Articles
Not a Trick!
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (Jn. 14:26)
David Copperfield, to some, is a household name. For years he has dazzled millions with his grand display of illusionary magic. There may be even more who are familiar with David Blaine and his televised stunts. Whoever wears the label “magician” or “illusionist” is simply profiting from people’s fantasies or imaginations. People can be captivated by their abilities. It can go so far as to the belief that the performer may have some supernatural power. Ultimately, it is all a bunch of smoke and mirrors, literally. This is not the case with the Holy Spirit!
The Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit has been around since the beginning of creation (cf. Gen. 1:2), even though some may think that the Holy Spirit only came on to the scene at Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:4). It would be accurate to say that the Holy Spirit was more visible or easier to recognize during the early church. One of the most powerful declarations of the authority of the Holy Spirit was in Acts 5. Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…you have not lied to men but to God” (vv. 3 & 4). Ananias’s wife, Sapphira, did the same thing (vv. 8 & 9). Both died as a result of their deception (vv. 5 & 10). It would be a mistake to think that Peter’s power caused the death of Ananias and Sapphira; rather, their deaths were by the power of God. Remember what Peter said of the Holy Spirit—He is God. Just as Jesus is God (cf. Jn. 1:1; 20:28), so too is the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3f). Understandably, this is challenging for the human mind to fully grasp (cf. Job 36:26; Isa. 55:8f).
Something else to be mindful of is that one can have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. David was known for having a special relationship with God (cf. 1 Sam. 13:14); however, when David fell into sin, he was stricken with worry over losing that connection. He said, “Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psa. 51:11). His words express the heartbrokenness that everyone should display when someone is aware of their sin.
Looking closer at our relationship with the Holy Spirit, let’s consider the final moments of Christ with His disciples. His death being imminent, Christ told His disciples they would not be abandoned. Jesus gave them, and us, a promise when He said, “…It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (Jn. 16:7). When the Holy Spirit would come, He would provide the disciples, and eventually everyone, all truth (v. 13). And so He has—in the Word of God!
No amount of words can fully express the gratitude that Christians should have in knowing that the Holy Spirit dwells within them (cf. Jn. 14:15ff). The disciples were given this promise before the LORD’s crucifixion, and Christians have this assurance today. Also, the apostle Paul offers words of comfort about our Comforter. He said, “…The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Rom. 8:26). That the throne of God might be made accessible to anyone is unfathomable; yet, the Holy Spirit gives the faithful not only the ability, but the confidence to do so boldly.
A last key point to keep in mind is that the Holy Spirit is not some ethereal/mystical substance. The work of the Holy Spirit was not based on deceptive magical tricks. Miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit were performed by the apostles and prophets to prove that they were God’s messengers (cf. Heb. 2:4; 2 Cor. 12:12). All modern people’s claims to such miraculous power are deception (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8ff).
With such wonderful blessings in the Spirit, come grave responsibilities.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25).
