Kenneth E. Overby - Say Yes to the Prompting of the Holy Spirit

Characteristics of the Holy Spirit

T he Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead (Trinity).

He is omnipresentGenesis 1:12 (Amplified)

In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned and) created the heavens and the earth (v. 1) .

The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters (v. 2).

He is omniscient1 Corinthians 2:1011(Amplified)

Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond mans scrutiny] (v. 10) .

For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a mans thoughts except the mans own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (v. 11) .

He is omnipotent1 John 4:4(Amplified)

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world (v. 4) .

First Corinthians 3:16 (Amplified), Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are Gods temple (His sanctuary), and that Gods Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?

He is eternalHebrew 9:14(Amplified)

How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God? (v. 14)

He is divineActs 5:34

But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? (v. 3).

As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God (v. 3).

The Holy Spirit is a person.

He has feelingsEphesians 4:30 (Amplified)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as Gods own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin) (v. 30) .

He speaksActs 13:2 (Amplified)

While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them (v. 2) .

He warnsI Timothy 4:1 (Amplified)

But the [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach (v. 1) .

He intercedesRomans 8:26 (Amplified)

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance (v. 26).

He testifiesJohn 15:26 (Amplified)

But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me (v. 26) .

The Sevenfold Radiations of the Holy Spirit

G ods Word tells us that the Holy Spirit is multifaceted and has seven sides. These facets (sides) have different roles and are used in different ways to accomplish Gods will. But every function is to magnify the awesomeness of God. The following scriptures bear this out:

Zechariah 4:10b (Amplified), [These seven] are the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro throughout the whole earth. This indicates that God is an all-seeing God. Nothing one can do can escape Him. There is no hiding from God .

Second Chronicles 16:9 (Amplified), For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless towards Him.

Zechariah 3:9 (Amplified), For behold, upon the stone which I have set before Joshua, upon that one stone are seven eyes or facets [the all-embracing providence of God and the seven-fold radiations of the Spirit of God]. Behold, I will carve upon it its inscription, says the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity and guilt of this land in a single day.

Revelation 1:4 (Amplified), John to the seven assemblies (churches) that are in Asia, may grace be granted to you and spiritual peace (the peace of Christs kingdom) from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven spirits [the seven-fold Holy Spirit] before His throne .

Revelation 4:5 (Amplified), Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven spirits of God [the seven-fold Holy Spirit].

Isaiah 11:2 (Amplified), And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him-the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of might, the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of reverential fear and the Spirit of obedient fear.

Revelation 5:6 (Amplified), And there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and among the elders (of the heavenly Sanhedrin) I saw a Lamb standing, and though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [the seven-fold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent (on duty far and wide) into all the earth.

The following scriptures reflect each facet (radiation) of the Holy Spirit:

• WisdomJob 9:4, 12:13, 16; Romans 16:27; Jude 25; Proverbs 1:2029
• UnderstandingPs.139:26; Prov. 14:33; Prov. 9:10b; 1 Cor. 2:7, 11; 1 Cor. 13:12
• Helps us rememberProv. 12:16; John 14:26; 1 John 3:20
• Counsel1 Cor. 2:10; John 14:16, 26; Ps 33:11
• MightZech. 9:14; Exod.15:13; Is. 34:5, 66:16; Jer. 21:5, 50:25; Ps. 7:12, 13; Lam. 2:3
• Knowledge
  1. by foreknowledgeIs. 42:9
  2. of actionsJob 35:21, 23:10; Jer. 16:17
  3. by wisdomProv. 10:14, 1:7
  4. of thoughtsHeb. 4:13; Jer. 17:10; Job 42:2; Ps. 44:2021, 94:11, 139:1; Amos 4:13; Ezek. 11:5;

     Is. 66:18; Prov. 15:11; 1 Kings 8:39

• Reverent fearDeut. 10:12, 13
  1. by DavidPs. 5:7
  2. by JonahJonah 1:9
  3. all menPs. 14:9
• Obedient fear
  1. by JosephGen. 42:18
  2. by Obadiah1 Kings 18:3

How the Holy Spirit Motivates Me to Inspire Others

F or over fifty years my calling has been to encourage, edify, and inspire others, both saints in the church and other people across the board. This is because I feel we all are Gods children, and hence there exists a connection between all of us. If we have the same Creator and master designer who believes in love, unity, and harmony, why wouldnt He want His creations to interact? I personally think that Jesus Christ is the greatest common denominator of all. He not only willingly died taking all our sins upon Himself so we could have everlasting life, but He also showed us how to live and love while He lived among us. So if He is to be our example and our standard bearer, we should follow His example.