Harrietta Turner

The Holy Spirit

Jesus referred to Him as the Comforter in John 15:26. The Greek word is paraclete (paraklaytos) and that means An Intercessor, An Advocate, a Consoler – one going to another on behalf of.  To call near, invite, invoke, beseech, exhort, intreat, pray.

In Romans 8:26 and 27,  Likewise the Spirit also helps out infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered … 27 b because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

There are some variations in teachings on the Holy Spirit. For example: Some churches feel it is too liberal to call Him the Holy Spirit since the KJV uses the word Ghost and they believe this is the only correct Bible translation therefore they feel it is very necessary to call Him ‘the Holy Ghost’. Since I am in a nondenominational ministry I welcome all true believers in Jesus Christ and try not to argue these points.

We also have good Christians who believe God is One Person in 3 manifestations and that the Holy Spirit is God the Father and the Son also. We refer to them as Oneness. William Branham became Oneness in belief in his later years.

Some teach that you receive all gifts and empowerment from the Holy Spirit upon being born again.   Others teach that there is a second experience in which one receives the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

In John 16:7 Jesus says He is going to send the Holy Spirit to indwell each believer! He refers to our being baptized with the Holy Spirit. His function: In Acts 1:8  Jesus says “But you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto Me.”

In Acts 2:17  It says that when the Holy Spirit comes upon them that your sons and daughters shall prophesy and the  young men will have visions and the old men will dream dreams… these last 2 are a type of guidance and the first can be also.  Examples of  Prophesy… read mine. Visions: Dreams.

In John 16:8  It says He will reprove the world of sin. (reprove in the Greek - meaning – to convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, exhort…) Of righteousness. Of judgment.

 In John16:13  He states further what the Holy Spirit will do: He will guide us into all truth. He will show us things to come. He will glorify Jesus Christ by showing things of God.

Jesus also said in Mark 16:15 – 18 These Holy Spirit operations will accompany those who believe: They shall cast out demons.  Speak with new tongues. Pick up serpents, drink poison and not be hurt. (Again we have various beliefs by Christians.  Some believe this means to deliberately show your faith by picking up snakes and drinking poison in services.  Many do it and live but some die.  Then they say the person’s faith was insufficient).  Although we often disagree with the brethren I believe it is still important to treat them with love and respect since Jesus said we are to love one another.

Lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Some Believers say I Corinthians 13:8 teaches that all these spiritual gifts of prophecy, the gift of tongues and the gift of knowledge will fail to continue to be evident or exercised in the church since in verse 10 it says:  when the perfect comes all of these gifts will cease. They teach that they ceased after the first early church period was over.   But it says now we know in part.  If we look down to I Corinthians 13:12 it says that now we see through a glass darkly (we say ‘in part’) but it adds that in that day we will see face to face.  Again … Now we know in part but then (when is that ‘then’?)  when we see Him face to face … then we shall know even as also we are known now.  The word perfect in verse 10 means complete in the Greek.  We won’t be complete in this world.  We won’t yet have seen Him face to face.  And we won’t know Him as we are known.  Until we leave the body we will only have these things 'in part’. Therefore my conclusion is that only then will the gifts cease.

Some churches believe the gifts of evangelism and healing are still present and some believe only the gift of evangelism remains.  The church I attend believes in the gift of healing but not the gift of tongues.   I received the gift of tongues many years ago so naturally I believe it is for Christians today.  I attended this church a long time before I found out they didn’t believe as I did.  I still attend there for a number of reasons.

What are these spiritual gifts?: Look at I Corinthians 12: 1-11 and  verse 28 – 31.

Look in I Corinthians 14 Verse 14 says if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful.  This clearly teaches that I don’t know the language.

A few weeks ago I was at a meeting at our church where area- wide ladies of that denomination gathered.  One emphasized that all should be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Afterwards I asked her about how she could avoid speaking in tongues…  She came out very strongly saying tongues were just learned languages and Paul spoke in these because he knew the languages. You will hear all sorts of objections to speaking or praying in tongues.

In conclusion… How do we receive these spiritual gifts?:  By receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit.