The Holy Spirit is probably the most misunderstood Person of the Godhead. Many have a concept of God as Father – we all have heard of father or had some experience with a father. Many are comfortable with Jesus. But, the Holy Spirit makes many uncomfortable. When you take the concept of a “ghost” – which most don’t like and add that to the theological teaches on the Holy Spirit, it can be confusing. Many just choose to relate to Jesus or the Father and simply skip interaction with the Holy Spirit.

But, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as it is often called is the Person of the Godhead who is present with us on the earth The Father is on the throne. Jesus is seated at His right hand. The Holy Spirit is the Person of the Trinity most active with us today. So, we must learn who He is and Why He is sent to us. The work of the Spirit can be simply described as two-fold: 

Let’s define testimonial: a formal statement testifying to someone's character and qualifications. a public tribute to someone and to their achievements. In this case, the statement and tribute that testifies of Jesus is a Person – the Holy Spirit. He comes to testify of Jesus, bring the fellowship of Jesus to His disciples, and finish the post resurrection ministry of Jesus. Let’s go back to an important scripture: 

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you where enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. /// 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 (NKJV)

What is this saying?

That endowment is the Holy Spirit!

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. /// John 14:12-17 (NIV)   

How does the Spirit minister through us?

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. /// 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

The Holy Spirit declares the lordship of Jesus through the release of the dominion of the Spirit in us. The Bible very clearly says that the presence of these ministry gifts are the manifestation of the Spirit. If you don’t have these gifts operating, how can the Spirit’s ministry (the ministry of Jesus) be present in all its fullness? Not a “put down” just a biblical question. 

Since Jesus wants us to work together, no one has all the gifts operating through them. Otherwise, we’d go off on our own. Our unity presents Jesus! People are saved, delivered, and empowered by the finished work of Jesus. The Spirit is the agent of God through Whom this is released. If Jesus is at work in our church – among us – in you – you will have the manifestation of the Spirit operating through you! That will be seen in both the transformative work of the Spirit and the testimonial work of the Spirit.

The spiritual authority mentioned in 1 Corinthians, chapter twelve, verse 28 is in place to make sure that the Word of God is followed in the move of the Spirit. There’s one more evidence or manifestation of the Spirit which is present in the Jesus first church/people. It’s called “The Fruit of the Spirit”. We’ll look at that next time.

Today’s Scriptures:

•       1 Corinthians 1:4-8 (NKJV)
•       John 14:12-17 (NIV) 
•       1 Corinthians 12:1-11

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