Sometimes, we can be so afraid that we might say something incorrect about the topic of the Holy Spirit that we might not say anything at all! As some disciples said, “we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2).
I’ve heard well-intentioned men pray, “Thank you God for what You and Jesus planned for us…” Or we might hear people saying, “I want to do what pleases God and Jesus.” I am tempted to ask, “but what about the Spirit?” Isn’t God a triune being? Isn’t the Spirit worthy of honor and mention? Here are a few things to be reminded of with regard to God the Spirit and the honor due Him:
He, the Holy Spirit, is a Who and not a what. Jesus promised His disciples that God would send the Holy Spirit after the glorification of Jesus. Of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “He will teach you all things…” (John 14:26 emp. mine). Ananias and Sapphira lied to Him (Acts 5:3). He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30). He is not a mystical force that has no identity. He is part of the Divine personality.
The Holy Spirit is fully God. There is nothing in scripture to indicate that the Holy Spirit is less than God. In Paul’s conclusion in 2 Corinthians 13:14 he said, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” To associate a lesser being with the honor of the Father and the Son would be a dishonorable thing indeed (see also Matt. 28:19).
The Holy Spirit has a role in the salvation of men. It was not only God and Jesus Who were working in the plan of salvation. God the Spirit was critical in igniting the plan for Jesus to be born of woman (Matt. 1:20). God the Spirit was the One sent who would be a revealer of truth to the apostles who would then relay that truth to all men (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). It was the Spirit who was the catalyst for the preaching of the gospel to all nations (Acts 2:1-4). It is the Spirit Who seals us for the day of redemption! He was busy in the book of Acts! In fact, we would have no knowledge of what we thank “God and Jesus” for if it had not been for the wonderful Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:10-13).
It is right to give honor to the Holy Spirit for His work in salvation. We can and should be grateful to God for the work of His Spirit as much as for the work of the Father and the Son to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:3-14). We can be thankful for God the Spirit in being a faithful messenger of the things we know about the wonderful salvation of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17; John 16:13). Give thanks to God for His wonderful Spirit!
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