Last week, one of the speakers in our Church said that the Holy Spirit does not convict us of sin. That we would not find a verse anywhere in the Bible to say that He did. He convicts the world but not Christians. So, because this is a teaching that goes against what I have previously been taught in my old Church and goes against my personal experience of checks from Him, is this speaker simply playing with words where leading and guiding may work in the same context, or what?
what DOES the Holy Spirit do? confusing.
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Choir Loft
Assuming that your guy quoted John 16:8 or something like it for his primary text, we can see that the Holy Spirit does indeed convince the world of sin.
With regard to the assertion that the Holy Spirit does not convict Christians of sin, your speaker is wrong, quite literally DEAD wrong. Instead of a single verse to illustrate my point, how about eleven of them.
Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Act 5:2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Act 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.
Act 5:6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.
Act 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Act 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.
Act 5:9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.
Act 5:10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
Act 5:11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see here that the Holy Spirit is making a deadly point.
If this isn't conviction of sin, then somebody please quote a better example.
The Holy Spirit does indeed convict Christians of sin, which results in the act of repentance.
The devil promotes guilt, which may or may not be based upon reality and serves only to paralyse.
When your guest speaker states the Holy Spirit doesn't convict Christians of sin he is accusing the Holy Spirit of being in league with the devil. He is also promoting a sort of spiritual pride and pretense to sinlessness that can lead one to stumble badly, leading to chastisement from Our Lord.
The Holy Spirit does indeed convict Christian brothers and sisters of sin.
When He does, His message of repentance should be obeyed IMMEDIATELY.
With regard to the assertion that the Holy Spirit does not convict Christians of sin, your speaker is wrong, quite literally DEAD wrong. Instead of a single verse to illustrate my point, how about eleven of them.
Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Act 5:2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Act 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.
Act 5:6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.
Act 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Act 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.
Act 5:9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.
Act 5:10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
Act 5:11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see here that the Holy Spirit is making a deadly point.
If this isn't conviction of sin, then somebody please quote a better example.
The Holy Spirit does indeed convict Christians of sin, which results in the act of repentance.
The devil promotes guilt, which may or may not be based upon reality and serves only to paralyse.
When your guest speaker states the Holy Spirit doesn't convict Christians of sin he is accusing the Holy Spirit of being in league with the devil. He is also promoting a sort of spiritual pride and pretense to sinlessness that can lead one to stumble badly, leading to chastisement from Our Lord.
The Holy Spirit does indeed convict Christian brothers and sisters of sin.
When He does, His message of repentance should be obeyed IMMEDIATELY.
Mighty Bear
New Member
- Oct 20, 2007
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They just looked like men but they are not.
Malachi 3:8 ESV Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
Malachi 3:9 ESV You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
Malachi 3:10 ESV Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
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Choir Loft
What is the meaning of "just looked like men"?
They weren't angels, dummies, puppets or space aliens.
The passage quoted in Acts 5:1-11 and especially Acts 5:4 refers to men.
Flesh and blood men.
Peter and the other Christians in the scene were flesh and blood men.
They looked like men, acted like men and died like men.
The Bible says they were men, so chances are pretty good that all the characters in the story were
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MEN.
I suspect that the purpose twisting this passage of scripture into a lie is to cast doubt upon the work and ability of the Holy Spirit.
Specifically that the work of the Holy Spirit IS to convict Christians of sin.
The attempt to negate the effect and truth of the scripture is inspired by the enemy, who would not have us believe the intent, purpose and authority of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers.
They were real men all right and they really got a taste of the real power of the Holy Spirit, especially the dead guy in verse 5 (Ananias).
Looks like it was pretty real for him.
The way I understand it is that the Holy Spirit will convict you of who you are in relation to God. He will convict us in order to draw us closer to God. If we aren't acting according to the righteousness accredited to us by Christ, we will be convicted of the sin committed in order to be better identified by Christ's righteousness. That is how I understand it.
I think sometimes as Christians, we don't accept the Holy Spirit's conviction of our righteousness. When we ask for forgiveness, God is faithful and just to forgive us and then cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Sometimes, however, we keep asking for forgiveness for the same thing over and over again because we don't "feel" forgiven. In that case we have to trust the Holy Spirit to convict us of righteousness even when our heart doesn't agree and even though the enemy will condemn us and accuse God's work within us. We have to trust His word beyond anything to the contrary.
I think sometimes as Christians, we don't accept the Holy Spirit's conviction of our righteousness. When we ask for forgiveness, God is faithful and just to forgive us and then cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Sometimes, however, we keep asking for forgiveness for the same thing over and over again because we don't "feel" forgiven. In that case we have to trust the Holy Spirit to convict us of righteousness even when our heart doesn't agree and even though the enemy will condemn us and accuse God's work within us. We have to trust His word beyond anything to the contrary.
Thanks MLC!
...and there it is... :lol: I just got a revelation, of how the law of the Spirit works in comparison to the Law of sin and death...
The law of the Spirit deals with our conscience...something that was impossible to do before the cross...
Hebrews 9
7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
Hebrews 9
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Romans 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
The Holy Spirit teaches us what is acceptable in Christ through the law of the Spirit working directly with our conscience.
Romans 2
4 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Be Blessed!!!
I couldn't remember the name at the time but the "keep asking for forgiveness" example I think was John MacArthur, or some other radio guy in the morning on Christian radio. That's where I heard that example used.
Thanks for the scripture examples.
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Choir Loft
Agreed.
There are several things going on in the examples you cite.
Failure to respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction of sin generally results in a more severe promting. It can become painful to the point of physical disability if necessary. His arm is not so short it cannot save, but the flesh will suffer if one's heart doesn't yield. (See Jacob's wrestling match with the angel.)
Another is Holy Spirit conviction of sin vs. demonic guilt.
One leads to clear decisive action and reconciliation with God, while the other results in oppressive mental depression and inactivity.
Sometimes when a person keeps asking for forgiveness over and over it's because they keep sinning the same sin over and over. Such people are like dogs who chase their own tail in a circle. God forgives them and they sin again. They go nowhere very quickly.
There are whole churches that are like that. They seem to be making progress, yet if you look closely at where they were three years ago, you'll see they've made no progress. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit will not tolerate this repetitive behavior for long. He has a selective genius for breaking the vicious circle, as it were. It is not, however, done without pain and difficulty. He would prefer not to do so, but at times He is forced to act for His name's sake.
Yes, the Holy Spirit will convict the world and Christians of sin. But He also guides us into all truth. Somehow the Spirit can impress truth upon us, where once we didn't believe, now we can believe. It's like reality has been shown, the scales fall off our eyes and our mind. The Holy Spirit also comforts God's own children, usually again by guiding them into truth about Jesus, the source of the comfort. The Holy Spirit does nothing of or for Himself. He points to Jesus ultimately so that they will hear, see and understand and be saved thru Christ.
Look at the account of king Saul, whom God gave His Holy Spirit to.
King Saul kept wanting to do what he wanted to do, and disobeyed God (3 times I think). The Holy Spirit left him, and God would not answer his prayers.
So I see The Holy Spirit working in us like a bridge. We can cut off the connection of that bridge if we aren't careful.
The false doctrine that The Holy Spirit doesn't convict us Christians of our sins is aligned with the falsehood that we cannot ever sin anymore.
It's part of the once saved, always saved attitudes going around.
What actually happens, is that we still sin, but, through repentance to The Father through Christ Jesus, we have forgiveness, IF we are truly repentant, and make a change.
I Jn 1:6-10
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
(KJV)
One thing to remember, is it's not popular to preach how the brethren are still sinning after having believed on Christ Jesus. Lot of the brethren don't want to admit it much less hear about it. It can drive some of the congregation off to go somewhere else. So some ideas preached in the pulpits today is really an appeasement policy, by the preacher himself or the organization he represents. God's Word full strength simply is not popular. It will offend.
The danger with teaching that we have no sin after having come to Christ is that we will no longer look for sin in our acts. We could easily go into self-justification for sins when The Holy Spirit tries to convict us. It would cut the bridge off eventually, and become worse if we continued.
King Saul kept wanting to do what he wanted to do, and disobeyed God (3 times I think). The Holy Spirit left him, and God would not answer his prayers.
So I see The Holy Spirit working in us like a bridge. We can cut off the connection of that bridge if we aren't careful.
The false doctrine that The Holy Spirit doesn't convict us Christians of our sins is aligned with the falsehood that we cannot ever sin anymore.
It's part of the once saved, always saved attitudes going around.
What actually happens, is that we still sin, but, through repentance to The Father through Christ Jesus, we have forgiveness, IF we are truly repentant, and make a change.
I Jn 1:6-10
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
(KJV)
One thing to remember, is it's not popular to preach how the brethren are still sinning after having believed on Christ Jesus. Lot of the brethren don't want to admit it much less hear about it. It can drive some of the congregation off to go somewhere else. So some ideas preached in the pulpits today is really an appeasement policy, by the preacher himself or the organization he represents. God's Word full strength simply is not popular. It will offend.
The danger with teaching that we have no sin after having come to Christ is that we will no longer look for sin in our acts. We could easily go into self-justification for sins when The Holy Spirit tries to convict us. It would cut the bridge off eventually, and become worse if we continued.
Also one should remember
The Holy Spirit is God. His knowledge, power, and presence have no limits. You can’t confine or control the Spirit any more than you can confine or control the wind. “The wind blows where it pleases,” Jesus said. So does the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God. His knowledge, power, and presence have no limits. You can’t confine or control the Spirit any more than you can confine or control the wind. “The wind blows where it pleases,” Jesus said. So does the Spirit.
Many feel that the holy spirit is a real person who lives inside Christ's disciples. Or divine science, a law of God in action. Others believe that it is the third person of the Trinity. Yet others accept as true that it is God's presence at work in the world. Hence, why such confusion ?
It dates back to the fourth century C.E., when some theologians claimed that the holy spirit was a person who was somehow equal to God. This, however, was not an idea taught in the Scriptures or by the early disciples of Christ. The New Catholic Encyclopedia explains: "The Old Testament clearly does not envisage God's spirit as a person....God's spirit is simply God's power." It further said: "The majority of New Testament texts reveal God's spirit as something, not someone; this is especially seen in the parallelism between the spirit and the power of God."
The Bible then reveals to any earnestly wanting, an understanding of the nature of the holy spirit. Jesus once asked his disciples: "Which father is there among you who, if his son asks for a fish, will perhaps hand him a serpent instead of a fish ? Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion ?"(Luke 11:11, 12) The children of Galilee enjoyed eating eggs and fish; they knew what they wanted. Jesus said that we should keep on asking for the holy spirit, like a hungry child, for he said : "Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him !” (Luke 11:13)
Hence, the holy spirit can be given, like a gift. The Scriptures make clear that the holy spirit is a force that God uses to accomplish his will. When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would have a son even though she was a virgin, the angel told her: "Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God’s Son."(Luke 1:35) According to Gabriel's words, there is a link between the holy spirit and the "power of the Most High."
A similar idea appears with regard to Micah, who said: "I myself have become full of power, with the spirit of Jehovah."(Micah 3:8) Jesus promised his disciples, following his resurrection: "You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you."(Acts 1:8) And the apostle Paul spoke of "the power of holy spirit."(Rom 15:13, 19)
So, what may we conclude from this ? That there is a close connection between the holy spirit and the power of God. Thus, the holy spirit is the means by which the true God, Jehovah, exerts his power. Put simply, the holy spirit is God's applied power, or his active force.
It is this active force or applied power that God used to create the universe, though we cannot fully comprehend the full extent of it's power. Isaiah said: "Raise your eyes high up and see. Who has created these things? It is the One who is bringing forth the army of them even by number, all of whom he calls even by name. Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigorous in power, not one of them is missing."(Isa 40:26)
goodshepard55
New Member
Yes and Amen...leave the baggage behind...stop pulling it back to the front....We are moving forward, not backwards and once we have repented it is in the past...lets leave it there and continue forward to Jesus
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Choir Loft
Here is a damnable quotation of heresy and satanic lies if I've ever read one.
The Holy Spirit IS GOD.
Millions of men and women have bent their knee unto the Almighty and asked His forgiveness.
AND THEY GOT IT.
How did they know this? It was given to them by the Holy Spirit.
Read the following very carefully.
NO ONE BUT GOD CAN FORGIVE SIN.
Jesus did. Why? Because He was God.
The Father does because Christ paid the price for our sins upon the cross.
The Holy Spirit does. Why? BECAUSE HE IS GOD !
To deny that the Father can forgive sins is a satanic lie.
To deny that Jesus cannot forgive is a delusion of the evil one.
To deny that the Holy Spirit is not God and cannot forgive sin is a lie from the very pit of hell.
It leaves every single confessing Christian throughout two thousand years of history is peril of damnation because YOU SAY that the Holy Spirit is not God and has not forgiven us.
GET THEE BEHIND US SATAN AND LOSE YOUR LYING TONGUE.
If the holy spirit is God, then why does it not have a name, for God's name is Jehovah (Ex 6:3; Ps 83:18), the Son as Jesus (Luke 1:31), but not the holy spirit ? Too, why is the word pneu´ma (Greek) at times means "wind" at John 3:8, something invisible but whose effects can be seen and then rendered as "spirit" in the last part of the verse ? You have made broad unsupported statements, which is like the religious leaders in Jesus day did.(Matt 12:1, 2)
At Genesis 1:2, it says simply: "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."(King James Bible) How can the holy spirit be God and yet be called "the Spirit of God" ? The wording means possession, for the holy spirit is possessed or "owned" by God, it being his applied power that is never latent.
Jesus, in teaching his disciples what to pray for, gives an illustration of a man that went to friend asking for "three loaves" of bread and because of his "bold persistence", the friend gave him the things needed.(Luke 11:5-8) Jesus then likens holy spirit to a gift, saying: "Accordingly I say to you, Keep on asking...keep on seeking....keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you.....Indeed, which father is there among you who, if his son asks for a fish, will perhaps hand him a serpent instead of a fish ?....Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him ! "(Luke 11:9-13)
At Isaiah 44:3, the holy spirit is compared to water, with God saying: "For I shall pour out water upon the thirsty one, and trickling streams upon the dry place. I shall pour out my spirit upon your seed, and my blessing upon your descendants." Just as water is not a person, but something nonliving, but necessary, so likewise is the holy spirit not a person, as you say God, but is his active force or applied power that he can "pour out" on whom he wishes. Is this not what happened on the day of Pentecost, for Acts 2:3, 4 says: "And tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed about, and one sat upon each one of them, and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance."
In addition, following Jesus baptism, Luke 4:1 says: "Now Jesus, full of holy spirit, turned away from the Jordan, and he was led about by the spirit in the wilderness." Was Jesus filled with another member of the "Godhead" ? No, but rather was empowered by God's active force or applied power to fulfill his ministry, just as the 120 on the day of Pentecost was given strength by holy spirit to accomplish the preaching work that Jesus had started.(Acts 1:8)
Is the Father God? Then so are the Son and Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
[sup]19 [/sup]Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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Choir Loft
Have you chosen your userID? Have you ever told others what to call YOU?
How much more can God decide what to call that which is His own.
If a man can make such decisions and have such authority, why do you deny it for God?
Only Satan would attempt to do such a thing.
What spirit are you of, sir?
The meaning is quite clear here except for those who prefer it to be twisted to something more to their liking. Such people are called revisionists and seldom bend their minds to accepting the things of God - even unto His name and His attributes. God is what He is - hence the name He calls Himself I AM.
The greatest gift God could give to anyone is Himself. What do you want, macaroni?
The Holy Spirit as well as the Father and the Son all have multiple 'offices' as well as descriptions. If you are interested in a study of such multiple listings, they are available. On the other hand it looks as though you are adamantly refusing good doctrine, evidence and teaching.
NO ANGEL or FORCE (aka George Lucas' Star Wars) ever repeat ever......read it again EVER forgave men their sins.
EVER
If you had EVER experienced divine forgiveness of sins, the transmission of assurance came from the Holy Spirit. Not an angel, not a force, not a letter from the uS post office and not from a priest. Forgiveness ONLY comes from God. That is how we know for a certainty that the Holy Spirit is God.
There is also very clear information from the Bible, but since interpretation from that impressive work isn't accepted here, we've got to us less perfect testimony, namely the testimony of the saints.
In the year 36 C.E., Peter, in speaking to Cornelius, told him: "You know the subject that was talked about throughout the whole of Ju·de´a, starting from Gal´i·lee after the baptism that John preached, namely, Jesus who was from Naz´a·reth, how God anointed him with holy spirit and power, and he went through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil; because God was with him."(Acts 10:37, 38) Thus, Jesus was anointed, not with member of the "Godhead", but with a "power", God's holy spirit.
When God gave the Mosaic Law covenant to the nation of Israel, he said of Aaron and his sons: "And for Aaron’s sons you will make robes, and you must make sashes for them, and you will make headgears for them for glory and beauty. And with them you must clothe Aaron your brother and his sons with him, and you must anoint them and fill their hand with power and sanctify them, and they must act as priests to me."(Ex 28:40, 41)
To anoint Aaron as high priest, God then said to Moses: "And you must take the anointing oil and pour it upon his head and anoint him."(Ex 29:7) His anointing ' filled his hand with power ', in order to properly function as high priest over the nation of Israel. Just as the anointing oil is not a person, so likewise that which Jesus was anointed by, the holy spirit, is not a person, but rather God's active force that gave "power" to Jesus to accomplish his Father's will and to anoint or sanctify him to ' act as high priest in the manner of Melchizedek '.(Heb 5:10)
The ability to reason on the Bible seems far removed for many, for though evidence is forthwith, but because of prejudicial and biased viewpoints, these discard it. This is no different than the religious leaders of Jesus day totally ignoring all the evidence that he was the Messiah, even to the point of seeking to do away with him.(John 5:39; 11:53)
the holy spirit works in ways that God uses it for.
At Genesis 1:2 it states that “God’s “spirit” (Hebrew, ru′ach) was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.” Here, God’s spirit was his active force, power, working to shape the earth. So we can rightly view the spirit as Gods power. And he uses it in many ways.
It served the apostles as a teacher and remembrancer. Jesus said: “The helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.”—John 14:26.
Sometimes it put words in the mouth of the disciples Mark 13:11 But when they are leading YOU along to deliver YOU up, do not be anxious beforehand about what to speak; but whatever is given YOU in that hour, speak this, for YOU are not the ones speaking, but the holy spirit is
At Galatians 5:22, 23 we see that holy spirit is a powerful force for good, enabling one to display godly qualities.
Philippians 4:13 shows that the Holy spirit may not remove trials or temptations but it can help us to endure them
But the holy spirit is not an individual. Its not a person.
Sure He is.
When speaking of The Holy Spirit, it means to speak of God's Spirit, and means one is speaking about God Himself. And God is a Person. He is manifested by The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit Comforter.
Dan 7:13-14
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before Him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
(KJV)
Ps 110:1
1 The LORD said unto my Lord, "Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."
(KJV)
It's not a mistake that the "He" is in the first person in the following...
John 14:16
16 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;
(KJV)
If we speak of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are automatically included. If we speak of The Son, the Father and the Holy Spirit are also included. Thus if we speak of The Holy Spirit Comforter, The Father and The Son are also automatically included. Their Divine Nature cannot be separated.
Be careful that you don't slide into the "God of forces" idea per Dan.11:38. The Godhead is about three Divine Entities existing as One.
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