Lesson 162. The Holy Spirit—The Embodiment of Love

The most mysterious Person in the entire Bible is the Holy Spirit, the Eternal God, the Creator and Maker of the Universe, the One Who brings all God’s utterances and Words into being, equal to the Father and the Son, and at the same time the most Humble and Unobtrusive.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells us about the acts of the Holy Spirit, and it could be called precisely that: The Acts of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus revealed to us the teaching that the Lord Holy Spirit would draw everyone to Christ, comfort, bring things to remembrance, teach, speak, be poured out, exalt, explain, reveal the meaning of God’s words and actions, and make us fit for Eternal Life. And this continues to take place to this day in the life of every believer.

It is also interesting that the Holy Spirit does not draw attention to Himself, and the Bible does not make it a special aim to direct our eyes toward this Person of the Godhead; rather, the entire mission of the Holy Spirit is to bring a person into a personal relationship with Christ, reveal the beauty of the character of Jesus and God the Father, restore the image of the Most High in the person, and explain the meaning of Scripture in the light of Love. The Holy Spirit seeks to teach us to love one another.

From Scripture we see what miracles God’s people performed when the Holy Spirit descended upon them and baptized them in a special way. And we know that at the end of time the Lord will pour His Spirit upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground, and we believe that this will happen in our days. We wait for this and ask for it continually, and it will happen.

The Holy Spirit is represented to us in symbols as fire, wind, water, oil, eyesalve, and Agape Love. He manifests Himself in the actions of God’s Angels, who are also ministering spirits for us and actively participate in our protection and salvation.

The Spirit of God, Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient, is the Beginning of all that exists and reveals to us all of God’s plans, intentions, and mysteries that are accessible to us, making them clear and understandable. It is He Who is the true Interpreter of Holy Scripture and conveys the genuine meaning and essence of all revelations concerning the character of God, His plans, and our prospects for spiritual development and growth.

The Lord Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, but nowhere does He teach that we should worship Him. He directs our eyes to the Son, through Whom we come to the Father. And when our eyes are fixed upon Jesus, the Holy Spirit presents Christ to our minds, being precisely the One Who connects me with my Savior in constant fellowship and interaction. God accepts no worship of Himself that bypasses the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And where there is no living Jesus, there is no acceptance by God. Yet despite apostasy and universal unbelief, God loves His creation and continues tenderly to care for the people who have rebelled against Him, giving them food, warmth, light, and everything necessary for life at all times, even without their asking.

Place your hand upon your chest and feel your heart beating. It gives life to the whole body. But Who gives life to it? Even the most hardened criminal does not realize how indebted he is to God for the gift of life, which he has so perverted that he has become worthy of death.

The Holy Spirit is a Person of the Godhead, and He possesses all the qualities of an intelligent person. He experiences disregard from people (see Genesis 6:3). He teaches (Luke 12:12), reproves (see John 16:8), directs the affairs of the Church (see Acts 13:2), helps and makes intercession (see Romans 8:26), inspires (see 2 Peter 1:21), sanctifies (see 1 Peter 1:2), is grieved, speaks, gives birth, and does many things that require consciousness and creative power.

Faith in the Holy Spirit as the True Eternal God creates in me a firm foundation for all subsequent blessings and brings me to spiritual birth from above through faith in Jesus Christ. I am born for Eternal Life through the direct participation of the Holy Spirit, and from the moment of my spiritual birth I become God’s son and enter into a covenant with God, having every right to God’s promised blessings and promises, and at the end of time, to the eternal inheritance of the Earth, my Eternal Homeland, where God Himself will be my God.

It is precisely the birth from above by the Holy Spirit that reveals to me all the power and beauty of the plan of my Salvation. I receive power to become a son of God and have all the privileges of such a relationship, because I am now led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).

We read in Romans 5:5: ‘... the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.’ That very Agape Love about which we reflect so much in our lessons is the visible and tangible presence of the Holy Spirit in our relationships with one another. The Holy Spirit is God’s Love within us, wisdom from above, meekness and humility, and all the good qualities of character that Jesus possessed.

When I decide to love, by doing so I allow the Holy Spirit to produce within me such an attitude toward my neighbor as my own personal conduct. And He does this with joy. This is the greatest miracle, which I sometimes fail to notice. At times I think that I myself am so good, and I accept kind words and gratitude addressed to me. But without God my love will end very quickly and, in the fire of trials, will evaporate together with all my desires; yet God’s Love, given by the Holy Spirit, cannot be quenched.

How Jesus longed for the time when He would go to the Father so that He could send us the Comforter! How He taught that this would be better for all of us. It is precisely because of the Holy Spirit that I can have fellowship with Jesus at any time, in any place, under any circumstances and trials.

So much takes place around me and within me because of the influence of the Holy Spirit, yet I do not even think about it. I simply live.

When I ask for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon me, do I understand what this means? I am inviting an ocean of Love into my life—and what am I to do with it? In asking for baptism, I ask for a trial, for fire that will refine me, for water that will cleanse me, for wind that will bring changes to my character, and for oil that will give light to my lamp of faith. Am I ready for this? Will this not be violence by my will against my own will?

Jesus gave us the most serious warning that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And one must be very careful in one’s decisions so as not to cross this point of no return. This is a Holy influence that must be taken into account.

God is a consuming fire—will I endure it? It is very painful, but it is necessary to pass through it. When my carnal nature burns up, it pulls part of me with it into this fire, and I understand that I must part with it forever. But am I ready for this? Do I want such changes? ‘Yes, Lord, I thirst for this; cleanse me and make me the way Thou desirest to see me!’

With what joy Jesus gave us His commandment of Love, anticipating how we would be filled with the Holy Spirit and tenderly love one another with a pure heart, gladdening hearts at all times. And this became possible because the Great Sacrifice for my sins was offered, and this revealed the truth about God’s Love to the entire Universe and to sinful people, and gave God the right to save all who desire it. And Love will rest upon God’s children as a seal and a distinguishing mark, declaring to the entire visible and invisible world that I am God’s possession by right of creation and redemption. And His banner over me is Love.

1. Please read Genesis 1:1–2; 2 Samuel 23:2; Psalm 51:10; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 1:35; 4:18; John 14:16–18, 26; 15:26; 16:7–13; Acts 1:8; 5:3; 10:38; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 12:7–11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; and 2 Peter 1:21 in the light of our lesson.

2. What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit on earth?

3. What precedes the outpouring of the Spirit at the end of time?

4. How is the Holy Spirit represented in Scripture?

5. Who is the true Interpreter of the Bible?

6. What qualities does this Person of the Godhead possess?

7. Who is the earnest of our salvation? 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:14.

8. Do you desire the miracle that the Lord wants to perform for you?