This article is written to let you know, God sent the Holy Spirit to represent Jesus Christ on earth, and to testify that Jesus Christ is the Only Son of God and the Savior of the world. This is the most serious matter. A female Harvard professor in pursuit of fame and fortune made a false statement by saying she discovered that Jesus had a wife. I believe she had sinned against the Holy Spirit. For Jesus says, Mar 3:29, “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
Many do not know these two great truths. When a person is saved he can know for sure the Holy Spirit is living within. Rom 8:16, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” This great truth is more awesome and important than any philosophical and historical truth you know. It is more real than the so-called The Thucydides Trap. The devil can enter the heart of an evildoer without his knowledge. Jhn 13:2, “And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.” The devil put into the heart of Judas the traitor to betray Jesus. Watching the words and deeds of many Western leaders and politicians for so long, you wonder if the devil has put into their hearts to do evil things. If they start a nuclear war against Russia and China, then you know for sure what the devil has put into their hearts.
1Co 2:12, “Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.”
Note: There are two spirits: the spirit of the world and the Spirit of God. The spirit of the world is the evil spirit. The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Life, and the Spirit of Truth. The spirit of the world is just the opposite and it is against the Spirit of God. What and where is the spirit of the world? Eph 2:2-3, “in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.” The spirit of the world is now working in the sons of disobedience. Why the world is full of problems and troubles? They are the results of the work of the sons of disobedience. The sons of disobedience do not follow and obey Jesus Christ, they follow and obey the prince of the power of the air who is the present ruler of this world, the devil. How can you know the sons of disobedience? They walk according to the course of this world, live in the lusts of their flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and by nature children of wrath. Do you see the leaders and politicians of the world are the sons of disobedience and they talk and walk according to the course of the world.
Jesus says, Mar 3:29, “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
Note: Blashpheme in Greek is blasphēmeō which means to speak evil of; to rail on; to speak reproachfully; to rail at; to revile; to calumniate; to vilify; to speak impiously; to defame; to show irreverence; to abuse verbally; to say disrespectfully; – which occurs 40 times in the New Testament. I fear for those who trample on the truth and deny Jesus Christ the Son of God. Eternal sin means never has forgiveness and eternal punishment.
This article is written to let you know who the Holy Spirit is, the Third Member of the Holy Trinity, His work in regenerating believers with new life, His testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Savior of the world, His leading Christians (saved believers) into all truth, His representing Jesus Christ on earth, and His guiding the Church (the Body of Christ) in preaching the Gospel to the whole world, and His ministry in preparing for the second coming of Jesus Christ. You watch the evil leaders, politicians, and the wicked are practicing unrighteousness in these last days because they are devoid of the Holy Spirit. Therefore they take pleasure in lying (world leaders who lie, make fake news and false statements unprecedented), killing (since the end of Word War II unprecedented), robbing (shamelessly attacked, killed, occupied and robbed victim countries unprecedented). The wicked are led and driven by the evil spirit, the spirit of the world. The world leaders are under Satanic influence, the present ruler of the world is the devil. Rom 9:1, “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit.” The servants of Christ like Paul and all Christians are telling the truth in Christ, not lying, because our conscience testifies with us in the Holy Spirit. A person who has the Holy Spirit does not and cannot lie. To have the Holy Spirit in you is much more than to have a moral compass. Moral compass may give false direction, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.
The Holy Bible presents the Triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is ONE. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of Christ.
The Holy Spirit has many names and titles, including the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit, the Spirit of truth, etc. This does not mean many spirits, it is One Spirit. Evil spirits are many, but the Holy Spirit is One because God is One. God is the Spirit. The important doctrine of Christianity is the Holy Trinity; Christology and Pneumatology are parts of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible. Christology is the study of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Pneumatology is the study of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is blasphemous to call Mary the Holy Mother. Mary is no deity, cannot and must not be considered on par with the Holy Trinity. Now you might say: Isn’t the mother greater than the son? Humanly speaking, that is so. But Mary was a maidservant of God, through her womb Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit, not Joseph or any other man; and Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Son of God. According to the flesh, Mary was the mother of Jesus. God cannot have a mother because God is Self-Existent from eternity to eternity. In fact, Jesus is the Lord of Mary.
Luk 1:38 , “And Mary said: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.”
Luk 1:46 , “And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord.”
1Cr 2:14 ,“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Note: There are two kinds of people in the world: the natural man and the spiritual man. The natural man does not have the Holy Spirit and do not have spiritual discernment. Without spiritual discernment, the natural man cannot know or receive the things of the Spirit of God. Worst of all, the natural man considers the things of the Spirit foolishness. For that reason otherwise intelligent but unbelieving scientists and scholars consider spiritual things as unscientific and foolish. Just as an ameba would not understand faith, hope and love; so the natural man would not understand spiritual things.
I. The Names and Titles of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Spirit of God.
Gen 1:2 , “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
Note: This is the first time the word ‘Spirit’ occurs in the Bible. The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruwach which means wind, breath, mind, breath of the living; the breath of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son; – it occurs 378 in the Old Testament.
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 being.”
Note: The spirit of man was formed by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the divine power, like the wind and the breath, cannot be perceived. Jesus explains, Jhn 3:8,“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The Greek word for Spirit is pneuma which means the third Person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son; sometimes referred to the personality and character of the Holy Spirit; sometimes referred to the work and power of the Holy Spirit; – it occurs 385 times in the New Testament. The word pneumatology is derived from the Greek word.
Mat 3:16 , “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.”
Note: John the Baptist saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, but dove is not the Holy Spirit. Just as God is a consuming fire, but fire is not God.
Rom 8:5, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Note: There are two ways of life: living according to the flesh and setting mind on the things of the flesh; and living according to the Spirit and setting mind on the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:9 , “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
Note: A man has flesh and spirit. If you have the Spirit of God living in you, you are not in the flesh. The carnal man is in the flesh without the Holy Spirit. To be born again or saved, you must have the Spirit of Christ. If you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you are not His; you do not belong to Christ.
1Cr 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
2. The Spirit of Christ.
1Pe 1:11 , “Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”
Note: The sufferings of Christ was to obey the will of God even to the point of death. Christ suffered in order to save sinners and He was exalted in glories.
3. The eternal Spirit.
Hbr 9:14 , “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Note: The blood of Christ through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God; cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
4. The Breath of the Almighty.
Job 33:4 , “The Spirit of God has made me, and the Breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Note: The Breath of the Almighty is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God gives believers new life, eternal life. Human life is only a breath, when God takes away the breath, the man is dead.
5. The Spirit of life.
Gen 7:22 , “All in whose nostrils was the breath of the Spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.”
Rom 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Jhn 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Note: The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of life because it is the Spirit who gives life. Jhn 3:5-6 ,“Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Tts 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Although the triune God works together as One, it is helpful to understand that creation was the work of God, redemption the work of Jesus Christ, and regeneration the work of the Holy Spirit.
6. The Spirit of truth.
Jhn 14:17 , “The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
Jhn 16:13 , “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
Note: Historically and formally, the Holy Spirit came at the Pentecost. You often hear some uninformed preachers even today pray for the Spirit to come, that is a wrong prayer. Just as the Jews are still waiting for the coming of the Messiah although the Messiah had come and will come again to reign with the saints.
1Jo 4:6 , “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
Note: Those who have the Spirit of truth know God and hear the Word of God. Those who have the spirit of error reject the Bible as the infallible Word of God.
1Jo 5:6, “This is He who came by water and blood–Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.”
Note: The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth because the Spirit not only bears witness for the truth, the Spirit is truth.
7. The Spirit of wisdom and understanding.
Isa 11:2 , “The Spirit of the LORD 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 the LORD.”
Note: Those who are devoid of the Holy Spirit have no wisdom and understanding. That explains the American and European leaders and politicians who talk and act irrationally and without reason and without truth.
8. The Spirit of counsel and might.
Isa 11:2 , “The Spirit of the LORD 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 the LORD.”
9. The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Isa 11:2 , “The Spirit of the LORD 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 the LORD.”
Note: The Spirit of the Lord rested on Christ without measure. It is not possible for a person to have the Holy Spirit and does not fear God.
10. The Spirit of judgment.
Isa 4:4 ，“When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the Spirit of judgment and by the Spirit of burning.”
The Spirit of judgment carries out the judgment of God.
11. The Spirit of burning.
Isa 4:4, “When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the Spirit of judgment and by the Spirit of burning.”
Note: The Lord washes away the filth and purges the sinful blood by the Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of burning.
12. The Spirit of grace and supplication.
Zec 12:10 , “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”
13. The Spirit of the Lord.
Jdg 3:10 , “The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim.”
Note: In the Old Testament the Spirit of the Lord often manifested in physical strength. The Holy Spirit is God in action. Another illustration is the case of Samson.
Jdg 14:5-6, “So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.”
Luk 4:18, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
Note: In the New Testament the Spirit of the Lord anointed Jesus Christ and apostles to preach the Gospel, to heal the sick, to open the eyes of the blind, even to raise the dead, and to perform miracles for the glory of God. During and after the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered apostles and disciples to proclaim the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere. Thus the fullness of the Holy Spirit is neither for speaking in tongues nor for showing the spiritual status of a person, but for witnessing of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world in winning souls.
Act 5:9 , “Then Peter said to her: How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
2Cr 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Note: God is Spirit. The Lord is the Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, there is freedom. The freedom propagated by Western media is phony. When 99 percent of people ruled by one percent it is not democracy.
14. The Spirit.
Act 11:12, “Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.”
Note: What the Spirit of God says, we should doubt nothing. The Bible is the inspired Word of God by the Holy Spirit.
15. The Spirit of holiness.
Rom 1:4, “And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
Note: The Son of God was raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit of holiness. The redemptive work of Christ was the work of holiness.
16. The Spirit of adoption.
Rom 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out: Abba, Father.”
Note: The Greek word for adoption is huiothesia which means the nature and condition of the true disciples in Christ, who by receiving the Spirit of God into their souls become sons of God. What a glorious right given to those who believe in Jesus Christ, to be adopted as children of God.
17. The Spirit of the living God.
2Cr 3:3 , “Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”
Note: The Spirit of the living God writes the Word of God in the heart of believers.
18. The Spirit of His Son.
Gal 4:6 , “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out: Abba, Father!”
Note: Just as Jesus Christ is the Son of God, all believers are sons of God, and through the Spirit of His Son we may cry out to God, Abba, Father.
19. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Eph 1:17 , “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
Note: In the things of the world, you can obtain knowledge by study, research, experiment and finding. All these human and scientific efforts are useless in obtaining the knowledge of God. To have the knowledge of God you need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Unbelieving scientists and scholars therefore cannot have the knowledge of God because they do not have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Christianity is the revealed religion, not a man-made religion based on human traditions and teachings.
Unbelieving scientists do not have the Holy Spirit in them, so they lack wisdom and revelation. Therefore, science cannot find God.
Eph 3:5 , “Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”
Note: The truth in Jesus Christ was not made known to the sons of men (humankind) in ages past, as it has been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets. The Scriptures were written by the holy apostles and prophets from Moses to John as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
20. The Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Phl 1:19, “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Note: The Spirit of Jesus Christ supplies the saints with deliverance.
21. The Spirit of grace.
Hbr 10:29 , “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
Note: Those who have denied the Son of God is like trampling Him underfoot, and those who have trampled the Son of God underfoot insulted the Spirit of grace. Today is the dispensation of grace; you may repent and be saved. The time is coming the dispensation of grace will be ended when Jesus Christ returns the second time to judge the world.
22. The Spirit of glory.
1Pe 4:14, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”
Note: If you suffer reproach for the name of Christ, the Spirit of glory rests upon you. The wicked may insult you and shame you because of Christ, but do you know the Spirit of glory is upon you.
23. The Spirit of prophecy.
2Sa 23:2 , “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His Word was on my tongue.”
Rev 19:10 , “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me: See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.”
Note: All Biblical prophecies, those that had been fulfilled and those that are going to be fulfilled, were given by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of prophecy. The Spirit of prophecy came into the world for the testimony of Jesus Christ. For the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of prophecy. Evil spirits cannot prophesize because they do not know the things to come. False prophets repeatedly predicted the dates of Jesus second coming and failed every time and will fail all the time.
2Pe 1:21 , “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Prophets and apostles were holy men of God, and they were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the Holy Bible.
24. The Holy Spirit of promise.
Eph 1:13, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Note: The Holy Spirit of promise is the Spirit God promised to His children. Once you are saved, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
25. The Holy Spirit of God.
Eph 4:30 , “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Note: To disobey God is to grieve the Holy Spirit.
26. The Spirit of the Holy God.
Dan 5:11 , “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father–your father the king–made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.”
Note: The queen of King Belshazzar was wise and she knew that Daniel had the Spirit of the Holy God; for that reason light and understanding and wisdom were found in him.
27. The Spirit of your Father.
Mat 10:20, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
Note: Those who suffer persecution for the sake of Christ do not need to worry what to speak because the Spirit of our Father will speak in them. Catholics have blasphemed against God by calling the pope Holy Father.
28. The Comforter.
Jhn 14:26 , “But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Note: The Greek word for comforter is paraklētoswhich means one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate; one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor; helper; – it occurs 5 times in the New Testament. It is interesting to notice that Jesus Christ came in the name of God. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father in the name of Christ. Jesus Christ came to reveal the Father. The Holy Spirit came to testify for Christ. After Christ’s ascension to the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent to take the place of Christ, to lead the apostles to a deeper knowledge of the Gospel truth, and to give them the divine strength to undergo persecutions and endure trials and hardships for the Kingdom of God. Thus the Holy Spirit is the sole Representative of Christ on earth; not the pope or anyone else. The Greek word for teach is didaskō which means to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses; to impart instruction, instill doctrine into one, explain or expound a thing; – it occurs 97 times in the New Testament.
II. The Nature of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Holy Spirit proceeded from God.
Act 5:32 , “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Act 15:8, “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us.”
1Cr 6:19 , “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
Act 19:2，“He said to them: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? So they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
Note: All man-made religions do not teach anything about the Holy Spirit because they have no Holy Spirit in them. The Word of God was inspired by the Holy Spirit so that holy prophets and apostles wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to believers to give them life (regeneration) and to guide them into all truth for the sake of sanctification.
Rom 5:5 , “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Note: No one can know the love of God without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was given to believers so that the love of God can be poured out in our hearts. Those who have the Holy Spirit living in them know the love of God.
2Cr 13:14 , “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
Note: The Holy Trinity manifests Himself in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit with all believers. The Greek word for communion is koinōnia which means fellowship, association, community, joint participation, intimacy, communication, sharing; – it occurs 20 times in the New Testament.
1Jo 5:7, “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are One.”
Note: The Holy Trinity bears witness in heaven: the Father, the Word (the Son of God), and the Holy Spirit; and these three are One. God is One manifested as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. No man-made religion would conceive God as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is too wonderful for humans to fully comprehend or understand. Although the word ‘Trinity’ does not occur in the Bible, the idea is supported by the Scriptures.
Phl 3:3, “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Note: Those who worship God in the Spirit have no confidence in the flesh. Flesh is opposed to the Spirit.
1Th 5:19 , “Do not quench the Spirit.”
1Ti 3:16 , “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.”
Note: The Greek word for justify is dikaioōwhich means to render righteous, declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous; – it occurs 40 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit.
2Ch 24:20, “Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.”
Note: In the Old Testament, the Scriptures cited above explain how the prophets spoke or prophesized. The Spirit of God came upon the prophets. The Spirit of the Lord spoke by David, and His Word was on his tongue. The Spirit of Lord used Elijah to speak and do mightily. The Spirit of God came upon the prophets and they did mightily. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit fills the servants of Christ to preach the Gospel in winning souls for the Kingdom of God.
Act 4:31 , “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.”
Note: The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.
Act 13:9, “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him.”
Note: The ministry of Apostle Paul was powerful because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Holy Spirit is not for the purpose of speaking in tongues (as the Pentecostal church teaches); it is for speaking the Word of God with boldness and power.
Act 13:52 , “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Note: To have a successful ministry, the servant of Christ must be continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Prosperity gospel preachers are fired by the love of money, not by the Holy Spirit.
2Cr 5:5 , “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”
Note: God has given us the Spirit as a guarantee, a guarantee for inheritance of the Kingdom of God, the eternal life.
Gal 3:3 , “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
Note: It is possible that even a believer becomes so foolish. No matter who you are, examine yourself whether your thinking, speaking, or doing are foolish or not. What is so foolish is having begun in the Spirit, one wants to be made perfect by the flesh. Only the Spirit sanctifies the believers and helps them grow into perfection. Flesh is never perfect, flesh is sinful and imperfect.
Gal 3:5 , “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
Note: By the works of the law no one pleases God. By faith we are saved in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit works miracles among believers.
Gal 3:14 , “That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Note: The promise of the Spirit can only be received by faith, not on your own merit or good deed.
1Cr 2:10-11, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”
Note: No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. For this reason unbelieving scientists and scholars do not and cannot know the things of God because they do not have the Spirit of God.
1Cr 2:12 , “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
Note: We Christians have received the Spirit from God so that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. Those who have the spirit of the world do not know the things of God. Imperialists, capitalists, hegemonists, supremacists, monopolists, terrorists, etc. have the spirit of the world.
1Cr 3:16 ,“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
Note: Christians are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in believers.
1Cr 12:7-8 , “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit.”
Note: The Spirit is given to each believer for the profit of all; to one is given the word of wisdom and to another the word of knowledge through the Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit was sent from Christ.
Jhn 7:39 , “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Note: When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, He was exalted above all and glorified. Then the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to represent Him on earth. The Holy Spirit is the sole Representative of Christ on earth, not the pope or anyone else.
Act 2:33, “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
Mat 28:19 , “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Luk 11:13,“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Note: God gives the Holy Spirit to believers, and those who have the Holy Spirit have eternal life.
Luk 12:10 , “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.”
Note: The Holy Spirit came to testify for Christ, those who reject the testimony of the Spirit blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. If you deny the Lord and reject Christ to be your Savior, you will die in your sins and never be forgiven.
Jhn 20:22 , “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit.”
1Jo 3:24, “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”
1Jo 4:2 , “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.”
1Jo 4:3 , “And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”
1Jo 4:6 , “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
Note: All who confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord have the Spirit of God. All who deny Jesus Christ the Son of God have the spirit of the Antichrist, the spirit of error. Modernists who espouse higher criticism and textual criticism and unbelieving scientists who teach evolution have the spirit of error.
1Pe 1:11, “Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”
1Pe 4:14 , “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”
Note: The Spirit of glory rests upon all those who suffer shame and persecutions for Christ.
1Cr 12:3 , “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
Note: If you confess that Jesus is Lord from your heart, you must be moved by the Holy Spirit. If you curse Jesus, you must have the evil spirit.
Rom 8:10, “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Rom 8:2 , “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Rom 8:1 , “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Rom 8:4-5 , “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Rom 8:13 , “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Rom 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out: Abba, Father.”
Rom 8:23 , “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”
Note: The second coming of Jesus Christ is for the redemption of our body. Our body will be transformed into a spiritual glorious and immortal body fit for Heaven and eternity.
3. The Holy Spirit gives life.
Job 33:4 , “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Ecc 12:7 , “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
Jhn 6:63 , “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
Note: When you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit enters into your heart and gives you the new life, the eternal life.
2Cr 3:6, “Who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
1Pe 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit”
Note: Jesus Christ suffered once for sins and His death brings believers to God.
1Pe 4:6 , “For this reason the Gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”
Gal 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Note: This is the wonderful life led by the Spirit with nine fruit. If you have the fruit of the Spirit, not only you are going to Heaven, you will live a successful life on earth doing the will of God. Do you notice white and black supremacists who want to dictate and dominate the world do not have the fruit of the Spirit.
Gal 5:25 , “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Gal 6:8, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Eph 2:22, “In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
2Cr 3:8 , “How will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?”
2Cr 3:17 , “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Note: God is Spirit. The Lord is the Spirit. Those who have the Spirit of the Lord are set free from sin and the bondage of sin.
2Cr 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Note: When Christ returns, the Spirit of the Lord will transform our bodies into glorious spiritual and immortal bodies.
Rom 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Note: If you a son of God, several things must happen.
(A). The Holy Spirit gives you life –
Jhn 6:63 , “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
(B). The Holy Spirit lives in you –
Jhn 14:17 , “The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
Rom 8:11 , “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
(C). The Holy Spirit testifies with your spirit–
Rom 8:16 , “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
(D). The Holy Spirit sanctifies you –
Rom 15:16 , “That I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
(E). The Holy Spirit guides you –
Jhn 16:13 , “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
Note: The Greek word for guide is hodēgeō which means to give guidance to, lead, lead on one’s way; – it occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Divine truth is not something that human efforts can discover or acquire, one needs to be guided into all truth. A spiritually blind man cannot find the door to the temple of truth. If you are born again and have the Spirit in you, you must know how the Holy Spirit has guided you in your life, not one time, but many times and as long as you live. If you have never experienced the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then you do not have the Spirit of Christ in you.
Jhn 3:5-6, “Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Rom 8:9 , “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
III. The Work of the Holy Spirit.
Work is defined as the permanent nature of activity carried out on an on-going basis. Although the Holy Trinity works as one, it is helpful to think there is a distinctive main feature of the work of each Member of the Trinity. God does the creative work, Jesus Christ the redemptive work, and the Holy Spirit the regenerative work. The triune God works together in all aspects of divine work.
Example: the work of creation.
Gen 1:1, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.”
1Cr 8:6 , “Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”
Eph 3:9 , “And to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things.”
Rev 4:11, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Note: From God are all things, and by Christ are all things. Believers exist for God and exist through Christ. The meaning of “from” and “by”, “for” and “through” are too deep for humans to comprehend or understand. I do not believe there is any theologian or scholar who fully understands their meanings and their differences. From God were all things created, and by Christ were all things created.
Col 1:16 , “For by Him (Christ) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
Note: The Scriptures says all things were created by Jesus Christ; all things have been created through Him and for Him. Scientists have great difficulty to know the visible and earthly, absolutely unable to know the invisible and heavenly. All things have been created by, through and for Christ. You see Christ is the central message of God to the world.
Col 1:17, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
Note: Christ is before all things, before time and space, eternally Self-Existent. In Christ all things hold together. The Greek word for hold together is synistēmi which means to bring or band together, to put together, unite parts into one whole; – it occurs 16 times in the New Testament. The whole universe is held together in Christ. The little preposition ‘in’ is too profound for a human mind to comprehend or understand. Just think how vast is the universe (with its stars, planets and galaxies and expanding) are held together in Christ. The universe is composed of trillions and trillions of stars and countless parts. The universe is not held together by gravity alone although gravity is invented by God. This definitely means Christ is bigger and greater than the universe for in Him all things hold together.
Gen 1:2 , “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
Psa 104:30 , “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the ground.”
Job 33:4 , “The Spirit of God has made me, and the Breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
2Cr 3:6 , “Who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
Note: The work of the Holy Spirit covers from past creation to present regeneration and to future restoration.
1. The Holy Spirit fills the believers.
Act 10:44 , “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.”
Act 10:45, “And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”
Act 10:47, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Act 11:15-16, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said: John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Note: The Holy Spirit is given to the Jewish and Gentile believers alike.
Rom 14:17 , “For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
1Th 1:6 , “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Christians have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit even they suffer much affliction and persecution in this world.
2Ti 1:14 , “That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”
Note: That good thing is the Word of salvation, we keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells is us.
Tts 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: God saved believers not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives new life to believers through regeneration and renewing. Regeneration (born again) is done once and for all by the Spirit, but renewing must be done continuously.
Exd 31:3, “And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”
Note: Just as Bezaleel was filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understand, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, so servants of Christ must be filled with the Spirit of God to be equipped for the ministry of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A preacher without the Spirit of God is the most pathetic thing, you see so many today in the pulpits everywhere.
Eph 5:18 , “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”
Note: There seems to be a cavalier attitude among church members in the West, but it is forbidden for Christians to get drunk.
Eph 6:17 , “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Note: The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God is the weapon effective in destroying the schemes and snares of the devil.
Eph 6:18 , “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—.”
Note: Pray not only with words; pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.
Eph 4:3 , “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Note: Christians must keep the unity of faith in Christ and the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:23, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
Note: The Greek word for renew is ananeoō which means to be spiritually transformed; – it occurs 24 times in the New Testament. To renew your mind is to take on a new mind, the mind of Christ.
Eph 5:9-10, “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
Note: Since the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, so all evil, unrighteousness and lie are the fruit of the evil one.
Phl 1:19 , “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Phl 2:1-2 , “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”
Note: Believers who have fellowship of the Spirit are united in spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit comforts the church.
Act 9:31, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”
Note: The Greek word for comfort is paraklēsis which means consolation, solace, encouragement; it occurs 29 times in the New Testament. The atmosphere conducive for the church to multiply is walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Act 13:52 , “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Note: To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with power and joy for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Isa 61:3 , “To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Note: The oil of joy represents the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
2Cr 1:3-4 ,“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Note: God of all comfort comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God through the Holy Spirit.
1Th 1:6 , “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: The power of the Holy Spirit enables believers having suffered much tribulation have the joy of the Holy Spirit.
3. Prophets spoke by the Holy Spirit.
Mar 12:36 , “For David himself said by the Holy Spirit, The LORD said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
Note: All the prophets of the Lord said by the Holy Spirit, not by themselves. False prophets spoke by themselves.
Mar 13:11 , “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
Note: When Christians are persecuted, they will be given what to speak because the Holy Spirit will speak in them.
Luk 1:67-70 , “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
Luk 1:68，“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a Horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant. As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old.”
Note: The Greek word for prophesy is prophēteuō which means to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, predict or foretell future events, declare a thing which can only be known by divine revelation; – it occurs 28 times in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is the Horn of Salvation for all sinners who repent and believe in Him.
Act 1:16 , “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”
Note: Prophecy is what the Holy Spirit speaks by the mouth of a prophet.
Act 2:4 , “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Note: The Holy Spirit can enable a believer to speak in other languages.
Act 11:28, “Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.”
Note: This was an example of a prophet foretelling the future event of a great famine which happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Prophecy is God’s story of things to come. Fulfilled prophecy becomes history. The nature of prophecy is always predicting the future events.
Eph 3:5 , “Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.”
Note: The mystery of the Gospel of Christ has been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit. In the Spirit means the Holy Spirit was dwelling in the holy apostles and prophets.
2Pe 1:21 , “For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
Note: The Holy Spirit moved the prophets and apostles to speak from God. A prophet not only speaks for God, he speaks from God.
Act 19:6，“And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
Act 21:11, “When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said: Thus says the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”
Note: No man can know about the future unless the Holy Spirit reveals to him.
Act 28:25, “So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers.”
Note: The Holy Spirit always speaks rightly because He is the Spirit of truth. Prophets who spoke through the Holy Spirit spoke rightly.
2Pe 1:21, “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Holy men of God prophesied as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Prophecies that came by the will of man, such as those false prophets who predicted the end of the world, would never come true.
Rev 19:10, “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me: See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.”
Note: The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.
Rev 22:17 , “And the Spirit and the bride say: Come! And let him who hears say: Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
Note: The Holy Spirit is inviting all to come and take the water of life freely.
4. Jesus baptized believers with the Holy Spirit.
Mat 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Note: The baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire means the receiving of the Holy Spirit and the power. At Pentecost, the apostles and disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and power. Act 2:3-4, “And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”
Act 6:3, “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
Note: Anyone who is full of the Holy Spirit is also full of wisdom. A spiritual man is a wise man.
Act 6:5 , “And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.”
Note: A man who is full of the Holy Spirit is also full of faith. Unbelievers can never be full of the Holy Spirit for they do not have faith.
5. The Holy Spirit testifies to the believers.
Hbr 10:15, “But the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after He had said before.”
Note: The Greek word for testify is martyreō which means to bear witness, to give testimony, declare to one by testimony; – it occurs 79 times in the New Testament.
Rom 8:16 , “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Note: The Greek word for testify here is symmartyreōwhich means to bear witness with, bear joint witness; – it occurs 4 times in the New Testament. This is the proof that you are saved, if the Holy Spirit Himself testifies with your spirit that you are a child of God. You will know if the Spirit of Christ is in you. The testimony of the Spirit with our spirit is the sure proof that we are children of God. Those who do not have the Spirit will not understand this testimony.
1Jo 5:6 , “This is He who came by water and blood–Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is truth.”
Note: The testimony of the Spirit is most important because the Spirit is truth. Jesus is the truth; the Spirit of truth is the Spirit of Christ.
Act 20:23, “Except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.”
Note: Chains and tribulations awaited the apostles, the apostles were worthy of Christ and preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No wonder the apostles rank first in the Church.
Rom 9:1, “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also testifies with me in the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Those who have the Holy Spirit bearing witness in their conscience must tell the truth in Christ. The Spirit of truth does not lie. The evil spirit lies to deceive the people. Those who lie do not have the Holy Spirit or conscience. The Greek word for conscience is syneidēsis which means the consciousness of anything, a mind conscious of right and wrong; – it occurs 32 times in the New Testament. When you know the difference between right and wrong and you choose the right that is conscience.
Hbr 3:7-8, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness.”
Note: The Holy Spirit helps believers to hear the voice of God and obey.
Job 33:4 , “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Note: This Scripture explains Gen 2:7, “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The breath of life is the breath of the Almighty.
Rev 2:17, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”
Rev 14:13 , “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Note: Although the body of a Christian may die, he dies in the Lord and rests from his labors. 1Cr 15:51, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” It is a mystery because it is revealed only to believers. Thus to sleep means to die in the Lord. If the Lord comes this moment, believers who are still alive will not die but will be changed or transformed into a spiritual and glorious and immortal body to meet the Lord in the space. You cannot go to the space with a natural body. A natural body is unfit for heaven. With a spiritual, glorious and immortal body, believers shall reign with the Lord in the Kingdom of heaven for eternity.
Rev 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”
Note: To be in the Spirit a saint can hear what others do not hear.
Rev 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
Note: The Holy Spirit testifies that the Paradise of God is a real place. Those who say heaven is a state of mind and not a place do not hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. They are led by the spirit of error.
Rev 2:11 , “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Note: Those who have been saved (born twice) may die once will not be hurt by the second death. Those who have been born only once (without being born again) will die twice (physical death and spiritual death), hurt by the second death which is eternal death in Hell.
1Jo 5:6 , “This is He who came by water and blood–Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.”
Note: The Holy Spirit came to testify for Jesus Christ.
1Jo 5:8, “And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”
Note: The water refers to the Word of God, and the blood is the precious blood of Christ shed on the cross for sinners, and the Holy Spirit agree as one regarding the salvation of our souls.
Rev 4:2 , “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.”
Note: To be in the Spirit one can see and hear what others cannot.
1Ti 4:1 , “Now the Spirit explicitly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”
Note: The latter times means the last days. We are now in the last days. In the last days some will depart from the faith, this is fulfilled in many European and American churches. To depart from the faith is apostasy. The churches which appoint gay ministers and approve same-sex marriage have departed from the faith. Preachers and followers of prosperity gospel have departed from the faith.
Eph 1:17, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
Note: To have the knowledge of God you need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. The Holy Spirit reveals God by testifying for Jesus Christ. Unbelieving scientists and scholars do not have the knowledge of God because they do not have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. They may seem wise to the world, but they are foolish in the sight of God. It is foolish to reject what you do not know.
6. The Holy Spirit sanctifies.
Rom 15:16, “That I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
Note: The Greek word for sanctify is hagiazō which means to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow; to separate from profane things and dedicate to God; to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin; – it occurs 29 times in the New Testament. Only the ministry sanctified by the Holy Spirit is acceptable to God. The work of self-appointed ministers and occupational preachers are not sanctified by the Holy Spirit and not acceptable to God. If you attend some churches, you can know they are dead without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit sanctifies the ministry which truly proclaims the Gospel of God from all ministries that preach tradition and doctrines of men. The preaching of false gospels is not sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
2Cr 6:6-7 , “In purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the Word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left.”
Note: The servants of God present the ministry in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in genuine love, in the Word of truth because it is done in the Holy Spirit and in the power of God.
Eph 1:13, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Eph 4:30 , “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Note: Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise for the day of redemption, the day of Christ’s returning to redeem the bodies of believers and reign with the saints.
1Pe 1:2 ,“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”
Note: The Greek word for sanctification is hagiasmos which means consecration, purification, holiness, the purification of heart and life wrought by the Holy Spirit; – it occurs 10 times in the New Testament.
2Th 2:13 , “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”
Note: The salvation of your soul is through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Believing in the truth of Jesus Christ paves the way to be sanctified by the Spirit.
1Pe 1:22 , “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”
Note: By obeying the truth through the Spirit you have purified your souls.
Gal 4:6 , “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out: Abba, Father!”
Note: The Spirit of His Son in your hearts is the proof you are children of God.
Gal 4:29 , “But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.”
Gal 5:5 , “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
Gal 5:16 , “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Note: To walk in the Spirit is not to fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
Note: There is war between the Spirit and the flesh; they are against each other.
1Cr 6:11 , “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Note: Those who are saved have been washed by the blood of Jesus and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus by the Spirit.
7. The Holy Spirit teaches.
1Cr 2:13 , “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
Note: Modernist theologians teach in words which man’s wisdom teaches such as higher criticism, textual criticism, etc. which is not what the Holy Spirit teaches and by comparing spiritual things with secular – that is why they teach false doctrines and heresies.
1Cr 12:3 , “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
Note: For this reason anyone who denies the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came in the flesh is not of the Holy Spirit, but of the spirit of the anti-Christ, the evil spirit.
Jud 1:20 , “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”
Note: We do not how to pray, but the Holy Spirit teaches us to pray. Praying in the Holy Spirit means to pray with the help of the Holy Spirit, to pray led by the Spirit and to pray in obedience to revelation of the Spirit. An uneducated believer with the help of the Holy Spirit knows to pray, an unbelieving scientist or scholar does not know how. A monkey does not pray because there is no spirit in it.
Eph 3:5 , “Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”
Note: The truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be taught by men, it was not made known before until it has been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets. The holy apostles and prophets were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Scriptures.
1Cr 14:15, “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”
Note: The Holy Spirit teaches the saints to pray with the spirit and also pray with understanding; to sing with the spirit and also sing with the understanding. Our spirit and understanding must be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Jhn 16:13 , “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
Note: The Greek word for guide is hodēgeōwhich means to be a guide, lead on one’s way, to give guidance to, teach; – it occurs 5 times in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit came and guided the holy Apostles to write the New Testament and revealed to them the things to come.
Act 2:4 , “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Note: Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Not all speak in tongues. The Bible never says that Jesus spoke in tongues; it does not mean Jesus could not speak in tongues, for Jesus had the unlimited measure of the Holy Spirit while He was on earth. To have the fullness of the Holy Spirit does not necessarily speak in tongues. This is the erroneous teaching of the Pentecostal church.
Act 15:28 , “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
Note: The Holy Spirit did not lay upon Gentile believers greater burden than these necessary things. What are these necessary things? They are: abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. The Chinese have a tradition of eating blood, so Chinese Christians must be extra careful in abstaining from eating blood and food offered to idols or ancestors.
IV. The Mission of the Holy Spirit.
Mission is defined for the task carried out with a specific purpose for a specific period of time.
1. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Mat 1:18 , “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: The virgin birth does not mean Mary was immaculate, it means the conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit was immaculate and sinless.
Mat 1:20 , “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: The conception of the birth of Jesus by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb is immaculate and supernatural. That explains how a virgin can get pregnant and give birth.
Luk 1:35 , “And the angel answered and said to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Note: The conception of Jesus Christ in the virgin Mary took place because the Holy Spirit came upon her and the power of the Highest overshadowed her. Thus the Holy One who was born was called the Son of God.
Luk 1:41 , “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the babe John the Baptist leaped in her womb when she heard the greeting of Mary. Very few people in history were filled with the Holy Spirit while they were still in their mother’s womb.
Luk 2:25-26 , “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”
Note: Simeon was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ, the Consolation of Israel. Many Jews ignorant of the truth are still waiting for the coming of the Messiah who is the Consolation of Israel.
Act 9:17, “And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Note: Saul was changed into Paul and filled with the Holy Spirit to equip him for the ministry to the Gentiles. No one can serve in the ministry of Gospel without filling of the Holy Spirit. That explains why there are so many useless and powerless occupational preachers today.
2. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit.
Act 10:38 , “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Note: The Greek word for anoint is chriō which means to consecrate Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing Him with the necessary powers for its administration; – it occurs 5 times in the New Testament. Servants of Christ also need to be endued with the power from on high in order to serve effectively.
Mat 3:16 , “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.”
Jhn 1:32 , “And John bore witness, saying: I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.”
Jhn 1:33, “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me: Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
Luk 3:22 , “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said: You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
Luk 4:1, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”
Act 1:2 , “Until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen.”
Mat 4:1 , “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Mat 12:28, “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Mar 1:10, “And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.”
Note: The Spirit descended upon Christ like a dove was a proof that Jesus was anointed by the Spirit.
Mar 1:12, “Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.”
Luk 4:1 , “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”
Luk 4:14 , “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.”
Luk 4:18 , “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
Note: Poor people of the world, do you know that Jesus Christ came to preach the Gospel to the poor； so that the poor who repent and believe in Jesus Christ can be rich in the faith and to inherit the Kingdom of heaven?
Isa 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
Jhn 3:34 , “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”
Note: The ministry of Jesus was led by the Spirit, an example for all servants of Christ to follow and emulate.
3. Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 1:4 , “And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
Note: The Greek word for declare is horizō which means to define, appoint, decree, ordain; – it occurs 8 times in the New Testament. Although Jesus Christ was the Son of God before His resurrection, yet He was openly and publicly ordained or appointed such among men by the transcendent and crowning event of His resurrection. A dead Jesus cannot be the Christ. A risen Christ proves He is the Messiah. The big difference between Christianity and other man-made religions is the empty tomb. The tomb of Christ was empty because He rose from the dead. Christ rose from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Holy Spirit directs the work of evangelization.
After Jesus rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to represent Himself on earth. The Holy Spirit gave orders and directed the work of evangelization in various methods.
(A). The Holy Spirit said and set apart.
Act 13:2-4, “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.”
Note: There are two parts of a true mission: setting apart and sending out. The Greek word for set apart is aphorizō which means to appoint, separate for some purpose; – it occurs 10 times in the New Testament. The Greek word for send out is ekpempō which means to send away, send forth; – it occurs twice in the New Testament. The sooner the church realizes the work of evangelization is not headed by any person or organization the better. Missionaries are not set apart and sent out by the Mission Board, they are set apart and sent out by the Holy Spirit. Those who were sent out by the Mission Board, some of them become tools of imperialists and colonialists. Some have secular purposes. Those who are set apart and sent out by the Holy Spirit engage in the work of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the ministry of saving souls. A true missionary does not represent his/her earthly country; he/she represents the Kingdom of heaven. I knew quite a few white missionaries from Western powers who had ulterior motive; their work discredited and dishonored Jesus Christ. As in the past missionaries sent by Catholic Church and the Church of England and others were foreign agents sent out to destabilize and destroy China. The greatest disservice to Christ was that they made Christianity a religion of white people or a religion of the West.
(B). The Holy Spirit made some overseers.
Act 20:22 , “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there.”
Note: The servants of Christ do not know the things that will happen to them in their work of evangelization, but they are bound in the spirit to go where they should go.
Act 20:28 , “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
Note: The Greek word for overseer is episkopos which means a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent; the superintendent, bishop or elder of a Christian church; – it occurs 7 times in the New Testament. The word episcopacy is derived from the Greek word. The Greek word for shepherd is poimainō which means to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep; to supply the requisites for the soul’s need; – it occurs 11 times in the New Testament. There are many ministers who cannot shepherd the church of God because they were not made overseers by the Holy Spirit. They do not know how to preach and teach the Word of God. Many churches operate like the Buddhist temples. Many church members do not have the basic knowledge of the faith, such as how can they know they are saved; what is the difference between a church as a meeting place and church as the body of Christ; the meaning of justified by faith, etc.
(C). The Holy Spirit gave order.
Act 8:26-40, “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip: Go near and overtake this chariot. So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said: Do you understand what you are reading? And he said: How can I, unless someone guides me? And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth. So the eunuch answered Philip and said: I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said: See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? Then Philip said: If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.”
Note: The Scriptures cited above provide a model for personal evangelism. Many evangelists go to a certain city because they are sponsored by big organizations and political and sports figures, etc. and the cost underwritten by many local and regional churches. A servant of God may be sent to a spiritual “desert.” The Spirit still gives orders today, not many Christians or servants of Christ receive the order.
(D). The Spirit spoke in the Apostles.
Mat 10:20, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
Note: There is a difference between how the Holy Spirit led the apostles in the work of evangelization and the work of evangelization after the Apostles. The former was the special pouring of the Holy Spirit at the outset, spectacular and extraordinary; since then it has become the general routine and usual work of the Holy Spirit. The former was witnessed by mighty miracles, signs and wonders; and the latter is carried on in the more ordinary and matter of fact manner. As a proof: Act 8:29, “Then the Spirit said to Philip: Go near and overtake this chariot.”
Act 8:39 , “Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.”
Note: I have not known or heard any evangelist or preacher who had the same experience like that of Philip. The servants of Christ today who rank low in the hierarchy of the Church do not have the privilege of which the holy Apostles had before. However, we must still pray and look for the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit in the great task of world evangelization.
(E). The Spirit told Peter to go.
Act 11:12, “Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.”
Note: The servant of Christ must not doubt what the Holy Spirit said.
(F). The Spirit compelled Paul to testify.
Act 18:5 , “When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.”
Note: The Greek word for compel is synechō which means to press, hold together with constraint, compress, urge; – it occurs 12 times in the New Testament. Every true servant of Christ must have experienced when he was urged by the Spirit to testify for Jesus Christ.
(G). The Holy Spirit forbade Paul to preach in Asia.
Act 16:6-7, “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.”
Note: The Greek word for forbid is kōlyō which means to hinder, prevent, deny or refuse one a thing, prohibit; – it occurs 23 times in the New Testament. I do not know and no one knows why the Holy Spirit forbade Paul to preach the Word in Asia. The important thing is to obey the command of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of the Word. Do not go where the Holy Spirit does not permit to go. Zeal without divine direction is effort lost.
Blessed is the preacher who is told by the Holy Spirit where to go and to whom to preach.
5. The Holy Spirit fills witnesses for Christ.
Act 11:24 , “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
Note: The filling of the Holy Spirit is not for speaking in tongues, it is for winning souls for Christ.
Hbr 2:4, “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”
Note: God gives various gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. The supernatural work of God manifests as signs and wonders and miracles.
The Greek word for sign is sēmeion which means a mark, token, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature; – it occurs 77 times in the New Testament. For example, the sign of Jonah who was in the belly of the fish for three days and nights. The fact that Jonah was not digested by big fish must be a wonder and a miracle. The turning of water into wine is a wonder and also a miracle. Wonder in Greek is teras which means a prodigy, portent, something so strange or wonderful as to cause it to be observed or watched; it occurs 16 times in the New Testament. The Greek word for miracle is dynamis which means mighty work, strength, might, power, ability, act of divine power; – it occurs 120 times in the New Testament. The feeding of five thousand with 5 loaves and 2 fish must be a miracle. Earthquake by itself is neither a sign nor miracle, but when God made it to happen at the right time for a specific purpose, it may be a sign and a miracle. The virgin birth was both a sign and a miracle. It is a confusion to translate miracle as miraculous sign. A sign (such as rainbow) may not be a miracle or wonder. A wonder must be a miracle and a miracle is sure a wonder. For example, Jesus raised Lazarus from death after he was dead for 4 days. It is difficult for human mind to comprehend the supernatural acts of God and differentiate them. May be sign, wonder and miracle are not different classes of supernatural phenomena or kinds of divine act; they may differentiate because of their specific purposes. Jesus Christ is so wonderful and incomprehensible that He is both a sign, a wonder and a miracle. Jesus Christ was a sign of God’s love sending to die for mankind in order to save them. Jesus Christ was a wonder, more than wonder, the mystery of God in that God became Man and manifested in the flesh. Jesus Christ was a miracle because the virgin Mary gave birth to the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, sinless and perfect; the perfect Man and perfect God.
Luk 12:12, “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Jhn 14:26 , “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
Act 1:5 , “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Act 2:38 , “Then Peter said to them: Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Act 4:8-14 , “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”
Note: Peter and John were filled with the Holy Spirit; rulers saw their boldness and realized they had been with Jesus.
Act 4:31 , “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.”
1Pe 1:12 , “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven–things which angels desire to look into.”
Note: The Gospel was revealed by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven to those who minister and those who follow Christ, things so wonderful which angels of heaven desire to look into. No one can preach the Gospel effectively without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Isa 32:15 , “Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.”
Note: When the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, the wilderness becomes a fruitful field. The field is the world. It is not the organization and the VIP on the platform that make evangelization fruitful; it is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Eze 2:2 ,“Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.”
Note: In the past the Holy Spirit entered the prophets and spoke to them. During and after the Pentecost the Holy Spirit entered and lives in the hearts of believers.
Act 7:55-56, “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said: Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Note: Stephen was the only man who saw the Heavens opened and the Son of God standing at the right hand of God. The Son of God was welcoming the martyr home.
V. The Power of the Holy Spirit.
Power is defined by the manifestation of the inherent authority.
1. John the Baptist testified for Christ.
Luk 1:15 , “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.”
Mar 1:8 , “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Luk 3:16 , “John answered, saying to all: I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Note: Every true servant of Christ feels he is unworthy. When a preacher feels he is worthy to serve, he is really unfit to serve. Some arrogant preacher may say: Do you know who I am? In fact, he is nothing.
2. The Apostles received power from on high.
Act 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Note: Jesus makes it clear the receiving of power from the Holy Spirit is to witness for Christ. The Pentecostal church is wrong in linking the fullness of the Spirit with speaking in tongues.
Act 8:18-19, “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying: Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Note: The gift of the Holy Spirit is not for sale. The power of the Holy Spirit is not for self-glorification; it is for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
1Th 1:5 , “For our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”
Note: The preaching in many churches today is futile because the Gospel came in word only, not in power. Many preachers are occupational preachers who preach in word without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Act 13:9-12, “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, and said: You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time. And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.”
Note: Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit means Paul was empowered to speak and act as directed by the Holy Spirit. For that reason Paul was given the power to make a false prophet, a son of the devil, blind and not see the sun for a time. The immediate effect made the proconsul believe and being amazed at the teaching of the Lord. Today we have all sorts of evangelists and megachurch preachers with Hollywood style presentation and attraction, but what is lacking is the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:13 , “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: There is joy and peace in believing because the power of the Holy Spirit enables believers to abound in hope.
1Cr 2:4, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”
Note: Oh, let Christians pray and repent. Oh, let nominal preachers cover their heads in shame because they preach without demonstration of the Spirit and of power. So many churches use pomp and ceremony and Hollywood style entertainment to attract the audience. Many churches become like social clubs. A ministry without demonstration of the Spirit and power is futile and fruitless even though your church may have a membership of tens of thousands.
3. Paul preached the Gospel by the power of the Spirit.
Rom 15:19 , “In mighty miracles and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.”
Note: It is vanity for any evangelist to claim to have preached to more people than Paul. Apostles rank first in the church of Christ. For no one has preached the Gospel of Christ as Paul did by the power of the Spirit of God and performed mighty miracles to confirm the truth. The only effective way of preaching the Gospel of Christ is to preach by the power of the Spirit – not by words and wisdom of man.
4. The Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses.
Rom 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Rom 8:27, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Rom 15:30, “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.”
Rom 1:4 , “And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
Dan 4:8-9, “But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.”
Dan 4:18 , “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”
Note: This is the secret of a successful ministry: you are able because the Holy Spirit is in you. No man can serve God by the flesh.
Mic 2:7, “You who are named the house of Jacob: Is the Spirit of the LORD restricted? Are these His doings? Do not My words do good to him who walks uprightly?
Mic 3:8, “But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.”
Note: The preaching against sin must be in full power of the Spirit.
Act 6:10 , “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”
Note: The wisdom of the Spirit is irresistible and invincible.
VI. The Authority of the Holy Spirit.
Authority is defined by the inherent nature of power.
1. Blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Mat 12:31-32, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
Mar 3:29 , “But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”
Note: The Greek word for blaspheme is blasphēmeō which means to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate; to speak evil of; to intentionally come short of the reverence due to God; defame; – it occurs 35 times in the New Testament. Those who deny and reject Jesus Christ the Son of God blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness but subject to eternal condemnation. To seek fame and fortune, a Harvard divinity school female professor declared to the world that she discovered that Jesus had a wife. I believe this is a case that she blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, her sin will never be forgiven.
Act 5:3 , “But Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?”
Act 7:51, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”
Note: The Greek word for resist is antipiptō which means to run against, to be adverse, oppose, strive against; – it occurs only once in the New Testament.
An obscure atheist declared, “…To my mind, of course, no part of religion is true in the sense of being God-given. It seems clear that there is no holy ghost, spirit, geist or divine emanation. The real issue is not whether God exists or not, but where one takes the argument to once one concludes that he evidently doesn’t. I believe it must be possible to remain a committed atheist and nevertheless to find religions sporadically useful, interesting and consoling – and be curious as to the possibilities of importing certain of their ideas and practices into the secular realm.”
We are reminded of what Jesus says, Mat 12:31 , “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.” When a man says there is no Holy Spirit, does he sin and blasphemy against the Spirit? Mar 3:28–29 ,“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” According to what he said the unbeliever has no knowledge of God. Definitely the atheist does not have the Spirit of God in him because he does not see or know Him.
2. The Spirit speaks the truth.
Mat 22:43 , “He said to them: How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
Luk 2:27-30, “So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation.”
Luk 10:21 , “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said: I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”
Note: The Lord of Heaven revealed things to babes, but have hidden these thing from the worldly wise and prudent. The Holy Spirit came to testify of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world; those who deny the Lord sin against the Holy Spirit.
3. Serve God in the newness of the Spirit.
Rom 7:6 , “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”
Isa 59:19 , “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.”
Eze 3:12, “Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!”
Eze 3:14 , “So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.”
Eze 3:24 , “Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: Go, shut yourself inside your house.”
Eze 8:3 , “He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy.”
Eze 11:5 , “Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said to me: Speak! Thus says the LORD: Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.”
Note: The Holy Spirit knows the things that come into your mind and my mind.
Eze 11:24 , “Then the Spirit took me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to those in captivity. And the vision that I had seen went up from me.”
Eze 37:1 , “The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.”
Eze 43:5, “The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.”
The Holy Spirit says to you.
Hbr 3:7-8, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness.”
Note: Most peoples of the world follow the spirit of the world as they are children of the flesh. Christians who have been born again receive life from the Holy Spirit and they are led by the Spirit of Truth. Human life in this world is like in the wilderness. Today, the Holy Spirit speaks to you. As you hear His voice, do not harden your heart in rebellion. To rebel against God is sure destruction.
Rev 22:17 , “And the Spirit and the bride say: Come! And let him who hears say: Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
Note: Are you thirsty? The things of the world, such as money, power and sex will never satisfy.
The Holy Spirit is inviting you all to come and take the water of life freely.
Will you come now to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior?
Today is the day of salvation. You can be saved today.
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 6, 2025
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