HOLY GHOST’S MANY VARIED CHARACTERISTICS
The Holy Ghost, the third member of the tri-union God, appears to be anything anyone wants it to be.
1. In John 14:26, the Holy Ghost is spoken of as a person or personal God.
2. In Luke 3:22, the Holy Ghost changes, and assumes the form of a dove.
3. In Matt. 8:16, the Holy Ghost becomes a spirit.
4. In John 1:32, the Holy Ghost is presented as an inanimate, senseless object.
5. In John 5:7, the Holy Ghost becomes a God – the third member of the Trinity.
6. In Acts 2:1, the Holy Ghost is averred to be “a mighty, rushing wind.”
7· In Acts 10:38, the Holy Ghost, we infer, from its mode of application, is an ointment.
8. In John 20:22, the Holy Ghost is the breath, as we legitimately infer ‘by its being breathed into the mouth of the recipient after the ancient oriental custom.
9. In Acts 2:3, we learn the Holy Ghost “sat upon each of them,” probably in the form of a bird, as at Jesus’ baptism.
10. In Acts 2:1, the Holy Ghost appears as “cloven tongues of fire.”
11. In Luke 2:26, the Holy Ghost is the author of a revelation or inspiration.
12. In ACts 8:17, the Holy Ghost is a magnetic aura imparted by the “laying on of hands.”
13. In Mark 1:8, the Holy Ghost is a medium or element for baptism.
14. In Acts 28:25, the Holy Ghost appears with vocal organs, and speaks.
15. In Heb. 6:4, the Holy Ghost is dealt out or imparted by measure.
16. In Luke 3:22, the Holy Ghost appears with a tangible body.
17. In Luke 1:5, and many other texts, we are taught people are filled with the Holy Ghost.
18. In Matt. 6:15, the Holy Ghost falls upon the people as a ponderable substance.
19. In Luke 4:1, the Holy Ghost is a God within a God -”Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost.” ‘
20. In Acts 21:1 I, the Holy Ghost is a being of the masculine or feminine gender-·’ Thus saith the Holy Ghost,” etc.
21. In John 1:32, the Holy Ghost is of the neuter gender – ”It (the Holy Ghost) abode upon him.”
22. In Matt. 1:18, the Holy Ghost becomes a vicarious agent in the procreation of another God, that is, this third member of the Trinity aids the first member (the Father) in the creation or generation of the second member of the triad of bachelor Gods-the Lord, or Savior, or Son of God.
THE GHOST TEACHES & REMINDS
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV) John 14:26
THE GHOST TESTIFIES OF CHRIST:
When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. (NIV) John 15:26
THE GHOST CONVICTS:
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt [Or will expose the guilt of the world] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: (NIV) John 16:8
THE GHOST LEADS:
Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (NIV) Romans 8:14
THE GHOST REVEALS TRUTH:
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (NIV) John 16:13
THE GHOST STRENGTHENS AND ENCOURAGES:
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. (NIV) Acts 9:31
THE GHOST COMFORTS:
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (KJV) John 14:16
THE GHOST HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (NIV) Romans 8:26
THE GHOST INTERCEDES:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (NIV) Romans 8:26
THE GHOST SEARCHES THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD:
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 2:11
THE GHOST SANCTIFIES:
To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (NIV) Romans 15:16
THE GHOST BEARS WITNESS OR TESTIFIES:
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (KJV) Romans 8:16
THE GHOST FORBIDS:
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (NIV) Acts 16:6-7
THE GHOST CAN BE LIED TO:
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (NIV) Acts 5:3
THE GHOST CAN BE RESISTED:
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (NIV) Acts 7:51
THE GHOST CAN BE BLASPHEMED:
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (NIV) Matthew 12:31-32
THE GHOST CAN BE QUENCHED:
1 Thessalonians 5:19
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS A MIND:
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (NIV) Romans 8:27
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS A WILL:
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (NASB) 1 Corinthians 12:11
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS EMOTIONS:
The Holy Spirit grieves:
Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. (NIV) Isaiah 63:10
THE HOLY GHOST GIVES JOY:
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (NIV) Luke 10: 21
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 1:6
THE DOVE
1. The Holy Ghost in the shape of a bird, a dove or a pigeon. This is proven to be a very ancient pagan tradition, as it is found incorporated in several of the oriental religious systems. In ancient India, whose prolific spiritual fancies constitute the primary parentage of nearly all the doctrines, dogmas and superstitions found incorporated in the Christian Scriptures, a dove was uniformly the emblem of the Holy Spirit, or Spirit of God. Confirmatory of this statement, we find the declaration in the Anacalypsis, that a “dove stood for or represented a third member of the Trinity, and was the regenerator or regeneratory power.”
This meets the Christian idea of “ regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). A person being baptized under the Brahminical theocracy was said to be regenerated and “born again,” or, as the above-quoted writer expresses it, “They were born into the spirit, or the spirit into them” — that is, the “dove into or upon them,” as is the case of the Christian’s “Holy Ghost descending in bodily shape like a dove,” and alighting on Christ’s head at baptism, as related in Luke 3:22. In ancient Rome a dove or pigeon was the emblem of the female procreative energy, and frequently a legendary spirit, the accompaniment of Venus. And hence, as a writer remarks, “It is very appropriately represented as descending at baptism in the character of the third member of the Trinity.” The same writer tells us, “The dove fills the Grecian oracles with their spirit and power.” We find the dove, also, in the romantic eclogues of ancient Syria. In the time-chiseled Syrian temple of Hierapolis, Semiramis is represented with a dove on her head, thus constituting the prototype of the dove on the head of the Christian Savior at baptism.
And a dove was in more than one of the ancient religious systems- “ The Spirit of God (Holy Ghost) moving on the face of the waters” at creation, as implied in Gen. 1:2, though a pigeon, was often indiscriminately substituted. In Howe’s “Ancient Mysteries” it is related that “in St. Paul’s Cathedral, at the feast of Whitesuntide, the descent of the Holy Ghost was performed by a white pigeon being let fly out of a hole in the midst of the roof of the great aisle.” The dove and the pigeon, being but slight variations of the same species of the feathered tribe, were used indiscriminately.
Dove
Among birds the dove was specially sacred to her [Ishtar (ISTAR): Mesopotamian. “Goddess of fertility and war. ” Known period of worship = 2500 B.C.E. to 200 C.E.
It is figured with her on seals.
THE THIRD PERSON
2. The Holy Ghost was the third member of the Trinity in several of the oriental systems. Father, Son and Holy Ghost, or Father, Word and Holy Ghost (1 John 5:7), are familiar Christian terms to express the divine triad, which shows the Holy Ghost to be the acknowledged third member of the Christian Trinity.
And, as already suggested, the same is· true of the more ancient systems. “The Holy Spirit and the Evil Spirit were, each in their turn (says Mr. Higgins), third member of the Trinity.” In these triads (says Mr. Hillell) the third member was not of equal rank with the other two.” And hence, in the Theban Trinity, Khonso was inferior to Arion and Mant. In the Hindoo triad, Siva was subordinate to Brahma and Vishnu. And a score of similar examples might be adduced from the fancy-constructed trinities of other and older oriental religious systems (but for the inflexible rule of brevity which forbids their presentation here), with all of which the more modern Holy Ghost conception of the Christian world is an exact correspondence, as this imaginary, fabulous being is less conspicuous than and has always stood third in rank with the Father and second to the Son, AKA as the Word, and is now seldom addressed in practical Christian devotion ; and thus the analogy is complete. Mr. Maurice says, “This notion of a third person in the Deity (the Holy Ghost) was diffused among all the nations of the earth.” See Ind. Antiq. vol. iv. p. 750.) And Mr. Worseley, in his “Voyage” (vol. i. p. 259), avers this doctrine to be “of very great antiquity, and generally received by all the Gothic and Celtic nations.”
THE HOLY BREATH
3· The Holy Ghost was the Holy Breath which, in· the Hindoo traditions, moved on the face of the waters at creation, and imparted life and vitality into everything created. A similar conception is recognized in .the Christian Scriptures. In Psalms 33:6, we read, “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Here is the Brahminical conception of the act of creation by the Divine Breath, which is the Holy Ghost, the same, also, which was breathed into Adam, by which be became “a living soul.” M. Dubois observes, The Prana, or principle of life, of the Hindoos is the breath of life by which “the Creator (Brahma) animates the clay, and man became a living soul.” (Page 293.)
THE HOLY WIND
4· Holy Ghost, Holy Breath and Holy Wind appear to have been synonymous and convertible terms for the living vocal emanations from the mouth of the Supreme God, as memorialized in’ several of the pagan traditions. The last term (Holy Wind) is suggested by” the mighty rushing wind from heaven” which filled the house, or church, on the day of Pentecost (See Acts 2:2). Several of the old religious systems recognize “ the Holy Wind “ as a term for the Holy Ghost. The doxology (reported by a missionary) in the religious service of the Syrian worship runs thus:
“ Praise to the Holy Spiritual Wind, which is the Holy Ghost; Praise to the three persons which are one true God.”
Some writers maintain that the Hebrew Ruah Elohim translated “Spirit of God” (Gen. 1:2) in our version, should read, “Wind of the Gods.” And we find that the word pneuma, of our Greek New Testament, is sometimes translated “Ghost “ and sometimes “Wind,” as best suited the fancy of the translators. In John 3:5, we find the word Spirit, and . in verse eight both Wind and Spirit are found; and in Luke 1:35, we observe the term Holy Ghost -all translated from the same word. Let it be specially noted that in the Greek Testament the word pneuma is used in all these cases, thus proving that Spirit, Holy Ghost and Wind are used in the Christian Scriptures as synonymous terms; and proving, also, that an unwarranted license has been assumed by translators in rendering the same word three different ways. M. Auvaroff, in his “Essays on the Eleusinian Mysteries,” speaks of “the torch being ignited at the command of Hermes of Egypt, the spiritual agent in the workshop of creation; ”relative to which statement a writer remarks, cc Hermes appears in this instance as a personification of Wind or Spirit, as in the bible (meaning the Christian bible), God, Wind and Spirit are often interchangeable terms, and the Word appears to be from the same windy source.”
THE HOLY TONGUE
5· The Holy Ghost as “a tongue of fire, which sat upon each of them” (the apostles)(See Acts. 2:3). Even this conception is an orientalism. Mr. Higgins tells us that” Budha, an incarnate God of the Hindoos (three thousand years ago), is often seen with a glory or tongue of fire upon his head.” And the tradition of the visible manifestation of the Holy Ghost by fire was prevalent among the ancient Budhisls, Celts, Druids and Etrurians. In fact, as our author truly remarks, “The Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, when visible, was always in the form of fire (or a bird), and was always accompanied with wisdom and power.”
Hence, is disclosed the origin of the ancient custom amongst the Hindoos, Persians and Chaldeans of making offerings to the solar fire, emblem of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.
THE HOLY INSPIRATION
6. Inspiration by the Holy Ghost. (Luke 2:26.) “Holy men of God,” including some of the prophets, are claimed to have been inspired by the Holy Ghost. (See 2 Peter 1:21; Acts 28:25). In like manner, as we are informed by Mr. Cleland in his “Specimens” the ancient Celts were not only “moved by the Holy Ghost” in their divine decrees and prophetic utterances, but they claimed that their Salic laws (seventy-two in number) were inspired by the ”Salo Ghost” (Holy Ghost), known also as “the Wisdom of the Spirit, or the Voice of the Spirit.”
This author several times alludes to the fact, and exhibits the proof, that the doctrine of the Holy Ghost was known to this ancient people.
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
7. The Holy Ghost imparted by “the laying on of hands.’’ This, too, is an ancient oriental custom. “And by the imposition of hands’ on the head of the candidate,” says Mr. Cleland, speaking of the Celts, “the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, was conveyed.” And thus was the Holy Spirit, Ghost, Gas, Wind, Electrical Fire or Spirit of Authority imparted to the hierophant or gospel novitiate. “ And their public assemblies,” continues our author, “were always opened by an invocation to the Holy Ghost.”
THE GHOST BAPTISM
8. Baptism by or into the Holy Ghost accompanied with fire (Matt. 3:11). This rite, too, is traceable to a very ancient period, and was practiced by several of the old symbolical and mythological systems. The Tuscans, or Etrurians, baptized with fire, wind (ghost) and water. Baptism into the first member of the Trinity (the Father) was with fire; baptism into the second member of the Trinity (the Word) was with water; while baptism into the third member of the Trinity (the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit) consisted of the initiatory spiritual or symbolical application of gas, gust, ghost, wind, or spirit. It appears from “ Herbert’s Travels,” that, in “ancient countries, the child was taken to the priest, who named him (christened him) before the sacred fire:” after which ceremony he was sprinkled with “holy water” from a vessel made of the Sacred tree known as ”The Holme.’’
THE BREATHING
9. The Holy Ghost imparted by breathing (John 20:22). “Sometimes,” says scholar writer Mr. Higgins, relative to this custom among the ancient heathen, “the priest blew his breath upon the child, which was then considered baptized by air, spiritus sanctus, or holy ghost -i.e., baptism by the Holy Ghost!’
In case of baptism, a portion of the Holy Ghost was supposed to be transferred from the priest to the candidate. “The practice of breathing in or upon,” says Higgins, “was quite common among the ancient heathen.”
THE HOLY CONCEPTION
10. The Holy Ghost as the agent in divine conception, or the procreation of other Gods. Jesus is said to have been conceived by the Holy Ghost (see Matt. 1:18); and we find similar claims instituted still more anciently for other incarnate demigods. In the Mexican Trinity, Y, Zona was the father, Bacal the Word, and Echvah the Holy Ghost, by the last of whom Chimalman conceived and brought forth the in the flesh God Quexalcote. (Mex. Ant., vol. vi. pg 165o.) In the Hindoo mythos, Sakia was conceived by the Holy Ghost Nara-an.
WHEN WAS THE “HOLY SPIRIT” BESTOWED???
THE HOLY SPIRIT (GOD):
FIRST APPEARANCE AFTER RESURRECTION
God said in his word – Jesus gave the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit-God) to the disciples in his first appearance to them after the resurrection
And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22
AFTER JESUS LEFT
God said – It did not come to them until after Jesus left
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:39
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7
After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:3-5
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4
BEFORE
God said – But some had it before:
JOHN THE BAPTIST
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. Luke 1:15
DAVID
For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. Mark 12:36
… which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake…. Acts 1:16
ELIZABETH
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41
ZECHARIAH
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Luke 1:67
SIMEON
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. Luke 2:25
GIDEON
Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet,summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. Judg 6:34
SAMSON
and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and
ESHTAOL
Judg 13:25
ISAIAH
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners Isa 61:1
HOW DO YOU ACQUIRE THE HOLY SPIRIT?
WHENEVER YOU ASK IT
God said – It is had for the asking at any time
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13
EVERYONE HAS IT
God said – All flesh has it
Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings. Prov 1:23
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.Joel 2:28
UNPARDONABLE SIN
28 “I promise you that any of the sinful things you say or do can be forgiven, no matter how terrible those things are.
29 But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven. That sin will be held against you forever.” Mark 3:28-29
“And I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matthew 12:31-32.
But then this?
Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything . . . Acts 13:39
Just speaking “against the Holy Spirit” and your sin will be held against you “forever.” Seems lacking as to what act constitutes the ultimate sin. This edict is very vague yet has such a grave and condemned punishment of being unforgiveable. The Holy Ghost is associated with baptism and a renewal of the person. To sin against this God is to have no way available to retry. With the first God the Father and the Second God the Son there is forgiveness available to try again. But with the third God there is no avenue of forgiveness. The Holy Ghost is the scaffold that reaches to heaven. So even if the first and second Gods forgave you and even if you were baptized, because you committed the unpardonable sin the third God would be against you blocking your way to heaven.
I’m sure there are countless Christians who have agonized about this unforgivable sin because it is undefined and unexplained. This is the ultimate fear tactic to gain control of the followers mind through their vivid imagination of what bad thing will happen to them at their death.