The Person of the Holy Spirit

By R D Elders

When you pick this book up and peruse through it you will find the material in simple outline form. In the outline form will be different Bible translations written out in detail. Th e purpose of the full scripture is for those in places that do not have Bibles. This gives them an opportunity for scripture in detail for each point in the bo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781649906762

R D Elders

RD Elders grew up in the small logging town called Darrington, located in the state of Washington. He attended the Assembly of God church where he had many experiences with the Holy Spirit. In his continuing growth he was exposed to many missionaries from different parts of the world. The combination of spiritual experiences and missions became the driving force in his life. This led him to pastoring a diverse cultured church called, New Life Bible Fellowship, in south Seattle. The results were a furthering of the developing of the call to the nations. Traveling in the different nations he saw the great need for study resources. Many church leaders are so lacking materials to assist them for the work that they are doing. Once while in India he gave a notebook, containing material on the Holy Spirit, to a young man who was the leader over the youth. Five years later he was still using the material! It became apparent that his teaching materials needed to be published and distributed both at home and abroad. His material can be easily understood and used as a personal resource for the person who desires more and also the church leader who is leading a church. His desire is that the individual is equipped to know the Word and accomplish the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He is currently residing in Franklin, North Carolina where he writes and travels into the nations.

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INTRODUCTION

Intro:

Many times the Holy Spirit is looked upon as the power of God working the miraculous in individual lives. It is true that the Holy Spirit is power. Acts 1:8 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. The Holy Spirit is more than just power or an influence to be used. The Holy Spirit is a person of the Godhead. If He is a person, it then places one in a different relationship with Him. A relationship with a person requires a working together, rather than using a force at your own will. If you are working with God you are the one expected to take instruction with obedience to follow.

1. The Holy Spirit is given to us that He may abide, dwell, or live in us as His temple.

John 14:16-17 KJV

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

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.

a. He will dwell with you, or stay in a given place, relation or expectancy.

b. He shall be in you, denoting a fixed position in place, time, or state. It is a position of rest and continuance.

1 Cor. 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? KJV

2. If one looks upon the Holy Spirit to be a force you miss fellowship with the Spirit.

Phil 2:1 KJV

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

a. Fellowship is the Greek word koinonia, which means partnership, participation, a sharer. It comes from the Greek root word sun which is a preposition denoting union.

3. The very name of God means one to be worshipped. Your ability to worship is hindered if you think of Him as an impersonal influence or power. We are robbing a divine person of the worship and love which is His due.

Ex. 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: KJV

1 Chron. 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. KJV

a. Worship means to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):

Matt. 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. KJV

b. Worship in the New Testament means to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand, to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):

John 4:23-24 KJV

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

4. It is important from the practical standpoint

a. If He is just an influence or power, we will say, "How can I get hold of the Holy Spirit and use it?

b. If we think of the Holy Spirit as a divine person our attitude will be, "How does the Holy Spirit use me? This brings an attitude of humility rather than pride.

5. It is important from the standpoint of experience – it becomes a working relationship between yourself and the Holy Spirit

a. You have a person of the Godhead indwelling you. 1 Cor. 3:16-17 KJV

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2 Cor. 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. (KJV)

Rom. 8:14-17 KJV

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

1 Cor. 3:9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. KJV

2 Cor. 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. KJV

6. The Lord Jesus used personal pronouns in speaking about the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus taught respect concerning the Spirit. Note the pronouns used in the words of Jesus. They are all in the masculine gender. The word Spirit is in the neuter gender, which is neither masculine nor feminine in gender. According to Greek usage, the pronouns that refer to the Spirit should also be neuter.

John 14:16-17 KJV

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

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.

John 14:26 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. KJV

John 15:26 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: KJV

John 16:7-8 KJV

7 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:

John 16:13-14 KJV

13 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.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

I. The subject of the Holy Spirit is really a study of the third person of the Trinity. The Bible has much to say concerning the person, work, and the gifts that are distributed by Him. We will define the very word Holy Spirit.

A. Old Testament – Law of First Mention

Gen. 1:2 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. KJV

Ps. 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. KJV

1. Holy SC OT: a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:

a. SC OT: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally):

2. Spirit SC OT: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions):

a. SC OT: a primitive root; properly, to blow, i.e. breathe; only (literally) to smell or (by implication, perceive (figuratively, to anticipate)

B. New Testament – Holy Spirit

Matt. 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. KJV

Matt. 3:16 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: KJV

1. Holy SC NT: sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)

a. SC NT: properly, clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect

b. SC NT: to warm; to brood, i.e. (figuratively) to foster

2. Spirit SC NT: a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit

a. SC NT: a primary word; to breathe hard, i.e. breeze

3. The word Spirit in the New Testament breaks down the four realms of the spirit world.

a. The human spirit 1 Thess. 5:23 KJV

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

b. The angels as spirits - The divine Heb. 1:13-14 KJV

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

c. The evil spirits – demons, Devil Mark 1:26 KJV

26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

Acts 19:14-15 KJV

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?

d. The Holy Spirit Luke 3:21-22 KJV

21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

4. The words Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost are one in the same. They both have the same meaning.

II. Other scriptures help us to understand the meaning of the Holy Spirit.

A. Jesus breathed upon his disciples and said receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22 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:

1. Breathed SC NT: (to puff) to blow at or on

B. When God created man He breathed into him the breath of life. Job 33:4 KJV

4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

1. Spirit SC OT: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions):

Gen. 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. KJV

C. The Holy Spirit gave life to the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:7-10 KJV

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

THE SPIRIT OF MAN

Intro:

In defining the word Spirit there are four different categories revealed. Each category is a study within itself. For the purpose of this chapter, we will only deal with the spirit of man.

1. Man's spirit

2. Angelic beings – angels or spirits

3. Satan and demonic spirits

4. The Holy Spirit

I. This chapter will consider the spirit of man

A. Man is a tri-part being – SPIRIT SOUL AND BODY I Thess. 5:23 KJV

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. KJV

B. The LORD forms man's spirit within him Zech. 12:1 KJV

1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

1. Formeth SC OT: (through the squeezing into shape); to mold into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)

2. SC OT: to press (intransitive), i.e. be narrow; figuratively, be in distress

C. God speaks and deals with man in his spirit. Prov. 20:27 KJV

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

Prov. 20:27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. NKJV

Prov. 20:27 A man's conscience is the Lord's searchlight exposing his hidden motives. TLB

Prov. 20:27 The LORD's searchlight penetrates the human spirit, NLT

Prov. 20:27 The spirit of man [that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God] is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. [1 Cor. 2:11] AMP

D. When a person dies his spirit returns to God. Eccl. 3:20-21 KJV

20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

1 Thess. 4:15-17 AMP

15 For this we declare to you by the Lord's [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death].

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!

Eccl. 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. KJV

Eccl. 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. KJV

Jam. 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. KJV

1. Jesus committed His spirit to God at the time of His death

Ps. 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. KJV

Matt. 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. KJV

Matt. 27:50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. AMP

2. Man does not understand how the spirit of man is formed in the womb Eccl. 11:5 KJV

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

E. The Lord is called the God of the spirits of all men. He is Spirit and Lord overall Spirits Num. 16:20-22 KJV

20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Num. 27:15-16 KJV

15 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,

16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

II. The scriptures talk much about the spirit of man

A. He can be troubled in his spirit Gen. 41:8 KJV

8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

1. Troubled SC OT: to tap, i.e. beat regularly; hence (generally) to impel or agitate

Job 21:4 As for me, is my complaint to man? And if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? KJV

Dan. 2:1-3 KJV

1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

B. When encouragement is given reviving can come to the spirit of man Gen. 45:27-28 KJV

27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

1. Revived SC OT: to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive

C. A man can become impatient in spirit Ex. 6:9 KJV

9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

1. Anguish SC OT: shortness (of spirit), i.e. impatience

a. SC OT: to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain):

D. Man's spirit can be hardened Deut. 2:30 KJV

30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

1.