Lakeside Community Church

this is an essay that i did for my senior research project, hopfully someone can get something good out of it.

Brinks

The Holy Spirit

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).  In this passage of the Bible Jesus is telling His disciples that he is going away for their good: if He does not go then they will not have the Counselor.  The counselor is the Holy Spirit, and they cannot have the Spirit and the Son at the same time even though they are both part of the same triune God.  This is possibly because with both the Son and the Spirit in one’s presence there is too much God revealed for one to handle however the real reason is not definite.  The Holy Spirit equips Christians to defend and fight back in spiritual warfare.

“….The whole life of a believer’s service and the exercise of his natural and spiritual gifts are dependant upon the power of the Spirit” (Chafer 124).  The Holy Spirit provides for the believers’ needs, and blesses the believer with spiritual gifts.  These gifts could include the ability to speak in tongues, sing, play an instrument, speak clearly; these gifts from the Holy Spirit are meant to serve God, to bring Him Glory.

“Where did the Holy Spirit come?” from one might ask.  The Holy Spirit always has been and always will be.  He was never created, He was existent ever since the beginning.  “….The Holy Spirit, as represented in scripture is operative not only in the work of redemption, but also in the work of creation” (Berkhof 424).  The Holy Spirit, being God, created the heavens and the earth.  He was not created.  “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over waters” (Genesis 1:2).  The Holy Spirit was here in the beginning, when the earth was not created, when all there was was darkness and God.

One might wonder “Who is the Holy Spirit?”  “Not only is the Holy Spirit said to dwell in the inner person and seal one’s salvation but He also gives spiritual gifts for the common good” (Gruen 121).  As explained earlier, the Holy Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts.

The Holy Spirit is God.  He is the third person of the Trinity.  The Trinity is difficult to understand, but there are three persons in one God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  In the Bible the word “God” or any other of the many names for God, refers to all three parts of the trinity.  “The Holy Spirit is called God….Acts 5:3,4.…” (Graham 19).  In Acts 5:3,4 the apostle Peter rebukes Ananias for lying to the Holy Spirit and Peter refers to the Holy Spirit as both the Holy Spirit and as God.

The Holy Spirit plays a very large role in spiritual warfare, and for this reason in order for one to understand the Holy Spirit one must understand spiritual warfare.  “The Demons began to entreat Him, saying ‘If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine’” (Matthew 8:31).  This is one of many instances in the Bible in which an exorcism is practiced.  An exorcism is the practice of removing a demon from a human.  Spiritual warfare is the conflict between good and evil.  Good things would be God, and anything that brings glory to God.  Evil things are things such as demons (including Satan) sin, and anything else that does not bring glory to God.  In this conflict between good and evil, possession can take place.  Possession is the act of a demon entering a human’s body, mind, and or soul, and taking control.  God protects people, while demons afflict people.

“What proof is there that spiritual warfare is real today?”  one might ask.  Spiritual warfare has corrupted the United States so much that people living in America don’t even see it anymore people have become blind to spiritual warfare.  There is in fact spiritual warfare constantly occurring in America.  Voodoo, which is a religion in which people cast spells on each other.  Some voodoo spells are harmful spells of disease or death.  Others are spells of healing or peacefulness, but all spells are done by channeling demons.  Oija boards and fortune telling is a way to see into the future.  People receive the ability to see into the future by either channeling or being possessed by demons, some people can have revelations from God also, but that is not done with a Oija board, or a crystal ball.  “Stiff as a board light as a feather” is a game that many children play at slumber parties.  One kid lies down and everyone else whether it’s one or a hundred other’s put two fingers under the person and chants “stiff as a board light as a feather” three times and the person lying down is in a trance and the person or people around the one lying down lift him or her with just two fingers.  This is done by channeling demons to put the person in a trance and lift that person up.  Also, temptation is the most popular form of spiritual warfare.  The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a modern movie based on a true story of an exorcism of a teen girl possessed by demons.  “….delve into the supernatural in this thriller based on a true story that will test your resolve, and ultimately your faith” (synopsis).  Temptation is evident everywhere, in movies on the streets, in malls and other stores, people are constantly being tempted by demons.  Some examples of temptations today are bars tempting people to get drunk, strip clubs tempting people to lust, gossip magazines tempting people to gossip, and credit cards tempting people to spend money that they do not have.  The information gathered in this paragraph was obtained from Mr. Cuthbertson.

“How does the Holy Spirit equip us?”  “And there appeared to them tongues of fire, distributed and resting on each of them” (Acts 2:3).  This passage of the Bible is the Pentecost, the time which the Holy Spirit came to the disciples as a tongue of fire.  This tongue of fire enabled them to speak in tongues, so they could preach anywhere and all the people no matter what language was native to them would understand them clearly as they proclaimed the gospel.

“Because of this, take up all of the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having worked out all things to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).  God includes the Holy Spirit, so the Holy Spirit also provides the armor of God, but what is the armor of God?  The breast plate of righteousness is the Holy Spirit convicting both believers and non-believers.  “Paul speaks to believers as having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Graham 86).  Sanctification is the process of being made holy, and the Holy Spirit works this process in men by convicting them.  “it is the Spirit who ‘convicts the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment’” (Morris 262).  The Holy Spirit points out everyone’s sins to oneself, not just believers.  He plays a large role in the conscience, which makes people feel guilty after doing bad things.  This is also how everyone is made accountable for their own sins.  The conviction of the Holy Spirit leads to righteousness by making people aware of their sins and giving them the opportunity to repent.

The shield of faith is the faith that God will protect His people.  “But we knowthat all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose” (Romans 8:28).  This passage is an inspiring passage showing that God is in control and that He loves His people.  “A mighty fortress is our God….For still over ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe….” (Emurian 12,13).  This is a song written by a man who every night faced his ancient foe (Satan) face to face, but he stood strong knowing that God would protect him from any harm.

The helmet of salvation is the armor which God gives Christians in order to secure the believer’s salvation.  “There’s something deep inside that keeps my faith alive….” (Skillet).  The Holy Spirit is deep inside of all believers securing faith, keeping it alive.  “Once saved always saved” is a common saying among Calvinists, and the helmet of salvation backs up this common saying of Calvinists. 

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

The sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon among the armor of God.  This indicates that the Spirit will help believers not only by defending but even by fighting.   “….The living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites” (Joshua 3:10).  Joshua is speaking to the Israelites and reminded them that God will fight with them as they fight the inhabitants of the promised land.  God pushed the inhabitants out of the promised land so Israel could settle in the promised land.

“And he sent horses and chariots there, and a heavy army.  And they came in by night and surrounded the city….And his young man said to him, alas, my lord!  What shall we do?  And he said, do not fear for those with us are more than those with them.  And Elisha prayed and said I beg You, O Jehovah, open the eyes of the young man.  And he looked, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha….And Elisha prayed to Jehovah and said, I beg You, strike this nation with blindness.  And he struck them with blindness….” (2Kings 6:14-18).

Jehovah, who is God, sent angels to protect Elisha when his enemies surrounded him.  His enemies were blinded, which was an offensive attack on Elisha’s enemies, by God.

Praying in the Spirit is the last piece of the armor of God.  Believers should pray continuously, especially when tempted or taunted in spiritual warfare.  God hears prayer and answers prayer.

The Holy Spirit dwells in all believers.  “….And the glory of it for us is that He is present in every true believer today” (Graham 15).  The Holy Spirit fills people when they accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  This is also how the Holy Spirit keeps demons out, when one is filled with the Holy Spirit there is no room for demons to also be present.  “….Believers praying and obedient to God were said to be ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’” (Gruen 121).  The Holy Spirit fills people with zeal when so they can pray, and be more obedient to God.

He will sanctify men, or bring out the good of man, and cast away the evil.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control….” (Galatians 5:22-23).  The Holy Spirit helps people when they are tempted to do the right thing.  He produces these wonderful fruits through believers, and gets rid of the bad fruits. 

The Holy Spirit sends angels to protect the ones He loves.  “….Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia” (Daniel 10:13).  Daniel prayed to God for help when he was detained with the king of Persia.  The king of Persia is a demon who captured Daniel, and Michael is the archangel whom God sent to distract the king of Persia while two other angels freed Daniel.  “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.  Nor have I done any wrong before you, o king” (Daniel 6:22).  Daniel prayed to God when he was forbidden to.  The authorities caught him and locked him up in the lions den.  God sent an angel to shut the mouth of the lion in order to protect Daniel.

The Holy Spirit strengthens people physically when it is appropriate.  “Extraordinary exhibitions of power, feats of strength and daring, are also referred to the Spirit of God” (Berkhof 425).  Many times particularly in the book of Judges, the Spirit of God comes upon people and strengthens them in order for them to free Israel from slavery.  One excellent example of this is Samson.  “The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power….Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men” (Judges 15:14-15).  Samson, after receiving the Holy Spirit, was empowered physically.  The ropes that bound him melted.  He killed his enemies with a jawbone and then escaped.  Samson was the strongest man in the Bible, and his strength came from the Spirit of the LORD.  He displayed his strength by breaking ropes when he was bound, killing many enemies, and even knocking down a whole temple built for a false god.

“How can people use the Holy Spirit?”  “….If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible” (Matthew 17:20).  In order for someone to use the Holy Spirit, that person must first have faith.  When someone becomes faithful, they are inviting the Holy Spirit in to use them.  The Holy Spirit then may empower that person to do anything, even move mountains.

The Holy Spirit equips everyone with prayer, and people can use the Holy Spirit with prayer.  “As Jesus prayed, the Holy Spirit came upon Him with enabling for the ministry that lay ahead, while the Father confirmed His love for His Son” (Blackaby 24).  Prayer is communication with God.  Jesus prayed to God, even though Jesus is God, He still needed to talk to the other two parts of God.  When He talked to God, the Holy Spirit came to him, and enabled Him to do what He had to do.  “….From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears” (Psalm 18:6).  David was in distress.   Earlier in the psalm he says that the “cords of death hemmed me in.”  In his distress he called upon the LORD, and the LORD heard his prayer, the LORD answered his prayer, and the LORD saved him in his distress.  The Holy Spirit is the mediator between man and God, He delivers messages back and forth.  This verse is also evidence that prayer does work.  “The Spirit then is connected with the Truth of God that we see in the work of Jesus” (Morris 260).  The truth of God is that God loves His people so much that Jesus was sent to die on the cross as an atonement for the worlds sins.  The Holy Spirit delivers this message.  “’Leave not off the Bible till you find your hearts warned….Let it only inform you, but to inflame you’”  (Schwanda 1).  The term “inflame” means to set a passion inside someone. “Realize that God delights in your seeking communication with Jesus in the Scripture through the guidance of the Holy Spirit” (Schwanda 1).  The Holy Spirit speaks to men and guides them while they are reading the Bible.  He makes the Bible personal and inflames men while they read it.

“Why does the Holy Spirit care enough to help men?”  “God created man in His own image….” (Genesis 1:27).  God cares for his people because he made everyone of them in his own likeness, this doesn’t mean everyone looks exactly like Him, but that people have dominion over the rest of creation, and that people have more reasoning and understanding than the rest of creation.  “….Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:28).  People have larger cerebellums (compared to cerebrums) than any other animal.  The cerebellum is used for more advanced thinking, while the cerebrum is for survival instincts according to Mr. Klunder.  This means that God gave man an advantage over the rest of creation to think critically.  Critical thinking is necessary to make judgments.  Judgment is necessary to have dominion.  Just as God has dominion over everything that exists, man also has dominion over the earth.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  “’I love you like that.  While you lay sleeping, no one can see you, but I watch you.  My heart is full of love for you‘” (Ortberg 133).  While Ortberg lay in bed staring at his wife, he thought “this must be how God feels about me when I sleep.” God loves His people very much, so much that He died for His people.  God will help His people in times of need and protect His people in times of need, God will even fight for His people.

In conclusion The Holy Spirit helps Christians in many ways.  The Holy Spirit provides the Armor of God for Christians to use in Spiritual warfare.  He dwells within all who believe in Him.  He produces good fruits in the ones He loves.  He sends angels to help in men’s distress.  He strengthens Christians physically when He sees it as appropriate.  Christians can use the Holy Spirit if they have faith, and can pray for help.  God cares about His people because He made them in His own image.  With such a wonderful Helper as the Holy Spirit, how can anyone disregard His work?  The Holy Spirit helps Christians when they face spiritual warfare.  If one ignores the Holy Spirit, then that person’s salvation is on the line, because the Holy Spirit, brings the Truth of God.

Works Consulted

Berkhof, L.  Systematic Theology. WM. B.  Grand Rapids, MI.  Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1941.

Blackaby, Henry and Norman.  Grand Rapids, MI.  Experiencing Prayer with Jesus.  Multnoma, 2006.

Chafer, Lewis Sperry.  Grand Rapids, MI.  Major Bible Themes.  Zondervan, 1974.

Emurian, Ernest.  Grand Rapids, MI.  Living Stories of Famous Hymns.  Baker Book House Company, 1995.

Graham, Billy. Waco, Texas.  The Holy Spirit. Word Books, 1978.

Green, Jay, Sr.  United States.  The Interlinear Bible.  Hendrickson Publishers, 1986.

Gruen, Diettrich, Julia Pferdehirt, Anna Trimiew, Carol Troyer-Shank, Sue Vander Hook  Lincolnwood, IL. Who’s Who in the Bible.  Publications International, 1995.

Honey, Charles. “Revelation: Book Works in Every Era.” Grand Rapids Press D1, D3

Leon, Morris.  Grand Rapids, MI.  New Testament Theology.  Zondervan 1986.

Mr. Klunder.  Grand Rapids, MI.  Psychology, 2007.

Mr. Cuthbertson.  Grand Rapids, MI.  Sunday school, 2006.

Ortberg, John.  Grand Rapids, MIThe Life You’ve Always Wanted.  Zondervan, 1997.

Schwanda, Tom.  26 October 2005.  “Savoring the Word.”  Banner  17 October 2007 http://www.thebanner.org

Sedensky, Matt.  “Graham’s Grandson Takes Different Spiritual Path.”  Grand Rapids Press 22 September 2007: D5.

Skillet.  “Collide.” Ardent Records. Memphis TN.  2004.  Track 06.

“Synopsis.”  The Exorcism of Emily Rose-Official Site. 22 October 2007.  http://www.sonypictures.com