Holy Spirit: Heaven's Greatest Worship Leader

All true worship is a response to revelation about God. All true revelation comes by the Holy Spirit. You can sing without a revelation. You can dance without a revelation. But you can’t truly worship without a revelation.

Worship is intensity of attention. 

Worship is adoration. 

Worship is giving God glory as you see His glory. 

But if you can’t see, you can’t worship. 

For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

Worship isn’t a chore to be completed or an obligation to be fulfilled. Worship isn’t therapy to be used for our own benefit. Worship is a spiritual reaction to a divine reality. It’s your being’s way of celebrating God’s being.

Therefore, true worship cannot be conjured by means of emotional posturing. Worship can’t be demanded by an ambitious song leader. Hype can’t produce it. Production can’t mimic it. Musical talent cannot cause it. Only the Holy Spirit can ignite the fire of worship in your heart. For the carnal cannot produce the spiritual. He is the one who awakens true worship within you. 

The Holy Spirit uses the truths of the Word to produce a knowing of God - that knowing of God causes the natural response that is worship. To Worship is to be wowed by Him. The Holy Spirit takes the information and adds to it inspiration - that brings forth revelation. So it is the spirit and truth that together cultivate genuine worship of God. 

May we stand in awe of Him as we see Him with the eyes of the Spirit. For the Holy Spirit is truly Heaven’s greatest worship leader and, at that, the greatest worship leader of all time.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Holy Spirit - The Greatest Bible Teacher on Earth

Within the Word of God, there are wonderful mysteries, liberating truths, and life-changing messages. As a believer, you have a sincere desire to know the Word of God in greater depth. You want to draw closer to the Lord, live in holiness, and walk in a way that pleases God. In order to do that, you must walk according to the Word. But it’s possible that you, like many others, struggle sometimes to understand the truths of Scripture.

When the believer struggles to understand the Scriptures, the believer becomes discouraged in studying the Scriptures, and, more often than not, just gives up on their personal devotion to the Scriptures. 

When I first began to read the Word for myself, I would read halfway through any given chapter of the Bible only to realize that I wasn’t understanding what I was reading. So I’d have to start over. I would even zone out and read the Word without giving it my full attention. When I read the Word like that, there was no spiritual fruit. 

It can be overwhelming and even discouraging when you struggle in your devotion to the Word.

For me, the difference was made when I turned to the Holy Spirit, the greatest Bible Teacher on earth.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26, NLT)

The key to truly understanding God’s Word is the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit takes the information, adds inspiration, and brings about revelation. That revelation is what produces true and lasting transformation.

The Holy Spirit illuminates God’s Word. The Word of God is the substance with which the Holy Spirit creates the character of Christ in you. He was the One Who inspired the Word; surely He has the ability to teach it.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

What Does the Holy Spirit Look Like?

What does the Holy Spirit Look Like?

As you explore the Word of God, you will find that there is more to the Person of the Holy Spirit than we could ever possibly imagine. He’s colorful, lively, magnetic, and wonderful - I mean that literally. He’s filled with wonder. 

And one of the many things I love about the Holy Spirit is His mysterious nature. The mystery surrounding the Holy Spirit is partly due to the fact that He primarily points to Jesus. Glorifying the Son, the Spirit removes the attention from Himself. 

For example, 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that the Scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit. But have you ever noticed that we are never given the name of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Word to give us names for the Father and the Son, but, true to His humble nature, the Holy Spirit does not give us His name. Yes, we have terms for Him. Yes, we have titles for Him. But we don’t see His name. His name is not “Holy Spirit” - the Bible calls Him “The Holy Spirit.” So we have His title, but not His name.

Another point of mystery is the Holy Spirit’s appearance. The Bible gives us glimpses at the Father and the Son, but does the Bible mention anything about the Holy Spirit’s appearance? According to the Bible, what does the Holy Spirit look like? 

At the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit took on the physical appearance of a Dove. Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, and John 1:32 all describe the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus like a dove. This cannot just be a metaphor, since all accounts are describing a physical sight in the exact same manner. Whatever form the Holy Spirit took, that form reminded witnesses of a dove. In fact, Luke’s gospel puts a finer point on it:

Luke 3:22

and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Looking now at the Old Testament, we see that Ezekiel the prophet had an encounter with a man of fire - fire being a symbol for the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 8:1-4, NASB

It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell on me there. Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal. He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain

Imagine that. I love that the scripture tells us that the fiery being stretched out the form of a hand. In other words, Ezekiel saw the shape of a hand - the substance being not of flesh, but of fire. And what does Ezekiel call this fiery Being Who grabbed him by the lock of his head? Look at verse 3:

Ezekiel 8:3

“He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven...”

Ezekiel called this fiery being the “Spirit.” Ezekiel’s vision may very well have been of a physical appearance of the Holy Spirit Himself.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Wine

While a life of drunkenness is clearly and adamantly condemned in the Scripture, wine can represent prosperity, joy, and the Holy Spirit. In the Book of Ephesians, Paul the apostle instructs the Church to avoid drunkenness and instead to experience the infilling of the Holy Spirit:

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

The believer does not need wine to experience joy. Wine can only give unfulfilling counterfeits of what the Holy Spirit offers. The Holy Spirit is the wine of Heaven.

In the Book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit came upon the New Testament Church, those who saw the Holy Spirit’s influence on the believers assumed that they were drunk.

But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that” (Acts 2:13-15).

Of course, the Holy Spirit does not come to make us senseless and silly; He makes us sharp and bold. Many have abused those verses in Acts to defend bizarre and ungodly behavior. I believe in the joy and power of the Holy Spirit, but much of what we see on display today is just the flesh. So what was it that made the onlookers assume that the believers were drunk? It’s because they were acting under a new influence. They were behaving abnormally. They were speaking and moving in a way that was different. No, they weren’t belligerent, but they were bold! They weren’t incapacitated, but they were joyful.

The Holy Spirit is compared with wine, not because He brings foolishness and chaos, but because He brings boldness and joy. Just as people receive wine in celebration, so are we to receive the Holy Spirit with gladness. His presence, like wine, marks the occasion. Wine represents the joy, prosperity, and boldness brought about by the Holy Spirit. It too can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Water

We all, from time to time, enter into the place where we find ourselves spiritually tired and drained. The demands of living, paired with a waning prayer life, can produce a dryness of the soul. Sometimes we wander into dry places because we tend to neglect spiritual matters. You may find yourself in places that are dry, like the desert. In the spiritual desert, you become tired, frustrated, weak, and apathetic. Responsibilities and needs, like the intense heat from the beaming sun, drain you of vitality.

Life can sometimes be like a desert, but the Holy Spirit is always like a river.

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me! Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from His heart.’” (When He said “living water,” He was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.) (John 7:37-39)

The presence of the Holy Spirit brings life. His nearness is refreshing and restores the vitality of your soul. Because the waters flow from your spirit within, you never have to worry about emptying your source.

The Holy Spirit is not only represented by refreshing rivers of living water; He is also represented by rain (side note: this is also why the cloud is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; the cloud brings the rain).

The prophet Joel prophesied the coming of rain. He was referring to natural rain, but he went on to prophesy that God would “pour out” His Spirit. The mentioning of the Spirit and rain together creates this clear symbolic parallel—the Holy Spirit is the rain of Heaven.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.... And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My spirit (Joel 2:23,28-29 KJV).

Water cleanses, quenches, refreshes, and gives life. The Holy Spirit cleanses your soul, quenches your spiritual thirst, and refreshes your being.

Wherever the rivers and rain of the Holy Spirit touch, there is life.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John 4:13-14).

Water represents the Holy Spirit’s ability to refresh us, quench our spiritual thirst, cleanse us, and bring forth life wherever He flows. He is the rain of Heaven, and He is the living river that flows from within. Water can be symbolic for the Holy Spirit.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: The Seal

Sadly, many Christians are afraid of losing their salvation. For now, at least in this book, I will avoid the debate about whether or not one can lose his or her salvation. What I’d rather focus on here is the fact that many believers just simply do not understand the work of salvation.

Often, I receive very specific questions from very fearful people who are wondering if they have done something to lose their salvation. The questions vary in specifics but are exactly alike at the core. “Brother David, I listened to a worldly song, and I felt bad—have I lost my salvation?”

“David, I spoke ungodly words in anger toward my spouse, and now I feel a weight of guilt on me. Did I lose my salvation?” “Brother David, I don’t feel God near me anymore. Am I still saved?”

Not a single believer should live under the paranoia, the constant fear, of being cast away from God’s salvation. We place much faith in the power of our misdeeds and not enough in God’s ability to secure that which He has purchased.

What’s even sadder is the fact that most people I try to counsel out of such paranoia are much too busied in the mind to pay any attention to the truth. The truth can liberate them from the religious weight of performance-based faith, but they don’t pause to really receive that truth. They obsess over the details about their own specific errors and ignore the principles of truth that apply to all. They long for a specific assurance that what they have done in particular has not disqualified them from the family of God.

So, dear reader, please read this carefully: salvation is quite simple. Jesus did the work, and He just asks that you believe in His accomplishment. Of course, we must live righteously thereafter, but not in order to gain salvation. We don’t live holy to be saved; we choose to live holy because we are saved.

Still, even knowing this information about the simplicity of salvation, many Christians live their lives in misery. They carry the weight of their sins and live in fear. They live in fear because they think their salvation depends on their performance, when it doesn’t. Again, I must emphasize that I believe in holy living, and I believe that there are consequences to sin.

But that doesn’t mean that the believer isn’t going through a transformation. Perfection is a process.

Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to help us defeat the religious paradigms that can so easily infect the mind. He is the One who assures us that we belong to God. I daresay that convincing you of your new identity is one of His most important works.

The Holy Spirit is the “down payment” on your heavenly inheritance. Yes, Jesus paid the price in full for your salvation when He gave His life upon the cross. However, the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that we will receive the salvation for which Christ died to give us. The day of redemption is a certain reality for you and me because we have the Holy Spirit.

And He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us (2 Corinthians 1:22)

Because we have the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that we belong to God, and because we belong to God, we can be assured of all He has promised to give us and do for us through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is your mark and guarantee. He is God’s pledge and seal of promise upon you.

In Jewish wedding culture, the father of the groom would usually be the one who picked the bride for his son. After the father of the groom found whom he believed to be the choice bride, he would approach the bride and her family. There would be a written marriage agreement made. After the written agreement was finished, it was customary for the father of the groom to give a gift to the father of the bride. That gift acted as a deposit for the bride. It was a promissory note, a guarantee of the groom’s intentions to marry. Once that deposit was made, the intent to marry would become official.

The Jewish wedding traditions, like many of the Jewish traditions, mirror the spiritual realm.

Just as the father of the groom selects the bride, so God the Father has chosen to give the Church to His Son. And just as the father of the groom leaves a gift representing a promise, so God fills you with His Holy Spirit, His divine promise.

While here upon the earth, we receive many things from the Lord. And many people, when they get to Heaven, will be saddened to discover what they could have experienced while here on earth. Still, not everything that God has promised us concerning our salvation can be experienced here and now. For example, the new glorified bodies we will receive cannot now be obtained. So, the Holy Spirit is God’s seal of promise in you, guaranteeing that you will eventually receive it all!

For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God Himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:3-5).

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV).

The seal represents the certainty that we receive from the Holy Spirit. Despite what our emotions tell us, despite what the lies of the enemy tell us, despite what our own human reasoning tells us, we know that we belong to God because of the Holy Spirit, the seal of the promise of salvation. The seal, the Holy Spirit, is God’s fear-defeating, peace-giving promise to us, the assurance of our own salvation. The seal can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: The Cloud

Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain
forty days and forty nights (Exodus 24:15-18).

It was in that cloud that Moses received, among many other instructions, commands on how to build the tabernacle. While in the cloud, Moses shared such a close relationship with God that his face would often shine.

Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil. But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the Lord had given him, and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face. So he would put the veil over his face until he returned to speak with the Lord (Exodus 34:32-35).

Reading and hearing of the manifested glory of God stirs within my heart a desire to know God in a deeper way. So often I cry, “Show me Your glory, Jesus! Reveal Yourself to me. I want to know You more. Let Your cloud surround me too.” Dear reader, I know that you too desire to draw closer to God.

Now, here’s the wonderful news! The same cloud that enveloped Moses dwells in you. For that cloud is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s abiding presence. He was the cloud that guided the children of Israel through the wilderness.

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night (Exodus 13:21).

In the same way that the Holy Spirit guided the children of Israel through the wilderness, so He guides you today. To stay within the will of God, simply follow the Holy Spirit. There’s a saying I have that I use whenever I sense God changing my direction in life or ministry. I say, “The Cloud is moving.”

This same cloud also filled the temple where the priests were ministering. The power of the glory of God was so overwhelming that the priests were unable to stand in it.

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God (2 Chronicles 5:13-14 KJV).

The presence of the Holy Spirit also manifested in the form of a cloud at the transfiguration of Jesus.

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground (Matthew 17:5-6).

It was in the cloud that Jesus ascended (Acts 1:9), and it is on a cloud that Jesus will return (Mark 13:26). The Holy Spirit, the cloud, reveals the presence of Jesus.

The cloud represents the Holy Spirit’s guidance and glorious presence in your life. He surrounds you and reveals the glory of God. He rests on His new tabernacle, you. The cloud can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Light

I once had a prayer team visit my house to pray. While praying over my desk (where I studied the Word), an anointed woman of God saw a vision. She said, “I was praying over your room when I saw your Bible sitting open on your desk. So I started to anoint your desk and Bible. Then I saw the verses in the Bible begin to illuminate. In the spirit, I saw you studying.
And as you studied, the verses were being illuminated.”

What that woman saw in the spirit was the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word, and that illumination is not just for me—it’s for you, dear reader.

Before I began to know the Holy Spirit as a friend, when I didn’t even truly consider Him as a Person, I struggled to understand the teachings of God’s Word. I was able to comprehend biblical doctrines, memorize Bible passages, and even appreciate the beauty of the Scriptures. Yet I lacked in how I received the revelation of God’s Word. There was no life to my devotion. Because my mind would so easily wander, I would read long portions of Scripture only to stop and have to start again. I would often forget the context, misunderstand the ideas, and struggle to find any application for the truth I received.

Even knowing the Word, my spiritual mood would often shift as I failed to grasp the nature of God. Reading the Word of God was more of a discipline than anything else. Though discipline in the Word is certainly needed, I didn’t want my devotion to the Word to be just a discipline. Sure, reading the Word benefited me. And yes, it helped me to grow. But some- thing wasn’t quite right. Something was missing, and I knew there had to be more.

One day, while reading the Word, I came across a portion of Scripture in the Book of James. I’ll never forget the moment I first read it. It was life altering. I read this verse:

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking (James 1:5).

Dear reader, I know that to most that verse may not appear all that thrilling, but when I read it, for me, that verse became alive! Something about it just pulled my soul. I felt God speaking to me.
Through that verse, the Lord was offering to me understanding of His precious Word. He was inviting me to ask for His wisdom. The very moment I read that passage, I stopped to pray. “Lord,” I spoke softly, “Your Word says that if I lack wisdom, I can ask You for it. So I’m asking You to give me wisdom. Help me to understand Your Word.” That was the day the Holy Spirit introduced me to Himself as the Teacher.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative— that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you (John 14:26).

On that day, the Holy Spirit offered me His help in knowing the Word, and everything changed.

Ever since then, when I read the Word, I can sense the Holy Spirit standing alongside me, and I can hear Him teaching me. I’m telling you—only He can truly reveal His Word. The Holy Spirit has helped me move beyond comprehension and into revelation. Comprehension and revelation are very different. One is received in the natural mind, the other in the mind of the spirit. My personal time in the Word is no longer dry and tedious; it’s refreshing and exciting.

The Holy Spirit’s guidance in the Word has even changed my ministry. The teaching of the Word, aside from the miracles, is what drew the crowds to Jesus (see Luke 5:15). I model my ministry after His. So this ministry is built on God’s Word and the Spirit’s teaching. So much can be built on the foundation of solid teaching and revelation. With the Holy Spirit as your Teacher, you can become filled with the Word to where it begins to pour out of you, and that will attract people to your ministry. Why? Because people are so hungry to know the deeper things of God. They want substance, and substance is hard to find. True substance of the Word, true knowledge of the Bible, is a rare treasure. So few ever take the time to get into the Word.

The illumination of the Holy Spirit can become the magnet of your ministry. That is one of the reasons why it’s so important that we rely upon the Holy Spirit to teach us.

And that’s what I’ve learned to do—just yield to my Teacher. Since the moment I read that verse in James until now, the revelations haven’t ceased. The Holy Spirit is faithful to reveal His Word. It’s purely supernatural. The ability to know the truth is beyond human reasoning. We need the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

When I think of such illumination, I’m reminded of apostle John. What awe and wonderful terror must have filled the yielded being of John as he stood in the realm of the Spirit to witness the majestic sight of God’s throne room. Like the deep sea or the ever-expanding cosmos, the presence of the Lord can be so beautiful that it’s frightening.

Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carne- lian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded Him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God (Revelation 4:1-5).

The Book of Revelation describes the sevenfold Spirit of God as “seven lamps of fire burning” (Rev. 4:5 KJV). The lamps themselves are said to be the seven-fold Spirit of God, not the fire. Lamps give light, guidance, and clarity. In the same way, the Holy Spirit brings about illumination in the life of the believer. The Holy Spirit gives illumination through:

Revelation of the Word of God (see John 14:26)
Revelation of the ways of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
Revelation of the will of God (see Acts 16:6-7)

The Word of God contains the written foundational truths concerning God’s will (desires, plans) and God’s ways (nature, character). However, there are certain aspects of God’s will that only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you—especially when those aspects have to do with specific things in your life and ministry. The same goes for the ways of God. God’s ways—or
nature—can only be truly understood by the Holy Spirit.

The more that the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God, the more you can see the ways and will of God. The Holy Spirit illuminates your mind and your spirit. As a guiding lamp, the Holy Spirit enables you to see with your spiritual sight.

But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you His Spirit, and all of you know the truth (1 John 2:20).

The lamp speaks to the illuminating nature of the Holy Spirit. Lamps or light can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL. 

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: The Dove

What does the Holy Spirit look like? We are given descriptions of Jesus and the Father, but rarely do we see a description of the Holy Spirit. Today, His body is your body, but the Holy Spirit appeared in physical form in the Gospels. Yes, the Bible gives a physical description of the Holy Spirit!

The Gospels each record the spectacular events in the life of Christ. Although they will often vary in the way they describe an event, they do not ever contradict one another. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each describe the event of Jesus’s baptism in the same way. During the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. This agreement upon the way they described the Holy Spirit indicates to me that what they saw was a literal description and not a figurative description. Those who witnessed the heavenly display literally saw the Holy Spirit, in the shape and likeness of a dove, descend upon Jesus.

After His baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Him (Matthew 3:16).

As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove (Mark 1:10).

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon Him” (John 1:32).

Luke’s Gospel confirms the literal way in which the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus. He makes it clear that the Holy Spirit took on the form of a dove bodily:

and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy” (Luke 3:22).

Other Scriptures in the Bible symbolically speak to the pure, innocent, and undefiled nature of the Holy Spirit:

I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night (Song of Solomon 5:2 KJV).

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16 NIV).

Like the dove, the Holy Spirit is elegant, pure, and gentle. As such, the dove can be symbolic for the Holy Spirit.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Oil

What does it mean to be anointed?

In the Old Testament, when an individual was being anointed, oil was poured upon them (usually upon the head). This ceremonious applying of oil was known as “being anointed.” When someone was anointed, they were understood to be positioned, placed in authority, and ultimately set apart for a specific purpose.

The oil was a mark of power, of God’s call.

Kings were anointed.

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be My king.” …So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah (1 Samuel 16:1,13).

Prophets were anointed.

Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as My prophet (1 Kings 19:16).

Priests were anointed.

Clothe your brother, Aaron, and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they can serve as My priests (Exodus 28:41).

Special holy items and places, such as altars, were anointed.

Each day you must sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering to purify them, making them right with the Lord. Afterward, cleanse the altar by purifying it; make it holy by anointing it with oil (Exodus 29:36).

In the New Testament, God marked and anointed Jesus, not just with oil, but with the Holy Spirit.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).

The anointing oil was a foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Just as oil was poured from above and onto the head of those appointed, so the Holy Spirit is poured out from above onto the head of the Church—Jesus Christ.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free (Luke 4:18).

You and I today are not anointed with oil but with power and the Holy Spirit. He sets us apart and empowers us for God’s use.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Fire

The Holy Spirit is symbolized by fire all throughout the scripture. One of the most interesting fire references to me can be found in the book of Ezekiel.

It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell on me there. Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal. He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain (Ezekiel 8:1-4 NASB).

I’m very intrigued by the heavenly visions of Ezekiel the prophet, but the vision that he had of the fiery being really has my attention. The fiery being had the likeness of a man, consisted of what appeared to be fire, and glowed like hot metal. Notice also that Ezekiel says the fiery being grabbed him with the “form of a hand” (Ezek. 8:3). It wasn’t an actual hand of flesh. Picture that—a flame of fire taking on the shape of a hand. Ezekiel’s descriptions don’t seem to be describing an angel or even the Lord Jesus.

What does Ezekiel call this fiery being who grabbed him by the lock of his head?

“He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven...” (Ezek. 8:3).

He called this being the “Spirit.” Ezekiel’s vision may very well have been of the Holy Spirit Himself.

Fire represents the Holy Spirit’s righteous nature. It speaks to His purity, judgment, and His refining presence. Thus, fire can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Wind

In the Old Testament, the word for “spirit” is “ruach”. The Hebrew word “ruach” can mean “spirit,” “wind,” or even “breath.” In the New Testament, the word for “spirit” is “pneuma”, which can also mean “wind” or “breath.” Of course, as far as the words and languages, there is much more to it than that, but for the sake of simplicity, just note that “ruach” and “pneuma” can mean “spirit,” “wind,” or “breath.”

Wind is a Biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit.

On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. - Acts 2:1–2

Like the wind, the Holy Spirit comes in suddenly and from seemingly nowhere - He whirls about the atmosphere and changes everything.

The Spirit, like the wind, moves wherever He wants and is, at times, unpredictable.

Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit. - John 3:8

Breath is also a Biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the breath of God; He is the breath of life that sustains all living beings.
 
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. - Genesis 2:7, KJV

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. - Job 33:4, KJV

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the depths of God. This is why, when imparting the Holy Spirit to His followers, Jesus breathed upon them.

Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” - John 20:22

The Holy Spirit is unpredictable, invisible but powerful. He brings refreshing. He stirs the atmosphere, and He brings life. He is the Wind of Heaven, the Breath of God.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

8 Effects of Living in God's Word

There are many benefits to knowing and living the Word of God. Here are 8 examples.

#1 You’ll walk free from sin

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

#2 You’ll prosper in all you do

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8

#3 You’ll walk in truth

Truth arms you to walk free of many kinds of deception. You’ll walk free from self-deception.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

You’ll walk free from demonic deception.

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 1 Timothy 4:1

#4 You’ll walk in faith

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17

#5 You’ll walk in Wisdom

The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. Psalm 119:130

#6 You’ll walk in peace

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

#7 You’ll walk in strength

My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Psalm 119:28

#8 You’ll walk in vulnerability toward God

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The Holy Spirit: Masterful Teacher

The difference between information and revelation is like the difference between looking at a photo of a moment and actually being there to experience that moment.

The Holy Spirit is a Masterful Teacher of the Word of God, because He doesn’t just give you information; He brings forth revelation. He doesn’t just help you to process the information; He helps you to appreciate the revelation. Information is the depositing of facts into your mind, but revelation is the impartation of truth into your spirit. Information informs. Revelation transforms.

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. – John 14:17 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit leads us into the truth of the Word of God. We cannot fully appreciate what God is communicating with us without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sure, anyone – even the carnal man – can retain the factual information of scripture. However, knowing what God’s Word says and experiencing the truth of God’s Word are two separate things.

One can know of God’s love and still never yield to it. One can know of the Holy Spirit’s power and still never walk in it. One can read about Jesus and still never meet Him. The information of the Word comes by reading the Word, but the revelation – the full experience and understanding – of the Word comes only with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God becomes an experience when the Holy Spirit breathes upon it.

You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. - Nehemiah 9:20 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit is our Instructor.

Perhaps you have become frustrated with what you feel is a lack of understanding. Perhaps you have attempted several times, to no avail, to receive from the Word of God on your own. Maybe you have seen others expound upon the Word of God with powerful insight and have thought, “Why didn’t I see that in the Word?” or “I wish I could receive revelation like that.”

If you’re like me, then there are times when you’re reading the Word and the information seems scattered. You have a difficult time putting the pieces together. My secret is simple: I just ask for the Holy Spirit to teach me as I read the Word.

Yes, it really is that simple. The scripture says…

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. – James 1:5 (NLT)

Without His help, I am absolutely unable to truly understand the deeper things of God. I don’t want to just learn theology, I want to access spirituality. The Holy Spirit helps me to do that. I simply and slowly move through the text. As I am diligent to give myself to the discipline of research and reading, He is faithful to remind and reveal. You do the difficult, and the Holy Spirit will do the supernatural. You take the time for the Word, and He will meet you there to teach you.

So, as you read the Word of God, relax, be still and, with child-like faith, ask for the guidance of the Masterful Teacher, the Holy Spirit.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.