By the time you read this article I will have completed my first day of teaching at the Addis Ababa Bible College of the Assemblies of God in Ethiopia. I have the privilege of spending two weeks in this east African country teaching future ministers on the subject of Pneumatology.
Pneumatology comes from two Greek terms --
The Holy Spirit is not a divine principle or mystical force that floats around like a cloud. He is a divine Person; the active third member of the triune godhead.
We meet the Holy Spirit in the second verse of the Bible which speaks of His presence at creation (Genesis 1:2). The last mention of the Holy Spirit is in the closing verses of the Bible as He goes about His work of drawing people to Christ (Revelation 22:17). From Genesis to Revelation we read of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the world and the lives of people.
Contrary to how some might think, the Holy Spirit didn’t just show up in the New Testament. The Old Testament speaks much of the ministry of the Spirit. But in the New Testament things changed. Jesus announced to His disciples that the Holy Spirit who had been with them would now dwell in them (John 14:17). At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit moves in and takes up residence in the life of the believer.
But that’s not all. Quoting the ancient prophecy of Joel, Peter stood up on the Day of Pentecost and declared that the phenomenon witnessed by the multitude in Acts 2 was the fulfillment of God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. The same Holy Spirit who saves and sanctifies believers, also empowers for service (Acts 1:8).
This unique ministry of the Holy Spirit, including all the accompanying spiritual gifts, is God’s gift to the Church. The gift was not intended just for the Early Church as some suppose. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is for the entire Church Age which began on the Day of Pentecost and will come to a glorious conclusion at the Rapture of the Church.
Take a moment right now to thank the Lord for His gift of the Holy Spirit. Have you received God’s gift in all of it’s fullness? If not, ask in faith. According to Jesus, God is a faithful Father who gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13).
Pastor Todd Weston
Pneumatology comes from two Greek terms --
- Pneuma which can mean wind, breath, or spirit
- Logos which means word, speech, principle, or thought
The Holy Spirit is not a divine principle or mystical force that floats around like a cloud. He is a divine Person; the active third member of the triune godhead.
We meet the Holy Spirit in the second verse of the Bible which speaks of His presence at creation (Genesis 1:2). The last mention of the Holy Spirit is in the closing verses of the Bible as He goes about His work of drawing people to Christ (Revelation 22:17). From Genesis to Revelation we read of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the world and the lives of people.
Contrary to how some might think, the Holy Spirit didn’t just show up in the New Testament. The Old Testament speaks much of the ministry of the Spirit. But in the New Testament things changed. Jesus announced to His disciples that the Holy Spirit who had been with them would now dwell in them (John 14:17). At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit moves in and takes up residence in the life of the believer.
But that’s not all. Quoting the ancient prophecy of Joel, Peter stood up on the Day of Pentecost and declared that the phenomenon witnessed by the multitude in Acts 2 was the fulfillment of God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. The same Holy Spirit who saves and sanctifies believers, also empowers for service (Acts 1:8).
This unique ministry of the Holy Spirit, including all the accompanying spiritual gifts, is God’s gift to the Church. The gift was not intended just for the Early Church as some suppose. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is for the entire Church Age which began on the Day of Pentecost and will come to a glorious conclusion at the Rapture of the Church.
Take a moment right now to thank the Lord for His gift of the Holy Spirit. Have you received God’s gift in all of it’s fullness? If not, ask in faith. According to Jesus, God is a faithful Father who gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13).
Pastor Todd Weston
