BSN Glossary: The Spiritual Realm: THE HOLY SPIRIT

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The Holy Spirit is the inheritance of every human being.

John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'”
John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Names of the Holy Spirit (THS)
  • Equivalent expressions:
    • “the Spirit of God” = “the Spirit” = “the Holy Spirit” – Mt 3:16 and Mk 1:10 and Lk 3:22 and Jn 1:32
    • “the Spirit” = “the Holy Spirit” – Mt 12:31 and Mt 12:32
    • “the Spirit of your Father” = “the Holy Spirit” – Mt 10:20 and Lk 12:12
    • “the Spirit of God” = “the finger of God” – Mt 12:28 and Lk 11:20
    • “the Holy Spirit” = “the Spirit of the Lord” – Acts 5:1-11 (verses 3 and 9)
    • “the Holy Spirit” = “the Spirit of Jesus” – Acts 16:6-7
    • “another Helper” = “the Spirit of truth” – Jn 14:16-17
    • “the Helper” = “the Spirit of truth” – Jn 15:26
    • “the Holy Spirit” = “what is good” – Lk 11:13 and Mt 7:11
  • THS in OT (These many references in the OT indicate that the Holy Spirit was well-known before Christ, even though only granted to the prophets and not everyone as is the case since NT times), –
    • [“holy spirit”] – 3x (NT 90x)
      • “Your Holy Spirit” – Ps 51:11
      • “His Holy Spirit” – Is 63:10, 11
      • [“the holy spirit”] – 0x
    • “Your good Spirit” [“your good spirit”] – Neh 9:20; Ps 143:10 e (NT 0x)
    • [“(the) spirit of the lord”] – 24x (NT 4x)
      • [“(the) spirit of the lord god] – Is 61:1 e (NT 0x)
    • [“(the) spirit of god”] – 12x (NT 12x)
      • [“(the) holy spirit of god”] – 0x (NT 1x)
    • [“the spirit”] (implying THS) – 15x (Num 11:17, 25, 26; 27:18; 1 Chr 12:18; Is 32:15; Ezk 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 8:3; 11:1, 24; 43:5; Mal 2:15)
    • Spoken by “Lord” or “God”
      • [“my spirit”] – 12x (Gen 6:3; Is 30:1; 42:1; 44:3; 59:21; Ezk 36:27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:28, 29; Hag 2:5; Zech 4:6)
      • [“your spirit”] – 3x (Neh 9:30; Ps 104:30; 139:7)
      • [“his spirit”] – 6x (Num 11:29; Job 34:14; Ps 106:33; Is 34:16; 48:16; Zech 7:12)
    • [“spirit of”] qualities perhaps associated with THS – 4x (Ex 28:3; Dt 34:9; Is 11:2; Zech 12:10)
  • Related expressions in the NT:
    • “the Spirit of Jesus Christ” – Phil 1:19 e
    • “the Spirit of Christ” – Rom 8:9; 1 Pet 1:11 e
    • “the Spirit of Jesus” – Act 16:7 e
    • “the Spirit of glory and of God” – 1 Pet 4:14
  • Other names:
    • “the Helper” = THS – Jn 14:26
    • “Helper” in John’s Gospel – Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 e
      • NASB footnote on “Helper” for most of these occurrences reads “Gr Paracletos, one called alongside to help; or Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor.”
    • Technically, Jn 14:16 shows “another Helper”
    • “The Spirit of truth” – Jn 14:17; 15:26; 16:13
      • Is 1 Jn 4:6 speaking similarly?
  • Possibly related expressions:
    • “the seven Spirits who are before His throne” – Rev 1:4
    • “the seven Spirits of God” – Rev 3:1; 4:5; 5:6
    • “a spirit of the holy gods” – Dan 4:8, 9, 18; 5:11 e
    • “a spirit of the gods” – Dan 5:14 e
Figures Associated with the Holy Spirit (THS)
  • anointing – 1 John 2:20, 27 – also, see “oil” below
  • blowing – 1 Kings 19:12 (being preceded by “gentle” suggests “breeze”) – see also “breath” and “wind” below
  • breath – Jn 20:22; Job 33:4 – see also “blowing above” and “wind” below
  • breeze – see “blowing” above
  • dove – Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:22; Jn 1:32
  • finger – Compare Matt 12:28 and Luke 11:20
  • helper – Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7
  • oil – Heb 1:9; Ps 45:7 – also, see “anointing” above
  • rivers of water – John 7:37-39
  • tongue of fire – Acts 2:3
  • water – see “rivers of water” above, and “well of water” below
  • well of water – John 4:7-26
  • wind – John 3:8
Aspects of the Holy Spirit (THS)
  • THS and prophecy – Luke 1:67; Act 1:16; 2:17-18; 19:6 28:25; 1 Thess 5:19-20; 2 Pet 1:19-21; Joel 2:28
  • THS and prophets – Act 1:16; 2:29-31; 28:25; Num 11:29; Neh 9:30; Zech 7:12
  • THS and Scripture – Act 1:16; 4:24-26; 28:25-27; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 3:7; 9:8; 10:15-17; 2 Pet 1:19-21; Zech 7:12
    • Mt 22:43-44; Mk 12:36-37; Lk 20:42
    • Heb 3:7-11; 9:8-9; 10:15-17
  • THS and the presence of the Lord
    • explicit – Ps 51:11; 139:7
    • not explicit – Ex 33:14-15
  • THS actively…
    • …guides – Jn 16:13
    • …leads – Mt 4:1; Mk 1:12; Lk 4:1; Rom 8:14; Gal 5:18; Ps 143:10
    • …teaches – Lk 12:12; Jn 14:26; Ps 143:10
    • …testifies – Jn 15:26; Act 20:23; Heb 10:15
  • THS is…
    • …falls – Act 10:44; 11:15
    • …is given, gift, received – Act 2:38; 10:45, 47; 15:8
    • …is poured out – Act 10:45; Zech 12:10
  • THS is associated with…
    • …joy – Lk 10:21; Rom 14:17; 1 Thess 1:6
    • …baptize – Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:33; Act 1:5; 11:16
  • We…
    • positive:
      • …receive THS – Jn 20:22; Acts 8:15, 19; 19:2
      • …rejoice in THS – Lk 10:21
      • …be full of or filled with THS – Lk 1:15, 41, 67; Act 6:3; 11:24
      • …the fellowship of THS – 2 Cor 13:14
    • negative:
      • …quench THS – 1 Th 5:19
      • …resist THS – Act 7:51
      • …grieve THS – Is 63:10; Eph 4:30
      • …(being) devoid of THS – Jude 1:19
  • The Apostle John’s Take on the Holy Spirit
  • THS stays forever –
    • explicit – Jn 14:16
    • implied? – Heb 13:5-6; 2 Sam 7:14-15
  • General about THS and His role in our lives
    • Verses – Rom 14:17; 2 Cor 13:14; Jude 1:19-20; Rev 1:10
    • Allusions – Heb 13:5; Jas 1:21; Gen 16:14; 1 Sam 3:9-10; Ps 51:11; Mic 6:8

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Hearing the Spirit

When we cannot hear God – Jesus’ Holy Spirit in our hearts – it is because our hearts have become too noisy with our own thoughts. The Lord is always speaking to us – especially at those times we’re seeking hard to hear His voice – but the noise of our own hearts keeps us from hearing that voice, which is like a gentle breeze. Who can detect a gentle breeze in the midst of a hurricane? The noise of our thoughts can be caused by a crisis we face, or it could come from the mundane worries of daily living. Whatever the source of the noise, calm your heart and you will hear His voice.

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When God wants to do something really big, He starts really small.

Think of the oak and the acorn.

Think of how the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary.

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We cannot tell what the fruit will look like by staring at the seed; we have to plant it.

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God has granted His Holy Spirit to everyone, not just a select few. Alas, only a few open the door when He knocks.

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Something is holy if it is set apart for God.

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What is holy must be clean. Something can be clean without being holy, but it cannot be holy without being clean.

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The Holy Spirit is for holy living.

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In this extensive quote, Columbus not only shows reverence toward the Bible, he also bears witness to the ongoing activity of the Holy Spirit in post-biblical times.

It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel his hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me…There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures…I said that I would state my reasons: I hold alone to the sacred and Holy Scriptures, and to the interpretations of prophecy given by certain devout persons…

I am a most unworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous presence. For the execution of the journey to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps. It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prohesied…No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service. The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by the Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will even though he gives advice. He lacks nothing that it is in the power of men to give Him. Oh, what a gracious Lord, who desires that people should perform for Him those things which He holds Himself responsible! Day and night, moment by moment, everyone should express the most devoted gratitude to Him.

It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel his hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me…There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures…I said that I would state my reasons: I hold alone to the sacred and Holy Scriptures, and to the interpretations of prophecy given by certain devout persons…

I am a most unworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous presence. For the execution of the journey to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps. It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prohesied…No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service. The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by the Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will even though he gives advice. He lacks nothing that it is in the power of men to give Him. Oh, what a gracious Lord, who desires that people should perform for Him those things which He holds Himself responsible! Day and night, moment by moment, everyone should express the most devoted gratitude to Him.

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), Italian explorer and discoverer of the Americas, on the role of the Holy Spirit in his explorations and discoveries, (bold print added). Source: The Bible in America by Steve Green and Todd Hillard, DustJacket Press, 2013, pages 18 and 27.

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