Today, reply is on language in the Bible used to describe the operations, personhood, and substance of the Holy Spirit. Spirit substance must be used to identify, recognize, and respond to other spirit substance. Many events and symbols are used to clarify and explain what is meant by “the Holy Spirit.” Figures are used to depict “spirit” such as breath, clouds, a dove, fire, oil, rain, and water. However, divinity actually becomes known to created beings and living creatures through revelation, and the divine imparting/indwelling of living content from the makeup of GOD. Divinity must become known and visible by displaying acts that express his own sacred heart and mind as well as the various inseparable aspects of his full makeup. Included are immortality, personhood, eternal purpose, and sovereign will. The living are to discover, experience, and realize relationship with divinity by apprehending the active presence, provisions, and works of GOD. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality forum who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile data shared) posted the following:
Why, in Num. 11:17, does God need to take the spirit that is already on someone and place it on someone else if this holy spirit a person?
It should be able to do for itself. Is the Holy spirit like some kind of child?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1st John 4: 1-3, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Why Spirit Displays Personhood (06/06/2018); John Anointed To Prophesy (05/21/2018); The Household Of Cornelius (05/17/2018); The Meaning of “Faith” (03/28/2018); What Is A Spirit? (03/06/2018); In Order To Understand (12/01/2017); Leadings of the Spirit (11/05/2017); Human Nature, Divine Spirit? (05/18/2017)
“Anonymous”, among mature Christians, rather than say, “God needs to do this or that,” it is more correct to consider, “What are the needs, possibilities, and preparation of mankind that require some specific action and intervention from God in this way or that?” In frustration and ignorance, many accuse, blaspheme, and deny respect to GOD. Even so, the process of the Scriptures is one that presents multiple streams of truth that come together and flow throughout the many collected writings that make up the Bible. The holy writings actually provide a divine perspective (point of view) where GOD operates through thousands of events, within thousands of lives, over the course of thousands of years. For this reason, the Bible also is respected as an emblem of the divine presence, and “the evidence of things unseen.”
Every reader of the Scriptures will discover that a single concept or word will be used as having many meanings (i.e., both denotations and connotations) as well as associations, references, and usages—even within a single sentence, verse, paragraph, or passage. (For example, “law” may denote the Ten Commandments, the Covenant of Moses, or the standards created as determinations and outcomes of tribunal (we say, decisions and verdicts in judgment). Abbreviations and shortened forms often appear that replace a phrase or title. (Thus, “the manifestation of Holy Spirit,” the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth becomes simply “the Spirit.”
As those who are “born again,” developing believers also must “grow up again,” and become skilled in avoiding and overcoming the spiritual confusion that results from relying on the finite tools of the world (e.g., mechanical and natural law, secular knowledge, intelligence, logic, philosophy, carnal reason, science, technology) that do not permit discovery, gradual growth, practice, and learning of sacred knowledge.
The Holy Spirit who is a person within divine fullness (we also say, Deity; the Godhead; the Trinity) provides sacred substance to and through the living by such divine operations as baptism, rebirth, repentance, and sanctification. Inseparable spirit matter is shared as divine DNA, Christ-likeness so to speak, that makes a sinner a new creation. Included are faith, forbearance, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. In addition to his workings being called “gifts” enabling, endowments, and supplies (from/of the Spirit), there are “fruit”, permanent changes in ones character and makeup spoken of as life consequences, outcomes, and products (from/of the Spirit). Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Luke 11: 13, King James Version (KJV): 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?
(2.) 1st Corinthians 12: 1-7, KJV: 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
(3.) 1st Corinthians 2: 9-14, KJV: 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 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. 12 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. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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