson we unveiled the reasons why Christ came to earth which is to show us how to lead righteous lives something the Devil claims is not possible. Christ showed us that it’s possible in flesh and blood without divine intervention. For this reason, he proved that Satan was lying and deceiving us all along and his life and crucifixion had sealed his fate and that of his followers. The Holy Spirit will remind us of those things until the earth’s last days.
He guides to truth
The Spirit works with us like a teacher providing private lessons to a student. He will reveal to us some of the hidden truths that man could not discover on his own.
He brings about the new birth
John 3:3-8
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
This one is especially important and one of the erroneously ignored truths all over the world. People believe that there isn’t much transformation that happens after one has repented and gotten baptised. Some beliefs say we are freely granted grace and thereafter life goes on normally as it was before. This is the error that a lot of people make.
The spirit reproves sin, guides into truth, and brings about the new birth. When all three have been applied to your life there is no way your new actions can be the same as they were before because if that’s the case then it means no work was performed in you by the Spirit. To ‘reprove’ is telling or showing someone that they are doing wrong. To ‘guide’ is to lead or show the right way or path and finally to ‘bring about new birth’ is to transform into a new person different from the one before. Only those who felt the need for the Holy Spirit have experienced true deliverance and cleansing of sin. For many, it is just a mouth confession lacking faith and not sincerely heartfelt.
I hope this lesson will touch your heart and henceforth you will put the Holy Spirit in his right place.
God bless you and see you in the next lesson.
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Hey there, I love all the points you made on that topic.