Names of the Holy Spirit
by Pastor Jesse Roland
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 shew you things to come.
FOUR MAJOR NAMES
Not different persons. These names merely call attention to certain functions or attributes which this same person manifests on different occasions.
The Holy Spirit
Luke 11:13
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Most frequent name. He has many characteristics (such as His humility). But predominantly He is referred to as the "Holy Spirit." This name emphasizes the essential moral character of the Spirit. In Him rests the blazing fire of the purity and holiness of Almighty God.
We are so familiar with the name that we neglect to consider it's significance. The first thing that must be expected in dealing with the Holy Spirit is that He will uncover and condemn sin.
John 16:8
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
As sinful, selfish and imperfect as we may be, the Holy Spirit is ready to come and take His dwelling in our hearts if we will surrender to Him the absolute control of our lives and allow Him to bring everything into conformity with His will.
By Him the believer is enabled to live a life of victory over sin.
1 Peter 1:2
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Corinthians 3:16
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
This speaks to the divine origin, nature and power of the Spirit. He is the "wind" or "breath" of God. The Spirit represents the Father. He speaks and hears and can be grieved.
Acts 5:3-4
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
4 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
Lying to the Holy Ghost is lying to God. They are one and the same. The Holy Ghost is God as the Father Jehovah is God.
Ephesians 4:29-32
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
He is also referred to as the Spirit of the "living" God. It is the work of the Spirit to make God something more than a theological notion. He makes Him a living God to us, a being whom we know, with whom we have personal acquaintance, a being more real to us than the intimate human friend we have. The Holy Spirit makes Him a God of the now and not just a God of the past or the future. Instead of Him being just the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He is our God that takes an active involvement in our lives.
Acts 13:2
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
The Spirit is God present now on this earth. The gifts of the Spirit are God manifesting Himself to His church and even to the world.
1 Corinthians 14:23-25
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
2 Chronicles 5:14
14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
Acts 2:2,4
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The presence of the Spirit is the presence of the Father. Calvary made it possible for the Father God to be present with His people. We can know His presence and His power.
The Spirit of Christ
Romans 8:9
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
The Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Christ - seals the believer as God's property. A seal was placed upon purchased property until it could be redeemed. When Jesus comes for His church He will be looking for the distinctive impression of the Holy Spirit upon those who are His.
Life of Christ
Romans 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
The Spirit has come to recreate the life of Christ in us. We are to be manifestations of the nature of Christ on this earth. We embody His Spirit. This what the fruit of the Spirit are: the character of Christ. WWJD should not be a test we have to always take but should flow out of those who are born of the Spirit.
Works of Christ
We are also able to do the works of Christ through the empowering of the Spirit.
John 14:12
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
The works that Jesus did He did because He was anointed by the Spirit. Christ means the Anointed One. As Christ-ians we are Anointed ones. The anointing Jesus had is the same one that the church has today.
Acts 1:8
8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
What power is this?
Acts 10:38
38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
This is the power that Isaiah spoke of:
Isaiah 10:27
27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
John also clearly states the purpose of the anointing:
1 John 3:8
8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
The anointing undoes does the work of Satan. This is the power and authority of the Spirit of Christ as we go forth into this sin-cursed world to advance the Kingdom of God.
The Comforter
Acts 9:31
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
How wonderful is the comfort that we receive when we are doing the will of the Father. The fight may be hard and the struggle long but we can depend on the Spirit to be there with us to see us through.
2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
