We have a contentious subject in the Body of Christ, the subject of the Spirit of the Elohim. Some denominations do not believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit and some do. Some revere the Holy Spirit, some do not. The word pneuma is in the text, therefore it is incumbent for us to understand the word regardless of our personal opinions. We can go further in this thought process to understand why some churches are spiritually dead and some spiritually alive. No one can have the gifts of the Spirit if that one rejects the Spirit. This is collective as well. Because we have not understood Jesus’ words, and we have had some inconsistent translations, we have allowed the enemy to infiltrate the Body of Christ with confusion. Jesus was led by the Spirit, just as we are told to be led by the Spirit. Jesus utilized the gifts and power of the Spirit, just as we are told to utilize the gifts and power of the Spirit. If we want to see people healed and set free from demons without using the name of Jesus illegally, then we have to be led by the Spirit.
What were people thinking fifteen hundred years ago? Who knows. What we know is that going back to the Greek text we can see that the words Ghost and Spirit are the same word. Whether English translators used the words Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, they are the same being, the Spirit of the Living God also called the Spirit of Wisdom. Some English translators translated pneuma one way and some the other way, but all usages of ghost and spirit are the Greek word pneuma. Newer translations correct this hodgepodge of titles for us. English translators also varied their usage of capitalizations as a proper name. All we can do is look at the context.
Another obstacle we have to overcome is that words in Hebrew were assigned gender, masculine or feminine. The Greek uses neutral gender as in English. We want to understand that here because the Hebrew assigns the Holy Spirit a feminine gender.
H5397
נשׁמה
ne shâmâh
nesh-aw-maw'
From H5395; a puff, that is, wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect or (concretely) an animal
KJV Usage: blast, (that) breath (-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit.
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
נשׁמה
1. breath, spirit
a. breath (of God)
b. breath (of man)
c. every breathing thing
d. spirit (of man)
Origin: from H5395
TWOT: 1433a
Parts of Speech: Noun Feminine
H7307
רוּח
rûach
roo'-akh
From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
KJV Usage: air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
רוּח
1. wind, breath, mind, spirit
a. breath
b. wind
1. of heaven
2. quarter (of wind), side
3. breath of air
4. air, gas
5. vain, empty thing
c. spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
1. spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
2. courage
3. temper, anger
4. impatience, patience
5. spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
6. disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
7. prophetic spirit
d. spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
1. as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
e. spirit (as seat of emotion)
1. desire
2. sorrow, trouble
f. spirit
1. as seat or organ of mental acts
2. rarely of the will
3. as seat especially of moral character
g. Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
1. as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy
2. as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning
3. imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power
4. as endowing men with various gifts
5. as energy of life
6. as manifest in the Shekinah glory
7. never referred to as a depersonalised force
Origin: from H7306
TWOT: 2131a
Parts of Speech: Noun Feminine
The rûach Elohim moved upon the face of the waters, Genesis 1:2, feminine. Yahweh Elohim breathed into his (the adam’s) nostrils the ne shâmâh chay Genesis 2:7, feminine. We cannot erase the gender of ne shâmâh and rûach, even though in the Greek pneuma doesn’t have a gender assignment. So when we think of the Holy Spirit we should be thinking in terms of feminine gender as the Hebraic denotes. This is why Solomon always notes the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom as a “she”.
This is important because many people have some strange ideas about women, and the feminine. The Elohim does not. The Elohim; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are assigned masculine and feminine genders. Breath and Spirit are feminine. Life-giving, and life-breathing, are feminine. Every person was born from a woman, with a womb, a matrix, and is birthed to life. Women are created as life-givers, whether that is in birth, teaching, preaching, ministering healing, or prophesying. Women are not shunned, or unimportant, they are boēthos, “someone to call on for help from the Elohim”. Therefore we have to redirect our thinking regarding the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom, and not automatically think that identifying the Holy Spirit as a “she” is bad. We see however that translators even translating directly from Hebrew, clearly altered the gender of the Holy Spirit and the breath of life to masculine. What were they thinking?
The Pharisees are an example of dead religious leaders. The order that Jesus was from, the Assideans, Essenes, Nazarenes, Therapeutaes, Zedek/Zadok priests, and prophets, were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were holy men and women. The Holy Spirit lived in holy people, when they were holy. David cried “do not take your Holy Spirit from me”.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
The Holy Spirit is a proper title, and should be capitalized. This is an example of the enemy sowing confusion into the word of the Elohim.
The Pharisees knew this, they understood this, they just decided that they would rather rule Israel carnally, without the Holy Spirit, so that they themselves could continue in their sin instead of being holy and receiving the Holy Spirit. Men cannot and do not control the Holy Spirit, which is why some churches exclude the Holy Spirit from their church. It is always up to the individual to invite the Holy Spirit in, it is not up to others who make themselves lords over us and decide for us. The Pharisees did not like Jesus casting out demons, it proved how impotent they were as spiritual leaders. They decided to do what all children do, accuse Jesus of what they are doing.
Mat 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Mat 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Mat 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Matthew 12:28 G1487 But if G1161 G1473 I G1722 by G4151 spirit G2316 of God G1544 cast out G3588 the G1140 demons, G686 surely then G5348 came G1909 upon G1473 you G3588 the G932 kingdom G3588 G2316 of God.
“If but I in Pneuma Elohim eject the daimonion then have arrived on you the kingdom the Elohim.”
Jesus says that he casts out devils by the Spirit of God. When he ejects devils the kingdom of the Elohim arrives on them.
Because humans cannot control the Holy Spirit or the power of the Spirit, they are afraid of what it will look like to eject demons. Fear causes them to shut out the kingdom of the Elohim. Not just for themselves but for their entire congregations. If we eject demons, demons may act out. That should inspire everyone to want to get rid of their demons instead of hide them. There are no demons in the kingdom of the Elohim, so they are going to come out either now or later. Why would people want to live with demons tormenting them?
Wis 1:3 For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.
Wis 1:4 For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.
Wis 1:5 For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.
Wis 1:6 For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.
Wis 1:7 For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice.
Wisdom LXX-WH 1:7 ὅτι πνεῦμα κυρίου πεπλήρωκεν τὴν οἰκουμένην καὶ τὸ συνέχον τὰ πάντα γνῶσιν ἔχει φωνῆς
Wisdom LXX-WH 1:7 For the spirit of the Lord fills the world, and the one who holds all things has a voice.
The first thing to recognize is that perverse thoughts are separated from the Elohim. The Elohim reproves the ignorant. The Spirit of Wisdom does not enter a wicked soul nor does it enter into a body corrupted by sin. This is key for all the scared church leaders. The Holy Spirit does not enter into sinful, evil people, and in fact leaves when unrighteousness enters in. The Holy Spirit is not within us to deceive anyone. Quite the opposite, the Holy Spirit dwells in us to set us free. The Holy Spirit doesn’t acquit a blasphemer because the Elohim knows the reins/kidneys the seat of emotions, within a person. The Holy Spirit knows the heart of a person and listens to his/her speech. The Spirit of Yahweh fills the world. The Spirit of Yahweh has a voice. We want to learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. We want to learn to be led by the Holy Spirit.
Simeon the prophet was expecting to see the Messiah of Israel. The Holy Spirit, or as translators noted Holy Ghost, was upon him.
Luk 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Luk 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Luk 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
The Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. The Holy Spirit led Simeon into the temple at the proper time, when Jesus came for his circumcision. The Holy Spirit leads us where we should go. How many times can we think of where the Holy Spirit told us to do something and it seemed like perfect timing. We have to get better at listening. Jesus listened.
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mrk 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
Luk 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Jesus was led by the Spirit, he was filled with the Holy Ghost. He went where the Holy Spirit told him to go. He did what the Holy Spirit told him to do. We can do the same. The Holy Spirit knows where we work and who we deal with every day. The Holy Spirit understands our life, and can help us overcome every obstacle, every person, and every problem we have.
When Jesus was baptized by John, the Holy Spirit abode on him. John saw the Spirit descend on Jesus and knew for sure that he was the Messiah. They were cousins, they had been through fourteen years of school together. John already knew Jesus was the Messiah but the sign from heaven of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus was the proof he was waiting for. Now Jesus’ ministry begins.
Jhn 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Jhn 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Jhn 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
After Jesus was tempted by Drakōn and Satanas he went to read in the synagogue of Nazareth. Remember that Nazareth at this time was not a town, but a Roman garrison, and was like the wild west. The Jews there were not particularly devout, but merchants making money from the Roman soldiers. The devout Assideans were living on the outskirts of the region.
Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Isa 61:1 (Brenton) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind;
Isa 61:2 to declare the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompence; to comfort all that mourn;
The Spirit of Yahweh is upon Jesus while he is reading this prophecy about himself, people were a little scared. As we know, the Masoretic text of the Old Testament is altered here. The Septuagint, which Jesus was reading, is written just as Jesus quoted it. Jesus said that the Spirit of Yahweh is upon him and he is going to open blind eyes. They all knew that this was a prophecy of the Messiah, but they were not confident that Jesus was the Messiah yet. As soon as he started opening blind eyes then they knew that he was who he said he was.
Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit and he healed people by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us that he is sending the Holy Spirit to us.
Jhn 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jhn 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Jhn 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will dwell with us and in us.
Jhn 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit will teach us. Jesus said that the Father would give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
This does put the burden back on us to ask and receive. The Elohim never overrides our freedom of will, meaning if we don’t want the Holy Spirit we will not receive the Holy Spirit. The people who claim there is no indwelling of the Holy Spirit or no power of the Holy Spirit are correct for themselves because they do not believe and ask. The people who ask for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit receive the Holy Spirit and therefore are also correct. Basically it is the same adage as those who say they can and those who say they can’t are both right. It is far easier to denounce things that we do not know about and dissuade other people from pursuing those things. Negativity seems to have more power than positivity.
Peter and John were not “negative Nancies”. They received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, and they pursued their witness of Jesus and the power of the Elohim. Every day they went to the temple courts for prayer. Every day a lame man was set at the Beautiful Gate to beg for money. Peter and John probably passed this man many times. They could have been walking by him for years. Jesus himself walked by this man many times. Jesus didn’t heal this man, Peter and John did.
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Act 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
Act 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
The idea of Peter saying to the man “look on us” tells us that the man probably wasn’t looking at the people passing by. On this particular day, at this particular time, Peter and John heard from the Holy Spirit, who told Peter to say “look on us”. The man then expected something.
Act 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Peter had the go ahead from the Holy Spirit and told the man to do something. Technically, asking a lame man to get up and walk is silly, but if commanded in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth it is a completed work. Peter spoke power to the man via the Holy Spirit.
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
Act 3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the
Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Peter lifted the man up. Everyone saw the miracle and it caused quite a commotion. This was probably not the first time that Peter in the power of the Holy Spirit healed someone. It was notable because it was so very public. Lots of people saw the man every day, he was forty years old. Now people see the man walking, leaping, and praising the Elohim. Notice that there was no big prayer meeting, no special day dedicated to fasting and meditation. The Holy Spirit gave the inspiration to Peter, and Peter told the man to get up.
There is an interesting point here regarding timing. The disciples and the 70 were sent out by Jesus to other areas, but now we have a healing miracle in the temple that caused five thousand people to receive Jesus as Lord. Pentecost was seen by many people because of the holy day. This lame man walking and leaping and praising God brought attention to the fact that now the disciples were doing miracles. Certainly Peter’s speech on Solomons porch caused people to pay attention. Peter makes an important statement.
Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Jesus Messiah’s name, through faith in Jesus Messiah’s name, made this man strong. The faith by way of Jesus Messiah gave the man perfect soundness in front of all of the people. Faith in Jesus being Messiah, and through faith in Jesus Messiah’s name, made the man whole. Now the religious leaders threw Peter and John in prison for the night and the next day demanded answers as to how they did this notable miracle.
People who do not believe in the Holy Spirit or the ministry of the Holy Spirit condemn the true Christians for doing miracles. They cannot persuade the laity that the miracle didn’t happen, but they can condemn the one who the Holy Spirit works through. Some naysayer’s will claim that healing miracles were being done by Satanas and demons. How silly. Satanas has no power to heal anyone. If he did have true power there would be nonstop news coverage of their “psychic surgeries”. He only has demonic power, so if someone wants Satanas to heal them, they will be filled and somewhat controlled by demons, leaving their condition worse in the end. Satanas also wouldn’t heal someone who would praise the Elohim for his miracle. At that point the person would be controlled by a demon, and not praising the Elohim in the temple. As the Pharisees said to Jesus, today’s religious leaders say to Christians that they are casting out demons by the prince of demons, Beelzebub. Again, that is silly.
The people who harden their hearts to the Holy Spirit will claim that Christians are working witchcraft for ministering healing, casting out demons, and raising the dead. Again, all those claims are nonsense. These accusers will not be acquitted by the Holy Spirit for blasphemy because of their false claims. Jesus walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus told us that we would do those things as well. The people who do not have a relationship with the Holy Spirit are positive that everyone ministering in the Body of Christ is wrong. Nothing has changed from the time of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and priests of Peter and John’s time to our time, it is all the same condemnation from people with fragile egos, who reject the Holy Spirit, and yet want power to rule over laity.
If, like Peter and John, the Holy Spirit tells us to do something, we just do it. The demons will get all stirred up, people will freak out, many will believe, and we will be able to see exactly where everyone stands. Do not take it personally, just do what Peter did next.
Act 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them…
Just as Jesus said not to worry about or think about what you will say when they persecute you, the Holy Spirit will fill you and speak through you. Sometimes we just simply stir up a hornets nest, but when the dust settles it will turn out the same way it did for Peter and John. The unbelieving religious leaders yelled a lot, but let them go. Anyone who complains, back bites, or persecutes people who minister healing in Jesus’ name by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, is blaspheming the Holy Spirit for saying the miracles and power are not the Holy Spirit. This is unforgivable in this age and in the age to come.
As we go deeper into this subject we have to remember something simple, there is no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Jesus and walk after the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
If we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit we will cause divisions. Jesus is throwing swords. There will be divisions that we never saw or thought existed but will show up after notable miracles are done because Jesus is dividing between his servants and those pseudo-servants who are just posers. Here is the prayer of the first century believers who defied the threatenings of the unbelieving blaspheming religious leaders.
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Act 4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
They did not shrink back, they prayed for boldness. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of the Elohim with boldness. In order to be led by the Holy Spirit we have to fellowship or commune with the Holy Spirit.
Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
When a group of people are individually connecting with the Holy Spirit they will be likeminded. They will have the same love. They will be in one accord with one mind. This is preceded by individuals connecting with the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is upon us to take time in prayer and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We have to learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. We have to learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit.
Some of the simple things that we can do is to ask the Holy Spirit how to hear and be led, and we can ask the Holy Spirit to teach us. This is what the Holy Spirit wants, to lead us. So we will certainly not be rejected if our heart is pure, meaning that we are not out for personal gain. As we recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit we will be able to hear and see when ministering to others in the Body of Christ. Keep in mind, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are a benefit to believers in Christ. Our religious leaders who will not be able to control the Holy Spirit, may condemn us, but there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus if we are led by the Holy Spirit. Blasphemers will blaspheme, and we will need to grow up in Christ to handle the persecution that we will face.
