Here is our God: The Holy Spirit

Understanding God and His ways

The Works and the Attributes of Holy Spirit: John 16: 5 - 7

When Jesus was about to leave the world, He promised His disciples that He will send the Comforter. According to John 16:5-7, this comforter is the Holy Spirit which is the third of the Trinity. Trinity means the union of three Divine existence who is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. The Godhead is three beings in one. The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together, and as one. For example, they created the world in Gen 1:26. When God confounded the language of the man at the tower of Babel,

they were together, Gen 11: 6-7. At the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ, Father Son, and Spirit were represented, Matt 3: 16 – 17. Every baptism of believers involves the trinity, Matt 28:19.; and anytime we share the Grace, we invoke the presence of the three, 2 Cor 13:14

"The Spirit of God has personalities that show that he is a being and not a thing"

Works of Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus Christ Our Lord

Holy Spirit has been working before the day of Pentecost, however, His manifestation in the life of believers began on the day of Pentecost. Throughout the ministry of Christ on earth, the Holy Spirit was with Him. Right from birth till the time of ascension. Before His birth, the Holy Spirit was the agent of the father in Mary who got pregnant, Luke 1:35. At the Baptism of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon Him for ministerial anointing, Luke 3:21-22. As christ went from community to community declaring the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit anointed Him for signs and wonders, Luke 4: 18, Acts 10:38, and the Spirit led Him for service, Luke 4:1-14. After the death of Christ, the Holy Spirit raised him from death on the third day, Rom 8:11. If the Holy Spirit worked constantly in the life of Jesus, as believers, we need the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Attributes Of The Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit has the same attributes as God. He is Omnipresent, that is He is present everywhere, Ps 139:7-8; He is Omnipotent, which is all-powerful; Nothing is too hard for him, Lk 1:35; He is Omniscient, He, therefore, knows all things, 1 Cor 2:10-11; He is holy, and there is no single sin in Him Rev 4:8, 6:10, 15:4; He is eternal, His existence had no beginning and will have no end; He is from everlasting to everlasting, Heb 9:14; He is faithful and reliable Ps 36:5; and He has knowledge and wisdom, 1 Tim 1:17

"The Spirit of God is a companion, friend, tutor, guardian, consultant, comforter, and counselor to every child of God"

The Personalities of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit of God has personalities that show that he is a being and not a thing. The Holy Spirit speaks, Rev 2:7, Jn 16:13-15; teaches, Jn 14:26; guides, Jn 16:13; comforts, Acts 9:31; prays, Rom 8:26; intercedes, Rom 8:27; helps us in our weakness, Rom 8:26; testifies of the Lord, Jn 15:26; calls people to the work of God, Acts 13:2; groans, Rom 8:26; has emotions and feelings e.g anger- Eph 4:30, Matt12:31-32, Mk 3:29; commands people in their services of Jesus Christ, Acts 16:6-7; makes plans and carries them out, 1 Cor 12:11, Acts 16:6-7; hears when we call on him, Jn 16:13; and takes decisions.

The Spirit of God is a companion, friend, tutor, guardian, consultant, comforter, and counselor to every child of God. It is therefore essential to understand Him, and doggedly seek Him

This article was edited by the Sunday School department of Family of Faith Chapel. familyoffaithchapel.org. Culled from PPC Sunday School Manual.

Holding Up

Why We Must Not Look Back

It is without a doubt that a lot of us have never experienced the incidence seen in this year 2020. The whole world is struggling to adjust to what has been tagged as the “new normal”. So many people have lost their loved ones, jobs, and businesses. Indeed, what a year!

Let’s remind ourselves of an event that took place in Luke 8: 22 – 25:

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm (NLT)

For a child of God, we can experience Peace amid a storm, just as in this pandemic crisis. During a raging storm, Christ called forth Peace, and therefore, we have an assurance that we are recipients of this great peace if we have Christ in our boat. However, if you are not a child of God, you have to surrender your life to Christ to experience the divine calm that only Christ gives.

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"We cannot eat at the table of God,

relish His mercy and protection and turn back."

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Peace is what Christ has declared. However, how are we holding up?

At the onset of the pandemic, we all ran to God; asking for mercy and protection, re-dedicating our lives as well as professing our love to Him. We became new beings! However, as we adjust to the odd, is the passion still up? Is the fire still burning? Are we still seeking God doggedly?

We can’t take God for granted if we want to enjoy His peace. We cannot eat at the table of God, relish His mercy and protection and turn back. See what the Bible says in Luke 9: 62 (NLT); But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”. Are you looking back after running to God for mercy? God is not to be fooled. Heb 6: 4 – 6 says; "Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us—if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can’t start over as if nothing happened. That’s impossible. Why they’ve re-crucified Jesus! They’ve repudiated him in public!"(The Message).

No one knows what this year or the future holds, we have not seen it all. This is not the time to relent, it’s the time to Hold up the fort! Christ is the only hope to have peace in the storm, do not lose sight of Him.

How are you holding up?

This article was written by the Sunday School department of Family of Faith Chapel. familyoffaithchapel.org

Speak!

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”.

In the life of every man, there are confronting circumstances as we see even in the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth while on earth. In Matthew 8:26, the Bible recorded that He was enjoying His sleep in the boat when the storm confronted Him and His disciples. Jesus took action; He spoke to the ears of the storm and the storm responded with calm. This confirms that the storm heard him and could respond.

Similarly, in Mark 11:14, Jesus spoke to the fig tree and the tree responded appropriately to His desires. In Eze 37: 4, prophet Ezekiel, following God’s instruction, spoke to the ears of the dry bones and the bones responded accordingly. Likewise, Joshua spoke to the Sun and it obeyed, despite its distance from the earth (Jos 10: 12). In Numbers 16: 30-33, Moses spoke, the ground heard, and responded by swallowing his opposition. This confirms the Word of Jesus in Mark 11: 23 that, with faith, one can tell the mountain to move and it will obey. We also know that in Proverbs 18: 21 the Bible says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”. When people oppose us, don’t we respond to them by speaking? Why then should we not use the power of our tongue against visble and invisible oppositions confronting our lives?

The above references emphasize that faith is the underlying requirement and it comes by hearing the Word of God. The few scriptures above are enough to produce the mustard seed of faith needed to speak into your circumstances.

However, faith without works is dead. It is time for action. Speak to the circumstances of life in the name of Jesus Christ, and watch them respond favorably to your desires. Creation hears, obeys and awaits the manifestation of men. Do not delay your miracle, for your day of testimony is at hand. I decree that you will experience your spiritual realities all through the month of June in Jesus name. Amen.

Action Point: Pray three times a day consistently for 30 days and watch how heaven responds.

This article was written by Peter Akinnubi. He is the Senior Pastor of Family of Faith Chapel Albany, Ga.

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