THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is wind and fire. The fire rages through our hearts and consumes us...fills the floodgates of our soul with joy, laughter, and expectation. He is the Spirit of the Father, sent by Jesus, to carry out the Father's wishes. The Spirit breathes ever so gently.... like the feather's brush of a butterfly's wing.... thoughts into our minds. This is the means by which, He instructs us in righteousness, guides us into wisdom, knowledge, and all truth. And sometimes, it is almost as though He is whispering in our ear, revealing to us a great truth, that we had never considered. And yet, at other times, He reveals the Father's will to us through the Word. Suddenly, as though a bright light had just been turned on, revelation knowledge shines through a passage, we had never understood before. He is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus said, that He would send us a comforter that would reside with us forever. That comforter is the Holy Spirit. And He is our comforter. He comforts us when we are sad, or down trodden, and lifts our sullen spirits. He places the sparkle of love in our eyes, so others can see the love that Jesus has freely given us. He ploughs the rocky soil of an unsaved person's heart, then gives us just the right words to win a lost soul to Jesus. The Spirit, also gently but firmly reprimands us, when we begin to stray. When we know not how to pray in difficult circumstances, He prays for us. He soothes our broken spirit and speaks peace into our ravaged heart. He never demands anything from us, but gently encourages us to walk with Him, and learn the mysteries of God. He is the power that works in and through us, for we are born of the Spirit, and thereby confirmed until the day of redemption. So let us live in the Spirit, be led of the Spirit, and thereby walk in the Spirit. -- Tara Hart

John 14: 16-17 "And I will pray to the Father and He willl give you another comforter, that He may stay with you forever. Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: for He dwells with you, and will be in you." John 15: 26 "But when the comforter ( Holy Spirit) is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me." John 16: 13 "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He will hear, that will He speak; and He will show you things to come."   What You Should Know about the Holy Spirit Part One 1. The Holy Spirit is not an 'it', He is a person (the third person of the Trinity). He possesses will (1Corinthians 12:11); knowledge (1Corinthians 2:11; emotions such as love, being grieved (Romans 15:30; Ephesians 4:30). 2. He is our comforter (John 14:16). 3. He is our helper (John 14:26) 4. He bears witness of the Truth and Teaches us about Jesus (John 15:26). 5. He convicts us of our sin (John 16:8) 6. He was present at Creation (Genesis 1:2; 26-27) 7. His role in the Trinity is to fill, energize, empower, to cause to act in our stead, to compel behavior of holiness, love,character and integrity, and to work in and through God's creations. He is not the Creator, but aside from Him there would not have been Creation. Without Him, there would not have been salvation  (John 3: 3-7). 8. He is the Spirit of God (John 15:26-27; Romans 8:9; 1Corinthians 2:11). 9. He is the promise of God to believers (John 14:16-18; 26). 10. He seals our salvation before the Father (Luke 24:49;Ephesians 1: 13-14; 4:30; Acts 1:8; 2: 32-33). New - Part Two The Hebrew word for 'spirit' is ruwach (roo'-akh). It is defined as being 'spirit, wind, breath and or mind'. The Greek word of 'spirit' is (pneuma (pnyoo'-mah). It's definition is 'a movement of air-wind; the breath of nostrils or mouth; by definition it also implies the vital principle in which the body is animated; the rational spirit. The Hebrew word 'Holy' most of the time means 'apartness', 'separateness', sacred, purified; consecrated; purified, and set apart. The Greek word of 'Holy' is hagios (hag'-ee-os), and means 'pure', 'chase', 'clean'. 'undefiled by sin', 'free from wickedness.' 'Unadulterated'. The term 'Holy One', is used to designate The Almighty God. He is referred to as 'The Holy One of Israel' (THE FATHER). Holy is also used in connection with GOD's Name, His works and the temple. The FATHER's spirit is referred to as being 'holy', but in no way does it refer to the third person of the Trinity. The Hebrew word 'Ghost' is used eleven times in the Old Testament. It always refers to the 'spirit' of man; it is the actual life that inhabits the body. The word Ghost referred to in the New Testament is also used as 'spirit', which means to expire, to die by giving up or yielding up the spirit (breath in the body). Acts 5: 5; 12: 23. What most people think of as 'ghost' is only used in Matthew 14:26 and Mark 6:49 and is the Greek word 'phantasma (fan'-tas-mah) means 'apparition' or delusive appearance; an immaterial semblance; specter. We get our English word 'phantom' and 'phantasy' from this Greek word. This word is NEVER used in any other Scripture. There is no designation of the word Holy Spirit in the Old Testament; it is strictly a New Testament one. IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH A SPIRITUAL PROBLEM OR NEED SPIRITUAL COUNSELLING, PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR A CHAT.