THE THREE HOLY SPIRITS
A MESSAGE THAT WILL SHOCK CHRISTIAN TRADITION
THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT - EACH ARE HOLY SPIRITS
- The Spirit of God the Father is Holy:
John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God is not flesh, bone and blood as we are; He is s spiritual being and the source of spiritual (supernatural); supernatural means above and beyond what we consider physical or natural.
- The Spirit of God’s, Son Jesus Christ, is Holy also:
Luke 23:46 – And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (his holy spirit).
After His resurrection, Jesus imparts the Spirit of Christ to those who believe on Him; This is called salvation and it is His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ that is our regeneration :
Romans 8:9 – But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans 8:11 – But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:2 – For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:15 – For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 – For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
It is the Spirit of Christ we receive at salvation, not the Holy Ghost who is the third person of the trinity. This is shown when Jesus disciples were saved:
John 20:19-22 – Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
The word “breath” is translated from the Greek word pneuma which is also translated elsewhere in the Bible as “spirit”. Jesus breathed into them His Spirit – which can also be called “the breath of life”.
Jesus came to restore the spiritual life that mankind lost due to the sin committed in the Garden in Eden; when God breathed into Adam of His spirit which made him alive unto God. That Spirit of God was lost when the sinful act was committed. This is what Jesus came to restore – spiritual life from God.
Genesis 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 soul.
Now, as a result of accepting Christ and becoming restored to God as His child we have His Spirit within us:
Galatians 4:6 – And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Philippians 1:19 – For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
1 Peter 1:11 – searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
- The third person of the Godhead (trinity) is the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit has one kind of work HE performs with unbelievers and that is to draw them to Jesus as savior:
John 16:8-11 – And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The Holy Spirit has a different work he performs in and with believers:
John 16:7, 12-15 – Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit 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. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
John 14:18 – I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:26 – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Scripture foretold by the prophets that Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to empower His believers; referred to a Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
Mark 1:8 – I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Jesus said He would do it:
John 16:7 – Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you
Jesus gave specific instructions for His disciples to receive the promised Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:4-5 – And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Since the Holy Spirit hasn’t been given yet; after the Holy Spirit was given there is no longer a need to “tarry” as some think:
John 7:39 – (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.)
The Holy Spirit came at the time of the Feast of Pentecost:
Acts 2:1-4 – 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. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to be equipped with abilities to testify of supernatural event (the resurrection of Jesus) with supernatural ability.
Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The supernatural abilities are called Gifts of the Spirit:
1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 – Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Some think these gifts are no longer needed or given by God, and that’s what Satan wants believers to think so they lack the power to be the witnesses God ordained us to be. The Lord instructed us through Paul that the gifts are until Christ’s return:
1 Corinthians 1: 5-7 – That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
I want to focus, not on the gifts but, on what is needed by every believer that Jesus said the Holy Spirit will provide:
John 16:7 – Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
He provides comfort: peace and guidance that is needed as we encounter various circumstances in our lives.
Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
John 14:16-17- And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The Holy Spirit reveals the Word of God and makes it come alive; He also reveals Jesus to us in greater light which causes us to worship and praise with more intensity and fervor than those who have not received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit teaches us things in progression as we are able to grasp and understand, he reveals more.
John 16:12-14 - I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit 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. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
He also leads us to mature in the Lord, to grow up in Him taking on His image and likeness – His character and nature.
- Why do we need the Holy Spirit?
In addition to the empowerment to help others with the supernatural gifts; and in addition to what we ourselves benefit from Spirit leading, teaching and guiding us; we should recognize that we believers now live in two kingdoms – a physical one and a spiritual one – both at the same time.
We relate to the physical natural world though our five senses: sight, touch, taste, hear and smell. Each of these physical senses is required for us to properly function within the physical properties of this world. However, our physical senses do not relate to the Kingdom of God which is spiritual, not physical.
So how do we relate to and live in the spiritual kingdom of God? – By the equipping that Jesus said He would provide us: His Spirit in us and the Holy Spirit upon us. The Holy Spirit equips us with spiritual abilities that help us relate to Him and function in the spiritual realm.
The very first item required is on our part; it is FAITH: trusting in Him and His Word. Faith gives Him something He can work with in us and on our behalf. If we don’t trust Him, we don’t honor or respect Him; how then can we expect Him to honor our needs or request.
Romans 1:16-17 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Faith is a spiritual element, not physical. Faith frequently defies what is natural and gives the Holy Spirit something in us He can work with. He can even gift us the gift of Faith, if and when needed.
Maturing in the Lord also gives us the ability to “hear in the spirit” which is required on occasion to “hear from God” in order to obey Him or be led by Him in a certain matter. It takes a spiritual sensitivity to hear in the spirit, or to hear God.
John 12:27-29 – Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
Jesus instructs us to hear carefully and heed:
Mark 4:23-26 – If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
Jesus said, “for so is the kingdom of God” which requires hearing properly; otherwise you may miss out on what God has for you. Jesus stress the importance of hearing through the apostle John in Revelation:
Revelation 2:7 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
This same admonition of the Lord is repeated in verse 11, 17, 29 and in Revelation 3:6, 13, 20 & 22.
All believers need these spiritual tools to equip us to live in the spirit and operate by His guidance and direction and not relying on limited human understanding. We all need faith, spiritual awareness, spiritual sensitivity and spiritual gifts in order to live, grow in the Lord and be His servants here in this life.
How do you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit – the same way you receive Jesus Christ. First, you must have the Spirit of Christ within you as a born again believer in His death, burial and resurrection. If you don’t have Christ in you and ask to receive the baptism, you don’t get THE Holy Spirit but a counterfeit from Satan whose child you still are if you are not born again.
To receive, ask, then open up by faith and receive, accept; then express your gratitude in praise and thanks. You will be overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit who enables you to be a witness, to point to and testify of Jesus, as God’s Son who came in the flesh, died for all of mankind’s sins and rose again to make intercession for all believers.
