The Holy Spirit

What is the Holy Ghost?

What is the Holy Ghost

1. The words "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit" are used interchangeably. Keep in mind that these titles/names are invisible to the human eye.

2. God is a Spirit (John 4:24). Holy Spirit is masculine "He" .

3. How is a Spirit be defined in scripture?

(3a) The Spirit in the Hebrew term רוּחַ (ruach) can mean “wind,” and “breath”. It can also refer to the life principle of persons or animals and the divine power of God(Spirit).

Gen. 1:2 "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."

Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."

(3b) Ruach can often be used of a man's mind-set and disposition.

Prov 16:2 "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the spirits."

(3c) Ruach can also mean more than just the element of life; it seems to mean "soul".

Gen. 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

Ps. 32:2 "Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile."

4. The word "Ghost" and "Spirit" are both translated from the same Greek word "pneuma" which means a current of air, a breath or breeze; a soul, a spirit.

John 20:22 "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:"

Acts 2:1-4 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Titles/Names of the Holy Ghost:

Breath of the Almighty. Job 33:4. Comforter. Jno. 14:16, 26. Jno. 15:26. Eternal Spirit. Heb. 9:14. Free Spirit. Psa. 51:12. God. Acts 5:3, 4. Good Spirit. Neh. 9:20. Psa. 143:10. Holy Spirit. Psa. 51:11. Luke 11:13. Eph. 1:13. Eph. 4:30. Lord, The. 2 The. 3:5. Power of the Highest. Luke 1:35. Spirit, The. Mat. 4:1. Jno. 3:6. 1 Tim. 4:1. Spirit of the Lord God. Isa. 61:1. Spirit of the Lord. Isa. 11:2. Acts 5:9. Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead (i.e God) (Rom.8:11) Spirit of God. Gen. 1:2. 1 Cor. 2:11. Job 33:4. Spirit of Jesus (Phil 1:19) Spirit of the Father. Mat. 10:20. Spirit of Christ. Rom. 8:9. 1 Pet. 1:11. Spirit of the Son. Gal. 4:6. Spirit of life. Rom. 8:2. Rev. 11:11. Spirit of grace. Zec. 12:10. Heb. 10:29. Spirit of prophecy. Rev. 19:10. Spirit of adoption. Rom. 8:15. Spirit of wisdom. Isa. 11:2. Eph. 1:17. Spirit of counsel. Isa. 11:2. Spirit of might. Isa. 11:2. Spirit of understanding. Isa. 11:2. Spirit of knowledge. Isa. 11:2. Spirit of the fear of the Lord. Isa. 11:2. Spirit of truth. Jno. 14:17. Jno. 15:26 Spirit of holiness. Rom. 1:4. Spirit of revelation. Eph. 1:17. Spirit of judgment. Isa. 4:4. Isa. 28:6. Spirit of burning. Isa. 4:4. Spirit of glory. 1 Pet. 4:14. Seven Spirits of God. Rev. 1:4.

Promise of the Spirit

1. In the Old Testament, various KINGS, PROPHETS, JUDGES, AND PATRIACHS were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, but the Holy Ghost did not dwell within them. However, the prophets foretold the day when the Holy Spirit would dwell within people of all tribes, languages, and nations.

2. Here's a list of prophets that spoke concerning the Holy Ghost centuries before the spirit came.

(a) The Prophet Isaiah (730 BC)

Is. 28:11-12 "For with stammering lips and another tongue Will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; And this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear."

(b) The Prophet Ezekiel (586 BC)

Ezekiel 36:26-27 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

(c ) The Prophet Joel (800 BC)

Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions:"

Note: On the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost first fell, the Apostle Peter repeated these words of Joel.

Acts 2:17-18 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:"

3. Lastly, John the Baptist(whom is the last prophet of the OT) is quoted in all four gospels as proclaiming the coming of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 3:16 "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"

Why is the Holy Ghost important?

(…) Holy Ghost is part of out new birth of "water and Spirit"

(…) Holy Ghost is part of new birth.

John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

(…) Part of God's process in imparting salvation.

(…) Washing of regeneration (water baptism) and the renewing of the Holy Ghost (Holy Ghost infilling)

Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

(…)

2 Thessalonians 2:13 "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

(…) Holy Spirit makes us God's property.

Romans 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

2 Co. 6:16-17 "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

(…) Holy Ghost gives us resurrection Power.

Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

Jesus says we need it.

(…) Jesus Himself made many important statements concerning the Holy Ghost.

(…) He established that those who believe shall receive

John 7:28-29 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should(mello) receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

(…) 'Should' in the scripture conveys the idea of expectation.

I'll conclude here that receiving the Holy Ghost is the same as believing in a biblical sense that it's necessary to those who say they believe. It is worth asking. Later you'll see that Paul asked.

(…) Jesus states that those that believe on Him should receive the Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:2 "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost."

Remember if you believe, you shall receive.

(…) True believers will receive the Holy Ghost.

(…) Jesus states that being born of the Spirit is part of the entrance in the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Therefore the Holy Ghost is necessary for salvation.

(…) Jesus said He would return in Spirit as the Holy Ghost.

John 14:17-18 "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

2 Co. 6:16-17 "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

(…) Jesus declared that the Holy Spirit will bring power to the disciples.

Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

What must we do to receive the Holy Ghost?

ANYONE-ANYWHERE-ANYTIME

Can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit!!

(…) Apostle Peter said it's for those who were "afar off." Who are those? Gentiles.

Acts 2:39 "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

(…) Apostle Peter states that ever nation were eligible to receive the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:34-35 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

What must we do to receive the Holy Ghost?

(…) This question was asked to the apostles on Day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:37-38 "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

(…) Repent, be baptized in Jesus' Name and then you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(…) The answer of Peter was in perfect harmony with the scriptures.

Faith and Repentance Water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Receiving of the Holy Ghost

(…) Holy Ghost comes to all those who fully obey God.

Acts 5:32 "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."

What does the Holy Spirit do for us?

It identifies us as belonging to God.

Romans 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

It teaches us the things of God.

John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

It guides us.

John 16:13 "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."

It gives us power and boldness.

Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

It is quickening power.

Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

It gives us power to overcome.

Romans 8:13-14 "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

It helps us to pray and intercede.

Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

It baptizes us into the body of Christ.

1 Cor. 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

It is apart of our washing, sanctification, and justification.

1 Cor. 6:11 "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

It frees us and gives us liberty.

2 Cor. 3:17 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

It seals us, marks us and prepares us.

Eph. 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

Eph. 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

(…) The word "seal"[Greek - "schragizo"] means to stamp with a signet or private mark for security or preservation.

Question for Thought (Conclusion)

Do you need to belong to God?

Do you need to obey Jesus Christ?

Do you need to obey the Apostle Peter?

Do you need to be washed, sanctified, and justified?

Do you need to be sealed and protected unto the day of redemption?

Do you need Christ in you, the hope of glory?

Do you need the Comforter?

Do you need holy Power and boldness?

Do you need power to overcome the flesh?

Do you need resurrection power dwelling in you?

Do you need the spiritual guidance and teaching of the Spirit?

Do you need to baptized into the body of Christ

Do you need the Spirit of Truth in you?

If the answer to even one of these questions is "yes", then the Word admonishes you to receive the Holy Ghost.