Before we get into the deity and emblems of the Holy Ghost, lets take a few minutes to look at one example of how the Holy Ghost helps God's people in the work which He came to do, in the Old Testament the greatest story I think that could shine light on the Holy Ghost, is that of Moses and the Children of Israel as they begin their deliverance and preparation for their inheritance.
Today God wants His people to know that without the Holy Ghost they don't have the power they need to be victorious over the bondage which they are faced with, once a believer has been filled with the Holy Ghost they are now "armed and dangerous," Paul said, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:35-37). By this we are to know that we are "armed and dangerous" in the Lord, so lets take a look at Moses as he became, armed and dangerous.
The call of Moses was indeed significant. Confronted with a bush afire, he was given a revelation from God, who commissioned him to deliver His people Israel from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3). Fully acquainted with Pharaoh's power, Moses was assured of divine support in contesting the authority of the ruler of Egypt.
He furthermore anticipated the lack of confidence and the reluctance of the Israelites to accept him as a leader. To counter this, God assured him that the great "I AM" was about to fulfill His promise made to the patriarchs to redeem Israel from bondage and settle them in the land of Canaan (Gen. 15:12-21).
In addition two miraculous signs the Holy Ghost also showed Moses' staff change to a serpent and his hand became leprous and later was healed - were provided as evidence for the verification of divine authority (Exodus 4:1-17). Finally, Moses was assured of Aaron's support in his divine commission to deliver the Israelites from the powerful clutch of Pharaoh. Accompanied by his wife Zipporah and their two sons, Moses returned to the land of Egypt armed and dangerous.
In a series of ten plagues Moses and Aaron countered Pharaoh's attempt to retain Israel in bondage (Exodus 7-11) As a whole these plagues were directed against the gods of Egypt, demonstrating God's power to the Egyptians as well as to the Israelites.
Pharaoh immediately expressed his attitude of resistance, retorting, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go" (Exodus 5:2). As Pharaoh continued to resist, his heart hardened. Finally the last plagues brought judgment on all the gods of Egypt, as the firstborn sons were killed throughout the land. Then Pharaoh complied with Moses' demand and allowed the Israelites to leave.
The Pharaoh and the Israelites learned that day that the power of God could not be match by anything on earth, although the Holy Ghost didn't infill the people of Old Testament times He did come upon them empowering them as with Moses and many others, the Holy Ghost came to empower the believer today by infilling him, "arming" him with what ever is needed to carry out the will of God for His people.
Therefore we are as Moses "armed and dangerous" Eph. 6:10-12, when it comes to the work of God and carrying out God's will, we are empowered by the Holy Ghost through many ways and we will see in this chapter some of those ways by studying the Holy Ghost.
VI.) THE DEITY OF THE HOLY GHOST: (Acts 5:3-4)
(V.3) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
(V.4) While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
The Holy Ghost is God, and is equal to the Father and the Son, don't ever speak of Him as "IT" or refer to Him as an "Influence." He is God the Holy Ghost, and is set forth in the Bible as being distinct from the Father and the Son. In the Genesis account of creation, He is seen activity engaged in the work of creation, along with the Father and the Son:
Genesis 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."
Genesis 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."
We find that when reading scripture we should always remember that the life force which is given is always given by the Holy Ghost, as when the Spirit of God gave life to every thing that had life in the waters, and when God breathed into the nostrils of man it was the Holy Ghost, also other scriptures as when Mary was found with child, it was the Holy Ghost which overshadowed her, ". . .that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 1:20).
(Gr. Pneuma hagion; in KJV of New Testament, Holy Ghost). The third person of the triune Godhead ( Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14). There is a rich revelation of the Spirit of the Lord in the Old Testament, running along the same lines as that in the New Testament, and directly preceding and preparing for something. Customarily we think of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament as powerfully endowing chosen individuals for great tasks, but actually his work ranges much more widely. First, we notice that the Spirit is God's agent in creation (e.g., Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6; 104:30).
For animals (Isa. 34:16) and man (Job 27:3) alike (cf. Isa. 42:5), giving life to creation such as have life, is the work of the Holy Spirit. Second, the Spirit is the agent in the providential work of God in the moral sphere, the areas of history and ethical relationships. Though the actual translation of Genesis 6:3 is uncertain, it is by his Spirit that God senses and reacts to wickedness on earth. In Ezekiel 1:14, 20 the Spirit is the power by which the sovereign God controls the complexities of life on earth, so we see by this, that the Holy Ghost not only gives life but is in full control of that life as to allow it to continue or end.
In the Old Testament, He came upon men to empower them for service: But when they were disobedient, He departed from them, when David sinned against the Lord, he prayed, "TAKE NOT THY HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME" (Ps. 51:11) in the New Testament after Pentecost, we see the Holy Ghost indwelling the believer. Never to leave him, filling and empowering him for service, the study of the person and work of the Holy Ghost is of uttermost importance, a scriptural understanding of God the Holy Ghost will make you a better Christian and servant of God.
The evening of the Resurrection, Jesus "breath on" the disciples (Thomas being absent) and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). This was not the complete endowment of the Holy Spirit that Jesus had taught and promised and that occurred at Pentecost, but it was provisional and enabled the disciples to persevere themselves in prayer until the promise day.
At Pentecost a new phase of the revelation of God to people began (Acts 2) - as new as when the Word became flesh in the birth of Jesus. With the rushing of a mighty wind and what appeared to be tongues of fire, the disciples were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in foreign languages (listed in 2:9-11).
The excitement drew a crowd of visitors to the feast, to whom Peter explained that the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 was being fulfilled in accordance with the salvation that Jesus of Nazareth had accomplished by dying on the cross. Another 3,000 souls were added by baptism to the 120 which were already there, and thus began the fellowship of apostolic teaching, of breaking of bread and of prayer, the fellowship that is the church.
VII.) THE EMBLEMS OF THE HOLY GHOST: (Luke 3:16)
(V.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:
(1) It is often difficult to impart truth by the use of words, frequently they reveal only a half truth, leaving the other half hidden.
The writers of the Bible used certain emblems when unfolding the mysteries of the Holy Ghost, because they illustrate more about Him than volumes can contain, they are:
(A) FIRE, as an emblem (Luke 3:16) fire speaks of His consuming, purifying power in the life of the believer (Acts 2:3) also (Isa. 6:1-7). Fire is spoken of as purifying the believer, John spoke of this as he said that Jesus would baptize the believer with the Holy Ghost and with Fire. (Matt. 3:11).
The meaning of the word "Fire" is the source of great definition to the believer, in the Bible and in Webster's meaning of the word, note: (Webster) the active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of combustion, extreme suffering or distress that tries one's endurance; tribulation or ordeal; fire like brilliance. The word "Fire" can go on and on but the truth of the matter is that fire brings forth from within the potential of purity.
In the scriptures we find that the fire John spoke of and the work which Jesus would do after him, baptizing the believer with the Holy Ghost and with fire, this is to purify the believer, by his atoning work Jesus cleanses believers from all sin (Eph. 5:25-26; I John 1:7). As High Priest, Jesus' work in heaven was to send the comforter (John 14) that he may indwell the believer and cleanses the heart as well as the body (Heb. 10:2, 21-22). So believers are to be pure in heart (Matt. 5:8; I Tim. 1:5) and chaste in life (I Tim. 4:2; 5:2). It is their duty to purify themselves (I Peter 2:22; I John 3:3).
(B) WATER, as an emblem (John 7:37-39) water speaks of His power to fill the believer to overflowing with spiritual life. Jesus taught the nature and work of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15.
His work is to dwell in the believer, filling them with spiritual life, to do the work of the Lord and fill them as:
COMFORTER; The KJV "Comforter" is as satisfactory as any, if it is taken in the fullest sense of one who not only consoles but also strengthens, helps, and counsels, with such authority as a legal advocate has for his client. Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as "another Comforter" (NIV "Counselor," John 14:16), using the same Greek word thereby implying that he Himself is a "Comforter."
COUNSELOR; is the same word rendered "Comforter" as applied to the Holy Spirit, the Greek word is so rich in meaning that adequate translation by any one English word is impossible.
ADVOCATE; (Greek parakletos); the Holy Spirit is the advocate of the Father with us, therefore our Comforter (KJV, John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; RSV, NIV, translate, "Counselor"). In I John 2:1 the meaning is narrowed to that of Christ being our advocate with the Father, "one who speaks to the Father in our defense."
To teach all things; to help believers remember what Jesus said; to testify of Jesus; to reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; to guide the believer into all truth; not to speak on His own initiative, but to speak only what he hears; to show the believer things to come; and to glorify Jesus by showing the things of Jesus to the believers. As with most reference of the Holy Spirit as water to fill the believer we also see that David declared in Psa. 23:5, "my cup runneth over" and Eph. 3:19 speaks of being filled with "all the fullness of God" Eph. 5:18 speaks of not being filled with wine but being "filled with the Spirit."
When the first Gentiles were converted, the Holy Spirit was poured out on them and they spoke in tongues (Acts 10:44-48); likewise when Paul met a group of John the Baptist's disciples, the Holy Spirit came on them (19:1-7).
As water fills a vessel, the Holy Spirit is here now to fill the believer to overflowing power to the service of the Lord by endowing the believer with gifts (I Cor. 12:14), our body is the "temple of the Holy Spirit" (6:19), and "the fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-23). Being "filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18) means that one experiences Christ living within (Rom. 8:9-10).
(C) SEAL, as an emblem (Eph. 1:13) seal speaks of His ownership to the believer: It is a finished eternal transaction. As Satan has his seal or mark so also does Christ have his seal or mark, the believer will be sealed by the Holy Ghost until the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30) when they shall all be removed from this earth to a heavenly home to be with the Lord.
To appreciate the New Testament theme of redemption, the position of human beings as slaves of sin must be assumed (John 8:33-34). Thus they must be set free in order to become the liberated servants of the Lord. "For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Here again the use of the metaphor of ransom does not require that the question, "To whom was the ransom paid?" be answered. The emphasis is on costly sacrifice, the giving of a life.
Paul wrote of "The redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24) and claimed that in Christ "We have redemption through His blood" (Eph. 1:7). Peter wrote that "it was not with perishable things. . .that you were redeemed. . .but with the precious blood of Christ" (Peter 1:18-19; cf. Heb. 9:12, 15; Rev. 5:9-10). This redemption paid for by the costly sacrifice of the life of Jesus is a completed act as far as God is concerned. But the results of the redemption as far as we are concerned are experienced in part now and in full at the beginning of the new age, following the Last Judgment. There is real freedom from the guilt and power of sin now as well as a freedom to love and serve God (Gal. 5:1, 13); but the final freedom from this mortal body and the principle of sin within it will only be known at the resurrection of the dead (Luke 21:27-28; Rom. 8:23; Eph. 4:30).
(D) OIL, as an emblem (Acts 10:38) oil speaks of His power to anoint for service.
Old and New Testament speaks of oil as anointing one for service, even Samuel who went to find a young David and to pour oil on him to anoint him as the next king of Israel after Saul's disobedience to the word of the Lord. Also Joel prophesied that God said that He "will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions;" (Joel 2:28; Zec. 12:10) in service of the Lord the Holy Ghost has empowered such man as; the seventy Elders, (Nu. 11;25); Balaam, (Nu. 24:2); Othniel, (Jud. 3:10); Gideon, (Jud. 6:34); Samson, (Jud. 14:6) Saul, (I Sam. 10:10); David, (I Sam. 16:13); Saul's Messengers, (I Sam.19:20); and in the New Testament, Believers in the Early Church, Simeon, (Luke 2:25); Believers at Pentecost, (Acts 2:3); The Samaritan Christians, (Acts 8:17); Cornelius and his Company, (Acts 10:44); The Ephesian Believers, (Acts 19:6; 19:7; I Cor. 12:13; I John 2:20).
(E) DOVE, as an emblem (Mark 1:10) The Dove speaks of His gentle, tender, peaceful nature we may know "The Peace of God" which passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7) only fully surrendered to God.
The peace of God (Heb. Shalom, peace, Gr. Eirene, concord). The word used in the Old Testament and still found today among Semitic people basically means "completeness" or "soundness." It can denote neighborliness (Ps. 28:3 KJV) or well-being and security (Eccl. 3:8) or the reward of a mind stayed on God (Isa. 26:3). It is linked with honest dealing and true justice (Zech. 8:16 KJV), and is a prominent feature of the coming Messiah (Isa. 9:6).
According to the New Testament, peace results from God's forgiveness (Phil. 4:7) and is the ideal relation with one's brother (II Cor. 13:11; cf. Matt. 5:23-24). Peace is a mark of serenity (John 14:27) to be sought after (Heb. 12:14), and it summarizes the gospel message (Acts 10:36). It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), will benefit those who practice it both now (James 3:18) and at the Second Coming (Rom. 2:10), and is the opposite of disorder or confusion (I Cor. 14:33). Peace is the presence of God, not the absence of conflict. The Christian who knows peace is charged to tell others so that it may come for them, too, through Christ, who brought, preached, and is our peace (Eph. 2:14).
MEMORY TEXT:
"He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Luke 3:16).
