{"id":2569,"date":"2021-05-02T03:11:45","date_gmt":"2021-05-02T09:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?p=2569"},"modified":"2022-10-26T17:28:24","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T23:28:24","slug":"controlling-influence-what-is-the-holy-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/controlling-influence-what-is-the-holy-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Controlling Influence – What is the Holy Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
The Holy Spirit is the breath or wind of God. It is God\u2019s controlling influence that interacts with man and the world. Through the Holy Spirit, the \u201chand of God\u201d is upon us and the Spirit is symbolic of the \u201cfinger\u201d of God. In various ways, the Holy Spirit manifests the power of God to accomplish the will of God. It is God\u2019s Spirit, given by God that \u201cproceeds from the Father\u201d as a \u201cheavenly gift\u201d that believers should \u201creceive,\u201d be \u201cfilled with,\u201d and be \u201cin\u201d. The Holy Spirit is something that can be \u201cput on,\u201d \u201cput in,\u201d and \u201cput within.\u201d It can be transferred from one person to another, is apportioned, and is divisible. The Holy Spirit \u201cfalls on\u201d and is \u201cpoured out\u201d as believers are \u201cbaptized with the Holy Spirit\u201d. Believers are to \u201cdrink\u201d and \u201ctaste\u201d this \u201cliving water\u201d. We are to speak and pray \u201cin the Spirit\u201d as it accomplishes many various works of God in our life. God\u2019s presence is made manifest through the Holy Spirit as it comforts, counsels, and directs us. We must be careful not to rebel against, resist, grieve, quench, or blasphemy God\u2019s controlling influence. \u00a0The Holy Spirit can be personified in that reflects God\u2019s personality and character, although it is not literally a person.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The Holy Spirit is also an aspect of God pertaining to his controlling influence. All things were made by God’s word (Logos) and through God’s breath, the Holy Spirit. This is how the original creation (the first Adam)\u00a0came into existence,\u00a0and this is how Jesus Christ (the last Adam) came into existence.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
By the<\/strong> word of the LORD<\/strong> the heavens were made, and<\/strong> by the breath of his mouth<\/strong> all their host.<\/p> When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath<\/strong>, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created<\/strong>, and you renew the face of the ground.<\/p> then the LORD God<\/strong> formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed<\/strong> into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.<\/p> The spirit of God has made me<\/strong>, and the breath<\/strong> of the Almighty give me life<\/strong>.<\/p> And the angel answered her, \u201cThe Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you<\/strong>; therefore the child to be born<\/strong> will be called holy\u2014the Son of God.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The word for spirit in Hebrew is ruach<\/em> which means breath, wind, or spirit. Similarly, the word Holy Spirit in Greek comes from the combination of the words pneuma hagion<\/em> (\u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b1 \u1f05\u03b3\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd), which most literally means, \u201cair in movement \u2013 that is sacred\u201d. \u00a0The Holy Spirit (Pneuma<\/em>) is most literally the breath or wind of God that was used to create the universe and that God uses to interact with man.<\/p> h7307. \u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b7 ru\u0302ah\u0323; from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath<\/strong>, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): \u2014 air, anger, blast, breath, x cool, courage, mind, x quarter, x side, spirit((-ual)), tempest, x vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y). <\/p> g4151. \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b1 pneuma; from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze<\/strong>; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy Spirit: \u2014 ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind. <\/p> <\/p> \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b1, \u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, \u03c4\u1f79. (1) as derived from \u03c0\u03bd\u1f73\u03c9 (blow), of the movement of air; (a) blowing, wind <\/strong>(probably JN 3.8a and HE 1.7); (b) breathing, breath<\/strong> (2TH 2.8; possibly MT 27.50 in the sense “he breathed his last”) <\/p> The correlation between the Spirit and God\u2019s breath or wind is also\u00a0 illustrated in the following verses:<\/p> By his<\/strong> wind the heavens were made<\/strong> fair<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p> But it is the Spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty<\/strong>, that makes him understand.<\/p> The wind blows<\/strong> where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The Greek word for Spirit is pheuma<\/em>. The use of this word in the New Testament and other early Christian writings is described in the foremost Greek-English Lexicon (BDAG) as follows:<\/p> (1) air in movement, blowing, breathing<\/p> (2) that which animates or gives life to the body, breath, (life-) spirit<\/p> (3) a part of human personality, spirit<\/p> (4) an independent noncorporeal being, in contract to a being that can be perceived by the physical senses, spirit<\/p> (5) God\u2019s being as controlling influence, with a focus on association with humans<\/strong>, Spirit<\/p> \u201cGod\u2019s being as controlling influence, with a focus on association with humans<\/em><\/strong>\u201d <\/em>is a key aspect to what the Holy Spirit is. That is, it is the extension of God\u2019s being, transmitted from God, that interacts with and influences people. This understanding is supported by numerous Scriptural references:<\/p> For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit<\/strong><\/p> For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p> and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship<\/strong>, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.<\/p> Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him and took some of the Spirit<\/strong> that was on him and put it on the seventy elders<\/strong>. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied.<\/strong><\/p> Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy<\/strong> with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you<\/strong><\/p> Many years you bore with them and<\/strong> warned them by your Spirit through your prophets<\/strong>. Yet they would not give ear\u2026<\/p> \u201cAnd as for me, this is my covenant with them,\u201d says the LORD: \u201cMy Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth<\/strong>, shall not depart out of your mouth\u2026\u201d<\/p> how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power<\/strong>. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him<\/strong>.<\/p> These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God<\/strong>. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The \u201cSpirit of God\u201d is analogous to the \u201chand\u201d or \u201cfinger\u201d of God. Just as a man\u2019s hand and finger are subordinate to the will of a man, so the Spirit of God is subject to the will of God. A person is doing what is done by their hands. Likewise, it is God Himself that is doing the work that is done by the extension of his hand and fingers.\u00a0 Through the Holy Spirit, God\u2019s will is put into action, performing what he sends it to perform.<\/p> the word of the LORD came<\/strong> to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him<\/strong> there<\/p> The Spirit<\/strong> lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.<\/strong><\/p> The hand of the LORD<\/strong> was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD <\/strong>and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.<\/p> But now bring me a musician.\u201d And when the musician played, the<\/strong> hand of the LORD came upon him<\/strong>. And he said, \u201cThus says the LORD<\/strong>, \u2018I will make this dry streambed full of pools.\u2019<\/p> \u201cBut if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons<\/strong>, then the kingdom of God has come upon you\u201d<\/p> \u201cBut if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons<\/strong>, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The terms power and spirit are often used interchangeably, since God performs his mighty works through his Spirit and by his power.\u00a0 It is not quite accurate to say Holy Spirit is the power of God, but rather people receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. The power of God, as demonstrated by miraculous works in people, is generally realized through a process that first involves infilling of the Holy Spirit and then the subsequent work of power or divine inspiration.\u00a0By the Holy Spirit, the controlling influence of God, we can interact with the power and mind of God.\u00a0 According to Jude 1:20, the power of God comes from the Holy Spirit, which says,\u00a0\u201cBut you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit<\/strong>\u201d. Accordingly, Praying in the Holy Spirit is the means by which we interact with God to receive his anointing and empowerment\u2014God\u2019s controlling influence<\/em>. \u00a0Several some examples are as follows:<\/p> Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat<\/strong>\u2026<\/strong><\/p> When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands<\/strong>.<\/p> And the angel answered her, \u201cThe<\/strong> Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you<\/strong>; therefore the child to be born will be called holy\u2014the Son of God.<\/p> \u201cBut you will receive<\/strong> power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you<\/strong>, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.\u201d<\/p> And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.<\/strong><\/p> And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all<\/strong> filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.<\/strong><\/p> how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power<\/strong>. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.<\/p> By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God<\/strong>\u2014so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Numerous scriptural witnesses clarify that Holy Spirit, is a gift from God that proceeds from the Father. There is a distinction to be made between the \u201cGiver\u201d\u2014God and the \u201cGift\u201d that comes from God, the Holy Spirit\u2014God\u2019s controlling influence.\u00a0<\/p> Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.<\/strong><\/p> \u201cBut when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father<\/strong>\u2026<\/strong><\/p> \u201cBeing therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father<\/strong> the promise<\/strong> of the Holy Spirit<\/strong>, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.\u201d<\/p> \u201cAnd we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit<\/strong>, whom God has given to those who obey him<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> And God<\/strong>, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,<\/strong><\/p> how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit<\/strong> and with power<\/strong>. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.<\/p> while God<\/strong> also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will<\/strong>.<\/p>Psalms 104:29-30 (ESV), When you send forth your Spirit, they are created<\/strong><\/h3>
Genesis 2:7 (ESV), The LORD God<\/strong> formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed<\/strong> into his nostrils the breath of life<\/h3>
Job 33:4 (ESV), The spirit of God has made me<\/strong>, and the breath<\/strong> of the Almighty give me life<\/strong>.<\/h3>
Luke 1:35 (ESV), The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you<\/strong><\/h3>
Meaning\u00a0of the Hebrew and Greek for Spirit<\/h2>
Strong’s Dictionary <\/h3>
Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament<\/h3>
Job 26:13 (ESV), \u0392y his wind the heavens were made fair<\/h3>
Job 32:8 (ESV), But it is the Spirit in man, the breath to the Almighty<\/h3>
John 3:8 (ESV), The wind blows – So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit<\/strong><\/h3>
The Holy Spirit is God\u2019s Controlling Influence<\/h2>
2 Peter 1:21 (ESV), Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit<\/strong><\/h3>
John 3:34 (ESV), For he gives the Spirit without measure<\/strong><\/h3>
Exodus 31:3 (ESV),\u00a0With the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship<\/strong><\/h3>
Numbers 11:25 (ESV), Took some of the Spirit\u2014put\u00a0it on the seventy elders\u2014the Spirit rested on them\u2014they prophesied<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>
1 Samuel 10:6 (ESV), Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy\u2014for God is with you<\/strong><\/h3>
Nehemiah 9:29-30 (ESV), Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>
Isaiah 59:21 (ESV), My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 10:38 (ESV),\u00a0 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power<\/strong><\/h3>
1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (ESV), No one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>
The Holy Spirit is Symbolic of the \u201cHand\u201d or \u201cFinger\u201d of God<\/h2>
Ezekiel 1:3 (ESV), The hand of the LORD was upon him<\/h3>
Ezekiel 3:14 (ESV), The Spirit\u2014the hand of the LORD being strong upon me<\/h3>
Ezekiel 37:1 (ESV), The Hand of the LORD was upon me – in the Spirit<\/h3>
2 Kings 3:15-16 (ESV), The hand of the LORD came upon him<\/strong><\/h3>
Matthew 12:28 (ESV), By the Spirit of God that I cast out demons<\/strong><\/h3>
Luke 11:20 (ESV), By the finger of God that I cast out demons<\/strong><\/h3>
The Holy Spirit Manifests the Power of God<\/h2>
Judges 14:5-6 (ESV), The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him – he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat<\/strong><\/h3>
Judges 15:14 (ESV), Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him – and his bonds melted off his hands<\/strong><\/h3>
Luke 1:35 (ESV), Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 1:8 (ESV), You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 2:4 (ESV), They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 4:31 (ESV), The were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 10:38 (ESV), God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power<\/strong><\/h3>
Romans 15:19 (ESV), By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God<\/strong><\/h3>
The Holy Spirit is God\u2019s Spirit Given to People that proceeds from the Father<\/h2>
1 Thessalonians 4:8 (ESV), God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you<\/strong><\/h3>
John 15:26 (ESV), Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 2:33 (ESV), Having received from the Father<\/strong> the promise<\/strong> of the Holy Spirit<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 5:32 (ESV), The Holy Spirit<\/strong>, whom God has given<\/strong> to those who obey him<\/h3>
Acts 15:8 (ESV), God – giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 10:38 (ESV) – God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power<\/strong><\/h3>
Hebrews 2:4 (ESV), God<\/strong> also bore witness by\u00a0gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will<\/strong><\/h3>