37 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. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (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.) ~ John 7:37-39 KJV
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ~ 1 John 5:7 KJV
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? ~ Proverbs 30:4 KJV
First, I want to say that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON, and not merely a tool that we can use. He lives in us, is always there for us, and we can each have a beautiful relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit is an awesome, powerful and mighty Spirit of God who does many things for us, when we allow Him to and not get in His way or ignore His promptings. He doesn't force us to obey His leading or the Holy Scriptures. He is gentle, full of love and kindness towards us. He speaks to us but we must keep the channel clear so that we can hear His voice. We do this by keeping a pure conscience and living a life that represents Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. We must avoid sin, and when we do sin, repent quickly so that the Enemy and kingdom of darkness don't get a foothold in our lives and lead us away from God.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ~ Genesis 1:1-2 KJV
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. ~ John 20:21-23 KJV
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ~ Acts 2:1-4 KJV
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: ~ Acts 2:17-18 KJV
The ability to prophesy comes from the Holy Spirit, and the gift of tongues comes from the Holy Spirit, as confirmed in the above scriptural passage. This shouldn't even be an argument among Christians.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST
The Bible doesn't exactly give much of a physical description of what the Holy Spirit looks like, but we get special insight in the scriptures that tell of Jesus' water baptism, which John the Baptist conducted. The Bible gives the description of a dove, which is why doves are often used in Christian images (as with lions, Jesus being described as a lion, figuratively). Doves are known for being peaceful, strong, loyal, and an amazing sense of direction. These are traits we can expect from the Holy Spirit of God.
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
~ Matthew 3:13-17 KJV
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John the Baptist said, when speaking to those who came to see and be baptized of him, said,
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. ~ Matthew 3:10-12 KJV
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. ~ Matthew 20:21-23 KJV
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ~ Matthew 28:18-20 KJV
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. ~ Acts 19:1-6 KJV
This passage of scripture gives us powerful insight on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Paul spoke with a man who was already a believer but wasn't aware of the Holy Spirit. He had already been baptized in water, but he hadn't been baptized by the Holy Spirit. Upon receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the man spoke in tongues and prophesied. Don't believe the lie that tongues and prophecies are not of God. They are direct signs and manifestations of the Holy Spirit of God.
CAST OUT DEMONS BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. ~ Matthew 12:28 KJV
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. ~ Acts 19:13-17 KJV
A lesson we can learn from the seven sons of Sceva, is that we must not think we have special abilities to cast out evil spirits based on another person's faith or walk with the Lord. We must have and work with the Holy Spirit Himself. The spirit realm is more real than the physical realm, and the spirits of darkness will not obey or cooperate with those who aren't born again. It is only by the Holy Spirit within us that we are able to be used by God to perform signs and wonders, cast out evil spirits, etc.
BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. ~ Matthew 12:31-32 KJV
The context in which Jesus spoke of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was when certain people accused Him of casting out evil spirits by Satan, which was basically saying the Holy Spirit was of Satan. This is terribly a common problem. There are certain denominations in the Church who are totally against the works of the Holy Spirit and say awful and wicked things about the people who serve God in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. For example, speaking/praying in tongues is an operation of the Holy Spirit, and NOT of Satan. Certain people who call themselves men and women of God set out to destroy Christians who speak in tongues and fail to realize that they are attacking the very Spirit of God. This is dangerous territory, because if it becomes blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, they have no chance of inheriting eternal life and Salvation through Jesus Christ. It's the same with laying hands on the sick, casting out devils, etc. It's the Spirit of God doing these things through God's people. Don't challenge God.
YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
9 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? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV
Something that is extremely important for you and I to understand and live out on a daily basis is the reality that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is not confined to a building or specific location here on Earth, but rather chose to dwell within us, His people. We are to respect the Holy Spirit, and also be gatekeepers and protect ourselves (what we watch, music we listen to, how we talk to others, what we say and do, even how we think) from evil. We can see the zeal that Jesus had for the physical temple of God, before the Holy Spirit was given to His people. We should have the same kind of zeal and respect for the temple of God today, which again, is our bodies.
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. ~ Matthew 21:12-13 KJV
THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR COMFORTER
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. ~ Galatians 4:6-7 KJV
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 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. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 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 14:10-26 KJV
The Holy Spirit will remind you of scriptures you read in God's Word, to help guide you in various situations. This is one reason why we must get the Word of God in our hearts.
DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
29 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. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:29-32 KJV
If you are repeatedly disobedient to God's Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit after accepting Salvation through Jesus Christ, you grieve the Holy Spirit. If you return to a life of sin once making Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, you are at risk of walking away from God and throwing away your Salvation. It's not worth it. If you've been sinning consistently, and have turned away from God, you absolutely must return to Him before it's too late.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. ~ Proverbs 26:11 KJV
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 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. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. ~ 1 Corinthians 12 KJV
