The ways of God are mysterious and His works are unsearchable. However, his anointed servants are given the grace to know His ways and understand the mystery of the Kingdom God. (Psalm 25:14, Matth. 13:11).
His Angels are spirits and yet they are given heavenly bodies made of flame of fire (Psm 104: 4)
Believers are so divided and at variance in their opinions about the Holy Spirit. Some denominations view Him as a power to draw on, or a source of controversy to be avoided. Some make Him their main focus and others ignore Him. His personhood, origin, power, responsibilities and position within the triune remain an object of serious debate, confusion or at best, controversy.
First the bible makes us to understand that the Holy Spirit is a person, though spirit; also has bodily form like the Father and the Son and the Angels. He has four important qualities of a person; knowledge, will, emotion and activity. He knows the thoughts of God and he reveals them to believers. (1st Corinth. 2 vs. 10-11). He exercises His will in His righteous distribution of spiritual gifts to believers (1st Corinth. 12 vs. 7-11). He is full of love (Rom. 15 vs. 30) and acts as our comforter, helper, teacher and guide. (John 14 vs. 16 & 26). It is therefore evident that the Holy Spirit is Himself a person within the Holy Trinity.
Jesus Christ was sent to the world by the Father to reveal the Father and bear witness to Him. (John 5. vs. 30, 36, 37). And the Holy Spirit was sent to reveal the son as the “Beloved Son of the Father, and to witness unto the son.” Matt. 3 vs. 17. John 14:26. Jesus said further in John 15 vs. 26, “But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of Me.”
As Him that is sent cannot be greater than Him that sent Him. (John 13 vs. 16), it is clear that the Holy Trinity consists of GodHead – God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit in that order. (1st Corinth. 15 vs. 27–28). They are not equal, yet the three are one indivisible divine entity (John 10 vs. 30) sharing common attributes. The three being omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful) and omnipresent (ever present in all places at all times).
The Holy Spirit had existed right from inception with God the Father and the Son and had disseminated gifts in diverse nature and measure to the people of old for the accomplishment of the purpose and will of God the Father. Through the gifts of prophecy, healing, and miracle, the prophets of ancient time such as Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah etc. were able to accomplish their divine missions. While through the gift of craftsmanship, Noah was able to build the ark, the pilgrims were able to build the tabernacle of gathering in the wilderness and the Ark. David the son of Jesse raveled and excelled in songs, also a gift by the Holy Spirit. Men of valor and women of ancient times like Samson, Gideon, Deborah etc. and David’s mighty men such as Adino, the Eznite, who lifted up his spear and slew eight hundred people at one time, Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite and Shammah, the son of Agee, the Hararite both of whom lifted up their swords and didn’t bring them down until thousands were slew and their hands got clave unto the sword: they all achieved the feat through the gift of Holy Spirit. Zach.4:6.
A number of bible scholars feel that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are limited to nine and some feel that they are twelve as detailed in 1st Corinth 12: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, help/charity, discernment, administrations, and diversities of tongues, interpretation of tongues, wisdom and knowledge.
The truth is that the gifts are limitless; they are circumscribed only by the missions purposed by God, the Father. The Holy Spirit reminded and guided the apostles when they were writing the gospels. The scientific ingenuity and breakthrough in technology and medicine experienced by this age: satellite, spaceship etc. are all products of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to achieve the fulfillment of the plan of God for the end time; Daniel 12 vs. 4; Matt. 24 vs. 39. Gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by God for the edification of the body of Christ to grow believers in faith with a view to achieving perfection in Saints, and to bring to pass the word of God.
NOW: Are all those that have been so gifted saved? NO. At the death and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit manifested for the first time His end-time Ministry. There is a dispensation of various gifts by the Holy Spirit as earlier narrated and there is an end-time commission. This new commission was never experienced by anyone until after the death and resurrection of the Lord – John 7 vs. 37–39. This end-time element of the Ministry of the Holy Spirit is known as Holy Ghost and He is commissioned to certify and seal those who are justified by the blood of Jesus Christ for redemption.
Unlike the various gifts earlier mentioned, the Holy Ghost is received at the time of baptism/anointment/conversion of a believer and it remains in-dwelling in that believer until the day of redemption. At baptism/anointment/conversion/regeneration process, a believer is now aligned with the Spirit of Jesus Christ and certified by the Holy Ghost for adoption into the household of God. Mark 16 vs. 15–16. Matt. 3 vs. 11; Acts 2 vs. 1–4, Acts 19 vs. 1-7, Gal. 3 vs. 26-27, Titus 3 vs. 4-7. The Holy Ghost (a special ministry of the Holy Spirit) is a Seal of Spiritual Empowerment - Act 1:8, a seal of adoption into the household of God - Romans 8:15, and a seal of redemption. Eph 4 vs. 30.
Once we are sealed for redemption by the power of the Holy Ghost, are we now heaven bound? No: unless we remain steadfast in the faith (in Christ Jesus), steadfast in love, charity and other good works and obedient to the commandments of God. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gifts, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to open shame Heb 6 vs. 4-6, Eph.4 vs. 30.
Have you being baptized? Have you received the Holy Ghost? Are you now saved? Please examine yourself, your ways, and your work of faith. Make your election a certainty.
Prophecy is one of the various gifts of the Holy Spirit – making known what is yet to happen. This gift could be in form of dream, vision, foretelling through songs like king David, hearing the voice of the holy spirit, talking in plain language or in tongues. Unless you are totally anchored on Christ- Rev. 22:6, in total humility, divine love, the fear of God, and strong in faith and prayer, you may not be counted among his holy prophets, but an agent of Satan’s deception.
As a holy prophet , you are given a ministry of reconciling people to God, uniting and not dividing, building and not destroying, loving and not hating – a beacon of God’s righteousness.
Happy Sabbath.
In God,
SE J. Olorunnisola
Previous Messages:
Understanding the Holy Spirit(05.11.08)
Trusting The Faithful God(05.04.08)
Dealing With Temptation(4.20.08)
Faith in Danger(4.13.08)
Seeking the Face of God(4.06.08)
House of Worship(3.30.08)
Looking Beyond(3.02.08)
Fasting: Why, When & How?(2.17.08)
Is anything too hard for God? (2.03.08)
Salvation of your soul - Is it a lost battle for you?(1.27.08)
Wide is the Gate(1.06.08)
The Amazing joy of Christmas(12.23.07)
The 7 faces of Faith(10.28.07)
Demons at Large(10.21.07)
Celestial Church of Christ @ 60(10.14.07)
Living in Fear(9.23.07)
The Consequences of Ignoring or Rejecting God(9.9.07)
Be Ye Perfect(8.26.07)
Beware! The Schemer is at work(7.29.07)
Pride & Arrogance: A Forbidden Fruit(7.8.07)
Avoiding shortcuts that can destroy God's covenant for your life(6.10.07)
The Beauties of Heaven and the horrors of hell(5.27.07)
The Battle for your Soul(4.22.07)
The Awesome Power of Resurrection(4.8.07)
The Cross of Calvary(4.1.07)
Fasting(3.25.07)
The Devic Kingdom of the Angels Pt. 3 of 3(3.11.07)
The Devic Kingdom of the Angels Pt. 2 of 3(3.4.07)
The Devic Kingdom of the Angels Pt. 1 of 3(2.25.07)
Groaning and Travail Everywhere(2.11.07)
New Year's Resolution(12.31.06)
The Mystery of Christmas(12.24.06)
Key to a Successful Marriage(12.17.06)
REALITY OF HEAVEN & HELL(12.10.06)
Finding Favor with God(11.17.06)
Living in Peace with yourself(11.5.06)
Wages Of Sin(10.22.06)
Forfeiting The Grace(10.15.06)
Growing Spiritually(10.8.06)
Household of God(8.20.06)
Feast Of Harvest (8.6.06)
Bitterness & Hatred (7.30.06)
Resistance to Positive Change (7.23.06)
Worshipping God in Spirit & Truth (7.16.06)
You and the Church (6.25.06)
Holy and Acceptable Sacrifice (6.11.06)
What Legacy Are You Leaving Behind? (5.28.06)