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The Holy Spirit: The Power of God

Sermon by Kim Myers

Brethren, understanding what God's Holy Spirit is may be the most crucial element in all of theology. The Holy Spirit is the very power of God, not a third being or part of a trinity. It is the power or mind of God, poured out to us, enabling us to comprehend His way of life, His laws, and His doctrines. It is through the Holy Spirit that we become children of God and receive the promise of eternal life. When the Holy Spirit works within us, it produces the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, and self-control—elements of God's very character. It is not another person but the power and mind of God in us, giving us the ability to understand spiritual truths and overcome sin. The Holy Spirit opens our minds to the mysteries of God's truth, intercedes for us in prayer, and helps us express our requests to Him. God gives the Holy Spirit to those He calls, who repent, are baptized, and live by every Word of God. Without the Holy Spirit, no one can fully understand God's laws or the Bible. It is a gift from God, not earned, and it empowers us to change, shaping us to bear spiritual fruit and live under His rule. The Holy Spirit also leads us to eternal life, saving us from eternal death if we remain faithful and obedient to His laws and way of life. As we grow spiritually through keeping God's laws, He lives in us through the Holy Spirit. It is the vine of God's divine nature, carrying out His will and granting us wisdom, understanding, and comfort. Brethren, we must yield to the Holy Spirit, allowing it to lead us, so we may avoid confusion and stand firm in the doctrines of God.

Misconceptions and Malarkey About the Holy Spirit (Part One)

'Ready Answer' by David F. Maas

The Holy Spirit, as described in Ephesians 1:13-14, serves as the instrument of our regeneration as children of God and acts as a pledge or down payment on the life to come. The Bible identifies the Holy Spirit as the spirit and mind of Christ, with Romans 8:9 emphasizing that without this spirit displacing our carnal minds, we are not in the process of conversion and thus not candidates for the God Family. In the original Greek of the New Testament, the term for Holy Spirit, pneuma hagion, lacks an article, suggesting it is not an entity but an essence. Numerous verses throughout Scripture reinforce that the Holy Spirit is a power rather than a personality. Additionally, in Matthew 28:19, the phrasing implies that baptism into the name of the Father and the Son occurs by means of the Holy Spirit, further indicating its role as an essence rather than a distinct being.

The Holy Spirit

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

God's Holy Spirit typically refers to the mind of God and Christ, which is added to our human spirit to create a sound mind by which we witness of God.

What Is the Holy Spirit?

'Ready Answer' by David C. Grabbe

The Holy Spirit is the essence of God's incredible mind, encompassing His attitude, principles, thoughts, feelings, temperament, character, disposition, and will. It is not another supernatural being but a motivating principle and disposition that God's children receive, enhancing their minds with spiritual understanding. As Paul explains in I Corinthians 2:16, we have the mind of Christ, equating the Spirit of God to this mind, which allows us to know the things of God and what He has prepared for us. The Father and the Son are one in being perfectly united in will, thought, and intent, sharing the same mind, heart, and spirit, which we receive to begin understanding divine matters beyond the world's grasp. God's Spirit, being holy as He is, inclines His people toward holiness in conduct, attitude, speech, and every facet of living, urging us to be holy as He is holy. In II Timothy 1:6-7, Paul describes this Spirit as a gift of God, not of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind, linking it again to the mind's disciplined, sensible, and balanced operation when yielding to God's influence. This essence of God's mind operates in ways often incomprehensible to the world, reflecting the absolute epitome of sound-mindedness against the course of this world. The Spirit of God also imparts love, enabling us to act rightly toward God and others, regardless of personal cost, and power, which is the capacity for achieving God's will and work through us, constrained by love and sound-mindedness. This power is not for personal gain but for witnessing Jesus Christ and our Spiritual Father, as Acts 1:8 indicates, empowering us to reflect God's glory by becoming like Him. As we yield to and make use of God's Spirit, seeking His direction without quenching or grieving it, His character image shapes us, making our lives testimonies of His goodness, mind, love, holiness, and stability.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit is the essence of God's mind, an invisible and immaterial element that reflects His thoughts, attitudes, and character. Just as we cannot see the mind but observe its effects, so too we cannot see the Spirit, only what it causes, motivates, inspires, and activates. Every action proceeding from God's mind is a projection of His Spirit, filled with purity, love, kindness, mercy, and life-giving power. God's Spirit, being holy, is distinct and set apart, transcendently pure, and different from the spirit of man, which is marred by sin. The Holy Spirit is not a separate entity but the direct emanation of the Father and the Son, interfacing with our minds to reveal God's ways, purpose, plan, love, power, and mercy. The Father Himself, through His Spirit, joins His mind to ours, transferring the essence of His thoughts and character into us. This process is not mysterious; it occurs as we respond to His influence through belief, submission, prayer, Bible study, and meditation. When we are told not to grieve the Spirit of God, it means not to resist the Father, who is actively working to shape us. God's Spirit always produces life, unlike man's spirit, which leads to death through sin. The Father, not a third entity, works in us just as He did in Jesus Christ, enabling miracles and spiritual growth. This direct and personal relationship distinguishes God's approach from the indirect influence of satan. The Holy Spirit, as the essence of the Father and the Son's mind, issues forth as power, bearing fruit in us as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, preparing us for a place in His Kingdom.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit is the essence of God's mind, the very core where His power over all creation resides. It is in His mind that His sovereignty and governance over His creation begin, guiding the fulfillment of His purpose. The Holy Spirit embodies the fundamental nature of God's mind, with an awareness so vast and precise that no thought can be hidden from Him. He can act or react instantly by sending forth His Spirit to ensure His will is accomplished. God's Spirit interfaces with man's spirit, enabling a profound connection. Through this interface, revelation, illumination, and inspiration are imparted, essential for spiritual growth and understanding. Revelation comes by God's Spirit, illuminating our minds about Him and inspiring us to act. These processes demonstrate the compatibility between God's Spirit and man's spirit, facilitating a begettal and birth process as shown in Scripture. There are significant differences between God's Spirit and ours. Primarily, God's Spirit is holy, meaning it is transcendentally pure and infinitely good in all that it motivates and energizes. Additionally, the knowledge it transmits and utilizes is virtually infinite, and God's infinite wisdom and maturity underpin His morality and character. These qualities—purity, knowledge, and character—distinguish His Spirit as the missing dimension in life, capable of replacing destructive inclinations with joyous, positive, and selfless attitudes, guiding us toward true success. God's Spirit is the means by which He leads us to repentance and makes our minds willing to accept truth. It is through His Spirit that He reveals Himself, illuminates His purpose, and inspires us to align with His will. As words are spirit, and His words give life, the knowledge conveyed by God's Spirit is vital for knowing Him and understanding what He is doing, equipping us to make right choices and achieve harmony with His purpose.

The Holy Spirit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit, as presented, is not a personality within the God Family but rather the power emanating from God's mind. It is the means through which He accomplishes His will, enabling Him to be everywhere at once and to concentrate His attention in multiple areas simultaneously. This power, which flows from His mind, allows Him to keep track of and be with His people wherever they are, far surpassing the limited scope of human attention. The Holy Spirit is described as an inanimate force, not a person, used by God to direct and carry out His purposes within creation. It plays a vital role in binding believers together, injecting the mind of Jesus Christ into them, and making them part of God's Family, yet it lacks the personal characteristics attributed to the Father and the Son. Unlike Them, who express personality through forms relatable to human experience, the Holy Spirit is compared to wind, water, and oil—elements without personality or form. This power, while essential in convicting of sin, revealing the real Jesus, and providing the strength to believe, does not hold a position of authority or mediation between humanity and God, as the Son does. Thus, the Holy Spirit remains a force, an expression of God's mind, rather than a distinct personality within the divine structure.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit is the essence of God's mind, representing the divine nature that purifies our thinking. It is not a separate entity but the very core of God's thoughts, character, attitudes, perspectives, and morals, which are holy and pure, always producing abundant and everlasting life. This essence takes up residence in our minds through the words of God and through our experiences in relationship with Him, as He directly works with us, overseeing our creation in His image. It includes concepts, vision, attributes like love, joy, and peace, empowering us to conduct life as God would and to glorify Him. The Father and the Son share this spirit in perfect harmony, desiring to share it with us so that we may dwell in harmony with Them, reflecting Their characteristics as we yield to Their influence. Through His Spirit, God projects His mind into ours, enabling and inspiring us to grow in His likeness, shaping us into the image He desires for His family.

Lying to the Holy Spirit

'Ready Answer' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit, as presented in the account of Ananias and Sapphira, is the means by which God discerns the hearts and actions of His people. Through His Spirit, God made the apostle Peter aware of their deceit, revealing that they had lied not just to men, but to God Himself. Peter's accusation, questioning why Satan filled Ananias's heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, underscores that the Spirit is the vehicle of God's presence and power, through which He knows both deeds and intentions. In parallel statements, Peter clarifies that their deception was an attempt to test the Spirit of the Lord, showing the Spirit as belonging to God, the Master. Thus, their sin was against God, who operates through His Spirit within the apostles and the church. The language used to describe the Holy Spirit often mirrors human actions, yet this does not imply a separate personality. Just as wind moans or fire licks, verbs like speaking or guiding attributed to the Spirit reflect the actions of God's power and will, not an independent being. The Spirit is consistently portrayed as the mind and power of God working in and through us, lacking a humanlike form or familial relationship with believers, unlike the Father and the Son. It is described with imagery such as wind, oil, fire, water, and once as descending like a dove, further distinguishing it from a personal entity. Throughout the broader scriptural context, the Spirit is not given praise or honor alongside the Father and Son, reinforcing its role as God's agency rather than a distinct person. Sinning against the Holy Spirit, as Ananias and Sapphira did through their hypocrisy and deceit, is ultimately an offense against God, whose omniscience operates through His Spirit to see and judge all things.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit is the essence of God's mind, embodying a power infinitely greater than that of satan. As John states in I John 4, He that is in you is greater than he that is in them, indicating that even if some of God's children stray, the Spirit within them, if they are truly His, will be used to draw them back, though the process may be painful until their resistance to God's appeals is broken. Beyond its superior power, God's Spirit is holy, characterized by transcendental purity in all its motivations. It is also equipped with exceedingly greater wisdom and knowledge, and it possesses a moral character. These three great powers—purity, wisdom, and morality—are passed on to man through this Spirit, emanating directly from the mind of God. God's Spirit serves as the means by which He communicates with man, revealing Himself, initiating a personal relationship, and completing the second part of His creation of those He has invited. Through this Spirit, God predisposes His children to hear, accept, and follow the voice of truth, guiding them with an impelling and compelling force toward His purpose.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The essence of God's mind is transferred into our minds in two primary ways. First, through words, particularly those of the gospel of the Kingdom of God, which provide vision, empower understanding of God's purpose, and guide daily responsibilities. Second, through God's direct actions in our lives, as He actively works to create and enable us to fulfill His will. God's mind encompasses more than words; it includes attitudes, feelings, moods, passions, inclinations, and perspectives, developed through knowledge and experience, often within relationships. This transference is not a physical form or measurable entity but a spiritual essence gleaned from experiences with God, who personally works within us to will and to do. The Holy Spirit, when not indicating a person, is the essence emanating from God's mind. It is an immaterial, invisible force that motivates, impels, and compels, carrying characteristics that can encourage, inspire, cleanse, or defile, depending on its source. This spirit holds the power of life or death, as seen in the words of Jesus Christ, which are spirit and life. God sends forth His spirit from His mind, resulting in creation, much like human actions begin internally in the mind before becoming external actions. This communicable spirit requires alertness to ensure only the purest essence is received or sent forth. God's nearness is vital for this transference of His Spirit. He is both far in His sovereignty and near in His intimate involvement, working simultaneously on His overall purpose and specific purposes for individuals and the church. This closeness facilitates the flow of His Spirit into our minds, akin to how proximity allows the instantaneous transfer of emotions or thoughts between individuals. Sin, however, introduces separation, destroying relationships first with God and then with others, ultimately barring access to the Holy Spirit. Only through God's invitation and removal of barriers can we draw near to Him, allowing His Spirit to flow freely into us, fostering growth and aligning our minds with His.

What the Holy Spirit Does (2005)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit is the essence of God's mind, belonging to Him as His own possession. It is not a separate entity but rather an integral part of Him, reflecting His will and purpose. This Spirit is dynamic, constantly active, and eagerly ready to act at God's command, hovering with expectant movement over creation, as seen in the imagery of fluttering like a bird over the waters. It does not initiate action independently but responds to God's spoken word, serving as the means by which His will is accomplished, such as when light was created at His command. The Holy Spirit sets individuals apart, endowing them with discernment and wisdom, as seen in Joseph, who interpreted obscure dreams with accuracy and made sound judgments. It enhances natural talents, as with Bezaleel, who was filled with skills to craft the Tabernacle with excellence, directing his abilities toward God's work. Furthermore, the Spirit reveals truth, opening eyes to reality as God sees it, removing the blinders of deception, as exemplified by Balaam, who saw Israel's future through divine insight. This Spirit also provides strength, empowering individuals like Samson to overcome challenges, symbolizing spiritual fortitude against adversaries. It fosters fellowship, acting as the link connecting believers to the Father, to Christ, and to one another, unifying them in shared thought and purpose. Additionally, the Holy Spirit inspires fitting words, giving courage and godly reason to speak truth in critical moments, as seen in Jahaziel's encouragement to Judah and in the inspired writings of prophets and apostles. Above all, it pours out God's love into hearts, ensuring that every inspired act, word, or thought is rooted in love, guided by a sound mind, and aimed at producing good.

Pentecost and the Holy Spirit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The receiving of God's Spirit is for God's creative effort in our lives. God's Spirit transforms us from a state of destruction into a state of purity.

What Does It Mean to 'Walk in the Spirit'?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

If fleshly things become more important, we are on a trajectory toward death. We must exercise control, drawing on the power of God's Spirit.

A Primer On Spirit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Spirit is an invisible force, the effects of which are clear by its manifestations. Spirit can be discerned by thinking through and evaluating its effects.

Stewardship of God's Temple (Part Seven)

Sermon by David F. Maas

The antidote to double-mindedness and distractions is single-minded focus on God's law through meditating God's word, thus guarding our hearts.

How Much of the Mind of Christ Do We Have?

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

Possessing the mind of Christ is a lifelong process rather than a quick transformation. True unity requires seeking Christ's mind through faith, humility, and love.

God Expects a Return on His Investment (Part One)

Sermon by David F. Maas

We have the obligation to bear spiritual fruit, heeding the lessons of the cursing of the fig tree, and the parables of the barren fig tree and the talents.

Peace with God Through Christ

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The only possibility of attaining peace is a relationship with God—peace with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which must continually be refined.

Experiencing God

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

True knowledge of God comes only from experience. The apostle Peter has admonished us to grow in knowledge, both biblical knowledge and secular knowledge.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit is never venerated as a separate being. Our hope is the indwelling of Christ, used interchangeably with 'Spirit of God' and 'Spirit of Truth.'

Using Power Righteously (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

When we yield to God's Spirit, we receive the power to do the things God has prepared His firstfruits to accomplish, adding to the capabilities of the spirit in man.

Strategies for Interfacing with Babylon without Becoming Assimilated (Part Five)

Sermon by David F. Maas

God is not a closed triangular Trinity, but a family consisting of God the Father and God the Son, and will include billions of resurrected, glorified saints.

The Right Use of Power

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

With dominion comes responsibility to maintain. The sad history of mankind shows that he has mismanaged his power, bringing about disease, war, and famine.

Man's Greatest Challenge (Part Three)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The minister's main task should consist of exhorting on spiritual matters rather than worldly ones, rejecting the profane in favor of the spiritual.

Teaching Us to Think (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God instructs us to be living sacrifices. Too many drag this change out over decades, thereby self-limiting the process of sanctification.