“...the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 (NIV)
One of the most profound revelations of the whole Bible is that of the person and the work of the Holy Spirit. The first thing we must understand is that the Holy Spirit is Himself a person, just as much as the Father and the Son.
Through the Holy Spirit, God knows everything; there is nothing hidden from God; and through the Holy Spirit, God is present everywhere at the same time. These two characteristics are represented by the theological terms omniscient and omnipresent, respectively. These traits are revealed in various passages of Scripture. For instance, in Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV), the Lord said, “Am I only a God nearby, ” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth? ” declares the LORD.”
God fills heaven and earth. There is no place where God is not. There is no place where things happen and God does not know about them. This is very beautifully shared by King David in the opening verses of Psalm 139: “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139 1-12 (NIV)
How comforting it is to know that God is intimately acquainted with us. There is nowhere that you or I can go and be hidden from God. No distance can separate you from Him. No darkness can hide you from Him. God is everywhere, throughout the entire universe. He knows all that is happening in every place.
As I ponder this, I recall the days and weeks after my eldest son passed away. The presence of the Spirit of God was there with me to comfort, guide and intercede on my behalf. The Holy Scriptures describe the Holy Spirit in personal language as an Advocate, Counselor, Helper and Guide when it says that He teaches, guides, comforts and intercedes on our behalf. John 14:26; Luke 12:12; 1 John 2:27
As our Teacher, the Holy Spirit reveals the deep things of God to us: “…Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine—these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers. But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all things.” 1 Cor. 2:9-10 (TPT)
“But when the truth-giving Spirit comes, he will unveil the reality of every truth[a] within you. He won’t speak his own message, but only what he hears from the Father, and he will reveal prophetically to you what is to come. John 16:13 (TPT)
Getting to know the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:6, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Read Part 1: The Person And Work Of The Holy Spirit
I hope you will continue to be inspired and challenged by these life-changing messages on the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings,
Dr. A
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 