The Holy Spirit Series 5

The Heavenly Ministry of the Holy Spirit:

Last time we saw a bit of the function of the Holy Spirit in Heaven. Let’s dive in little deeper. Today we will explore the seven offices of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Is 11:2  (1) Spirit of the LORD, (2) Spirit of wisdom, (3) Spirit of understanding, (4) Spirit of counsel, (5) Spirit of power, (6) Spirit of knowledge, and (7) Spirit of the fear of the Lord. 
         Jesus gave a remarkable revelation to the Samaritan woman by the well in Jn 4:24, “God is Spirit…” some translations including the KJV has it as “God is a Spirit”, which is an awkward statement that can give some an impression that He is one among many spirits! The truth is God is Spirit period, as a vivid definition of His divine form. It is my belief that this portion refers to the Holy Spirit because the Greek word used here is ‘pneuma’ a term used 160 times in the New Testament to refer to the Holy Spirit. We have already seen in Part 2 how the Holy Spirit is integral to the Godhead. 

                     The Holy Spirit is the one who makes God Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10) and because He is Omnipresent He is Omniscient (Prov. 15:3). The word of God together with the Holy Spirit makes God Omnipotent. How?? The Word of God gives God the ability to provide the substance to create matter Jn 1:3, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” The verse is clearly telling us that the word was used to create everything and we can see that in Gen 1:3, where God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. In science we study that light is made of photons, which is a bundle of energy. So, at its basic structure light is energy. Is it a coincidence that the very first created thing mentioned is Light? Eph. 1:19-21 provides another aspect of the Holy Spirit. The verse talks about the power of God at work. However, the verse goes beyond by explaining what kind of power is at work. Two words are used for power here (a) Dunamis:  the ability to perform/ physical power and (b) Kartos: power by dominion. Combine the power of the Word and of the Holy Spirit and you get what it means to be Omnipotent! God possesses the innate power to absolutely create or do anything by His word because of the sheer power exerted by the ability that exists within Him. Hallelujah! What a mighty God we serve and call our Father! Thus we have seen the Spirit of Power.

                    “The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has He established the heavens. By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.” Pro 3:19-20

There is another passage in Proverbs that reads as a personal testimony of the Spirit of Wisdom, “Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength… The LORD possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning… When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth. When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth...” Pro 8: 14, 22, 27-29

             The verse reveals the nature of the Spirit of Wisdom, that this office supersedes the Spirit of Counsel, Understanding and Knowledge. This is why God instructs us to ask for wisdom. The possessor of Wisdom possesses the rest as well. God used this aspect of the Holy Spirit when He created everything and set it in order. Praise the Lord that this wisdom is available to us through the Holy Spirit today.

                   Finally we have the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. What kind of fear is this? I believe it is two sided. One side is the reverential fear of God which even the Angles and the Elders are seen displaying in Rev 4. The Heavenly Host worships God through the action of this office of the Holy Spirit.  On the flip side when Jesus walked on this earth there are numerous instances where the demons are tormented by the His very presence and they ask Him if He has come to torment them before their time. God’s power to judge and punish is seen among the spirits and this too I believe is part of the power exerted by Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. However, by what I know of  the nature of God I infer that the latter half of this ministry is never used to control creation since God grants  the Freewill to choose to fear Him or not. Hence, we have the fall of satan and man!

What a wonderful time it has been so far and we have only begun to scratch the surface. I hope you will continue to join me to patiently read these studies and I pray that God will bless you as you do so. So, until our next session God bless.