Holy_Spirit

Of all the subjects and topics that stem from the Bible, the most mysterious and mis-understood of them all is the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit REAL? Is the Holy Spirit a PERSON? Is the Holy Spirit MALE? or FEMALE? Is the Holy Spirit merely the CHARACTER of Jesus? WHO is the Holy Spirit? One of the greatest errors, encouraged by satan, is to say the Holy Spirit does not exist.

John 15:26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

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The Holy Spirit can TESTIFY. One could argue that a character can testify, but this does imply an ACTIVE role.

The Holy Spirit can TEACH. This certainly implies an intelligent being with a skillset. No, a book can not teach.

Hebrews 3:7

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

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The Holy Spirit has a VOICE. This is certainly a personage. Only a living person can SPEAK.

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1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one There are THREE that BEAR WITNESS. The FATHER is ONE. The SON is ONE, making TWO. The HOLY SPIRIT is ONE making THREE

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Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. If you have the Holy Spirit, you MIND the things that the Spirit MINDS. Some translations actually say Sririt DESIRES. It is saying that you want what the Spirit WANTS.

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Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. The Holy Spirit can be BLASPHEMED AGAINST. This is not just speaking against a principle or character. The Holy Spirit is so important that blasphemy against Him is unforgivable.

Matthew 12:32

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

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Some say that the Holy Spirit is actually the Spirit of Jesus, but here it says speaking against Jesus is forgiveable, and speaking against the Holy Spirit IS NOT.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge …. faith … gifts of healing … working of miracles … prophecy … discerning of spirits … divers tongues … interpretation of tongues

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

Notice what is happening here? The Holy Spirit is discerning what gift is needed and provides it. Discernment needs conscious thought, showing that the Holy Spirit is a living entity.

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The Bible gives many tests of a prophet, and if someone fails JUST ONE of these tests, then as God says “There is no light in them!”, however, this woman passes ALL of the biblical tests of a prophet. God said there would be prophets in the last days, and this is certainly one of them.

Acts 2:17

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Some thoughts on the Holy Spirit by Ellen White.

There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ. Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, pp. 62, 63. (1905). Did you catch that? THREE LIVING POWERS! The FATHER, the SON, the HOLY SPIRIT

You have now seen enough references from the Bible to clarify the position of the Holy Spirit. There is also a lot written on the Holy Spirit by a woman called Ellen G.White. There are tests that the Bible gives for the proof of a true prophet, and I have subjected the writings of E.G.White to these tests and she passes ALL of them. If you have not proved her as a prophet, you should stop reading here, as you already have enough information from the Bible to define the Holy Spirit. For those who have proved her, the next few pages contain some of her views on the Holy Spirit.

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The eternal heavenly dignitaries—God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit—arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy, ... would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin. Manuscript 145, 1901. She refers to THREE. God, Christ, and the HOLY SPIRIT

We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,— the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God -Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 51. (1905). She refers to THREE. The FATHER, The SON, and the HOLY GHOST

Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the service of Satan and have become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. —Testimonies for the Church 6:91. WHOSE names? The FATHER, the SON, the HOLY SPIRIT

Those who proclaim the third angel’s message must put on the whole armor of God, that they may stand boldly at their post, in the face of detraction and falsehood, fighting the good fight of faith, resisting the enemy with the word, “It is written.” Keep yourselves where the three great powers of heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, can be your efficiency. These powers work with the one who gives himself unreservedly to God. The strength of heaven is at the command of God’s believing ones. The man who takes God as his trust is barricaded by an impregnable wall. The Southern Watchman, February 23, 1904, p. 122. Once more! THREE great powers of Heaven, The FATHER, the SON, the HOLY SPIRIT

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The Lord says this because He knows it is for our good. He would build a wall around us, to keep us from transgression, so that His blessing and love may be bestowed on us in rich measure. This is the reason we have established a school here. The Lord instructed us that this was the place in which we should locate, and we have had every reason to think that we are in the right place. We have been brought together as a school, and we need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds, that the Lord God is our keeper, and helper. He hears every word we utter and knows every thought of the mind. -Manuscript 66, 1899, 4. (Talk, April 15, 1899).

“He shall not speak of Himself,” He said, “He shall glorify Me.” As Christ came to glorify the Father by the revelation of His infinite love, so the Spirit came to glorify Christ. Letter 213, 1903.

The Holy Spirit as ONE of the Godhead came to glorify Christ, ANOTHER of the Godhead.

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When the Holy Spirit is allowed to do His work on human hearts, self will be crucified. —Letter 270, 1907. ALLOWING the Holy Spirit to DO HIS WORK. Pretty obvious statement.

We cannot render to God supreme love and honor if we do not recognize the Holy Spirit Manuscript 59, 1900. We must RECOGNISE the Holy Spirit.

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A fairly direct statement. The Holy Spirit is a PERSON in the same way God is a person.

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From the texts and writings I have presented, along with others that I have not included here, I have to come to the realisation that the Holy Spirit is indeed a separate member of the Godhead, the third member. Any other conclusion would be just denying the scriptures.