Bible Matters 425: Spirit of God

It is no mystery that holy ones of God lived a life unto righteousness as they were filled with the Spirit of God.  This spirit guided them in a manner to do and serve as directed by God.  You all know the story of Noah.  God saw righteousness and Noah did as directed by God.  Noah and his family lived because they did as the Lord commanded. 

Genesis 7:1,4-5,23 – And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.  And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

When I started my dedicated walk with the Lord God and having a desire the understand his word, this one verse pricked my heart.

Proverbs 30:5-6 – Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

At that point in my life, I had been involved with my addiction forty years.  God had waited forty years for me to turn to him.  As I look back on that date, 12/3/13, my life has changed to give God the glory in all that I do. My addictions are but a distant memory.  After spending, 8 years studying the truth in God’s word, I know how God directed the righteous in the New Testament.  You start by repenting of and turning from your sins.  When the church I attended with the jail ministry, had promoted the giving the gift of the Holy Ghost and saving men, I knew it was wrong.  God then gave me that ministry to teach the men the truth.  When you do as directed by God, he will set you free.  I had grown up knowing of the Spirit of God (ie. Holy Ghost), but I never used the Spirit of God to serve him. The Spirit of God will give you life.

Job 33:4 – The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

The Spirit of God, holy Spirit and Holy Ghost are used throughout the Old and New Testament.  In the bible, the Spirit of God is used fourteen times in the Old Testament and twelve times in the New Testament.  Holy Spirit is used three times in the Old Testament and four times in the New Testament.  The Holy Ghost is used eighty-nine times in the New Testament.  The Spirit of God was in the beginning.  The Spirit will give you the wisdom that you need to know.

Genesis 1:1-2 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Exodus 31:3 – And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

The direction provided by the Spirit of God, may not always be pleasing in your sight.  Man plans and God directs. When God directs, you act.

1 Samuel 11:6 – And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

2 Chronicles 15:1 – And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:

It is immediately clear in the New Testament, that the Spirit of God and Holy Ghost comes down from God.  Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:18 – Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 3:16 – And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Luke 3:21-22 – Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Mark 1:9-11 – And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

When the Spirit comes, you know it and will lead you according to God’s plan.  Jesus was not planning on going into the wilderness, but he did.

Luke 4:1 – And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Mark 1:12 – And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

The Spirit led Jesus to Jacob’s well to be a witness to the Samarian woman who had five husbands.  Jesus did as commanded by the Spirit of God. 

John 4:4,6-7,18 – And he must needs go through Samaria. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.  For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

Jesus living in the spirit, did as commanded by the Spirit of God. The natural man in the flesh cannot please God.  When you are led by the Spirit, you are the sons of God.   Therefore, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.

1 Corinthians 2:14 – But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Romans 8:7-9,14 – Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Ephesians 4:29-30 – Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Jesus came in the flesh to purge you of your sins.  Cleansed from sins through the blood of Jesus.  The Spirit of God is sent to those that are of God.  To those that have turned to God and converted and to be born again by the word of God as a little child.  To humble yourself with a heart of love for the things of God.  The salvation of God is available to both Jew and Gentile.  God which knowest the heart, gives the gift of the Holy Ghost to those that obey him accordingly to his will. 

Hebrews 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1 John 4:1-2 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

Matthew 18:3-4 – And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 1:21-23 – Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Acts 28:27-28 – For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

Acts 15:8 – And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Acts 5:32 – And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Hebrews 2:4 – God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

God knows your heart.  When you heart is right with God, he sends the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Man has no patience for the gift of the Holy Ghost sent by God.  Jesus could not give the gift of the Holy Ghost.  He said receive ye the Holy Ghost, but the Holy Ghost did not descend onto his followers, but later sent by God after Jesus ascended into heaven. 

John 20:22 – And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

John 20:17 – Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

It is no coincidence that man tries to purchase the Holy Ghost or promise the gift of the Holy Ghost with water baptism.

Acts 8:20-22 – But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Start your walk by serving God and the things of God. To know his word and keep his commandments.  Worship the creator and give him glory in everything you do.

John 14:15-16,26 – If ye love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.