The Son and The Holy Ghost

 

Text: Mt.16:13: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I the Son of man am”?  Vs 14: And they said, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist:  some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  Vs 15: He said unto them, “But who do you say that I am”?  Vs 16: And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

Many years back I believed that “AD” meant “at Jesus’ death”, and I thought “BC”, was “before Christ”.  I found that AD meant “Anno Domini” (in the year of our Lord) and BC cover the years “before Christ” was born.  But I’ve discovered that there was nothing “before Christ”, because He has always been.  He is, was, and always will be!  Even Jesus was in existence before He was manifested as Mary’s baby. He (Jesus – God in flesh form) as I’ve said before is like a perfect circle, you don’t know where it starts and you don’t know where it ends!

There are a few things I want to touch on in relation to Jesus Christ the Son:  His preexistence, His preeminence, His Deity, and His humanity.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HIS PREEXISTENCE:

Genesis 1:1: In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

In is a preposition (a word that connects a noun or pronoun to another word).  In means, contained by, not beyond, employed, enrolled, into, inner, inside, because of.  “In” is letting us know that everything God created was contained by, on the inside of, and because of “the beginning” who is Jesus the Christ!

Beginning is the Hebrew root word re’shiyth (ray-sheeth’), meaning “the first”, in place, time, order or rank (specifically a first-fruit); chief.  It goes to another word “rosh”, defined as the head, top, first, sum. Beginning in the Greek is arche’, which is a commencement (beginning; start); chief (as applied to order, time, place, or rank), principality, corner, power, rule.  Jesus Christ is the “chief corner stone”!

·         Ephesians 2:19-20: Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the “chief corner stone”.

As I’ve said in other teachings that this “beginning” was not a calendar date, but it was a “Person”, the man Jesus the Christ.  Paul mentions Him being “the beginning”:  Colossians 1:18: And he is the head of the body the church:  who is “the beginning”, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  Jesus said it Himself to John the Revelator:  Revelation 3:14: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God”.

·         Revelation 1:8: I am Alpha and Omega, “the beginning” and “the ending”, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come. The Almighty.

·         Vs 17: Fear not; I am the first and the last.

What we must come to understand is that Jesus is the “first day” and the “last day”.  Outside of Him or beyond Him is no other day!  Everything started in Him and it is all fulfilled in Him.

·         2 Corinthians 5:19: To wit (know), that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.

Again, He is like a perfect circle, you don’t know where it starts and you don’t know where it ends!

What did God “create” in Jesus Christ? Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning (Jesus Christ) “God created the heaven and the earth”.

Created is the Hebrew root word bara’ (baw-raw’), meaning (absolutely [perfectly; completely]) to create; (qualified [fit; competent]) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative [involving formation or development] processes): choose; make; dispatch (to send promptly, as on an errand).

What or who might I say, was “the qualified wood” that God cut down?  First of all “the wood” was a “green tree” and that “green tree” was Jesus Christ.  Green in nature is the color of “life”.

Luke 23:13-26 [Pilate could find no fault in him of which, the chief priests, rulers, and the people accused him, crying, “Crucify him”] [Jesus is condemned and Barabbas is released]:  Then Jesus said:  Vs 31: If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

A green tree is a hugros’, a wet tree, as if with rain; sappy (fresh).  The “sap” in trees is filled with nutrients and minerals.  Sap is the blood of a tree.  It carries energy out into the branches and leaves which fuels the process of photosynthesis (use of sunlight) that starts the sap production process.  Leviticus 17:11: The life is the flesh is in the blood!  If natural blood flowing through our veins carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body causing it to live, how much more the “innocent blood” of Jesus flowing through our veins giving us divine health, perfect peace, eternal life?

The “green tree” Jesus was speaking of was Himself, because He was and is “the Tree of Life” that was spoken of in Genesis 2:9, and also “the Tree of Life” mentioned in Revelation 22:2.  The “dry” were the “dead trees” (or people) that He came to give everlasting life to.  So you see how everything began in Christ and it is fulfilled in Christ!

BACK TO GENESIS 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth:

It was JESUS CHRIST that God selected or chose to feed or put through formative (developing) processes to prepare Him for the task God had ahead of Him.  That process was via the Cross!  But for Him (Jesus) to fulfill the purpose for which He would be and was manifested for, God had to place Him in certain positions using certain methods.  

·         He was the Word made flesh (John 1:14); Being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8).

Remember the definition of “in”, meaning, contained by, not beyond, employed, enrolled, into, to the inside, inner, because of.  In Christ God “created”.  Some synonyms for created are: make; bring into being; produce; breed; designed; constructed; visualized.  So the “heaven” and the “earth” were in Christ Jesus. 

First we must understand the “heaven” and the “earth”.  

Heaven is the Hebrew root word shama’yim, meaning to be lofty (high; elevated; exalted).  In Greek its ouranos’, meaning elevation, the abode of God, happiness, eternity, and power.  We know that the sky is a high place where the clouds, stars, planets, etc, are, but “heaven” in relation to God, is an elevated, exalted, or high place in relation to mind set, dominion, authority, and power. 

Earth in Hebrew is e’rets (eh’-rets), meaning to be firm, the earth (at large):  land; country; ground; world; field; nations; wilderness [the temporal scene of human activity, experience, and history].  Earth in Greek is ge (ghay), meaning soil; a region or the terrene globe (including the occupants).  This word “ge” implying earth as arable (suitable for plowing) land.

1 Corinthians 15:47: The first man is of the earth, earthy (choikos’) [dusty or dirty (soil-like) / (cho’os) [a heap (as poured out), rubbish; dirt]; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

The “dust” is where the LORD God took Adam from:  (aphar’) dust (as powdered or gray); clay; earth; mud; rubbish; ashes; to be gray [the color of death] or rather to pulverize (to grind or be ground into powder).  This was the forming (the straits, the pressing through the distressing narrow way) process Adam was brought through to be like God.  That’s the “plowing” process.  When my father was farming I never heard the plow ask the ground for permission to plow it.  My father dropped that plow down in that ground and turned up the new soil to ready it for planting seed!  That is how God’s Word works in us to bring deliverance!

In Genesis 1:1: “The heaven and the earth” God created in Jesus Christ was a two-fold process, the thought and the manifestation.

“Heaven” was the God aspect or the Christ of Jesus, the high place, the exalted place, the eternal part of Him, the power, dominion and authority that resided in Him.

·         St. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!

“Earth” was the flesh aspect of Him. 

·         St. John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.

·         Philippians 2:6-8: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

·         Philippians 2:9: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him (elevated above all other; raised to the highest position), and given him a name which is above every name.

HIS PREEMINENCE:  (being foremost) [leading; first; precedent; chief; beginning; superior; supreme].

Anytime you see the prefix “pre” it denotes before in time, place, rank, etc.  Webster defines “preeminent” as eminent (high, lofty, prominent; renown, outstanding) above others; surpassing. 

·         1 Corinthians 15:20: Now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept.

“Them that slept” are those that were and are koima’o, fallen asleep, slumber, deceased, be dead. Vs 21: For since, by man came death, by man (the man Jesus Christ) came also the resurrection of the dead.  When Jesus got up, those that were in the spirit realm and those in this natural realm were brought into one place, "in Christ"!  Matthew 28:50-53: Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city and appeared unto many.  Hebrews 12:1: We are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.

·         Colossians 1:15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  vs 16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him.  Vs 17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  Vs 18: And he is the head of the body, the church:  who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Jesus being the “firstborn” is not in the sense of being the first to be born, but it’s of Him being the prototok’os, the first-begotten in relation to:  being born of the Virgin Mary:  “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14): His relationship to the Father:  “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17): expressing His priority to, and preeminence over all things , including death:  He is the “first-fruits of them that slept or first-fruits of the resurrection" (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Jesus Christ is the pro’tos, the foremost (in time, place, order, or importance); chief, first day, former, before, beginning, best.

He has a name above every name:  Philippians 2:10-11: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He was “heir” of all things:  Hebrews 1:1-2: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

Appointed is the root word telaugos’ (tay-low-goce’), meaning, in a far shining manner, plainly, and clearly / (tel’os) [to set out for a definite point or goal aimed at as a limit, the conclusion of an act or state, result, purpose / (auge’) a ray of light, radiance, dawn; break of day.  Jesus Christ was and is the “ray of light” God sent to dispel the darkness of ignorance, death, hell, and the grave, so as to bring His people into one unit by the Holy Ghost into the fullness of Christ:

·         Ephesians 4:13: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

LET’S LOOK AT HIS DEITY:

Jesus was man, but yet He was God.  In the beginning was the Word, and that Word was God, and that Word was with God and the Word was “made flesh” (St. John 1:1, 14), and that flesh man was Jesus who was called Christ (Matthew 1:16).  He revealed the “invisible God”!

Isaiah said, “Unto us a child is born (denoting His humanity), unto us a son is given (showing forth His deity):  and the government shall be upon his shoulder:  and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (vs 9). 

Jesus’ mother Mary gave birth to Him, but it was His Father that “gave Him”, when He sent Him to the Cross.

He was “sinless”:  John 19:4: Pilate therefore went forth again, and said unto them, “Behold, I bring him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him”. 

·         For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).  We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

He has power over death:  John 10:17: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again”.  Vs 18: “No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This commandment have I received of my Father”.  Colossians 2:14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; vs 15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  Romans 8:2-3: The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  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. 1 John 3:8: He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil.

HIS HUMANITY:

·         Galatians 4:4: But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.

He came through the womb of a woman just as we did.  Matthew 1:24-25: Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:  and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son:  and he called his name JESUS.

John 12:27: Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”:  but for this cause came I unto this hour.

So He had a “soul”.  Soul here is psuche’, that which deals with the moral and emotional part of a person, but in relation to humans can become irrational  leaning toward mortality unless brought under subjection to the Spirit of God!  Remember Jesus was in all points tempted and touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).  He conquered that “soul realm”, to let us know that we too can overcome ours. 

Psalm 16:10: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

He had a “spirit”.  Spirit here is pneu’ma, meaning breath, spirit, in relation to humans the rational and immortal soul.  Luke 23:46: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit”:  and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (soul).

The “soul” and “spirit” are closely related and the only way to differentiate between them is by the “word of God”!  Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick (alive) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

He became hungry and was tempted:  The human side of Jesus was as ours, yet He was without sin. 

·         Matthew 4:1: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  Vs 2: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 

But with each temptation of the enemy toward Jesus:  vs 3, “To command the stones be made bread” (lust of the flesh):  vs 5-6, the enemy takes Jesus up to the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him to cast himself down (pride of life):  vs 8-9, the devil offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world, if He’d fall down and worship him (lust of the eyes), Jesus’ response was:  vs 4, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone”;  vs 7, “It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”,  vs 10, “It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thy serve”.

Jesus didn’t argue with the devil, He used the Word of God or the Sword of the Spirit against him, and vs 11 states, “Then the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him”.

He became thirsty:  John 19:26-28: When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, “Woman, behold thy son”!  Then said he to the disciple, “Behold thy mother”!  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled said, “I thirst”!

He slept as a man:  Mark 4:35-41 (Jesus stills the storm):

·         Vs 37: There arose a great storm of wind and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  Vs 38: And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow:  and they awake him, and say unto him, “Master, care thou not that we perish”?  Vs 39: And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said, unto the sea, “Peace, be still”!  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

When He was asleep, that was Jesus, but when He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace be still, that was God!  He was 100% God and He was 100% Man!

Back to Matthew 22:42, when Jesus asked the Pharisees, “What think you of Christ”?  Whose Son is he?

·         To the blind man, He’s the Optometrist (John 9:1-41).

·         To those desiring health and the woman with the issue of blood, He’s the Great Physician (Jeremiah 8:22; Mark 5:25-34).

·         To the woman at the well, and those that thirst He’s the water of life (John 4:1-15).

·         To those that are hungry and the five thousand, He’s the Bread of life – the hidden manna (Matthew 14:13-21; John 6:35; Revelation 2:17).

·         To the lost sheep He’s the good Shepherd (John 10:11).

So whose Son is He?  He is the Son of the Living God!

We’ve talked about the Father, and the Son, now we’re going to take a look at the “Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit”!  He hasn’t always been given the attention or credit, that He so deserves, but He is just as much a “Person” of the Godhead as the Father and the Son!

TEXT: Matthew 3:11: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:  but he that is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:  he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

TOPIC:  “THE HOLY GHOST OR HOLY SPIRIT”:

Who is the Holy Ghost?  First of all the Holy Ghost is the “third person” of the Godhead.  The Holy Ghost is God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son all in “ONE”!

 He is Holy:  holy coming from the root word hag’ios, meaning, sacred, pure, clean, innocent, and perfect: and Ghost is the root word pneu’ma, meaning a current of air, breath, spirit.

·         John 4:24: God is Spirit.  John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God:  vs 14: And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. 

So you see, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are all ONE!

The Holy Ghost being the “third person” of the Godhead is because He dwells in people, us, God’s Body of believers making us all one!

·         Acts 7:48: Howbeit the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands.

·         1 Corinthians 6:19: What?  Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

Paul asked certain disciples at Ephesus, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?  And they said unto him, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:2).

The Holy Spirit has a “mind”:   Romans 8:27: He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind (phron’ema) [mental inclination or purpose; thought; content of the process]) of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 11:33: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  Vs 34: For who hath known the mind (nous [the intellect, understanding; to know (absolutely [completely” and “perfectly]); have knowledge] of the Lord.  Or who hath been his counsellor?

In relation to God and Mind, they’re one in the same!  In the beginning God created (Genesis 1:1).  First He thought it, then He spoke it, and whatever He said manifested!  The “mind” is the seat of perception (apprehension; discernment; observation; comprehension; knowledge) of the things we see, hear and feel.  God knows all things, and nothing is hidden from Him.  He saw the ending (the fulfillment; completion; perfection) in the beginning (what He started).

·         Psalm 139:12: The darkness hides not from thee:  but the night shines as the day:  the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

·         John 16:13: Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:  for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:  and he will show you things to come.

The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the power of God that dwells in us, His people, the Church, that are to do the greater works that Jesus did when He walked the earth.  The “power” is the dunamis , that enables us to witness and perform miracles that will bring deliverance to those God sends us to.

But to be honest Jesus is still walking the earth, but He’s walking in us His Body, the Church of which He is the Head, empowered by the “Holy Ghost”!

·         Ephesians 5:30: We are members (a limb or part of the body) of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

·         Colossians 1:18: And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning.

Jesus said to His disciples, in Luke 24:48, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father, upon you:  but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high” and it happened just as He said:

·         Acts 1:8: But you shall receive power (dunamis) after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

·         Acts 2:1: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  Vs 2: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  Vs 3: And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  Vs 4: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

The apostles preached the Gospel, performed miracles, witnessed for Christ, established churches by the Holy Ghost!  The same Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit that was in them then, lives in us now and gives us the power to do what Jesus did also!  It is in Christ we live, move, and have our being, and are God’s offspring (Acts 17:28).

My concern is more about building the buildings not made with hands!  Acts 7:48: Howbeit the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands!

 How do we build (construct; erect; strengthen; bring forth) others for the kingdom of God?  It’s through the Word of God and the power of His anointing, the Holy Ghost!  His anointing is the Christ that dwells in us that we are become by the Holy Ghost!  Christ, in the Greek is Christos’, meaning “anointed one”!  Isaiah 10:27: And it shall come to pass in that day that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.  Christ couldn’t be Christ by Himself He had to have us, the body of believers to be Christ.

·         Matthew 1:16: And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.  Acts 2:36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you hove crucified, both Lord and Christ!

CHRIST is the understanding that we that are His Body are fully God and fully man!  Jesus was fully God and fully man!  1 John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world!

·         1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body:  so also is CHRIST!

·         Vs 13: For by one “SPIRIT” are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one “SPIRIT”!

We have been “adopted” (huiothesi’a), placed as sons, by the “Spirit” (Holy Ghost) of God into the body of Christ.

Listen, it was the Cross that made the difference between JESUS and CHRIST.  That was the Man Jesus (the body the Father chose to suffer and die in) hanging on the Cross.  But when He got up or was resurrected, that was the “many-membered” body, called “CHRIST”. 

Luke 24:13-35, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus talked with Him and didn’t know that it was Him until they reached their destination and He “blessed and broke bread” with them.  They recognized Him by what they saw Him do! When Mary Magdalene saw Him in John 20:15, after His resurrection, she supposed Him to be the gardener until He spoke to her and called her by her name (vs 16).  She recognized Him by what He said!  Matthew 27:50-53: Jesus when he had cried with a loud voice yielded up the ghost.  And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.  These appearances were Jesus Himself appearing in the saints that He had brought out of the grave (unseen spirit prison) and they entered the “holy city”.   Not the Jerusalem over in the middle East, but the “Jerusalem” from above spoken of in Galatians 4:26, But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  The one John saw coming down from God out of heaven (not from beyond the blue), but out of the higher realms of spiritual elevation in Revelation 21:2:

·         I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Jesus is still appearing in His saints and people don’t recognize Him, because religiously they’re waiting for Him to appear out in the sky, but His appearance is in “you” and “me”, His people!  1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him:  for we shall see him as he is!  How do we
see Him as He is?  We see Him as He is when we see Him in “one another”!!

·         2 Corinthians 5:16: Wherefore henceforth, know we no man after the flesh:  yea, though we have known (past tense) Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth (from here on) know we him no more!

We must know Him by the Spirit which is through revelation by the HOLY GHOST!

·         Ephesians 5:30: We are members (limbs; parts of the body) of His body, of His flesh, and of his bones.

Jesus said, Luke 4:18-19: The SPIRIT (pneu’ma) [wind; breath] of the Lord [One supreme in authority; God] is upon me, because he hath “anointed” [to smear or rub with oil; consecrated] me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

That same “SPIRIT” moved on the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2.  That same “breath of the HOLY GHOST” was breathed into man’s nostrils in Genesis 2:7.  That same “breath of the HOLY GHOST” was breathed in the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14.  That same “breath of the Holy Ghost” was breathed on the disciples in John 20:22.  That same “breath of the HOLY GHOST” was breathed on those in the upper room at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).  That same “breath of the HOLY GHOST” has been breathed into us, His Body, the Church.  And as we go preaching and teaching the Word of God to His people, that same “breath of the HOLY GHOST” is being breathed into those God sends us to!

The third Person of the Godhead, The HOLY GHOST is that “CHRIST ANOINTING” that will continue forever throughout the ages called the “Holy Ghost” or “Holy Spirit”!

·         Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with CHRIST:  nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST lives in me:  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

In Jesus’ prayer to the Father: 

·         John 17:20-23: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou hast sent me! And the glory which thou gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.  THIS IS ALL THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST, God’s eternal SPIRIT!!!!

Pastor Gracie Perry