The Holy Spirit is the facet of Gods’ own person who affects the word of change as is needed in human hearts;
it is the Holy Spirit who provides our guidance and assurance.
The Holy Spirit is sent from God to people as He chooses; when the time is right in Gods’ own eyes for instruction;
the Spirit brings correction and comforting to Gods’ saints.
After a person has responded to Gods’ call for their repentance from sin and forgiveness by the (blood) sacrifice of Jesus Christ there is an event in the newly formed life which comes through belief, faith and obedience. The Holy Spirit is the very same Spirit manifest in the person of Jesus Christ. The sending of the Holy Spirit (often referred to as the “Holy Ghost”) is an act of God to the newly born saint as a pre-installment of Gods’ own will in that person’s life.
2 Corinthians: 21 ~ 22 NRSV 21 But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, 22 by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.
John 14: 25 ~ 26 NRSV 25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate,[i] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.
The “sending” of Gods’ Holy Spirit cannot be prompted by, or advanced through the efforts of human beings; this, just like forgiveness, salvation, faith and healing comes by the will and grace of God. When a Christian goes astray from faith in, and obedience to God, the Spirit is faithful to point out the transgression so as to keep the fellowship and effectiveness of God’s presence in that person’s life. There can often be extended periods of time for someone who suffers due to their own error, or perhaps misunderstanding of the life in Jesus Christ that has been assigned to them at salvation. When the time is right for the correction to be revealed according to Gods’ will the Holy Spirit already knows the heart and mind of the person he is there to help. If there is resistance or deception the Holy Spirit may leave the transgressor in a “holy time-out”.
1 Corinthians 2: 10 ~ 14 ESV 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.[d]14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
This may be one of the most challenging aspects to understand about the relationship between a person who has belief in Jesus Christ and God. The unbelieving, unsaved person cannot understand the elemental agencies of God’s involvement in the believers’ life. God in His infinite wisdom has offered Himself in various forms and proofs to those who He has called according to His good will.
Romans 8: 26 ~ 27 ESV 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning’s too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Even the deepest thoughts and concerns of Gods’ people are fully known by the Holy Spirit, and this allows for a communion with God that exceeds the limitations of spoken words. The Spirit intercedes for Gods saints.
An amazing revelation about Gods’ sovereignty is revealed in the early Biblical account of the plan to send His Holy Spirit to humankind.
Joel 3: 1 ~ 2 CJB (2:28) “After this, I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions; 2 (2:29) and also on male and female slaves in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Long before the offering of a new covenant of forgiveness of sin God indicated to the People of Israel that the person that has faith will receive an anointing from God (the Holy Spirit) to guide their hearts in a (true) desire for Gods’ righteousness in their lives. All the effectual work is being done by God Himself; no human effort or work can produce the condition required to live in the presence of God.
Through the accounts offered in these articles about the multi faceted person of God, all are accessible to the person who has faith before the manifestation of confession and repentance from sin accept the Holy Spirit. Gods’ Holy Spirit achieves changes and works Gods’ will in the hearts and lives of those that are His. The Holy Spirit is the presence of the true and living God for all who obey His call. Anyone who denies this runs the serious risk of committing the only unforgivable sin as proclaimed by Jesus to the apostles and disciples; the hardest heart imaginable will commit this tragic irreversible sin against God.
Mathew 12: 31 ~ 32 NKJV 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 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.
In a world that is increasingly in rebellion against the loving God who made it and all that is in existence more and more people come closer to committing this terrible transgression. The fact that we continue in every way pursue our own wisdom, sovereignty and glorification should be seen for what it truly is; self deification shouts against all of the providences God has put into play for our own well being, indeed our own lives in an eternity that many deny. Are we really willing to risk what lies on the other side of this temporal life?
These articles are written for your benefit and not your harm. My prayer is that no one will deny the work God does through His Holy Spirit, to draw people to Himself in fulfillment of the purpose of mankind… to glorify God. Amen!
(September 20, 2016)