Ministering the Holy Spirit

The word "Spirit" is used in two senses: one, it describes God in His invisible, immaterial form. God, the Holy Spirit, was made visible in the form of Jesus.

In another sense, the Holy Spirit to us is "the Mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2.). We simply have no way of understanding pure Spirit, else God would not have moved into the physical realm to supply Spirit. Ministering the holy spirit is through the word of Christ the Spirit.

And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aarons garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priests office. Ex.28:3

However, the Israelites were given The Book of the Covenant or a covenant of Grace. They turned back to the musical idolatry of the Egyptian trinity and God TURNED THEM OVER to worship the starry host (Acts 7 etc.). They would not receive the MINISTERY OF THE SPIRIT until they turned ot God in Baptism and received A holy spirit.

HOW IS THE SPIRIT MINISTERED: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2Co.3:6

THE LAW: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 2 Cor. 3:7

THE FAITH, THE GOSPEL, THE SPIRIT: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 2 Cor. 3:8

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 2 Cor. 3:9
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 2 Cor. 3:10
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 2 Cor. 3:11
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 2 Cor. 3:12
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 2 Cor. 3:13

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth
.........the same vail untaken away
.........in the reading of the old testament;
.........which vail is done away in Christ. 2 Cor. 3:14

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 2 Cor. 3:15
Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 2 Cor. 3:16
Now the Lord IS that Spirit: and where the Spirit OF the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Cor. 3:17
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18

The Holy Spirit (Mind of Christ) is to the true Being of God what our mind or spirit is to us (1 Cor. 2). Because our bodies will die and decay, our only true self is the spirit which God put into everyone.

Jesus reveals His Mind or Spirit to us through His Words which He said were Spirit and Life (John 6:63).

Our spirit is A holy spirit only to the extent that the Mind of Christ occupies our thoughts and actions.

Because no human can "minister" or "supply" the Spirit by physically manhandling a "person" to place "Him" in our bodies, Paul ministered the Spirit by preaching the full gospel or "everything which pertains to life and Godliness" in our lives.

For instance, The Bible personifies THOUGHT, Truth and Spirit:

For the (1) WORD (Dabar=Logos=Spirit of Christ) of the (2) Lord (Jehovah) is right; and all his works are done in TRUTH. Psa 33:4

By the WORD of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the (3) BREATH (Spirit) of his MOUTH. Psa 33:6

Mouth: Peh (h6310) peh; from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing)

Breath is SPIRIT: Ruwach (h7307) roo'-akh, roo'-akh; from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath... by resemblance SPIRIT, but only of a rational being (includ. its EXPRESSION and FUNCTIONS)

Therefore, God is inistering the holy spirit is through the word of Christ the Spirit.

God, through Zechariah, shows how people so damage their spirits to such an extent that they no longer belong to God. Therefore, as He did the nation of Israel, He allowed them to walk in their own ways and worship like the nations.

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Zechariah 7:11

They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry. Zechariah 7:12

Therefore it is come to pass, that

as he cried, and they would not hear;
so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: Zechariah 7:13

In Matthew 13 Jesus spoke parables to of the multitudes to keep them from even hearing the word. When they do not hear then God quits speaking to them. In this sense He "hardens" their heart. Stated in another way, when people reject God and He lets them go by His permissive will He is said to have hardened their hearts.

This was repeated as the Jews killed Jesus and Stephen. Stephen was not gentle when he lashed out at the clergy who took away the key to knowledge and would murder you if you threatened their jobs:

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Acts 7:51

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Acts 7:52

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Acts 7:53

To resist or quench the spirit is to refuse to listen to God's words which are Spirit.

The prophets with the power of the Spirit or Mind of Christ were ministering the Spirit through the Word. Peter says that they were--

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Peter 1:11

We noted that God Who is pure or Holy Spirit can also have a Spirit of or mental disposition of Himself:

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter [Law], but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Cor 3:6

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glo rious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 2 Cor 3:7

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 2 Cor 3:8

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:10

Therefore, the Spirit God and the Spirit of God are not two people. Again, ministering the holy spirit is through the word of Christ the Spirit.

Spirit Without Measure and the Word

Later, when God was clothed in the body of Jesus Christ, He spoke His words fully because He was not giving His words as Spirit in a limited sense. He "fully preached" everything which belongs to mankind and it is totaly capable of supplying us with food for a lifetime.

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:
for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. John 3:34

To speak the words fully was to give the Spirit fully. Jesus confirmed this by saying, and we again quote:

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  Jn 6:63

The Experiencing God personally movement sees Jesus as a "sample" demonstration of how God can and will reveal a tailor-made assignment to everyone who goes through the 12-step mind-control program. In other later-rain movements Christ is minimized by insisting that He did not complete His "now but not yet kingdom." He is slandered by being accused of putting the gospel and kingdom as fermenting wine into a wineskin of our making. As it evolves we must throw away the old skin and get another one.

However, Jesus was not a "god like me with God's help." He was the One and Only God Incarnate of the universe. Or else He was confused because He said:

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
......... the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:
......... but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:10

So, we don't have Jesus having the full "Spirit person" living within while we just have "parts" of the literal Spirit person living within: God "giveth the Spirit without measure" when God Who "sent Jesus caused Him to speak the Words of God" and not the words of a human prson.

Jesus said "the body counts for nothing." He meant that the Father or Spirit or full Deity (Col. 2:9) dwelled in Him. Therefore, the Spirit gave the words directly from the Father and not from the flesh or human nature. Therefore, when Jesus spoke it was God speaking; to resist those words and try to replace them in song and sermon is to denounce God by resisting His Word or quenching His Spirit.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine,
but the Fathers which sent me. John 14:24

To keep means "to guard from loss or injury." God as the WE live within the human heart or spirit to the extent that people live by His Words which are Spirit and Life.

Using the name "WORD" to describe God working in the physical world shows that God's power is in His Words: He spoke and it came forth. If His Words had real power then writing them in a book does not diminish the words. However, only those who love those words are not sent strong delusions that they believe a lie and are damned.

Do you know people who cannot comprehend the simpliest Scriptural truth?

The Spirit which Jesus had upon Himself was not a "person." Rather, it was the Spirit without limit, the Knowledge God has of Himself now poured out into the hearts of obedient believers:

AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isa 11:1

And the spirit (7307) of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isaiah 11:2

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Isa 11:3

Turn you at my reproof: behold,
......... I will pour out my spirit unto you,
......... I will make known my words unto you. Proverbs 1:23

Don't lose sight of the fact that Jesus said the same thing -- and we cannot repeat it too often:

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  Jn 6:63

After His resurrection, Christ as Spirit appeared to Paul to make Him a minister of the Spirit by preaching the gospel.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1 Cor 2:4

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Cor 2:5

Paul, has said that the Mind of Christ is the Holy Spirit. Now, he says that the words which he speaks are Spirit and Life if we honor them as being more than ink on paper:

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament (contract); not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  2 Corinthians 3:6

We can eat, swallow and digest the paper and ink and we will not be more spiritual. However, if we make it our life's work to read, understand and try to apply Spirit words then we wil have Spirit and Life.

To the Romans, Paul makes the Spirit to spirit connection by showing that his internal service or ministering was from his spirit because he body was always weak. His spirit passed on Spirit power through preaching the gospel:

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Romans 1:9

Serve means worship. Paul's personal prayers were worship IN THE SPIRIT:

Latreuo (g3000) lat-ryoo'-o; from latris , (a hired menial); to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage: - serve, do the service, worship (-per)

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. Heb.13:10

For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Heb 13:11

Jesus told the woman at the well that God only SEEKS those who can worship Him in the new PLACE of the spirit as it listens to His Spirit in the Word. Therefore, Paul understood that to mean HIS spirit:

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Ph.3:3

This is the same worship: Latreuo (g3000)

It is arrogant to try to "pare down" the APPLE of Christ's words to arrive at a CORE of two or three facts. Jesus said that every word which He spoke to them were Spirit and Life. How can you ignore anything Jesus taught and still teach the good news? To pare off these words is to pare of God's presence.

Ministering the Holy Spirit To The Galatians

To the Galatians, Paul shows that receiving the Spirit is not by external works (singing, dancing, chanting, pleading for God to save you), but by hearing and believing the message of and about Christ:

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes
......... Jesus Christ hath been
......... evidently set forth, crucified among you? Galatians 3:1

This only would I learn of you,
......... Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law,
......... or (Received ye the Spirit) by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:2

Paul MINISTERED the Spirit through preaching: they received the Spirit by listening. Therefore, Paul was not ministering a THIRD PERSON. Luther in Law and Gospel wrote:

"But Paul says that the Spirit, through his preaching, has wrought in the hearts of his Corinthians, to the end that Christ lives and is mighty in them. After such statement he bursts into praise of the ministerial office, comparing the message, or preaching, of Moses with that of himself and the apostles. He says:

"Such confidence have we through Christ to Godward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God.

8. These words are blows and thrusts for the false apostles [PAGE 227] and preachers. Paul is mortal enemy to the blockheads who make great boast,

pretending to what they do not possess and to what they cannot do;
who boast of having the Spirit in great measure; who are ready to counsel and aid the whole world;

who pride themselves on the ability to invent something new. It is to be a surpassingly precious and heavenly thing they are to spin out of their heads, as the dreams of pope and monks have been in time past.

"We do not so," says Paul. "We rely not upon ourselves or our wisdom and ability. We preach not what we have ourselves invented. But this is our boast and trust in Christ before God,

that we have made of you a divine epistle; have written upon your hearts,not our thoughts, but the Word of God.

We are not, however, glorifying our own power, but the works and the power of him who has called and equipped us for such an office; from whom proceeds all you have heard and believed.

9. It is a glory which every preacher may claim, to be able to say with full confidence of heart:
........... "This trust have I toward God in Christ, that what I teach and preach is truly the Word of God."

There is a role for PROFESSORS and Rhetoricians and Sophists but we quoted Luther above to say that it WAS NOT of ANY value in the spiritual realm: that is why Jesus repudiated the Doctors of the Law who might go and make a living in Canon Law:

In short, let him who would be wise, who would boast of great skill, talents and power, confine himself to things other than spiritual;

Whatever we RECEIVE as a result of THE HEARING OF FAITH is the SPIRIT. This is the Holy Spirit or the Mind of Christ (1 Cor 2).

Received is the Greek word:

Akoe (g189) ak-o-ay'; from 191; hearing (the act, the sense or the thing heard): - audience, ear, fame, which ye heard, hearing, preached, report, rumor.

No one ever received the Spirit as a supernatural power of incarnation simply by hearing with faith. Therefore, when they heard the inspired Word they were receiving the Spirit which is the Words and Mind of Christ.

Let's run through that again. First, remember that Jesus said of "spirit"

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

Second, when the Galatians heard with faith they were receiving the spirit or mind of Christ.

The Ephesian Colossian Parallel. We MINISTER the Spirit by letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly and the SPEAKING that word one to another. The SPIRIT is never said to be ministered or dispensed by music:

The Mind of Christ is the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 3) and we hear and understand the Spirit by hearing the Words of Christ Who is the Spirit and full Deity (Colossians 2:9)

The Spirit is received here just by hearing and believing. In Acts 2:38 we are led to believe that the gift of the Spirit comes after repentance and baptism which comes after belief. Therefore, Paul is clearly saying that the "Spirit" is in earthen vessels or the words of the Apostles. Spirit is delivered by teaching and discoursing the Words Christ gave to them as Spirit and Life. This process continues as long as we give heed to the words of Christ. Obeying all that Jesus commanded therefore is "hearing of faith." The "Spirit" is passed on by preaching that "Jesus is set forth as crucified."

From Romans 7 and 8 it is clear that their conflict was between the Mosaic Law and the Words of Christ which are Spirit and Life. On a personal level, the contest is between the personal flesh and the personal spirit. Therefore, Paul would use the same terms to the Galatians. Because there was not spirit and Spirit distinction in the text, I have removed the upper case which is inserted as human commentary. He asks:

Are ye so foolish?
......... having begun in the spirit (mind),
......... are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:3
......... Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. Galatians 3:4

The SPIRIT is contrasted with the FLESH. That is OUR SPIRIT is where we live if we are baptized believers understanding what we were REQUESTING.

God lives in the heart, mind or spirit (the inner man) by faith. When our spirit conforms to God's Spirit (the Mind of Christ) then we do not try to become perfect with acts of the flesh. All ritualism is legalism because it seeks to make spiritual changes with assaults upon the flesh.

Again, the contest is not between the Galatians "flesh" and the Holy Spirit; it is between their carnal nature and their enlightened spirit or mind.

And again, Paul was ministering the Holy Spirit by preaching:

He (Paul) therefore that

ministereth to you the Spirit,

and (he that) worketh miracles among you,

doeth he it by the works of the law, or

by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:5

A Minister:

Diakonia (g1248) dee-ak-on-ee'-ah; from 1249; attendance (as a servant, etc.); fig. (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (espec. of the Chr. teacher, or techn. of the diaconate): - (ad-) minister (- ing, - tration, -try), office, relief, service (-ing).

His OFFICE is:

Diakonos (g1249) dee-ak'-on-os; prob. from an obs. diako, (to run on errands; comp. 1377; an attendant, i.e. (gen.) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); spec. a Chr. teacher and pastor (techn. a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant

Ministereth is:

Epichoregeo (g2023) ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh'-o; from 1909 and 5524; to furnish besides, i.e. fully supply, (fig.) aid or contribute: - add, minister (nourishment, unto).

In the Greek CHORUS into which the Jews tried to lead Jesus was the Dionysus choral dance. The CHOREGEO organized the TEAM to dance in a sexual, often perverted way. Zeus and Dionysus had been worshipped in the Temple in Jerusalem while the Greeks ruled there. The performed their sacrifices right into the Most Holy places. The imagry of JUDAS is that of being such a flute player dancer.

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 2 Cor 9:10

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:

that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Pet 4:11

Paul ministered the Spirit by preaching the gospel:
......... the people received the Spirit by hearing.

What has taken place?

Simple conversation but no laying on of hands to receive a special gift of the Holy Spirit which is the gift of Christ.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 1 Th 1:5

So, Jesus said that Spirit or His Mind is bound up in the Words which He spoke; Paul ministered that Spirit by teaching the Word; and people received the Spirit by listening to the Word. You cannot transfer a third member of the God "family" by pushing Hin into the head; you transfer Spirit by transferring Word.

In another account, Paul ministered by ministering the gospel:

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God,

that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:16

The Gentiles might accept the gospel of Christ and OFFER UP acceptable worship because they are SANCTIFIED by having a NEW SPIRIT which is neither Jewish nor Gentile:

Jesus, who said that His Words were Spirit and Life also said that the TRUTH in the WORD sanctifies:

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

John had heard Jesus also say:

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

Because Paul was taught by the Spirit Lord Who said "I am Jesus of Nazareth" he fully knew the Spirit- Word connection:

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace,

which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Ac. 20:32

The Word of God helps to INCREACE grace and peace:

SIMON Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Pet 1:1

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 2 Pet 1:2

Paul did not hand-feed the Holy Spirit as a "person" to the Galatians. Ministered means:

Epichoregeo (g2023) ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh'-o; from 1909 and 5524; to furnish besides, i.e. fully supply, (fig.) aid or contribute: - add, minister nourishment

Supplying the Spirit of Jesus Christ:

What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Ph 1:18

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Ph 1:19

The SUPPLYING of the Spirit can come through pretenders or hypocrites. This does not mean that Christ approves of the ACTORS but He does the teaching when His words are taught.

Epichoregia (g2024) ep-ee-khor-ayg-ee'-ah; from 2023; contribution: - supply.

Epichoregeo (g2023) ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh'-o; from 1909 and 5524; to furnish besides, i.e. fully supply, (fig.) aid or contribute: - add, minister (nourishment, unto)

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 2Co.9:10

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Ga.3:5

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Col.2:19

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 2Pe.1:5

For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2Pe.1:11

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them

that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1: 12

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: f

or the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:10

The Spirit which incarnated the man Jesus, was the Word which in the beginning was God. As that Spirit in the visible manifestation of the work of the invisible, Spirit Deity, He appeared as the pillar of fire, the Rock, the Water, the Manna and in may other "outreaches" of God into the physical dimension in which we live.

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when

it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Peter 1:11

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us

they did minister the things,
......which are now reported unto you by them that

have preached the gospel unto you
...... with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;
...... which things the angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:12

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Cor. 2:10

For what man
...... knoweth the things of a man,
...... ...... save the spirit of man which is in him?
...... even so the things of God knoweth no man,
...... ...... but the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. 2:11

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Cor. 2:12

Which things also we speak, not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Cor. 2:13

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1 Cor. 2:15

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16

Therefore, ministering the Spirit of Christ ministered that which had been preached with the Holy Ghost. Not with the power of the Holy Ghost as a person but with the Holy Ghost. But what was the Spirit of Christ which they ministered through preaching the gospel with the Spirit? Remember that this spirit was not a little person but the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven was:

And the spirit (7307) of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isaiah 11:2

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

This SPIRIT OF supernatural knowledge is MINISTERED through preaching. Those who have faith and want to become members of Christ's TEAM must be baptized.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:16

"Throughout the rest of the chapter 'spirit' and 'flesh' are contrasted, the new and the old nature. We see their antagonism... Rendal says that through out this section Paul has in mind 'spirit' and not 'Spirit'; Lightfoot says it in regard to v. 17...

"The analogy of Scripture shows that we never use the Spirit as a means, but we do so use our own 'spirit.'

"So Paul here bids the Galatians to use in their walk and conversation what is spirit in its nature, i. e., the reborn, new man... 'Flesh' and the ''Holy Spirit' are not a contrast, but 'flesh' and 'spirit' are." (Lenski, Gal. 5:16)

Renewing the spirit is renewing the mind:

And be renewed in the spirit (mental disposition) of your mind; Ep.4:23

And be not conformed to this world: but ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Ro.12:2

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled Col.1:21

By becoming a disciple Christ gives us a NEW SPIRIT or a NEW MAN to live inside. Because we are SANCTIFIED by the blood of Christ we can come boldly into the presence of God. This is in the spirit or mind as the only PLACE where we can worship God spirit to Spirit.

See The Gift of the Holy Spirit-Word Parallel Suneidesis

See Clement of Alexandria on the gift of the Spirit as enlightenment

Holy Spirit Index

Baptism Index

Home Page

Counter atted 11/07/04 629  12.09.07 976 5.27.08 1800