Who Is The Holy Spirit?

by Russell J. Schmidt

Did you know that there is not one instance in the Book of Acts, during their ministry, where the apostles prayed to God for authority over any situations they had before them? Why? Because they totally understood what they had available to them. There was no need to pray to God for protection, because they already had what they needed from God. Jesus said in John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

What were the things Jesus said that we should remember? John 14: 12-14 Jesus says, 12) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.“

In His commission to His disciples in Mark 16:15-18, Jesus gets more specific in the power that He is bestowing upon us, “15) And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16) He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17) And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18) they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ ”

Can Jesus have been more clear as to the power we have available to us through the Holy Spirit? Most Christians today revert back to the Old Covenant before we received salvation through the Blood of Christ. Under the Old Covenant, believers had to seek God directly, because they had no power available to them, other than calling on God and asking Him to intervene. Above, in the account in Mark, I’ve highlighted verses 17 and 18, because here is where Jesus tells us what exactly we can do with the Holy Spirit whom God has sent in His name (John 14:26 ).

Notice in verse seventeen Jesus starts out by saying “In His Name” we “will” (not maybe) cast out demons—we “will” speak with new tongues—we “will” take up serpents and drink deadly things and they will not effect us, and we “will” lay our hands on sick people, and they “will” recover.

Let me just say here that there are some who take this a little to far and tempt God with serpents and poisons. Luke 4:9-12 Jesus says to Satan after Satan tempted Jesus, “9) Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10) For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,’ 11) and, ‘ In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12) And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ”

Jesus here quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 as a response to Satan—if Jesus would have responded to Satan’s temptation by jumping to prove who He was, that would have given Satan the authority in the situation. Its clear that Satan is well aware of Scripture also, and he tried to catch Jesus of guard. If he could get Jesus to jump he knew Jesus would have transgressed against God’s law, by breaking the command of Deuteronomy 6:16.

It is the same with any temptation you come up against today—if you respond to it, you are handing over your authority to Satan whether you realize it or not. That is why we are told in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, “4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6) and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. ”

Jesus tells us, when we stay obedient to God by analyzing every thought that enters our mind and discerning whether or not it is of a godly nature or of an evil nature and being sure to choosing the godly nature—we will stay in obedience to God and thus, punish all disobedience that comes from Satan.

So, we do have the power of the Holy Spirit available to us, but to be used to the glory of God, not as a tool to tempt God or to worship God, but it is for our protection in the event that such things as serpents and poisons come against us.

In Acts 28, we read of the apostle Paul, who had come to the island called Malta. While Paul was getting ready to minister to the natives, he went to get wood for the fire to keep warm—a viper hiding in the brush bit Paul and attached itself to his hand. Paul shook off the viper into the fire and he suffered no ill effects from this poisonous snake. The natives typical reaction was that Paul would swell up and die, and they were amazed when it did not happen and thought Paul himself to be a god. No where in Scripture did the apostles use this as a form of worship as some do today.

The word “will” used by Jesus in Mark 16 above, is used in the form of an exhortation or a command to those who believe in Him, that they “can” do those things, if they will "only believe” (Mark 5:36, Luke 8:50). If there is any doubt about that fact, it is coming from Satan. Satan has deposited that thought in you mind, that “I can’t do that”, and it has created doubt in your mind.

This is where the Holy Spirit can make all the difference in your life. One of the advantages of the Holy Spirit, that we learned in John 14:26, is that it will teach us the ways of God. Mankind aside from the Holy Spirit cannot discern spiritual things. Romans 8:6 tells us, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” When you are spiritually minded, means you have the Holy Spirit in you and that you are allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you godly wisdom. This wisdom brings life and peace to you.

This “life” is both spiritual (eternal life) and also physical. Most Christians are aware of the eternal life aspect of receiving the Holy Spirit, but are unaware that this also effects their physical life here and now. Not only, as Jesus said, are we able to lay hands on the sick and they will recover, but we can also, through the power of Jesus, heal our own bodies of sickness and disease.

In the Garden of Eden, God created the perfect environment for mankind. There was no need to worry about sickness and disease, because there was none. It wasn’t until the world became corrupted by Adam and Eve’s sin that gave Satan access into our world and brought with him all the sickness and disease that effects mankind, even today.

But, the environment that was physically available to Adam and Eve in there surroundings, is now available to us in the spiritual realm through the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit you can command health to your body in the name of Jesus, as well as command it for others in need. For more on this topic, please read my study on "Healing".

Referring back to Jesus’ commission in Mark 16:16, Jesus speaks to those who believe and are baptized, and says in verse 17 that they “will” receive these gifts. Here again is where the word “will” is used as an exhortation to Christians—that it is not maybe you will receive, but you already did receive.

If we take a look at 1 Peter 2:24 we read, “...who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” The last part of this verse says,“by whose stripes you were healed.” The stripes that are referred to here are the wounds in Jesus’ back from the scourging He received before being crucified. This verse is a quote of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:5 which reads, “And by His stripes we are healed.”

Not only did Jesus take upon Himself all our sin, but everything of Satan was cast upon Him, so He can pay our penalty for sin and heal all of our diseases and restore spiritually what was lost to sin in the Garden of Eden. Will this physical world experience what was available to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? No! But, you personally can experience it, if you accept Jesus as your Savior and receive the Holy Spirit to guide you into fellowship with the Father.

For most Christians this will take some changing in your thinking, because most Christians are told to accept Jesus and than, wait for eternal life, to experience more. Oh, sure! You will experience some peace about this now, but be patient. Well, that is not what Jesus has told us—He said we will have all the power He had available to Him through the Holy Spirit (John 16:15-18 , John 14:26 , Ephesians 3:20 , 2 Peter 1:2-3 ).

We read in 1 Corinthians chapter twelve what the apostle Paul writes concerning spiritual gifts—first He writes that only those who have the Holy Spirit can call Jesus Lord. This is because unless you are in the spirit you do not understand spiritual things. Jesus told us that His kingdom is not of this world and only those who have the Holy Spirit will comprehend this.

Paul goes on to discuss in chapter twelve, the diversities of these spiritual gifts—that each believer may display a different gift, yet, it is of the same Spirit that these gifts come from. For example: we can all play baseball, but some will be more gifted than another in ability. The same goes for Spiritual things, but the availability of every gift is from the Holy Spirit and is available to everyone.

By just reading chapter twelve here in 1 Corinthians, you may not be able to surmise that, but if you look at 1 Corinthians chapter one the, apostle Paul gives us a different perspective on this matter that contrary to what unbelievers will say, is not contradictory.

In 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 we read,“4) I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5) that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,” The word utterance here is referring to speaking in tongues.

In Acts 2:4 we read, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” This utterance is the spiritual language you will speak while speaking in tongues. You will not understand this language, but what it is, is the Holy Spirit in you in direct communication with the Father. The Holy Spirit will than help you discern what was communicated between the two. And, of course, the knowledge here is what is imparted to you by this discernment of the Holy Spirit to you.

As we continue on in 1 Corinthians 1:6-7 we read, “6) even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7) so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Here is were the different perspective comes into play. Paul is telling us here that “you come short in no gift” —this appears to be contrary to 1 Corinthians chapter twelve, but it’s not. Paul is saying that through Christ we all have the same gifts available, but as he says in chapter twelve, some will be more skilled at utilizing those gifts. Just as the analogy of baseball that I used.

Just as one can practice and develop his talents for baseball, so too, can you continue to seek God for revelation knowledge through communication with the Holy Spirit in you and develop a keener awareness of the Holy Spirit in you. As you develop this awareness you will discover greater effectiveness in your use of these spiritual gifts. You can find more on this in my study of "Spirit, Soul, and Body.”

I believe that what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 1:6-7 above, is if one has the determination to continue to seek additional revelation on spiritual gifts of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is “eagerly waiting” for them. But, not all people who accept Jesus as their Savior will have this same determination in seeking new revelations from God. Many will give their life to Jesus, but keep one foot in the door of their former lives in the flesh, because there are things from that life that they enjoyed. This is a dangerous way to live, but unfortunately most Christians will live this way.

Now, many Christians today, do not believe that the gifts referred to in Mark 16:17-18 are available to Christians today. This can not be further from the truth. I believe this misnomer comes from the fact that society has been so influenced by Satan, that man has lost the ability, not because God has taken it away, but because of mans unbelief.

Just as Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 17:20, after they inquired to Him as to why they could not heal a demon-possessed boy—Jesus said, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” I believe if Jesus were here today He would say the same thing to the Body of Christ. It is not because those gifts are not available any longer, but because of this unbelief that has crept into all of us.

Through this unbelief, hearts have been hardened to the truths of God. We must rid the Body of Christ of this unbelief. Matthew 17: 21 tells us how to rid ourselves of this unbelief, it reads, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting (*This verse 21, is not found in all translations of today’s Bible—the verse that I show here is from the New King James Version. Although it is not found in all translations, other translation will note that verse 21 appears in other translations.)

Prayer and fasting is another area that is not properly used today in the Body of Christ, but Jesus tells us that it will be effective in ridding oneself of unbelief. In Mark’s version of this story, we here from the father of the boy as he said to Jesus in Mark 9:24, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!.” This may also sound contradictory, but one can believe or have faith and still have unbelief that their prayer will be answered due to Satan’s corruption of our minds.

In conclusion, God is still the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8 ). The Holy Spirit still comes with all the power and authority Jesus said it would. If you are having trouble with this, take Jesus’ advice in Matthew 17:21, and begin to pray and fast for discernment. God will hear and answer you prayer.

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