The Holy Spirit: He not It. Pt.2 - Knowing This

11/19/23- By: General Jim Green-

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation (origin), for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” -2 Peter 1:20,21

Both testaments make mention of “false prophets” who spoke lies and deceit.

In the New Testament, Jesus said to His disciples that, “it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” -Jn.16:7. Other translations have “Counselor,” or “Comforter.” The Greek uses the latter; Here are other places this word is found: “I (Jesus) will pray (to) the Father, and He will give you another Comforter... the Spirit of truth...” -Jn. 14:16,17 “But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My (Jesus) name...” (v.26) “But when the Comforter comes... the Spirit of truth...” -Jn. 15:26 [Comforter: Gk. “paraklētos" = intercessor, consoler, advocate [see also “paraklēsis” = Comfort.]

As shown before, this Spirit empowers us: (see Acts 1:4-8).

Did you know that Mary, Jesus’ mother, was filled with the Holy Spirit? Acts one tells of the Holy Spirit outpouring, after the assembled (1:4) was told by Jesus to wait for the Holy Spirit to come. Acts 1:13 says that they went into the upper room, and v.14 mentions Mary being there with all the others. Chapter 2 tells of the “rushing mighty wind (“Spirit”) and the divided tongues (of fire), v.3, v.4 says “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit! All these were already saved believers but not all filled with the Holy Spirit.

Why?

The Holy Spirit has been given to us so as we have spiritual power to be a witness and to resist sin! The Holy Spirit will lead/guide us in our walk. Listen to how the modern English version reads: “But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority. But He will speak whatsoever He hears, and He will tell you things that are to come. He will glorify Me (Jesus), for He will receive form Me and will declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. Therefore, I said that He will take what is Mine and will declare it to you.” -Jn. 16:12-15; The Holy Spirit is not an “it,” but a divine person.

Eph. 4:30 says that we are “sealed for the day of redemption” by the Holy Spirit. The first part of this verse tells us “...do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” All we have to do is look back over Israel’s history to see that they did this all the time. Isaiah the Prophet wrote: “...hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary (grieve) my God also?” -Isa. 7:13

We are so blessed! Heb. 10:15 makes mention of the Holy Spirit witnessing to us. Not only this, but this: “But if the Spirit of thine who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies thru HIs Spirit who dwells in you;” -Rom. 8:11

Lots of Fruit!

Galatians 5:22,23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: “...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” All these are in contrast to the works of the flesh: “...adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, wrath, selfishness, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, and revelries.” It is the will of the Holy Spirit to produce true fruit as opposed to false/rotten fruit. The “fire” of the Holy Ghost will BURN the HELL out of us.

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but (the Spirit) of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Joel 2:28-32 is referred to as “Joel’s Prophecy of the Coming of the Holy Ghost.” It starts out with, “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh...,” meaning on all nationalities of the world. This He did. Acts 2:16,17 speaks about Joel’s prophecy:

“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last day,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.” The “last days” started after Jesus’ resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

-The 5 Accounts-

Here are 5 places where we see the Baptism of the Holy Ghost: Acts 2:4; 8:14-25; 9:17-20; 10:44-48; 19:1-7.

Men and Women have been receiving this Spirit Experience ever since the day of Pentecost. And this baptism will continue till the very end of time.

Spirit vs Spirits

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” -1Jn. 4:1

From the beginning, these true vs false prophets have been a problem among God’s community. As the early Ekklesia began to grow and operate in the gifts of God – prophecy being one of them – Paul laid down a certain order to follow: “Let 2 or 3 prophets speak, and let the others judge.” -1Cor.14:24. This was done in order to keep false prophets from misleading the people.

Jesus said, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” -Mt. 24:5. He continued with saying, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” -v.11

Peter wrote: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who brought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” -2 Pet. 2:1,2. We see this evidenced in the Emergent (liberal) church today – full of damnable/destructive teachings e.g. pro-abortion, pro-LGBTQ, pro-Political correctness etc. I would dare say that the bigger part of Christianity is leaning towards liberalism, with some totally given over to it.

Paul wrote Timothy that “the (Holy) Spirit expressly (explicitly) says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving (evil) spirits and doctrines of demons...” -1 Tim. 4:1.

While working in the field of deliverance, i.e. casting out demons, we encountered many “religious” demons; demons of deceit, lies, the whole package that the New Testament writes about. John of Revelation mentions “spirits of demons, performing signs...” -Rev. 16:14. There is no doubt in my mind that the Body of Christ is infiltrated with such demons. Even some of these “great healers/ prophets/ teachers (who are rich-and-famous) are under their spell. They teach and prophecy falsity and many have been exposed as frauds – because they are!

We’re to try/test the spirits to discern if they are of God or of Satan. But who cares? Just let the “good times” roll. Jesus says, “BEWARE of false prophets, (and teachers), who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” -Mt. 7:15. He says, “you will know them by their fruits,” -v.16.