Holy Spirit - Part I Old Testament

The holy spirit didn't just pop into existence in the New Testament. It's been around since the beginning.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:1-2

So, wait, what was the holy spirit doing floating over the barren earth? God was preparing to bring life to his creations! His spirit was present before even mankind. Would you stop at this point for a moment and contemplate this?

The holy spirit in Hebrew is Ruach (breath/wind) Hakodesh (divine inspiration). However, it is also described later as an individual sentient being. A being that existed, along with God (the father) and the Word (the son), before the creation of humanity. God, His truth, His love, and His ways have been around before us. Let's remember that. God's holy spirit is Truth no matter what our opinion is; it exists with or without us. However, He'd rather have us with Him.

"Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7

Now, the Hebrew word for breath used here was nashamah, which can mean breath or spirit (Strong's Concordance). Take a look at just one verse (of many) which speaks of the holy spirit as giving life:

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." John 6:63

It's not coincidence that God also "breathed" a life-giving spirit into humanity. You didn't think this was just about a physical breath? One idea is that everyone was guided by God's holy spirit in the beginning. Now, after the fall from Eden, we must be re-born into the spirit to welcome His breath back into our lives. We are literally dead and without breath before we follow God.

Many times, the old testament brings up the subject of the Holy Spirit.

When the world became corrupt just before the Great Flood:

"Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years” Genesis 6:3

When God was preparing His people to create a glorious tabernacle as a sign of their relationship:

"I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts." Exodus 31:3

When God led Moses and His people through the desert for forty years:

"You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst." Nehemiah 9:20; also 9:30

When Job and his friends were contemplating Job's downfall in life:

"But it is the Spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding." Job 32:8

When people made music:

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Psalm 143:10

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" Psalm 139:7

When God promised his downtrodden people that their lives would improve:

"For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear’" Haggai 2:4-5

What are the characteristics of the holy spirit? Well, one thing we can look at is the physical aspect. What the Spirit looks like can be summed up with its name. It is a divine wind, and like any wind, it is a movement that you can feel but can not see. You can see it sway the trees, and when it's whipped up into a fury, it can pull up houses. However, you can not see it, only what it does and how it feels caressing your cheek.

As far as its other various and complex characteristics, it is referred to in the Bible as the:


Counselor


Teacher


Spirit of truth


Spirit of holiness


Spirit of life


Spirit of glory


Eternal spirit


Spirit of wisdom & understanding


Spirit of grace & supplication


Spirit of son-ship *


Spirit of judgment & fire


Spirit of God/the Lord


When we walk in the guidance of the holy spirit, we can be assured we are living in Truth, not hiding in the darkness of secrets but living in Love of God and others, fully brave, knowing that we are meant for much more than just the day-to-day worries. As children of God (Spirit of Son-ship), we know we are children of the one, true King and are therefore also royalty; therefore, we know we should act accordingly.

This post will be only Part 1. Next week, we'll go into the Holy Spirit within the New Testament.

*"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 (Abba is the Hebrew equivalent of Da-Da, a child's way of referring to their father with affection.)