Tag Archives: attributes of the Holy Spirit

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #4 – Work of the Holy Spirit

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The Holy Spirit is God, and should never be referred to as “it,” or as a mere influence.  We have observed from Parts 1,2, and 3, that the Holy Spirit is equal to, yet distinct,  from the Father and the Son.  In this fourth study of the Attributes of the Holy Spirit, we will explore the Work of the Holy Spirit.  

JESUS CHRIST SAID THAT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME HE WOULD:

  • Convict men of the sin of unbelief. 

John 16:9 – Of sin, because they believe not on Me:

  • Convict men that Jesus Christ IS the righteousness of God.  

John 16:10 – Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more;

  • Convict men that the power of Satan has been broken.  

John 16:11 – Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

  • Regenerate the believer. 

John 3:5 – 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.

  • Indwell the believer.  

1 Cor. 6:19,20 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

  • Seal the believer. 

Eph.1: 13,14 – 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, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.

  • Baptize the believer. 

Acts 1:5 – For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

  • Infill the believer. 

Eph. 5:16 – And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

  • Empower the believer. 

Acts 1:9 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

  • Lead the believer. 

Gal. 5:16-18  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

The Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, and will remain with the church until His work is finished, in the same manner that Jesus Christ finished His work in the flesh. . .

JOHN 16:13

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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.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #5 – The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

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This fifth and final study of the Attributes of the Holy Spirit is my favorite aspect of His nature – the fruit.  Wherein Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit empowered the faithful such as David for service, but when they were disobedient, He departed from them.  Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit indwells born again believers, never to leave them!  Without the fruit of the Holy Spirit – we are just a religious noise –

1 CORINTHIANS 13:1

 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SELFLESS LOVE

  • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in joy – which is love’s strength.
  • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in peace – which is love’s security.
  • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in longsuffering – which is love’s patience.
  • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in gentleness – which is love’s conduct.
  • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in faith – which is love’s confidence.
  • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in meekness – which is love’s humility.
  • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in goodness – which is love’s character.
  • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in temperance – which is love’s victory.

GALATIANS 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

If the Holy Spirit is controlling us – no law is needed to cause us to live a righteous life.  How do we live a Spirit controlled life?

ROMANS 12:1-2

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Put your all on the altar, so that the Holy Spirit may fill your heart with the love of God.

ROMANS 5:5

 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #2 – His Emblems

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Emblems are used to express the fulness of a concept where words are insufficient.  Words will sometimes only reveal a half truth, and the bible uses emblems to fully illustrate the Holy spirit, far more than volumes could contain. . .

  • FIRE IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Acts 2:3 – And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
  • WIND IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – John 3:8 – 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.
  • WATER IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – John 7: 37-39 -In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
  • SEAL IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Ephesians 1:13 – 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.
  • OIL IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. 
  • DOVE IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Mark 1:10 – And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him.
Fire speaks of the consuming, purifying power of the Holy Spirit in the believers life.
Wind speaks of the hidden depths of the Holy Spirit’s regenerating power for all who will believe. 
Water speaks of the overflowing life from the Holy Spirit, into the core of the believer’s existence. 
Seal speaks of His ownership of the believer, through a finished and eternal transaction.
Oil speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit through anointing the believer for service worthy of God.
Dove speaks of the Holy Spirit’s peaceful and gentle nature.  
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We may all  know the “peace of God which passeth all understanding,” only when we fully surrender to God.

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #1 – His Deity

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THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A FULL PART OF

THE TRINITY OF THE GODHEAD

When the apostle Peter confronted Ananias for his deception in Acts 5, he revealed the deity of the Holy Spirit when he said:

ACTS 5:3-4

3 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 While 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.

From this Scripture, it is abundantly clear that the Holy Spirit is God, and He is co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and the Son.  The deity of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in that He possesses divine attributes:

  • He is everywhere present in the universe.  Psalm 139:7-8 – Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or wither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.
  • He has all power. Luke 1:35 – And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
  • He has all knowledge.  1 Corinthians 2:10-11 – But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
  • He is eternal.  Hebrews 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

His deity is seen in the fact that His name is coupled in equality with the Father and the Son:

  • He has equality in the baptism of the believer.  Matthew 28:19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
  • He has equality in the apostolic benediction.  2 Corinthians 13:14 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

His relationship to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ show His deity:

  • Our Savior was conceived of the Holy Spirit.  Luke 1:35 – And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
  • He was anointed by the Holy Spirit for service.  Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.
  • He was led by the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 4:1 – Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
  • He was crucified in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Hebrews 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
  • He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:11 – But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
  • He gave commandments to the apostles through the Holy Spirit.  Acts 1:2 – Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen:
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If Jesus Christ depended solely upon the power of the Holy Spirit during His earthly life and ministry – how can we do less?  The Holy Spirit has always been there.  He is not a disembodied entity, as taught by the Mormons.  Nor is He the invisible “active force of God,” as the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach.  He is very God, of very God, and has been so forever.  

ZECHARIAH 4:6

6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.