Holy Spirit

During one of his missionary trips, the Apostle Paul questioned a group of Ephesian “church members” (actually, they were disciples of John the Baptist) about the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Their answer must have shocked him somewhat, for they replied, “…We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:2).

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

If Paul was shocked, surely the Father and Son were saddened as they viewed yet another example of the almost universal ignorance concerning the ministry of the blessed third Person in the Trinity,the Holy Spirit. This statement by these Ephesian disciples, perhaps as no other in the Bible, illustrates the sorry and shameful treatment often given him. His very existence has been ignored and his ministry misunderstood. May the prayer of song writer Andrew Reed be our prayer as we approach our study of the Holy Spirit:

“Holy Ghost, with light divine, Shine upon this heart of mine; Chase the shades of night away, Turn my darkness into day.”

I. The Personality of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God is a Person, as much as the Father and Son are Persons, and therefore experiences all the sinless elements involved within a divine personality.

A. He has a mind.

“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:27).

The first “he” in this verse is a reference to the Son of God, as seen in verse 34 of Romans 8, while the second “he” refers to the Holy Spirit himself. What a fantastic truth is seen here, for the believer enjoys the intercessory ministry of both the Son and Holy Spirit.

B. He searches out the human mind.

“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10).

In the verse just prior to this (2:9) Paul paraphrases from Isaiah 64:4 and writes:

“But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Because of this, some have erroneously concluded that it is impossible for even the redeemed to know anything concerning heaven.

But here in 2:10 we are told that the Holy Spirit reveals such things to us.

C. He has a will.

“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Cor. 12:11).

This is a reference to the various spiritual gifts which the Holy Spirit imparts to believers as he determines.

D. He forbids.

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

Here Paul, Silas, and Timothy were prohibited from going to two possible mission fields by the Spirit.

E. He permits.

“And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them” (Acts 16:10).

This explains the reason for the previous prohibition.

>b>F. He speaks. Note to whom he speaks:

1. To Philip in a desert.

“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot” (Acts 8:29).

2. To Peter on a housetop.

“While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee” (Acts 10:19).

3. To some elders in Antioch.

“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2).

4. To seven churches in Asia Minor (Rev. 2-3). On no less than seven occasions (one to each church) do we read the words:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (see Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).

G. He loves.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Rom. 15:30).

It is wonderful to know that each believer is loved by the Father (Jn. 14:21; 16:27; 2 Cor. 9:7; Eph. 2:4; 2 Thess. 2:16; Heb. 12:6), Son (Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:19; Rev. 1:5; 3:19), and Holy Spirit.

H. He grieves.

“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).

The command here is, literally, “stop grieving the Holy Spirit of God.” They were already doing this. (For further details concerning the nature of this grievance, see Rev. 2:4.) This grieving attribute of the Holy Spirit is really an extension of his love, for while one may be angered by his enemies, he can only be grieved by those he loves.

I. He prays.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26).

In the difficult moments of our lives, how comforting it is to know we are being prayed for, perhaps by family members or some godly pastor, but how much more blessed to realize that the Holy Spirit of God offers up fervent and effective prayer for us.

In the New Testament alone there are some 261 passages which refer to the Holy Spirit. He is mentioned fifty-six times in the Gospels, fifty-seven times in the book of Acts, 112 times in the Pauline epistles, and thirty-six times in the remaining New Testament.

IV. The Emblems of the Holy Spirit.

Like the thirteen names and titles, the holy spirit’s six designated emblems throw light upon both his nature and mission.
A. The Dove: indicating purity, peace, and modesty.

“And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him” (Jn. 1:32).

“My dove, my undefiled, is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her” (Song of Sol. 6:9).

“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest” (Ps. 55:6).

“O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely” (Song of Sol. 2:14).

B. Water: indicating life and cleansing.

“For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring” (Isa. 44:3).

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (Jn. 7:37-39).

C. Oil: indicating light, healing, and anointing for service.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Lk. 4:18).

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).

“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Heb. 1:9).

“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things” (1 Jn. 2:20).

D. A Seal: indicating ownership, finished transaction, identification, security, genuineness, value, authority.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13).

“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).

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

There are three important occasions in the Bible when a seal is used:

1. As used by Darius to place Daniel in the lion’s den.

“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel” (Dan. 6:16, 17).

2. As used by Ahasuerus (upon the advice of wicked Haman) to plot the wholesale murder of the Persian Jews.

“And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto’ Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring” (Est. 3:8-12).

3. As used by Pilate to seal the tomb of Jesus. “So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch” (Mt. 27:66).

E. Wind: indicating unseen power.

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (Jn. 3:8).

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1, 2).

F. Fire: indicating presence, approval, protection, purifying, gift, judgment.

1. The presence of the Lord.

“And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed” (Ex. 3:2).

2. The approval of the Lord.

“And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces” (Lev. 9:24).

3. The protection of the Lord.

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night” (Ex. 13:21).

4. The purifying from the Lord.

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isa. 6:1-8).

5. The gift of the Lord.

“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3).

6. The judgment of the Lord.

“For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29).

G. An earnest: indicating first-fruits, down-payment, a pledge, an assurance of the eventual complete payment.

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

“Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit” (2 Cor. 5:5).

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:14). Return to the Home Page from Holy Spirit

Title : Willmington’s Guide to the BibleEdition : FirstCopyright : Text material, including book introductions and outlines, copyright © 1981, 1984 by H. L. Willmington. All rights reserved

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• THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BY H L WILLMINGTON