The Power of the Holy Spirit

GOLDEN TEXT: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”—Acts 1:8

THE King James translation of our Golden Text is in error in using the word “Ghost” instead of “Spirit.” The word ghost was employed by early translators of the Bible in an effort to establish the erroneous theory that the Holy Spirit is a personality, and the third part in a trinity of gods. The Holy Spirit is not a personality, but simply the invisible power of God, his holy influence. It is the power by which all God’s mighty works are accomplished. In the life of the Christian, it is largely the power of God’s mind, his will, as expressed through his Word. The influence of God’s will is a tremendous power in the lives of those who are wholly devoted to him.

Every part of the Word of God, the Bible, comes to us as a direct result of a miraculous use of his power in the lives of those whom he employed to pen its many books. Peter explains that “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (II Pet. 1:21) This means that when we read the Old Testament in the desire to be guided by its counsel, and inspired by its promises, we are putting ourselves under the influence of the holy power of God which inspired those writings.

There was a further miraculous operation of the power of God in the life of Jesus. This was different, however, than in the case of the prophets. With them it, was mechanical in the sense that they did not understand the deep significance of the things which they wrote. But with Jesus, the Spirit of God revealed the meaning of the prophecies which previously had been written. This gave an inspiration and power to his ministry which went beyond ordinary human ability and comprehension.

But there was to be a still further manifestation of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous and revealing manner in order that the will of God concerning the church, and the church’s part in his plan, might be fully made known. This further manifestation came upon the apostles at Pentecost. The Spirit of God came upon all the waiting disciples at that time, and has flowed down to the whole church; but only upon the apostles did it come as an inspiring power and it is through their writings that the completed testimony of God comes to the church. It is therefore through the written Word, provided for this express purpose, that the remainder of the church are guided by the Holy Spirit.

JOHN 14:25, 26—In this text, also, we find the mistranslation, “Ghost.” Here the Holy Spirit is designated the “Comforter,” and how true it is that the knowledge of God, of his plans, and of his will for us, bring comfort. The disciples were disheartened and discouraged when Jesus was crucified, but their hearts burned with joy when they learned the meaning of his death—that it was a necessary part of the plan of God. There were many great truths which Jesus did not reveal to the apostles, and many of the things he did teach would have been forgotten by them; but the coming of the Holy Spirit revealed these truths and called to remembrance what the Master had taught. Through the ministry of the apostles a permanent record was made of these truths, including “things to come.”—John 16:13

ACTS 2:1-4—As we have already noted, there was a miraculous manifestation of the power of God as it came upon the waiting disciples at Pentecost. It was an opening of the minds of the apostles to understand the plan of God more clearly; and the visible signs of the Holy Spirit as witnessed by all the disciples were of a miraculous nature. Some of these signs were repeated later when Cornelius was converted—the first Gentile convert but their repetition since has not been necessary.

“Tongues” of fire symbolized the “power” of the Spirit in the midst of the church, and the reality of that power was evidenced by the fact that “they began to speak.” An interesting sidelight in this narrative is the fact that “they were all with one accord in one place.” It has been true ever since Pentecost that when the Lord’s people fail to assemble “with one accord” there is little evidence of the Holy Spirit in their midst, for the spirit of discord is a carnal one, and in opposition to the welfare of any group of the Master’s followers.

ACTS 4:31—Here was another occasion when the apostles and other believers were given definite assurance that God was with them. It was not a second Pentecost. There were no tongues of fire, no rushing wind. The Greek word translated “shaken” in this text is rendered “stirred up,” in Acts 17:13, and the reference here is to an agitation, a stirring up of the people. It is possible that this is what occurred in the incident described in Acts 4:31. As a result of the apostles’ report, and their united prayers, the whole company must have been tremendously stirred.

GALATIANS 5:22-26—The “fruit” of the Spirit is the growth of godlike qualities of heart and mind resulting from the indwelling of his Word, and an unreserved yielding to its influence. The “gifts” of the Spirit were given to the Early Church to supply a need in the beginning of the age, but they have ceased. The fruit of the Spirit, however, is still the chief evidence of a true Christian life, for “by their fruits ye shall know them,” said Jesus. (Matt. 7:20) The “fruit” of the Spirit is described in Galatians 5:22,23.

QUESTIONS:

What is the Holy Spirit? Does it have personality?

How does the power of the Spirit reach the rank and file of the church?

What is one of the chief manifestations of the Holy Spirit?

What is the difference between the “fruit” of the Spirit and the “gifts” of the Spirit?

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