IN THE MOMENT OF PRESENT TRUTH
“THE HOLY SPIRIT”
Study Three
OPENING REMARKS
This is part three of our series entitled In the Moment of Present Truth. I want to talk to you from my heart – I want to express things to you that, when I heard, it caused a shaking within. I want to express the truth to you, as it is in Jesus Christ. I don’t want to deceive anyone – I am being perfectly honest; I am genuinely sincere in wanting to reach out to you and help you learn the truth of our Heavenly Father and His only begotten Son.
I made the decision to do this series, In the Moment of Present Truth, because I wanted to take the foundational Christian doctrines that I have been told all of my life, and frame them in the present truth that God is revealing to His church today. You see, denominational groups, with the creeds that they have written, are bound to those creeds and they cannot change. Denominations cannot and will not change – individuals do, and that is who I am trying to reach; that’s who I’m speaking to in these studies. We want to grow and be made in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have the same Heavenly Father that He does, and we want to have the understanding that He has – our hearts have to be open.
I said this is part three of our series, but it is the second part of our
looking at The Godhead. In the last study, I talked about our Heavenly
Father and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ – in this study, I want to key on
The Holy Spirit. All my Christian life, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit
was just enshrouded in “mystery” – so many of my questions went unanswered.
People in the denominational groups do not have a handle on the Holy Spirit –
seven things concerning the Holy Spirit: Who, what, whence, where, when, how
and why of the Spirit. Those things, I pray, to give you scriptural
evidence of in this study. I want to warn you, the study moves fast. You need
to have your bible open, even though I’m going to put these things on the screen
– you need to read these things for yourself. When this study is over, you need
to pray and seek the Lord. The Lord is creating His church – He is calling
us out. He is giving truth that, to this point, I don’t believe has ever
been shared before, because He is saving us with a sure and a pure
salvation – living water of truth – He is offering us to drink, and I pray to
take in as much of it as I can… I want to be whole in my Savior. With that,
let’s take a look at the “who” of the Holy Spirit.
WHO IS THE SPIRIT
Who is the Holy Spirit? Well, I’m going to read some texts out of the Gospel of John, chapter 14 – and as I read this, keep your eye open for hints concerning who it is. Starting at verse 15, Jesus is speaking:
John 14:15-16
15 ¶ If [you] love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [3875], that he may abide with you for ever;
Now notice the word “Comforter” – on the screen I have put the Strong’s number [3875]. We’re going to read this word elsewhere, and I want you to be aware of the number [3875].
John 14:16-18
16 … [he’ll] give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it [sees] him not, neither [knows] him: but [you] know him [now]; for he [dwells] with you [see, that’s present tense… He’s dwelling with you now, and future, He…], shall be in you.
18 ¶ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Consider the words that we have just read. If I were to back up in this chapter
to verse 6, I could show you where Christ said that He is the way, the truth
and the life (John 14:6). Then He says, “I’m going to send you another
Comforter, even the spirit of truth.” He’s dwelling with you now;
future – He shall be in you. Those are some pretty strong hints as to
who we’re talking about, but then He just states it, doesn’t He? “I
will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.”
Did you ever consider that Christ, giving up His place in heaven, coming to this planet, being made in the likeness of a man, being tempted in every way that we are tempted, yet remaining faithful – never falling, never sinning, never wavering – dying, going back to heaven… Didn’t it seem strange to you that God would then send someone else in His place? Let me read one more proof text: This is found in Acts, chapter 3, and I want to read some scripture building up to this, so that you can understand the progression of thought that is being used here – let’s start reading at verse 14:
Acts 3:14-20
14 [You] denied the Holy One and the Just, and [you] desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And [you] killed the Prince of life, whom God [has] raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name [has] made this man strong, whom [you] see and know: yea, the faith which is by him [has] given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance [you] did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before [showed] by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he [has] so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send [the Holy Spirit?] Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Our Heavenly Father doesn’t send us another God – He sends us His divine
Son, because the Son of God is also the Son of Man perfected. He will
deliver you; He will comfort you; He will stand by you. He
understands you because He has been here in our shoes – He is the
Comforter.
WHAT, HOW, WHENCE
What then, is a “spirit”? All of my Christian life I struggled between the word “soul” and “spirit” – what is the difference? Well, let me read a text out of Proverbs 29 concerning “spirit” – I want to read verse 11:
Proverbs 29:11
11 ¶ A fool [utters] all his mind [7307]: but a wise man [keeps] it in till afterwards.
Now, when you talk about “speaking,” you can’t speak anything except it be in
your mind and this word “mind,” the Strong’s number is [7307] – spirit.
[7307] is translated all through the Old Testament as spirit, and I have
discovered that “mind” and “spirit” are synonymous. Remember in 1 Corinthians
6, where Paul writes your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1
Corinthians
1 Corinthians 2:16
16 … who [has] known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
If I have the mind of Christ, His mind must be in my mind. How do we convey a mind? How is a mind conveyed? What is in our minds? Concepts, thoughts, words... Turn with me to Proverbs, again, chapter 1, and let me read verse 23 – now pay close attention to what he states here:
Proverbs 1:23
23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you [comma], I will make known my words unto you.
When He gives you His Spirit, He is giving you His mind, and He does it by means of words. Look at another one – look at Ezekiel, chapter 2, I want to begin reading at verse 1:
Ezekiel 2:1-2
1 ¶ And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
Pretty plain, isn’t it? The spirit is conveyed by words. Now, let’s take the gospel of John, chapter 3, and I want to focus on “spirit,” “mind” – conveyed by words – and I want to begin reading at verse 31:
John 3:31
31 He that [comes] from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and [speaks] of the earth: he that [comes] from heaven is above all [and speaks of heavenly things].
You see, if you’re of the “earth,” it’s earthly things coming out of your mouth; if you’re from “heaven,” it’s heavenly things.
John 3:32-34
32 And what he [has] seen and heard [in heaven, we could say], that [is what] he [testifies]; and no man [is receiving] his testimony.
33 He that [has] received his testimony [has] set to his seal that God is true.
34 [Because] he whom God hath sent [speaks] the words of God: for God [gives] not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Where did Christ get His information? From His Father – that is what makes Him the Christ, the Anointed One. He is “anointed” with the Spirit of God. What does that mean? He has been given the understanding of God – the mind of His Father was spoken to His Son, without measure. What He has seen and heard in the heavens is what He is testifying. When you believe His testimony, you set to your seal that God is true – why? Because Jesus is speaking the words of God... God gave Him His Spirit without measure. Let’s chain this to John 6:63 – Jesus states:
John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that [quickens]; the flesh [profits] nothing: the words …I speak unto you …are spirit, and …life.
Again, how is the Spirit conveyed? From the Father to the Son by words; from the Son to us by words. Now turn to John 7 – let’s just add another link to the chain – I want to begin reading at verse 37:
John 7:37-39
37 ¶ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that [believes] on me, as the [scriptures have] said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, …
Stop – If you believe in Christ, out of your belly will flow rivers of living
water. What “belly” is He talking about? If I eat literal bread, it goes
down into my belly, but what about if I eat from the “Bread of Life” – Jesus
Christ – and I receive His words? They go into my spiritual
belly… Now, out of my belly will flow “rivers of living water,”
this spake he of the Spirit. From the Father to the Son, from the Son to
me, from me to others – Holy Spirit, the mind of Christ – consider it.
Consider who we are in Jesus Christ, that to believe in Him allows you
that privilege of giving others “living water” – the Spirit of the living God!
FAITH
I want to make another point concerning this – this is found in Ephesians, chapter 3. This is the second prayer in Ephesians, and I want to begin reading at verse 14:
Ephesians 3:14-17
14 ¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with [King James put “might” – it’s the word power…] by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; …
Now stop – faith: “Faith” is a noun; faith is not a verb. “Faith” is
the result of believing – “believing” is the verb; “faith” is the noun.
Christ dwells in your heart by faith; Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God (Romans
Romans 2:29
29 … he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart [comma], in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Paul just equates “heart” and “spirit.” For Christ to dwell in your heart, He is between your ears – understanding who He is. The more understanding you have, the more of Christ you will possess and the more like Him you will be. Again, thoughts produce feelings, feelings move to action. If I want my actions to be like Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God, my thoughts have to be like Christ, the image of the invisible God, and my mind is infinite – my mind cannot be filled up. I can’t have so many thoughts that I can’t have another thought. My mind is infinite, and I can receive as much information concerning the Father and His Son as I can hold… infinite, infinite – making me more like Jesus every day. I want, again, to know as much about God as I can, and I know He wants me to know. He is preparing His people because He is soon to return, and the glorious works of God are going to be declared by His church into a world of darkness – and I pray to reach out and bring as many people into this light as I possibly can. It is time for God’s people to know who He is, and have an understanding of the Father, the Son and their Holy Spirit – that it no longer be considered a mystery, but that we be sure concerning “who” we worship.
Now I want to take you to the ministry of Christ.
MINISTRY OF CHRIST
I want to begin this look at the ministry of Jesus Christ in John 15, and I want to read verse 26:
John 15:26
26 ¶ But when the Comforter [3875] is come [and notice [3875] – here is our word “comforter” again. When the Comforter is come…], whom I will send unto you from the Father, … the Spirit of truth, which [proceeds] from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The spirit Christ possesses came from the Father – He possesses the Spirit of God, and the Comforter, the Spirit of God through the Son, will bear witness of the Son… will testify of the Son. Take this thought and turn with me to 1 John, chapter 2 – I want to begin reading at verse 1:
1 John 2:1
1 ¶ … little children, these things write I unto you, that [you] sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate [3875] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Stop… beside the word “advocate” I have put the numbers [3875]. This is the same word translated “comforter” in John 15, and in John 14. Consider: What images are conjured up in your mind when you read “advocate”? In my mind, I see a courtroom with God the Judge – me standing there, a poor sinner, and my “advocate” standing between me and God, protecting me from this angry God. Now, what picture comes into your mind when you read “comforter”?
1 John 2:1
1 ¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that [you] sin not. [If you do sin], [you] have [a comforter] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
I want to tell you what is happening in this plan of salvation: The Lord is trying to help us see who we are. The Lord wants us to know the value that we have to the Father – how much value and love He places on us. Christ’s ministry is to convey to us the love of God. If He can help us understand who we are to His Heavenly Father, it will begin to change us inwardly. We’re born into this world knowing nothing about God and, because we don’t know who we are, we don’t know our value – we try to find it in the world, reaching for those things that we’re best at, wanting to be filled with love, admiration… wanting to be acknowledged. We have to have it from the world because we’re not seeing it from God. We’re not seeing it from God because we’re blind to what He is doing – in this next verse, 1 John 2:2:
1 John 2:2
2 … he [Christ] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
“Propitiation” is an act of mercy. When Jesus Christ died at
That is something the human psyche can understand… death – as powerful as death is the love of God. Christ is the “propitiation” for our sins – He was the act of mercy. Again, not for God, but for us, revealing to us the love of His Father, He sacrificed His life so that His Father would have the opportunity to manifest love for us. Turn to the gospel of John, chapter 17, and I want to read the very last verse:
John 17: 26
26 … I have declared unto them [your] name, and [I] will declare it: that the love wherewith [you have] loved me may be in them, and I in them.
I can love someone all day long – I can love them all day, yet if they never
know it, my love is not in them. Just because you love your husband or
wife doesn’t mean that love is in them, if they’re not seeing it and
receiving it. Christ says I have declared unto them your name, your
character, and I will declare it. Now, He says this right before Calvary –
Calvary was a declaration of the character of God in that His only begotten Son
died, and He did not retaliate against those who killed Him. I have declared
unto them, and I will declare; so that the love wherewith you’ve loved me may be
in them. If we are not seeing
A SPIRIT OF SONSHIP
Turn to Romans, chapter 8… read with me verse 14:
Romans 8:14-16
14 … as many as are led by the Spirit of God, …are the sons of God.
15 … [you] have not received [the King James put “the spirit” – it’s a spirit. You have not received a] spirit [or, a mindset] of bondage again to fear; [you’ve] received [a] Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit [bears] witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Now I want you to consider with me: I have two daughters that are seven and nine years old. At times, these two little girls just butt heads – they battle it out, the sibling rivalry, and I will get onto them for the actions that they’re manifesting and they will straighten up and stay in line only because they fear me… of what daddy might do if we don’t do what he says. What I would prefer to see in them is a spirit of love – not the letter of the law. I want to see them respond to each other because they love each other, and treat each other with the love and respect that sisters should have. Well, what about our relationship to God? You see, at one time, as I would study the scriptures, I did what I was supposed to do and I worshipped God the way I thought I was supposed to worship, because of a fear of God. Now, I pray to enter into the spirit of sonship. Think of the prodigal son the day after he had returned home and the party was over. Think of his attitude toward his father; think of the loving kindness that he wanted to show his father – a desire to be what his father wanted him to be, to do what his father wanted him to do… to be obedient to his father. You see, the prodigal entered into a spirit of sonship. That word “the father” was not simply a title – it now meant something. The reality of the father became a reality to the prodigal.
Isn’t that what we’re after when we talk about the Father – that it not just simply be a “title,” but that we be in that spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father? You see, the ministry of Christ is to bring us into that understanding. When you’re in that understanding, you now have a desire to do what needs to be done – to break, to mold, to bend… to let the Lord make you in His image. You now have a desire to be in that place. We’re in Romans 8 – I want you to look at verse 26:
Romans 8:26
26 ¶ Likewise the Spirit [helps] our infirmities:…
Now stop… Used to be, when I read that, I thought it meant this Holy Spirit thing, this wisp of air, or a ghost or whatever He was supposed to be, would help my weakness. Now I recognize it is the spirit God is giving me – the mindset, the teaching, the understanding He is giving me – this helps my weaknesses. Compare this, let’s hold your place and compare this with Proverbs 18, verse 14 – it states:
Proverbs 18:14
14 ¶ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, yet Romans 8:26: The spirit God gives us helps our infirmities. The spirit of a man sustains the infirmity – the spirit that God gives us will help our infirmities. It is that spirit of sonship… it is that attitude of being “one” with God, desiring to serve Him. Let’s read this:
Romans 8:26
26 ¶ … the Spirit [helps] our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself [makes] intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now the King James has put “makes intercession” – I want to read to you the first place that this is used, and I want to ask you to turn to Acts 25, and I’m going to read verse 24:
Acts 25:24
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, [you] see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
Do you see that word “have dealt”? That is the word translated intercession. Now, what if I put “intercession” here in Acts 25:24?
Acts 25:24
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, [you] see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have [interceded] with me, …
Is that what the Jews were doing concerning Paul, interceding for him? No! They consulted with him concerning Paul and they were against Paul – and a better way of translating this would be “to consult with,” “consults.” Let me read this verse again in Romans 8:
Romans 8:26
26 ¶ Likewise the Spirit [given us by God helps] our [weaknesses, helps our]
infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit
itself [makes consultations in behalf of us, consults] with groanings which
cannot be uttered.
You see, having that mindset of wanting to please God, wanting to serve God, being in perfect unity with the Father and Son, entering into the spirit of adoption, entering into that spirit of sonship – that attitude makes consultation, consults with … with groanings which cannot be uttered. In other words, it is a deep searching of the heart, seeking that the crooked places be straightened out; seeking to come to an understanding of who you are and letting God reveal the mystery of sin and iniquity that you carry. Now let’s keep reading this:
Romans 8:27
27 And he that [searches the heart – God… knows that minding] of [that] Spirit, because he [is consulting in behalf of] the saints according to the will of God.
You see, being in that place of hearing God, listening, searching – open heart to be made in the image of God.
Romans 8:28-34
28 … we know … all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 ¶ … whom he did foreknow, he …did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 … whom he did predestinate, …he … called: and whom he called, [he] justified: and whom he justified, …he … glorified.
31 ¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that [justifies. Next verse – ministry of Christ:]
34 Who is he that [condemns]? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also [is consulting in behalf of the saints].
Remember Zechariah? The counsel of peace is between them both (Zechariah
FEASTS
I am impressed to close this study with a concept that I think, for many of you,
will be a hard saying. All of my Christian life I was taught that when God
delivered literal
There are three things that must be understood to possess Holy Spirit: You have got to know and believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of the living God. Without understanding the Sonship of Christ, the passion of the Father’s love is not there to set you free from the lie. You’ve got to know He’s the Son; you’ve got to know you can hear God as He speaks to your heart, and you have to have an understanding of what the sin nature is. Hence, these studies, In the Moment of Present Truth, try to cover those doctrines in present truth, as God is making them known to me. Once you possess those three things – you know He’s the Son, you know you can hear Him, and you know what the sin problem is – God can take those concepts and speak to your heart His love, and when He does that, He pulls you right out of the lie and you ascend into a heavenly truth that changes your life forever. Consider with me “Holy Spirit” – an entering into that Feast of Weeks and Pentecost… not simply being a shadow in Acts, chapter 2, but a substance, a substance to the last generation church – those who will be brought to a completed perfection.
In our next study, I want to discuss with you the “Everlasting Covenant” and what it means to hear God, to be in a relationship that you live according to the voice of God – as He moves you, as He teaches you, as He guides you. We’ll cover it from the scriptures, but for now let me close – the gospel of John, chapter 16, verse 13:
John 16:13
13 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.
When John wrote that the Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself, it
doesn’t mean He isn’t going to speak about Himself – it means He isn’t going to
speak His own words… He isn’t going to speak of His own will. He is only
going to speak what He hears, and what He hears is coming from our Heavenly
Father. For me, that was another proof that Christ was not standing between me
and God, protecting me from God. He is only speaking what He hears from the
Father. Again, the counsel of peace is between both of them (Zechariah
I beg you to study this subject on your knees, seeking the Lord for confirmation of these things, that the Spirit of God dwell in your heart richly, that we can walk together and glorify God, and be ready – not simply to bear witness to the truth, but to meet the truth face to face, that God be glorified throughout all eternity. We are the children of God. Let us declare it and trumpet to the world God’s love and His saving grace!
*~*~*
Ascending from the
east,
Having the seal
Of the living God