Recently a person who came across the VW homepage made queries about the Holy Spirit, asking about the Trinity, nature, authority. Do we pray to and worship Him? There is so much confusion today on this subject. My answers to this person form the basis of this article.
The matter of the God-head is quite possibly one of the most difficult things to understand. And, I doubt that we finite humans can completely understand it while we are on this earth. But we will when we "see Him just as He is." (1Jn3:2)
That there are "three" in the God-head is quite apparent. We are to baptize in the "name of the Father...the Son, and..Holy Spirit. (Mt28:19) "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one."(1Jn5:7) All Three were present when Jesus was baptized. (Jn1:32, Mt3:16-17) And at creation. (Gen1:2, Jn1:1-4)
Jesus describes His unity with the Father, "..as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You...just as We are one."(~Jn17:21-23) At creation God said, "Let [US] make man in our image, according to [Our] likeness.. and God created man in [His] own image."(Gen1:26-27) Notice the plural/unity in this passage.
God gave a human example of this singular plurality. It is the unity between Christ and the Church; and this bond is exemplified by marriage. Paul writes, "..the two shall become one flesh. This is a GREAT MYSTERY.." (Eph5:31-32)
What is God's nature, overall? Who knows for sure? In John 4:24 Jesus says that "God is spirit." What is the nature of "spirit?" He ex- plained it, "The wind blows where it wishes & you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (Jn3:8)
In Rev3:1, Jesus makes claim to having the "seven Spirits of God." These "Spirits" are before the throne of "Him who is, who was and who is to come"...the "I AM." (Rv1:4,Ex3:14) So, does this mean that the Holy Spirit is "Seven?" Perhaps. We are only given pictures.
Now, as to the Holy Spirit's "own will" ... When Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, He says, "He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak...He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."(Jn16:13-14) There seems to be a hierarchy in the God-head. The Father being chief. For a time He has given authority to the Son...which ultimately the Son will return to the Father (1Cor15:28). And then, the Holy Spirit...the "helper." 1Cor11:3 says that the "head of Christ is God." Jesus said repeatedly, "I always do those things that please Him [the Father]"..."as My Father taught me, I speak these things." (Jn8:28-29)
And then regarding spirits.. "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."(1Cor14:32) In other words, a Christian, being filled by the Holy Spirit...the Spirit is subject to that person. And as such, we are warned to not "quench the Spirit." (1Th5:19)
On the other hand, "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one...But one and the same Spirit works all these things, dis- tributing to each one individually as He wills. (1Cor12:7,11)
And by the same token...what we see in these so-called "revivals" is NOT Scriptural...where people are being "slain" in the spirit...and are totally NOT in control of themselves, as SOME "spirit" has taken control OF them. In these meetings the "preacher" will warn the men against looking with lust upon the women so-caught up in the moment, dancing around. When these skirt-clad women fall down "dead" in immodest poses, special workers go around with drop clothes to cover them. The Holy Spirit will work where He is given room to work...but will not render a person incapacitated. Nor will He "cause" a person to act unbecomingly, nor flop down non-demurely. (Ex20:26,1Tm5:2,1Cor14:40)
In spite of the "subservient" role the Holy Spirit seems to have, Lying to the Spirit brought about death to Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts5:3) And blaspheming the Holy Spirit is something for which there is no forgiveness. "anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit...it will not be forgiven." (Lk12:10)
If a person decides, after knowing God, to willfully turn his back on God and reject Christ, there is no more sacrifice for sins (Heb10:26), because, among other things, the person has "insulted the Spirit of grace."(vs29)
I do not know of any Scripture that tells us to worship or "pray to" the Holy Spirit. Nor, for that matter, do we pray TO "Jesus." We pray to the Father, in "Jesus' name." (Mt6:6, Jn16:26, 2Cor13:7, Acts12:5,Rom10:1) Specifically, we are told to make our supplications "to God." (Phil4:6) The word "God" means, the "Father."
Now, just one other argument from logic for not praying to the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Who helps us pray. "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Rom8:26) If it is the Spirit who helps us pray...why would we pray "to" the One who helps us pray? The Spirit is obviously not going to pray "to" Himself.
And then, we see the "Trinity" again in Rom8:27. He who searches the hearts; the Word of God [Jesus].."for the Word of God is living and powerful..is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from [His] sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."(Heb4:12-13); makes intercession for us at the "right hand of God" (Rom8:34); knowing the "mind of the Spirit" (8:27); according to the will of the Father. So, this helps us understand how we can "ask anything according to His will." (1Jn5:14) And the assurance that "He will hear us." It is not us praying...but the Holy Spirit helping us pray, and Christ interceding for us...naturally, these things will then be according to His will...and then, again ...He will hear us.
It would seem that the very ESSENCE of God is the Holy Spirit. And yet, the "person" of the Holy Spirit is submissive to the Father and Son. A person can reject the Father and the Son, and then repent and receive forgiveness. But, if a person comes to understand the fellowship of the God-head to the degree that he "understands" the Holy Spirit in his heart, the very deepest level of understanding, and rejects Him; that person is without excuse. There is no further recourse for forgiveness. "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."(Rom8:9)
Fellowship is through the Holy Spirit.(Phil2:1)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.(2Cor13:14)
The matter of the God-head is quite possibly one of the most difficult things to understand. And, I doubt that we finite humans can completely understand it while we are on this earth. But we will when we "see Him just as He is." (1Jn3:2)
That there are "three" in the God-head is quite apparent. We are to baptize in the "name of the Father...the Son, and..Holy Spirit. (Mt28:19) "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one."(1Jn5:7) All Three were present when Jesus was baptized. (Jn1:32, Mt3:16-17) And at creation. (Gen1:2, Jn1:1-4)
Jesus describes His unity with the Father, "..as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You...just as We are one."(~Jn17:21-23) At creation God said, "Let [US] make man in our image, according to [Our] likeness.. and God created man in [His] own image."(Gen1:26-27) Notice the plural/unity in this passage.
God gave a human example of this singular plurality. It is the unity between Christ and the Church; and this bond is exemplified by marriage. Paul writes, "..the two shall become one flesh. This is a GREAT MYSTERY.." (Eph5:31-32)
What is God's nature, overall? Who knows for sure? In John 4:24 Jesus says that "God is spirit." What is the nature of "spirit?" He ex- plained it, "The wind blows where it wishes & you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (Jn3:8)
In Rev3:1, Jesus makes claim to having the "seven Spirits of God." These "Spirits" are before the throne of "Him who is, who was and who is to come"...the "I AM." (Rv1:4,Ex3:14) So, does this mean that the Holy Spirit is "Seven?" Perhaps. We are only given pictures.
Now, as to the Holy Spirit's "own will" ... When Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, He says, "He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak...He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."(Jn16:13-14) There seems to be a hierarchy in the God-head. The Father being chief. For a time He has given authority to the Son...which ultimately the Son will return to the Father (1Cor15:28). And then, the Holy Spirit...the "helper." 1Cor11:3 says that the "head of Christ is God." Jesus said repeatedly, "I always do those things that please Him [the Father]"..."as My Father taught me, I speak these things." (Jn8:28-29)
And then regarding spirits.. "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."(1Cor14:32) In other words, a Christian, being filled by the Holy Spirit...the Spirit is subject to that person. And as such, we are warned to not "quench the Spirit." (1Th5:19)
On the other hand, "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one...But one and the same Spirit works all these things, dis- tributing to each one individually as He wills. (1Cor12:7,11)
And by the same token...what we see in these so-called "revivals" is NOT Scriptural...where people are being "slain" in the spirit...and are totally NOT in control of themselves, as SOME "spirit" has taken control OF them. In these meetings the "preacher" will warn the men against looking with lust upon the women so-caught up in the moment, dancing around. When these skirt-clad women fall down "dead" in immodest poses, special workers go around with drop clothes to cover them. The Holy Spirit will work where He is given room to work...but will not render a person incapacitated. Nor will He "cause" a person to act unbecomingly, nor flop down non-demurely. (Ex20:26,1Tm5:2,1Cor14:40)
In spite of the "subservient" role the Holy Spirit seems to have, Lying to the Spirit brought about death to Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts5:3) And blaspheming the Holy Spirit is something for which there is no forgiveness. "anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit...it will not be forgiven." (Lk12:10)
If a person decides, after knowing God, to willfully turn his back on God and reject Christ, there is no more sacrifice for sins (Heb10:26), because, among other things, the person has "insulted the Spirit of grace."(vs29)
I do not know of any Scripture that tells us to worship or "pray to" the Holy Spirit. Nor, for that matter, do we pray TO "Jesus." We pray to the Father, in "Jesus' name." (Mt6:6, Jn16:26, 2Cor13:7, Acts12:5,Rom10:1) Specifically, we are told to make our supplications "to God." (Phil4:6) The word "God" means, the "Father."
Now, just one other argument from logic for not praying to the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit Who helps us pray. "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Rom8:26) If it is the Spirit who helps us pray...why would we pray "to" the One who helps us pray? The Spirit is obviously not going to pray "to" Himself.
And then, we see the "Trinity" again in Rom8:27. He who searches the hearts; the Word of God [Jesus].."for the Word of God is living and powerful..is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from [His] sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."(Heb4:12-13); makes intercession for us at the "right hand of God" (Rom8:34); knowing the "mind of the Spirit" (8:27); according to the will of the Father. So, this helps us understand how we can "ask anything according to His will." (1Jn5:14) And the assurance that "He will hear us." It is not us praying...but the Holy Spirit helping us pray, and Christ interceding for us...naturally, these things will then be according to His will...and then, again ...He will hear us.
It would seem that the very ESSENCE of God is the Holy Spirit. And yet, the "person" of the Holy Spirit is submissive to the Father and Son. A person can reject the Father and the Son, and then repent and receive forgiveness. But, if a person comes to understand the fellowship of the God-head to the degree that he "understands" the Holy Spirit in his heart, the very deepest level of understanding, and rejects Him; that person is without excuse. There is no further recourse for forgiveness. "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."(Rom8:9)
Fellowship is through the Holy Spirit.(Phil2:1)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.(2Cor13:14)
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