Insulting the Holy Ghost

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 things that I said to you. John 14:26 (NKJV)

When Jesus spoke these words, God’s people were already familiar with the Holy Spirit. From the beginning of the story of the Creation, the Bible introduced us to the Holy Spirit by stating, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:2 (NIV)

We also see the Holy Spirit coming upon the Prophets before they prophesied. However, in John 14:26, Jesus announces the specific ministry of the Holy Ghost. I have heard that God the Father dealt with men directly in the Old Testament. Then Jesus dealt with us up close and personal two thousand years ago, and now these are the days of the Holy Ghost.

As Jesus announced the Holy Spirit in John 14:26, let’s look at some specific and powerful characteristics:

1. The Father sent the Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus.
2. The Holy Spirit is introduced as our Helper (Advocate).
3. The Holy Spirit is the master teacher in charge of teaching us everything.
4. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings the Word to our remembrance at the right time and in the right place.

Based on these initial characteristics and more, we can conclude that: 1) We need help. 2) We need to be taught. 3) We need help remembering the Word.

So now, let us imagine that we remove the Holy Spirit from our lives; that means that: 1) We are rejecting the divine help sent by God; that means we are doing things on our own. 2) As we remove the Holy Spirit, we reject his teaching, which means we are teaching ourselves. Finally, 3) as we reject the Holy Spirit, we lose the sensitivity to listen to the one who brings the “Now Word” for a specific time, space, and people. 

Without the Holy Ghost, what are we doing? We do precisely the opposite of what the Word tells us to do; we quench the Holy Ghost (I Thessalonians 5:19). Beloved, without the Holy Ghost:

1.     We can’t be saved (Titus 3:5).

2.     We have no power (Acts 1:8).

3.     We lack His gifts to edify the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).

4.     We lack guidance into all truth, so we become victims of our deception (John 16:13). And,

5.     Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot bear fruit (Matthew 7:15-20 / Galatians 5:22-23).

It is truly incomprehensible to me how much believers insult and disrespect the Holy Spirit. How did we get here? How did we get to a powerless Christianity? How did we convince ourselves that the gifts of the Spirit are no longer available? Has the Holy Spirit changed? The Bible tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) In Malachi 3:6, God the Father tells us, “I the LORD do not change…” (NIV). So, is the third person of the Trinity the only one who changed? Did I miss something in First Corinthians 12:1-7?

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 

(Notice that the Apostle Paul tells us he does not want us to be uninformed. Ignorance concerning the gifts of the Spirit is not acceptable)

² You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

(Again, notice that these are the gifts of the Spirit, not our gifts. We can argue that there have been a lot of fraud and imitations of these gifts; we can also say that we don’t see much of the manifestation of these gifts among us compared to what we read in the Book of Acts; however, it is clear that these are HIS gifts, and He distributes them as HE, please.)

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (NIV)

(The manifestation of the Spirit is given to us for our common good; we keep rejecting these gifts, and in doing so, we keep rejecting a good thing.)

You have Christian folks pastoring churches, leading ministries, leading prayer, leading business, and leading their homes while insulting the Holy Ghost; they are doing these things on their own in direct disobedience to God. We need help, we need to be taught, and we need to be reminded of the Word… this is the direct work of the Holy Spirit. 

As mere men, we are HIS instruments, not HIS substitution. In doing so, we are hurting people. Paul said it this way: “And we have such trust through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (NKJV)

Many ministers act as if they are sufficient and do not need the supernatural intervention of the Holy Ghost. They take a few classes in seminary, get a couple of degrees, and learn a few Hebrew and Greek words, and the Holy Ghost is no longer necessary; they want to be in control. Beloved, this arrogance is coming to an end very soon.