The Person of the Holy Spirit Part 3
The second characteristic of the Holy Spirit is that He communicates.
The Holy Spirit speaks to the children of God in various ways, and at various times, and it is worthwhile for us to take some time and scripturally discover how and when the Holy Spirit communicates or speaks to the believer.
The first way in which the Holy Spirit communicates with us is prophetically. We have various examples of this in the Bible, but due to obvious constraints I will only include a few of them in this teaching.
1 Peter 1:10-12, “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things which angels desire to look into.”
2 Peter 1:19-21, “We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
In His communication with us, the Holy Spirit also warns of impending hardships, trials or tribulations that we will have to endure. I realize that even the mention of hardship and tribulation within the context of a Christian’s walk is anathema to many, but we’ve discussed the fact that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution often enough that it would be superfluous of me to revisit the topic. Yes, Christians go through trials, yes, Christians suffer persecution, yes, Christians have hard times, but in His love God via the Holy Spirit often times warns of the hardships, trials, and persecutions that we are soon to endure, that we might prepare spiritually, and know that we endure them for a purpose beyond our current understanding.
Acts 20:22-23, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.”
These are the words of Paul, the apostle of Christ, and what he is saying is that he knows not what awaits him, he has a general understanding of what the future holds for him because in every city that he traveled through, the Holy Spirit gave him a word that chains and tribulations awaited him. God used vessels, He used servants, and by the unction of the Holy Spirit these vessels warned Paul of what awaited him that he might prepare, and stand faithful and strong in the Lord.
Not only does the Holy Spirit communicate with believers, He also teaches them what to speak and what to say when confronted with persecution.
Luke 12:11-12, “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Jesus was preparing His disciples for what He knew would soon befall them. He knew that they would be brought before the authorities, He knew that they would be brought before the religious leaders of the synagogues, and He encouraged them by telling them that they ought not to fear for what they should say, or how they would answer the accusations of the magistrates because the Holy Spirit would teach them that very hour what they ought to say. It is one of the most profound promises that Christ made to His disciples, and by association to us, that in the midst of persecution, in the midst of trials, in the midst of being falsely accused due to our faith in Him, the Holy Spirit would be present and He would give us the words to speak.
Throughout the book of Revelation we also see the Spirit speaking to the churches, encouraging some, admonishing others, and rebuking others still.
Revelation 2:17, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”
Throughout the Word we see the various characteristics of the Holy Spirit, a Spirit that a large percentage of the church today refuses to acknowledge as being viable and present and at work. This constant denial of the power, the presence, and the person of the Holy Spirit for today can only be in detriment to the body of Christ, making it more susceptible to the attacks of the enemy and more vulnerable to the deception that is running rampant within the house of God. If we have an ear, may we hear what the Spirit says to the churches, may we have an ear to hear that the Holy Spirit, marginalized as He might be within certain circles, is still among us, ready and willing to carry out the tasks He was assigned, to encourage us, to strengthen us, to give us the right words at the right time, that we as servants of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Revelation 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires let him take the water of life freely.”
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
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