HOLY SPIRIT

There is so much that can be said about the Holy Spirit. I admit it is difficult to APPREHEND it all, but we can learn by what the Word says about the Holy Spirit.

I think it would help us in our pursuit of Him if we look at the symbols the Bible uses to dive deeper into what they mean.

There are four prominent symbols that refer to the Holy Spirit.

• Dove
• Fire
• Wind
• Water

Dove
Probably the most recognizable symbol of the Holy Spirit is the Dove that appeared at the baptism of Jesus. It is recorded in all four gospels.

Matthew writes:

Matthew 3:16

After Jesus was baptized, just as He was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on Him.

The Dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit communicates beauty, gentleness, and peace.

If we APPREHEND what that means to us personally, we can enjoy this expression from the Holy Spirit. Then, we begin to understand how we are completely loved.

The Holy Spirit brings what is needed to give us a healthy walk with God. We are then able to overcome fear and anxiety. We are also able to experience the overwhelming feeling of peace in the midst of the storms of life.

He is our Comforter.

The Greek word for Comforter is:

Parakletos – One called alongside to help counsel and teach.

He gives us life-giving comfort when we are going through hardship or weakness. He brings encouragement in the face of hate.

Even Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to help Him endure many things He faced. If Jesus needed Him, how much more do we need to realize that we need Him and that we can access Him freely? He is our gift from Heaven that now dwells inside us.

Jesus was very insistent on the First Church of the NEW and BETTER Covenant to have the experience of the Holy Spirit, because Jesus knew we would need to rely on all of the Holy Spirit gifts.

He brings us divine APPREHENSION to give us understanding of God’s truths.

As the natural dove flies above and descends upon man, so the Holy Spirit comes from the Heavenly realm and descends upon us personally so we can experience all of His attributes.

Fire
Another symbol of the Holy Spirit is Fire.

In the Word, Fire can communicate the Lord’s Presence as we learned from Moses’ experience.

Exodus 3:2

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

Purification

1 Peter 1:7-8

7 That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

Our faith is tested through situations, but the Holy Ghost FIRE helps us to overcome as He shows us the revelation of Jesus we need at the time. Then, we see that He helps us continue in our love and devotion to Jesus.

And this is what we will receive:

1 Peter 1:9

Receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Yes, the Greek word for salvation here is sozo. It means: Deliverance, health, salvation, save, saving

Thank God for the Holy Spirit’s Fire and help in this life as we move forward in HIM.

Our God is a completely consuming Fire. The Holy Spirit’s work aids us in allowing the Fire of God to consume anything that is not pleasing to God and move us forward into His greater glory.

Hebrews 12:28-29

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.

The most explicit passage that refers to the Holy Spirit as Fire is in Acts.

Acts 2:1-4

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Let me remind you what the Apostle Paul said about the Fire of the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Do not quench the Spirit.

Disobedience to the Spirit is like throwing water on a fire.

Wind
The Greek word for Spirit is pneuma.

Pneuma can also be translated as breath or wind.

Now, we must recognize that in the same passage describing the Holy Spirit as Fire, He is also seen as and compared to Wind.

Acts 2:2

And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

He had come to blow into them and to bring the changes needed for them to walk in the fullness of their destinies.

The Holy Spirit will come, and He will come as Fire and He will come as Wind when needed to bring about God’s will for each of us. John describes it this way:

John 3:8

The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

The image of wind communicates that the Holy Spirit is powerful and invisible. And He is able to blow His Wind in us and through us to bring what is needed for us and for others.

That Wind has also blown to destroy the enemy’s plans on many occasions.

For example, He blew upon the waters of the Red Sea to rescue His people and to destroy their enemies (Exodus 15).
Water
Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as Water to us beautifully in John.

John 7:37-38

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Ok, please pay attention to what He said. IF you thirst to APPREHEND the deeper things, then go to HIM and drink. Then out of your heart will flow this Living River.

Beautiful, right? But then He goes on to reveal what the Spirit would do when He came.

John 7:39

But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

What we can conclude, then, is this:

Jesus’ heart was flowing with rivers of Living Water, but they could not be accessed until the Holy Spirit came.

But when He came–and thank God, HE CAME!–then the Holy Spirit within us allows us to flow with the same Water that flows through the heart of Jesus, our Lord.

As physical fresh water is needed for physical life, the Living Water of the Holy Spirit is needed for spiritual life, and He will empower us to answer the High Call.

In conclusion, we as Christians, should not be afraid of the Holy Spirit, but rather we look to the Spirit for guidance and spiritual strength. The Holy Spirit is alive and active today in the lives of both believers and unbelievers.

As Christians, we are to be eternally grateful that the Holy Spirit is our permanent indwelling Companion, gifting us to serve others and empowering us to live the Christian life. He is to be respected, followed and cherished.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit,
Help us to APPREHEND all that You have come to give us.
Let us experience Your Fire to keep our heart burning for all that God has for us.
Let us humble ourselves and allow Your Wind to blow through us–keeping us mindful of things above and not the things of this world.
Let us be hungry to live the pure life that You help us to live, so that we can be examples of righteousness on this earth, and to affect others to live with the same righteousness.
Come, Holy Spirit, and wash us with rivers of Living Water that will never run dry. Let us APPREHEND ALL that You came to give us.
We love You, Holy Spirit.
Thank You for continually revealing the Father and the Son to us.
Amen

WORSHIP/VIDEOS
Leeland – Wellspring

Bethel Music – He Is Like