MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 3, 2024
The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 17
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
- A Divine Agency at Creation:
The opening words of the Bible, declaring the genesis of all things beginning with the work of creation, immediately introduces to fallen mankind the presence and first works of the Holy Spirit, here called “the Spirit of God.” (All emphasis supplied).
“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 waters.” Gen. 1: 1, 2, KJV.
The “Spirit of God” at work with the Creator at creation is one and the same as “the Spirit of God” working in His duly appointed capacities in both the Old and New Testament dispensations and in the plan of redemption.
Please read the following verses for yourselves from your own Bibles, preferably the KJV (or Authorized Version, A.V.), or the Revised Standard Version (RSV), not the NIV or other versions.
OT: Gen. 41: 38; Exo. 31:3; 35:31; Num. 24:2; 1 Sam. 10:10; 11: 6; 19: 20, 23; Job 27:3; 33: 4; NT: Matt. 3: 16; 12: 28; Rom. 8: 9, 14; 15: 19; 1 Cor. 2: 11, 14; 3: 16, 6: 11; 7: 40; 12: 3; 2 Cor. 3: 3; EPH. 4: 30; 1 Pet. 4: 14; 1 John 4:2.
Indeed! A veritable “battalion” of “It is written,” and “Thus saith the Lord” attesting to and defending the awesome truth that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead is specifically identified in these verses as “the Spirit of God,” the same in beginning of creation!
- The Comforter as The Spirit of Truth:
Just before taking His last painful steps in His blood-stained path leading to Calvary to die as the Father’s divine Sacrificial Lamb of God for fallen mankind, Jesus promised His first Twelve grieving disciples:
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you ANOTHER COMFORTER, that He may abide with you FOREVER. Even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He DWELLETH WITH YOU, and shall be IN YOU. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you [through the Spirit of Truth ].” John 14: 16, 17 (all emphasis and bracketed words supplied).
Ponder these precious thoughts in your hearts and minds, praying for fresh supplies of grace imparted alone by the Holy Spirit. To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.