THE HOLY SPIRIT-The Active Presence of GOD

THE HOLY SPIRIT-The Active Presence of GOD

Some of the prophets of Israel had characterized the “last days” as a time when GOD would pour out His Spirit on "all flesh"—the whole of assembly of true believers in the world.

The New Testament expresses that that promise was fulfilled in the days of Jesus, and the entire Scriptures proof that even today—the “last days” The Holy Spirit of God, has been given unto us.

He is the ACTIVE PRESENCE OF GOD—The Spirit of GOD, The Spirit of Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Spirit of Truth.

He is our Comforter (Jn.14:16-17), Counsellor (Jn.14:16 Amp; Psa. 16:7), Helper (Psa.10:14; 46:1), Advocate (I Jn.2:1), Intercessor (Rom.8:26), Strengthener (Eph.3:16), and Standby (Rom.8:11).

The HOLY SPIRIT empowered Jesus, and He enabled the Church to continue what Jesus had begun to do and to teach. Within the individual disciple, The Holy Ghost produces the qualities appropriate to that life and equips the person to work and serve GOD and humanity.

The Holy Spirit is The Spirit of Jesus

The Holy Spirit is The Spirit of Jesus

The Holy Spirit is The Spirit of Jesus.

The Spirit of Jesus is “Someone like The Son of Man" (Rev.1:13).

He is One Who looks like Jesus.

He is The Spirit of The Resurrected Christ.

His head and hair are white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes are like blazing fire (v.14).

His feet are like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His Voice like the sound of rushing waters (v.15).

His face is like the sun shining in all its brilliance (v.16)

The Holy Spirit is The One Who helps us to know GOD better—He shows us The Way to The Father.

I keep asking that The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, The glorious Father, may give you The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, so that you may know Him better.

Eph.1:17

From this verse, we can see that The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation reveals to us The Father of Glory.

He enlightens ‘the eyes of our hearts’ so that we may know the hope of His Calling, His divine blessings to His people and the exceeding greatness of His Power.

 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great Power for us who believe. That Power is like the working of His mighty Strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills everything in every way.

Eph. 1:18-23 NIV

Jesus Christ is GOD

Jesus Christ is GOD

If you believe that Jesus is The Christ—“The Anointed One”, if you trust that He is GOD's Son and your Savior—then you are a child of GOD.

If you are not born of GOD, you cannot adhere and rely on the fact that Jesus Christ is “The Savior of the world”.

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is The Christ is born of God…”

1 John 5:1b KJV

Everyone who truly believes that Jesus Christ is “The Messiah” is a born-again child of GOD. Such a person is born of GOD.

And GOD’s Word clearly states:

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is The Son of GOD?

1 John 5:4-5 KJV

According to the divine Prophecy of Scripture, “The Christ” was to be born as a child—a boy child, in a particular geographical location in the world (Matt.2:4-6, Isa 9:6a). He will divinely represent, preach, prophecy and establish GOD’s Kingdom upon the universe (Isa.9:6a). He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isa.9:6b).

Indeed, in the days of Jesus' ministry on earth, He was a good adviser on personal problems.

He was a counsellor-at-law; our attorney (remember the case with the woman caught in adultery).

He had legal power to make decisions and act on behalf of us.

He was Heaven's diplomat to the nations. Overseer and supervisor of the Church.

He has all strength and power (He died on the cross and rose again and conquered sin, death, the grave, hell and satan).

He lives for ever (we have the Eternal Life of GOD in Him and through Him).

He is the divine prototype; progenitor and originator by Whom we have our connection with GOD as members of His family (we are co-heirs with Christ and heirs of GOD).

He has the original model of GOD's program and has handed it to us (the ministry of reconciliation and the message of the cross).

He was outstanding among men—the royal Prince of Heaven. The leader of GOD's people and ruler over all creation.

He gives Peace (peace which surpasses all understanding so we can become independent of the world and live above and apart from entanglement with this material world).

Only “The Son of The Living GOD” is qualified to be “The Christ” (Mt.16:16). Even the demons confessed that He is The Son of GOD (Luke 4:41).

In Luke 24:44, Jesus narrated to His disciples that, everything must be fulfilled that are written about 'The Christ' in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Some other practical proofs which were to give evidence of whom is “The Christ” is that; He will have to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (see verses 46-47).

A crowd in Jerusalem argued that He is not “The Christ” (John 25-27), but still, verse 31 declares that, “... many in the crowd put their faith in Him. They said, "When The Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"

He came as “The Son of David” (Matt.1:1).

The Bible tells us:

Of the increase of His Government and Peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with Justice and Righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of The Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

Isa 9:7 NIV

The Knowledge of The Christ

The Knowledge of The Christ

The Good News is that Jesus is “The Christ”. “The Son of Man” is “The Anointed One” of GOD.

The apostles rejoiced because they were counted worthy of suffering for Christ and they never stopped proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is The Christ (Acts 5:42).

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from The Lord, and that He may send The Christ, Who has been appointed for you — even Jesus.

He must remain in Heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.

For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything He tells you.

Anyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among His people.'

Acts 3:19-23 NIV

Jesus Himself, acknowledged as “The Christ” in the Scripture, was understood as the incarnate Son, or “The Word” (Logos), the concrete manifestation of God within the finite order. Both expressions, ‘Son’ and ‘The Word’, imply a divine being who is both distinct from The Father and yet so closely akin to Him as to be “of the same substance” (Greek, ‘homoousios’) with Him.

Jesus is The Revealer of GOD

Nowhere is the continuity of the New Testament with the Old more clearly or more consistently presented than in its teaching about GOD.

The Person, Words, and Works of Jesus were understood as bringing followers into the Presence of GOD.

Christ Jesus said:

"I am The Way The Truth And The Life" (John 14:6).

One of Jesus' disciples asked Him what God The Father looks like.

Jesus replied: "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen The Father..." (John 14:9).

Jesus looked like The Father—He was, actually, “God with us" (Matt.1:23).

Jesus is the Begotten and Born Son of GOD. He is GOD’S SON Eternally.

The Revelation of Christ

The Revelation of Christ

JESUS CHRIST is the Image of The invisible GOD (Col.1:15). He is The FirstBorn of all creation—He is The Creator who made everything in Heaven and earth. GOD created the whole world, the universe, and everything in them through Him (Col.1:16).

The Mystery of His Holiness and the Wonder of His humanness are one and the same. He came as 'the Seed of Abraham', and He was as all-time, ALMIGHTY GOD.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants…” Hebrews 2:14-16 (NIV)

The incarnation or union of the divine nature with human nature in the person of Jesus Christ, is a central doctrine.

Sharing completely in divinity and in humanity (except for sin); Jesus Christ is the embodiment of GOD in human form.

“And The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Jesus Christ—the Savior of the world was born “The Son of Man” in Bethlehem, in Judea. He is ‘the promised Deliverer of Israel’ and ‘Redeemer of all humanity’.

The Name Jesus is derived from a Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Joshua, or in full Yehoshuah (Yahweh is deliverance). The title Christ is derived from the Greek “christos”, a translation of the Hebrew “mashiakh” (the anointed One), or Messiah.

In time-order, the earliest revelation of Who and What God is, is found in the New Testament: John 1:1

"In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God."

The Word, in this passage is translated from the Greek Logos, which means "spokesman". It is used for an individual personage.

But Who is this Logos?

Notice the explanation in verse 14:

"And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..."

When He was naturally born, He was flesh and blood. But as God—as “The Logos”, He is Spirit (see John 4:24).

We know that in the flesh He was God—the same form and shape as a man.

But of what form and shape was He as The WORD?

The WORD is a Person Who was made flesh—begotten by GOD. He divested Himself of His glory as a Spirit divinity to be begotten by GOD and born of the virgin Mary.

GOD is Creator of all that exists. GOD and The WORD (CHRIST) have existed Eternally and before all else. From Him emanates The SPIRIT OF GOD, by which GOD is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.

Let's read the entire message of this passage again to see how THE WORD became flesh:

In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with GOD, and THE WORD was GOD. The Same was in the beginning with GOD. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was Life; and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He Power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on His NAME: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD.

And the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of THE ONLY Begotten of THE FATHER,) full of Grace and Truth.

John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, this was He of Whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me.

And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by JESUS CHRIST. No man hath seen GOD at any time; THE ONLY Begotten SON, which is in the bosom of THE FATHER, He hath declared Him.

John 1: 1-18 KJV

In many places in the New Testament you may find quotations from the Old Testament passage from which is a citation, which speaks of YHWH—translated as "THE LORD" (in capital letters) in the King James Version.

He existed prior to His birth as a human of the virgin birth, of the Virgin Mary.

Melchizedek Like Unto The Son of God

Melchizedek Like Unto The Son of God

Who Was Melchizedek?

Hebrews chapter 7 speaks of Melchisedec, Who was King of Jerusalem in the days of Abraham, it says also that He was The Priest of God Most High. This Melchisedec had existed from eternity—"without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto The Son of God; abideth a priest continually" (Heb.7:3 KJV).

Since Melchisedec was "like unto The Son of God", and “abides as High Priest forever continually”, and Jesus Christ is now High Priest, Melchisedec and JESUS are One and the same Person.

Therefore Christ was "without father, without mother, without descent [in Abraham's time], having neither beginning of days, nor end of life". God also had existed eternally with The Word.

"The WORD", was an immortal being Who had existed always—there never was a time when He did not exist—‘without beginning of days’. He was, then, "like" The Son of God—but He was not yet The Son of God. He was GOD, along with GOD.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead gave humanity hope of a life after death. Christ Jesus rose from the dead, and is crowned with Honor and Glory! He is Alive—and He is Divine!

He has been glorified—and in His glorified Spirit condition His eyes are like flames of fire, and His face shines as bright as the very sun—full strength! (Rev.1:14-16).

The Gospel Presentation of Jesus Christ

The Gospel Presentation of Jesus Christ

The New Testament presents its understanding of Jesus in titles, descriptions of His Person, and accounts of His Word and Work.

The Old Testament provided titles and images that the New Testament writers used to convey the message of Jesus Christ for His disciples and for God’s saints even in our time. He was portrayed, for example, as a 'Prophet' like Moses, 'the Davidic King', 'the Promised Messiah', 'the Second Adam', a 'Priest like Melchizedek', an apocalyptic figure like 'The Son of Man', 'the Suffering Servant of God' and 'The Son of God.'

He is the Pre-existent Divine Being Who came to earth, accomplished His work, and returned to Glory; In His days on earth, He was The LORD above all Caesars; THE ETERNAL MEDIATOR OF all creation and THE LORD OF Redemption; 'the cosmic Figure' who gathers all creation to Himself in one harmonious Body.

The Gospels present the Ministry of Jesus as the Presence of God in the world. His Words reveal GOD and GOD’S Way for His people; His Actions demonstrated the healing power of GOD bringing wholeness of the human body, mind, and spirit; His sufferings and death testify to GOD’S relentless Love; and His resurrection was GOD’S "sign of approval" of Jesus’ life, death, and ministry.

Paul and others developed views of Jesus’ death as sacrifice and atonement for sin and of Jesus’ resurrection as guarantee of the resurrection of His saints.

Jesus’ suffering is the perfect model for Christians in the hour of martyrdom.

The principal sources of information concerning Jesus’ life are the Gospel, written in the latter half of the 1st century, the Epistles of Paul, and the Acts of the Apostles. He stressed the infinite Love of GOD for the humble and weak, and he promised pardon and eternal Life in Heaven to the most hardened sinner.

Now, let’s take a look at the trial, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus:

At the council meeting, Caiaphas asked Jesus to declare whether He was “The Christ, The Son of God” (Matthew 26:63). Upon His affirmation (Mark 14:62), the council, of human will and government condemned Jesus to death, charging Him of blasphemy.

Only the Roman procurator, however, was empowered to impose capital punishment, and so, on Friday morning, Jesus was taken before the procurator, Pontius Pilate, for sentencing. Before pronouncing judgment, Pilate asked Him if He was the King of the Jews, and Jesus replied, “You have said so” (Mark 15:2).

Thereafter, Pilate tried several expedients to save Jesus before ultimately leaving the decision to the crowd that gathered. When the crowd insisted on His death, Pilate ordered Him executed (Matthew 27:24).

Jesus was taken to Golgotha and executed by crucifixion, the Roman punishment for political offenders and criminals.

Two robbers were crucified also, one on each side of Him. On the cross, above Jesus' head, they put the charge against him, which read: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37).

Early on the following Sunday, “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James” (Mark 16:1), going to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body for burial, found the tomb empty. Matthew 28:2 reports that an angel appeared after an earthquake and rolled back the stone. Inside the tomb, “a young man” (Mark 16:5) clothed in white announced to them that Jesus had risen. This news is announced by the angel in Matthew 28:5-6 and by two men “in dazzling apparel” in Luke 24:4.

According to John 21:11-18, Mary Magdalene saw two angels and then the risen Christ. Later on the same day, according to Luke, John, and Mark, Jesus appeared to the women and to other of the disciples at various locations in and around Jerusalem. Most of the disciples did not doubt that they had again seen and heard The Master they had known and followed during the time of His Ministry in Galilee and Judea. A few disciples, however, doubted it at first (Matthew 28:17).

Thomas, who had not been present at these first appearances, doubted that Jesus had risen (John 20:24-29).

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead gave humanity hope of a life after death. Christ Jesus rose from the dead, and is crowned with Honor and Glory! He is Alive—and He is Divine!

He has been glorified—and in His glorified Spirit condition His eyes are like flames of fire, and His face shines as bright as the very sun—full strength! (Rev.1:14-16).

All the Gospels add that, for a brief time after His resurrection, Jesus further instructed His disciples in matters pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

He also commissioned them to “Go ... and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” (Matthew 28:19).

Finally, according to Luke 24:50-51, at Bethany, Jesus was seen to ascend into the heavens before the eyes of His disciples, and before others who stood there. Acts 1:2-12 reports that the ascension occurred 40 days after Jesus' resurrection.

The Doctrine that JESUS expounded concerning GOD and His Eternal Kingdom; the Message of the Cross, and His Ministry subsequently developed into the principal tenets of our preaching of the Gospel today.

The Human-Personality of Jesus

The Human-Personality of Jesus

The Bible often describes the Presence of The LORD in terms of fire, heat and Glory.

The LORD has a very large frame. His wavy hair is parted in the middle, curled in at the bottom, and comes down to His neck and is as white as silk.

His skin is olive-colored, and His fingers are long and slender.

He has the build and stature of a young man—in appearance, with a good height.

He is very gentle and loving.

His Love is better than life.

He is The LORD ALMIGHTY, and yet has a very ‘human personality’.

He is “The Alpha and The Omega”, “Who is, and Who was, and Who is to Come”, The Almighty.  (Rev 1:8 NIV)

The First and The Last (v.17).

His Dominion is an Everlasting Dominion that will not pass away, and His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed (Dan 7:14 NIV).

The Personality of The Christ

The Personality of The Christ

Here are passages in the Scriptures which proves that Jesus Christ is GOD:

And we know that The Son Of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is True, and we are in Him that is True, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is The True GOD, and Eternal Life.

1 John 5:20 KJV

New International Version (NIV) puts it this way:

We know also that The Son of GOD has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him Who is True. And we are in Him Who is True — even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is The True GOD and Eternal Life.

Another one says:

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the Presence of His Glory with exceeding joy,

To The Only Wise GOD our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 24-25 KJV

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:6 NIV

Jesus Christ is GOD, He is The Holy Spirit. This is the wonder of His Personality.

  "Be still, and know that I am GOD;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth."

    Ps 46:10 NIV

Believe that Jesus is The Christ—“The Anointed One” (1 John 5:1).

Believe that He is GOD's Son (1 John 5:5).

Believe and acknowledge also, that He is GOD (1 John 5:20; Jude 24-25; Isa 9:6).

The Person of The Holy Spirit - Part 1

The Person of The Holy Spirit

(Part 1)

In the same way, The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And He Who searches our hearts knows the Mind of The Spirit, because The Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's Will.

Rom. 8:26-27 NIV

The Holy Spirit has His own Personality.

He is not an influence or spiritual force, but is a Person.

He has His own Mind—He thinks for Himself just like The Father and The Son do have such capability separately.

He has a Will of His own.

He has Knowledge.

The Holy Spirit is a Person.

He has intellect; He has emotion, and is not controlled by GOD The Father or by GOD The Son. He is a Person totally separate from The Father and The Son, but yet they are One.

But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but The Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but The Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 KJV

“The Spirit” knows the depth of GOD. He reveals “The Father” to whomever He will.

No person knows you better than yourself; likewise, nobody knows GOD better than The Holy Spirit does.

It is His Joy to reveal “The Father” to us.

He is The Only One capable of searching the deep things of GOD.

Who knows you better than your own spirit?

Nobody knows GOD, but The Holy Spirit knows Him.

Also, it is “The Spirit of God” that reveals Christ to the world.

Likewise, He is The One Who decides the gifts for the body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit could have decided not to raise Jesus from the dead, but He was committed to Jesus.

He could have changed His mind half-way, hence He has His own Personal decision all along—and you and I would have never been saved, and Jesus would have died and not be raised. And the work of the cross would have been in vain.

“The Father”, “The Son” and “The Holy Spirit” are individually separate from each other, yet they are One and the same.

The Divine Trinity is a Mystery.

The Holy Spirit was so faithful to Jesus. He did not fail Jesus, not even one time!

The Holy Spirit was right on schedule at the river Jordan.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.

Then he suffered Him.

And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw The Spirit of God descending like a dove,

and lighting upon Him:

And lo a Voice from Heaven, saying, This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3:13-17 KJV

The Holy Spirit even led Jesus into the wilderness, after He came out of the Jordan; to be tempted, and brought Him out in victory and empowered Him.

The miracles of Jesus and His deliverance ministry were performed through The Holy Spirit Who reveals the blessed work of Calvary.

He is “The Great Revealer”. There would have been no Bible had He not revealed The Word of GOD to the prophets and the apostles.

Jesus so trusted The Holy Spirit, and He surrendered to Him before He became a man—knowing that He will keep Him, empower Him and raise Him from the dead.

When Jesus left Heaven, He had no way back except by The Holy Spirit.

When Jesus offered Himself to The Father, He offered Himself through The Holy Ghost.

In other words, when “The Father” said to The Son,

  “Will you go?”

Jesus said,

  “I will go on one condition—if The Holy Spirit will sustain Me, empower Me and bring Me back home.”

And then, The Holy Spirit said,

  “I will do it!”

Then, Jesus said,

  “I totally surrender to You!”

Jesus knows “The Holy Spirit” so well and He surrendered to Him.

If Jesus was so depended on The Holy Spirit how about you?

“The Father” sent “The Son”.

The Son came and did the Will of The Father.

And The Holy Spirit reveals Him to us.

For God so Loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life.

John 3:16 KJV

The Father said it.

Jesus did it.

And The Holy Spirit revealed Him.

Christianity is a Revelation—the Revelation of Jesus Christ. This Revelation is given by The Holy Spirit.

You would not have known Jesus without The Holy Spirit.