You are welcome to the July 2020 edition of El Shaddai Heritage.
Our Focus for the month of July 2020 is
The Holy Spirit.
First of all, I want you to understand that the Holy Spirit is not a thing, He is a person, a personality, not only that, He is God and also the father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is also a member of the Holy Trinity.
Trinity does not mean there are three gods, no, there is only one God, each is a Person, but they are in one God.
We are informed of the presence of the Holy Spirit in Genesis 1:26 when God said:
“…Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.“
God was not talking to Himself, He was addressing an audience, God the son and God the Holy Ghost.
These three are God and they all exist in three persons and they are equal in power, nature, attributes and worthy of the same worship. This doesn’t mean there are three gods, there is only one God.
Talking about The Holy Spirit being a Person, He has emotions.
This can be inferred from the book of
Isaiah 63:10
“But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”
In verse 9
“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”
Looking closely at the above attributes, you will discover these are inherent characteristics of a human being.
The Bible describes the Holy Spirit in personal terms, the Word of God says, He will teach, He will guide, He will comfort and intercede. It is crystal clear that the Holy Spirit possesses intellect, emotion and will.
The Holy Spirit was with God in the beginning at creation. He has always been with the father.
God couldn’t do anything without the input of the Holy Spirit.
“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 1:2
When God looked upon the earth, he saw that the earth was formless and empty, moreover, darkness was over the surface of the deep. God couldn’t do anything until the Holy Spirit moved upon it, when God saw that the Holy Spirit moved, God spoke and it came into existence!
The manifestation of the Holy Spirit is seen in so many places in the old testament and also in the new testament.
In the old testament, the Holy Spirit was effective among His people.
“Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.”
Nehemiah 9:20
Thy good Spirit here refers to the Holy Spirit.
Certain people were filled with The Holy Spirit temporarily for definite tasks.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
Exodus 31:1-5
The Holy Spirit is the father of Jesus Christ.
“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.”
John 14:10
Jesus Christ referred to The Holy Spirit as His father.
In Genesis, the Word of God says…
And God said…
And The Holy Spirit moves…
So, it is the Holy Spirit that does the work and Jesus referred to Him here as His father.
Also, in the valley of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-10 when the Holy Ghost moved, flesh and life came into the dry bones.
As believers in Christ Jesus, our relationship with God the father and His son Jesus, will be limited without the indwelling and activation of the Holy Spirit, our exploits here on earth will be greatly impeded without the propelling, prompting and an active relationship with the Holy Spirit.
“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.“
Romans 8:26
Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we can never pray effectively.
How do you receive the Holy Spirit?
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.“
Acts 2:38
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour the Holy Spirit comes in and dwell within us.
The Holy Spirit empowers and emboldens.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.“
Act 1:8
What the Apostles of Jesus Christ could not do without the infilling of the Holy Spirit, they were able to achieve effortlessly when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
The Holy Spirit eradicates fear
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.“
2 Corinthians 3:17
Jesus Christ lives in the believer through the Holy Ghost.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.“
Galatians 2:20
The Holy Spirit does not dwell in unclean vessels
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,“
2 Corinthians 6:17
The Holy Spirit is always available to anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and saviour. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit is indispensable to any Christian who wants to appropriate the benefits of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I pray that the Lord will continue to keep your spirit, soul and body until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SHALOM! SHALOM! SHALOM!