The Holy Spirit

In my Ephesians study, I came across chapter 4 verse 30, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." This made me curious about the Holy Spirit. Some people misuse the Holy Spirit, others seem scared of it. I did a quick search for the word "Spirit" (capitalized to indicate the Holy Spirit) and was very interested in how much God has to say about His Spirit! I thought you might be interested as well. I encourage you to look up the references. 

As always, feedback is welcome and I'd love to hear what the Lord has been showing you!

{This is by no means an exhaustive search.}

From the Old Testament

- The Spirit abides in people (Genesis 41:38; 1 Samuel 16:13; Isaiah 63:11)

- In the Old Testament, the Spirit "came upon men," giving strength for fighting (Judges 3:10, 6:34, 11:29, 14:6, 14:19, 15:14; 1 Samuel 11:6)

- In the Old Testament, the Spirit "came upon men" for prophesy (1 Samuel 10:6, 10:10, 19:20, 19:23; 2 Chronicles 15:1, 20:14, 24:20; Ezekiel 11:5)

- The Spirit of the Lord departed from men in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Kings 22:24)

- The Spirit of the Lord spoke through men (2 Samuel 23:2)

- No man can direct the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 40:13)

- The Spirit sent people to minister for God (Isaiah 48:16, 61:1)

- The Spirit of God lifts up a standard (Isaiah 59:19)

- The Holy Spirit can be vexed (Isaiah 63:10)

- Ezekiel was "taken up by the Spirit" to see visions (Ezekiel 11:24)

From the New Testament

The Spirit and Jesus Christ

- Jesus Christ was led by the Holy Spirit, even as a young child (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 2:27, 4:1)

- The Spirit of God descended on Jesus Christ in bodily form as a dove (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 1:32, 1:33)

- The Spirit of God was on Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18; John 3:34)

- Jesus Christ was quickened (made alive) through the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18)

The Spirit and the Apostles

- At Pentecost, the apostles spoke in other tongues by the Spirit (Acts 2:4)

- The apostles were led by the Spirit (Acts 8:29, 8:39, 16:7)

- The Spirit spoke to the apostles (Acts 10:19; Revelation 1:10)

The Spirit and Salvation

- The Holy Spirit works in us to recognize Jesus as Lord, Son of God (1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 John 4:2)

- The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to all who ask Him (Luke 11:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:8)

- The Spirit makes us sons of God (Galatians 4:6)

- A man cannot be saved unless he is "born of the Spirit" (John 3:5-6, 3:8)

- The Spirit of God dwells in believers (Romans 8:9, 8:11; 1 Corinthians 3:16)

- The Holy Spirit is God's seal of redemption (2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5; Ephesians 1:13)

- The Spirit is not received by works but faith (Galatians 3:2, 3:14)

- The Spirit is not kept by works (Galatians 3:3)

- The Spirit bears witness that we are children of God (Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:24, 4:13)

The Spirit and Believers

- We can be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)

- The Spirit reveals the "deep things of God" to believers (1 Corinthians 2:10)

- The Spirit of God can speak through us (Matthew 10:20; Acts 21:4; 1 Corinthians 2:4)

- The Spirit manifests itself differently in individuals' lives (1 Corinthians 12:8-9)

- The Spirit sanctifies (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2)

- Believers are to walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1, 8:4; Galatians 5:14, 5:25)

- Believers are to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14)

- Believers are to wait in the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:5)

- Believers are to mortify (deaden) the deeds of the body through the Spirit (Romans 8:13)

- Believers should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)

- The Spirit gives liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:18)

- The Spirit changes us into the image of God (2 Corinthians 3:18)

- The Spirit strengthens us (Ephesians 3:16)

- Those who have the Spirit must work to keep the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3)

- Fellowship of the Spirit is possible, but does not come naturally (Philippians 2:1)

- We are to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18)

- The Spirit and flesh are enemies (Galatians 5:17)

- We obey through the Spirit (1 Peter 1:22)

- We are exhorted to hear what the Spirit says (Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:19, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22)

- We can quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

- We can grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30)

- We can tempt the Spirit {negative sense} (Acts 5:9)

The Spirit and the unsaved

- The things of the Spirit are not received by the natural (unsaved) man (1 Corinthians 2:14)

- Unbelievers do not have the Spirit of God (Jude 19)

The Power of the Spirit

- Devils are cast out by the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28)

- The Holy Spirit has power (Luke 4:14; Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 2:4)

The Spirit in general

- There is but one Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4, 12:11, 12:13; Ephesians 2:18, 4:4)

- The Spirit of truth abides forever (John 14:16-17, 16:13; 1 John 5:6)

- The Spirit guides in truth (John 16:13)

- The Spirit is the Comforter (John 14:16-17, 15:26)

- God has poured out His Spirit in these last days {which references that it was not always so in the Old Testament } (Acts 2:17-18)

- The Spirit is love (Romans 15:30; Colossians 1:8)

- The sword of the Spirit is God's Word (Ephesians 6:17)

- The Spirit speaks (1 Timothy 4:1)

- The Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14)

- The Spirit is grace (Hebrews 10:29)

- The Spirit helps our infirmities and prays for us (Romans 8:26-27)

- The Spirit revealed God's truths by the prophets and apostles (Ephesians 3:5)

- Romans 8 is an amazing passage on the Spirit and should be studied separately. :)

References to the God, Jesus Christ, and the Spirit (the Trinity)

John 4:24; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ephesians 2:22; Philippians 1:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:11

Word Wednesday #17

"Let Thine hand help me; for I have chosen Thy precepts." 

(Psalm 119:173)

Every human has the choice to choose or reject God's precepts.

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you'd like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!

 

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Giving Place to the Devil

I have been studying through the book of Ephesians and have come across some beautiful gems of truth. Sometime, I would like to compile them and share them with you all, but for now, here is my study from today. Feel free to share your thoughts and what God has shown you in your personal Bible study.


Ephesians 4:16-17

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

To give place means " a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas NT:5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specifically, a scabbard:" (NT: 5117, topos) This Greek word gives the idea that the "place" is a temporary position. As believers, we cannot become possessed by the devil, because Christ and the devil cannot dwell in the same place. However, we can give place - a small part of our life - to the devil. In context, there are two ways in which to do this: 1) Sinning in our anger, and 2) Letting the sun set on our wrath.

There are other verses that deal with the believer and satan.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11, "To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

If we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, we are giving satan an opportunity to get an advantage of us.

Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

If we do not embrace the armor of God, we cannot stand against the wiles of the devil. The armor of God is: truth, righteousness, Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, Word of God, and prayer.

Ephesians 6:16, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

Faith quenches the devil's darts. If we are bowing down under the weight of his attack, perhaps we should cry out to God to increase our faith.

1 Peter 5:8-9 is not the next passage in this context, but applies to Ephesians 6:16, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

Again, the attack of the devil is linked to our faith. We are to resist (oppose, stand against) while stedfast in the faith. If we are not steadfast in faith, we have no shield by which to resist.

And then another verse about resisting the devil:

James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

We can oppose and stand against the devil. But it is interesting to see what this command is sandwiched between: Humility (vs. 6), submission (vs. 7), drawing nigh to God (vs. 8), and cleansing/purifying ourselves (vs. 8). Can we resist the devil if we are proud, independent, not trying to draw nigh to God, and living in the filthiness of our flesh?

Considering all of these verses, to keep from giving place to the devil, we must check our walk with God.

-Are we forgiving our brother?

-Have we been faithful to put on truth, righteousness, Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, Word of God, and prayer?

-Has our faith wavered from God?

-What is our heart like towards God? Have we sought to draw nigh to Him in humility, and submission while cleansing and purifying our hands and heart?

As believers, we don't have to struggle under the oppression of the devil - God has given us a way to escape if we will but follow His Word!

Word Wednesday #16

"I have not departed from Thy judgments: 

for Thou hast taught me." 

(Psalm 119:102)

When it is God Who has taught me directly from His Word, I am more sensitive to keep it than if "it was 'only' the preacher who said that."

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you'd like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!

 

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Word Wednesday #15

"Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, 

and that seek Him with the whole heart." 

(Psalm 119:2)

It is not enough to merely read God's Word -- we must do it, we must seek God undistracted and then follow Him!

"Then shall I not be ashamed, 

when I have respect unto all Thy commandments." 

(Psalm 119:6)

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you'd like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!

 

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Word Wednesday #14

"I have refrained my feet from every evil way, 

that I might keep Thy Word." 

(Psalm 119:101)

Or would we rather say, "I have refrained my feet from Thy Word, that I might keep my evil way?" If we are true followers of God's Word, then His Word will keep us from the route of the world.

"Blessed are they that keep judgment, 

and he that doeth righteousness at all times." 

(Psalm 106:3)

Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you'd like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!

 

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