The Holy Spirit: November 1998

From: Bible Searchers: 1998

• 2 min. read • grade level: 7

The Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons in the Godhead (Matt. 28:19¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19); 2 Cor. 13:14¹⁴The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. <<The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.>> (2 Corinthians 13:14)). We first read of the Spirit in Genesis 1:2²And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2), where in creation He moved upon the face of the waters.

Although we cannot see the Holy Spirit, He is very active in the world both among believers and unbelievers, though in different ways (John 16:8,13⁸And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)
¹³Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13)). He personally acts as a restraint in the affairs of men today, hindering sin from running rampant and thus allowing Christians to live in a measure of peace and quiet (2 Thess. 2:6-7⁶And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. ⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:6‑7)). But soon, when the Lord Jesus comes to take those who are saved to be with Him, the world will be unhindered in following its evil course.

When we believe the gospel and receive the Lord Jesus as our personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit indwells us. This is not like the Old Testament times when the Spirit of God came upon men of faith. See Judges 15:14¹⁴And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. (Judges 15:14) as an example.

The Holy Spirit would occupy our hearts with the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:26²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)), but when we walk in paths of self-pleasing, He is grieved (Eph. 4:30³⁰And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)) and cannot fill our hearts with joy. What do you think the servant occupied the heart of Rebekah with (Gen. 24³⁰And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. (Genesis 24:30))? Was it not with the man she had never seen but was soon going to meet?

1. In Revelation 18, Babylon becomes the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Who inhabits those who are builded together through the Spirit? Ephesians 2:___

2. Some of the Corinthians had the gift of wisdom, some the gift of knowledge and some another gift. Who was dividing to each man?

1 Corinthians 12:___

3. The disciples were sorry to hear that the Lord was going away. What is the name of the One the Father was going to send who would abide with them forever? John 14:___

4. What was it David was afraid God would take away from him, because he had grievously sinned? Psalm 51:___

5. The gospel preacher proclaims God’s message and the Holy Spirit strives with men (Gen. 6:3³And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3)). What three things does He reprove the world of?

John 16:___

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