The Holy Spirit Gave Yah'shuah Joy
Luke 10:17-24 reads,
10:17
The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"10:18
He said to them, "I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. 10:19Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. 10:20Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."10:21
In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight."10:22
Turning to the disciples, he said, "All things have been delivered to me from my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him."10:23
Turning to the disciples, he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see, 10:24for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them."It should be noted from 10:21 that the Holy Spirit dwelling in people gives them joy, for so the Holy Spirit gave Yah'shuah joy upon his disciples accomplishing some works for Yahweh. It should also be observed that when works are accomplished successfully for Yahweh the Holy Spirit dwelling in one indeed facilitates that one receiving great joy.
Our Heavenly Father Earnestly Desires To Give The Holy Spirit To Humans
Luke 11:11-13 reads,
11:11
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 11:12Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 11:13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"Our heavenly Father desires to give us the Holy Spirit much more than we humans desire to give good gifts to our own children.
The Holy Spirit is indeed a good gift from our heavenly Father.
It should also be noted that our heavenly Father DOESN'T give us the bad gifts when we ask him for good gifts. He therefore doesn't give us unclean spirits when we ask him to give us the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Teaches Yah'shuah's Disciples
Luke 12:11-12 reads,
12:11
When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say; 12:12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say."It should be noted that the Holy Spirit is a TEACHER, for he teaches Yah'shuah's disciples what they must say when circumstances warrant it.
Yah'shuah's Disciples Were To Receive The Holy Spirit Only After Yah'shuah's Glorification
John 7:37-39 reads,
7:37
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 7:38He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." 7:39But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.It should be noted that the Holy Spirit is likened to rivers of living water flowing from within those who believe in Yah'shuah.
It should also be noted that when Yah'shuah was ministering, those who believed in him didn't immediately receive the Holy Spirit to dwell in them. This they did only after Yah'shuah's glorification.
Why didn't those who believed in Yah'shuah receive the Holy Spirit to dwell in them prior to Yah'shuah's glorification, while some people indeed had the Holy Spirit dwelling in them prior to this event, and even prior to the commencement of Yah'shuah's ministry? People we have already encountered such as Zacharias and Elizabeth and their son John the Baptist, Yah'shuah's mother Mary and Simeon the servant of Yahweh?
The Holy Spirit Proceeds From The Father
John 14:23-26 reads,
14:23
Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. 14:24He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me. 14:25I have said these things to you, while still living with you. 14:26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.14:26 shows that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, and acts upon the Father's authority. For it is the Father who sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in Yah'shuah's disciples.
The Holy Spirit not only TEACHES Yah'shuah's disciples ALL THINGS, he also REMINDS them of Yah'shuah's teachings and sayings. And seeing that Yah'shuah's sayings or words aren't really his, but belong to the Father, who sent him, it is indeed observed that what the Holy Spirit teaches and brings to the memory of Yah'shuah's disciples are the Father's words.
It should also be noted that the Father is truly the Most High, for he has authority to send both Yah'shuah the Son and the Holy Spirit. Yah'shuah the Son and the Holy Spirit are therefore both answerable to the Father, the Most High.
The Holy Spirit Forgives And Retains Sins
John 20:19-23 reads,
20:19
When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be to you."20:20
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 20:21Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 20:22When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit! 20:23Whoever’s sins you forgive, they are forgiven to them. Whoever’s sins you retain, they have been retained."It should be noted that after his glorification Yah'shuah uttered to his disciples the words, "receive the Holy Spirit". They could now receive the Holy Spirit, as Yah'shuah was now glorified.
Just as the Father sent Yah'shuah to undertake the Father's works, and gave him the Holy Spirit to so facilitate Yah'shuah successfully undertaking those works, so also Yah'shuah sent his disciples to undertake his works. In sending them to undertake his works he too facilitated their receiving the Holy Spirit, to facilitate their successfully undertaking the works he gave them to do, which very works are Father Yahweh's works, seeing that Yah'shuah's works are the Father's works.
20:23 notes that Yah'shuah gave his disciples the same authority that the Father gave him - that of forgiving and retaining sins of various persons they encountered. It should be noted that to undertake such an important work as this, a work of the Father, the power of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. For the Holy Spirit knows those whose sins ought to be forgiven and those whose sins ought to be retained, such as those who have committed an eternal sin and therefore won't be forgiven either in this age or in that to come. Therefore, when Yah'shuah's disciples forgive or retain sins, they should do so only upon being moved by the Holy Spirit. They should just be instruments through whom Father Yahweh uses to so forgive or retain sins, doing so by the Holy Spirit he has given them to dwell in them and facilitate their performing his works.
What Baptism In The Holy Spirit Is
Acts 1:1-8 reads,
1:1
The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 1:2until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 1:3To these he also showed himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and spoke about God’s kingdom. 1:4Being assembled together with them, he charged them, "Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 1:5For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."1:6
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?"1:7
He said to them, "It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within His own authority. 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."1:2 notes that Yah'shuah spoke or gave commandment to his disciples through the Holy Spirit. Those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells sometimes speak or undertake actions as the Holy Spirit moves them.
Yah'shuah explained to his disciples what being baptised in the Holy Spirit is. It is the Holy Spirit coming upon one and giving power to that one. And that power is given for performing the works of Yah'shuah, such as witnessing for him in whatever location or to whatever person he so desires.
Abide By The Holy Spirit's Words Through The Prophets
Acts 1:15-26 reads,
1:15
In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, 1:16"Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. 1:17For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry. 1:18Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. 1:19It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’ 1:20For it is written in the book of Psalms,‘Let his habitation be made desolate,
Let no one dwell therein,’
and,
‘Let another take his office.’
1:21
Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, 1:22beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection."1:23
They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 1:24They prayed, and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen 1:25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place." 1:26They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.It should be noted that Yah'shuah's disciples believed the words that the Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David in the book of Psalms. They showed their belief of these words of the Holy Spirit by obeying them. Yah'shuah's disciples today should therefore follow the example of their predecessors. They should believe the words spoken by the Holy Spirit, however long ago the Holy Spirit spoke those words, even those spoken before Yah'shuah came on earth as a human being. And believing these words of the Holy Spirit means acting on them on obedience to them.
Yah'shuah's Disciples Baptised In The Holy Spirit On The Day Of Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21 reads,
2:1
Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2:2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 2:3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and it sat on each one of them. 2:4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 2:5Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 2:6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 2:7They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 2:8How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 2:9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 2:10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 2:11Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!" 2:12They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?" 2:13Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."2:14
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 2:15For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. 2:16But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:2:17
‘It will be in the last days, says God,Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
2:18
Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,2:19
I will show wonders in the sky above,2:20
The sun will be turned into darkness,When Yah'shuah's disciples first received the baptism in the Holy Spirit after Yah'shuah's glorification, the Holy Spirit came upon them in visible form and with audible manifestations. He gave those among whom he came power to speak in various languages the mighty works of the Mighty One. In other words, he immediately gave them power to commence performing Yahweh's and Yah'shuah's works.
It should also be noted that Yah'shuah's disciples receipt of the Holy Spirit was the fulfilment of Father Yahweh's promise spoken by the Holy Spirit through the prophet Joel. For Father Yahweh promised to pour his Spirit upon all flesh, upon his servants and handmaidens in the last days, thereby facilitating their prophesying, seeing visions and dreaming dreams by the Holy Spirit.
It should be noted that the speech Peter gave immediately upon receiving the Holy Spirit was by the Holy Spirit. The words spoken were those of the Holy Spirit, with Peter being the instrument he chose to speak those words to the people who listened to them.
The Father Fulfilled His Promise Of Pouring Out The Holy Spirit Upon Flesh
Acts 2:32-33 reads,
2:32
This Jesus God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 2:33Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.Peter confirmed to his audience that what they were witnessing was the fulfilment of the Father's promise to give his servants the Holy Spirit. Whatever Yahweh utters by the Holy Spirit he eventually fulfils, at its appointment time, even hundreds or thousands of years later. For Yahweh's words do not return to him empty - without having accomplished their intended purpose.
How To Receive The Holy Spirit
Acts 2:38-39 reads,
2:38
Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2:39For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself."Those to receive the Holy Spirit are those Yahweh our Mighty One calls to himself. These are those who repent and are baptised in the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins. These are those who were promised to so receive the Holy Spirit. These are the servants of Yahweh, who so receive the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Spoke Through Peter When The Latter Was Brought Before Authorities
Acts 4:1-14 reads,
4:1
As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, 4:2being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 4:3They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening. 4:4But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.4:5
It happened in the morning, that their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem. 4:6Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest. 4:7When they had stood them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 4:9if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 4:10be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole. 4:11He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which was made the head of the corner.’ 4:12There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, in which we must be saved!"4:13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. 4:14Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.It should be remembered that Yah'shuah informed his disciples that they would indeed be delivered before authorities on account of their service to him. And so it happened to Peter and John.
It should also be noted that Peter and John were faithful to Yah'shuah's instruction to them, not to premeditate what they were to say when brought before authorities. For what they were to say was to be given them in that very hour by the Holy Spirit. And, as 4:8 shows, the Holy Spirit indeed filled Peter and he uttered the words that he did by the Holy Spirit!
Call Upon The Holy Spirit's Words In Your Prayers To Yahweh
Acts 4:23-31 reads,
4:23
Being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 4:24They, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, "O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 4:25who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,‘Why do the nations rage,
And the peoples plot a vain thing?
4:26
The kings of the earth take a stand,4:27
For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 4:28to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. 4:29Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 4:30while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus."4:31
When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.It should be noted that Yah'shuah's disciples believed Yahweh's words that he had uttered by his servant David, as recorded in the book of Psalms. Relying on Yahweh's words uttered by the Holy Spirit and recorded by David, they prayed for boldness in uttering Yahweh's words to those he had sent them, and that signs and wonders be done through Yah'shuah's name. Yahweh heard their prayer and filled them with the Holy Spirit, granting them the boldness they had requested.
It should be noted that the Holy Spirit is given to Yahweh and Yah'shuah's servants that they may effectively undertake the works given to them. Where boldness was necessary in uttering Yahweh's word, Yahweh gave them the requisite boldness by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:1-11 reads,
5:1
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, 5:2and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 5:3But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 5:4While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God."5:5
Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 5:6The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 5:7About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 5:8Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much."She said, "Yes, for so much."
5:9
But Peter asked her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."5:10
She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 5:11Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.It should be noted that just as the Holy Spirit fills people, so also does Satan fill people's hearts. When Satan fills someone's heart, as in Ananias' case, it was to facilitate an unrighteous deed. In contrast, when the Holy Spirit fills a person it is to facilitate a righteous deed.
Seeing the contrasts between Satan and the Holy Spirit, and that Satan is indeed a person, it is indeed implied that the Holy Spirit is also a person.
It should also be noted that Peter stated that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit, and also stated that he had lied to the Mighty One. This implies that he equated the Holy Spirit with the Mighty One, with the Holy Spirit being a Mighty One.
5:9 shows that the Holy Spirit is also known as the Spirit of Yahweh. And just as a person can be tempted, so also can the Holy Spirit be tempted, even as Ananias and his wife Sapphira tempted him.
Those Yahweh Gives The Holy Spirit
Acts 5:27-32 reads,
5:27
When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 5:28saying, "Didn’t we strictly charge you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us."5:29
But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 5:30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 5:31God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 5:32We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."Yahweh gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey him. These obey Yahweh by repenting of their sins and believing in Yah'shuah, being baptised in Yah'shuah's name. By so obeying Yahweh, and in whatever Yahweh tells them to do, they indeed become Yahweh's servants.
Servants Of Yahweh Should Be Full Of The Holy Spirit
Acts 6:1-7 reads,
6:1
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a grumbling of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 6:2The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 6:3Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 6:4But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word."6:5
These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; 6:6whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 6:7The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.The apostles understood that those to be inducted into serving Yahweh in a given capacity should be full of the Holy Spirit. For it is the Holy Spirit who facilitates those in whom he dwells effectively performing Yahweh's works.
How Some Resist The Holy Spirit
Acts 7:51-56 reads,
7:51
"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 7:52Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 7:53You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!"7:54
Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 7:55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 7:56and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God!"How did the children of Israel resist the Holy Spirit?
By rejecting the words of the Holy Spirit spoken through his prophets, and killing those prophets. They rejected the Holy Spirit's words by not keeping them.
The Holy Spirit Gave Stephen A Vision
It should be noted that the vision Stephen saw was so facilitated by the Holy Spirit. For it is on account of having been full of the Holy Spirit that he saw the glory of Yahweh and Yah'shuah standing on the right hand of Yahweh! The Holy Spirit, true to Yahweh's promise by Joel, facilitates Yahweh's servants seeing visions.
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