By Greg Turner
greg@sharingtheway.com

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38 KJV).

After baptism we have hands laid on us to receive the Holy Spirit. This was exemplified by Jesus putting His hands on the little children and then blessing them(Mark 10:16). It was a type to show that we (the children of God) are to be blessed by having hands laid on us and then receiving the Holy Spirit which is a gift from God.

The Holy Spirit is known in the New Testament as the “Spirit of God”, “Holy Ghost”, “Holy Spirit”, “Spirit”, “Comforter”, and the “Spirit of the Lord”. It was given to signify that a person was a part of the kingdom of God and given spiritual gifts or talents for doing the work of God, and to be in us as a seal until we are born when Jesus returns with the kingdom of God in power.

The Spirit is proof to us that we are part of God:

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:15-17 KJV).

 

God the Father gives out the Spirit to us if we ask:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?(Luke 11:13 KJV).

“… but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:8 KJV).

Once we have the Spirit we are then to be led by the Spirit:

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1 KJV).

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14 KJV).

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18 KJV).

We are the temple of God where the Spirit of God dwells and the Spirit in us registers us as sons and daughters of God:

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV).

“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?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV).

“That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us(2 Timothy 1:14 KJV).

“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit(1 John 4:13 KJV).

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit(Ephesians 2:19-22 KJV).

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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 (Romans 8:9-11 KJV).

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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” (Romans 8:16-17 KJV).

“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits[a portion] of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body(Romans 8:23 KJV).

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us” (1 John 3:24 KJV).

The Holy Spirit seals us until redemption:

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” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV).

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption(Ephesians 4:30 KJV).

“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV).

“Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Revelation 7:3 KJV).

Now the Holy Spirit gives many different gifts (I Cor. 12:4) including different types of service (I Cor. 12:5) and different types of works (I Cor. 12:6). The gifts or manifestations are given to help everyone in the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:7). Different people are given different gifts (I Cor. 12:8-11). There are different jobs that have different gifts that go with those jobs (I Cor.12:27-31; Rom. 12:5-8) and we are to desire the best gifts. The following lists some of the features of these gifts.

The Spirit teaches us all things, the mysteries and the deep things of God and the Holy Spirit will bring all those things that Christ says and teaches us into our memories:

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 14:26 KJV).

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you (Matthew 10:19-20 KJV).

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(John 15:26 KJV).

“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.Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:10-14 KJV).

“But the anointing [Spirit] which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 John 2:27 KJV).

“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit(Ephesians 3:3-5 KJV).

The Spirit gives us access to the Father (by prayer):

“For through him[Jesus] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18 KJV).

It helps us in prayer:

“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 KJV).

It helps us do signs and wonders to show God to unbelievers (John 4:48; I Cor. 14:22; Acts 14:2-3):

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19 KJV).

Demons are cast out 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).

God’s love is transferred from us by the Holy Spirit in us:

“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” (Romans 5:5 KJV).

Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to water which will flow out of us:

“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.)” (John 7:37-39 KJV).

The trees in Isaiah 41 are God’s people (Matt. 3:10, 17-19, 12:33; Ps. 1:3) watered by the rivers, fountains, pools, and springs all a type of the Holy Spirit (see also Is. 43:19-21; Ez. 34:11-16; Ez. 47:2-12):

When the poor and needy seek water[spiritual knowledge], and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers[Holy Spirit] in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys[meek people]: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness[the world] the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert[places without God] the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it” (Isaiah 41:17-20 KJV).

The Spirit is the water of life (eternal life):

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, … And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:1-2, 17 KJV).

God’s Spirit gives us power, love and sound mind:

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind ” (2 Timothy 1:6-7 KJV).

The Spirit is a witness of things that we do:

“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32 KJV).

Men who serve must be full of the Spirit:

“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3 KJV).

The Spirit chooses the overseers of the flock:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 KJV).

God chooses when to give the Spirit even though the laying on of hands is required:

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44 KJV).

Spirit gives perception:

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

The Spirit blocks us in some cases:

“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not” (Acts 16:6-7 KJV).

The Spirit speaks to us through people:

“And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles” (Acts 21:11 KJV).

“And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias [talking about Is. 6:8-9] the prophet unto our fathers” (Acts 28:25 KJV).

The Holy Ghost is the voice of the Lord:

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not” (Isaiah 6:8-9 KJV).

Prophecy is speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21 KJV).

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:10-12 KJV).

This list shows some of the capabilities of the Spirit of God, but in no way is limited by this list nor what is listed in I Cor. 12. It does show that things get done if we are led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is what makes us sons and daughters of God and gives us the ability to work in His kingdom. We must not “quench the Spirit” (I Thess. 5:19) if we are to remain a part of His kingdom. Finally, we must walk in the Spirit for we are both flesh and Spirit and if we follow the flesh then we will be doing the things of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21, 6:8), but if we are doing the things of the Spirit we will show the fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23).

In His Name,
Greg Turner
greg@sharingtheway.com

 

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