The Three Angels' of Revelation 14:6-12

The Three Angels' of Revelation 14:6-12
Fear Jehovah, and give glory to him!

Monday, September 12, 2016

Understanding the Holy Spirit part 1

In our quest to understand the Holy Spirit better, I think it's good to go to scripture and learn of some of the qualities of Jehovah's Spirit.

Breath of the Almighty - The Holy Spirit is the life giving breath (life force) of Jehovah. Jehovah breathes into our nostrils life and then we become a living soul. This life is also breathed on us when we are born again into the Kingdom of God. Jehovah sends His Spirit to us through Christ, whereby we have the indwelling Jehovah in us. When we receice the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have the life of the Father and Son making their abode in us. The Holy Spirit is the life giver.

The words in both Hebrew and Greek for "wind, breath and spirit" have similar origin. The idea of flowing life-giving air is what is meant by Rauch (Hebrew) and Pnuema (Greek).

Job 33:4 (ASV)

4 The Spirit of God hath made me,
And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.

John 20:22 (KJV)

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Counselor/Comforter - The Holy Spirit comforts, counsels and gives strength. The Holy Spirit provides us with strength and comfort. We are to turn to Jehovah when we are in trouble and when we are weak and say to Him "Not by might, nor by power, but by your Spirit Jehovah".

The word for Comforter in the greek is "parakletos". It is noteworthy that we are told in 1 John 2:1 that Jesus Christ is our advocate. The word advocate comes from the same greek word that comforter does, which is "parakletos". The Holy Spirit is the actual Spirit of God and Christ  and is the Comforter (Christ divested of humanity as our Advocate).

John 14:16 (KJV)

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:26 (KJV)

26 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 15:26 (KJV)

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Romans 8:26 (KJV)

26 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.

1 John 2:1 (KJV)

2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

The Spirit of Counsel - The Holy Spirit counsels and teaches us as we grow in Christ. We need to heed Jehovah's counsel by listening to His Holy Spirit as it  teaches us and guides us into all truth.

Isaiah 11:2 (ASV)

2 And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.

As we can see from the above scripture, that the Holy Spirit is the actual Spirit of Jehovah not a third divine being. Jehovah's Spirit gives counsel and is one of His Spirit's qualities. The Holy Spirit is not just the Spirit of Jehovah the Father but also it is the Spirit of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor in Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 (ASV)

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Now that Jesus is at the right hand of the Almighty Jehovah, he counsels us through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son to us the Christian Congregation to teach us all things.

John 14:26 (KJV)

26 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.

The Eternal Spirit - The Holy Spirit has always been in existence. This is because it is Jehovah's very own Spirit and Jehovah has always existed. You cannot separate Jehovah from His Spirit.

Hebrews 9:14 (ASV)

14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal creadted force but it is the actual eternal Spirit (mind, breath and wind) of Jehovah God. Jehovah's Spirit is given to His Son Jesus and then is sent to us as believers.

Revelation 3:1 (ASV)

3 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.

Jesus has the seven Spirits of Jehovah in it's fullness, which he then sends throughout all the earth (Revelation 5:6).

The Free Spirit - The Holy Spirit is Jehovah's generous and willing Spirit. He gives us His Spirit to change our hearts and to give us freedom from sin.

Psalm 51:10-12 (KJV)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

The psalmist pleads for Jehovah to give him the freedom of "His" Spirit. This is key,  we want the Spirit of God and Christ not another being. Jehovah's Spirit gives us freedom while getting the Spirit from another being brings death.

Without Jehovah's Spirit dwelling in us we have no way to be free from the bondage of sin which leads to death.

The Good Spirit - Jehovah's Spirit is good and will lead us and teach us in all that is good. The Holy Spirit is Jehovah's good gift to us for help as we sojourn in this dark world. Even in heaven we will have Jehovah's Spirit dwelling in us. The Holy Spirit is also Christ's very own Spirit and it is how he comforts us and is with us to work all things for our good.

Nehemiah 9:20 (KJV)

20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

Psalm 143:10 (KJV)

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

The emphasis is on Jehovah's Spirit not a third being or person apart from the Father and Son. Jehovah's Spirit is good and does not want to withhold good things, according to His will, from His people. Jehovah's people are the Christian Congregation. The evidence that someone truly has the indwelling Spirit of Jehovah in them is if they do good as His Spirit is good.



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