For those of us who grew up in church and are familiar with the teachings of the Bible, we know that God the Holy Ghost, or God the Holy Spirit, is not relegated to the pages of the New Testament. As we have seen in a previous devotion, He was present in creation. Along with the Father and the Son, He is from everlasting to everlasting.
When the King James Version of the Bible was written, the words “ghost” and “spirit” meant the same thing. That’s why you see both wordings in the KJV. One set of scholars interpreted it one way, while another set interpreted it differently. Although “Holy Ghost” is used more than “Holy Spirit,” who would have ever imagined the disputes that would rage over what to call the third member of the Godhead? Most of my generation was raised hearing God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Because of that, it just naturally flows off our tongues. Some have a conniption fit when they hear someone say, “Holy Spirit,” and honestly, the criticism from the other direction is just as bad. It’s amazing how we allow the devil to so easily cause such turmoil in the church?
Genesis 1:2 says, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” The Hebrew word for “Spirit” in the Old Testament is “breath,” or “wind.” So, when the Holy Spirit breathed on creation, it produced life. We see this same life-giving breath in John 20:22 when Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Ghost.” Jesus caused the wind to begin to blow in their lives. They experienced the fullness of this promise on the day of Pentecost.
Two of the most incredible appearances of the Holy Ghost in the Old Testament revolved around the Wilderness Tabernacle and the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. In both instances, a glory cloud, more appropriately called the “Shekinah Glory of God,” settled upon both places. It was so powerful, in the case of Solomon’s dedication, the people could not even stand. There was no denying the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The pages of the New Testament are where we become more intimately acquainted with the Holy Ghost. We see Him descend from heaven in the form of a dove when Jesus was baptized, but it is in the Book of Acts, and following, that we see the role He plays in our life today. In Acts 1:5, Jesus promised a baptism different from a water baptism; it would be a Spirit baptism. “For John truly baptized with water; but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” In Acts 1:8, Jesus told us what the results would be of this Spirit baptism. “Ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Notice that part where it says, “Power to be witnesses.”
When Jesus ascended into heaven, the church was relatively small. From 1 Corinthians 15:6, we can surmise there were at least five hundred believers, and I suspect more, who fully understood who Jesus was. For the disciples to accomplish what Jesus commanded them to do, they needed help. The Holy Ghost is the One who provided that help. We see the promise Jesus made in Acts 1:8 fulfilled in Acts 2:1-4. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” I don’t know how some people explain verse 4 when you have the word “Ghost” and “Spirit” used in the same verse.
What we should concentrate on is what happened afterward, when He filled all those in the Upper Room. Immediately after the Holy Ghost descended, there was an anointing that rested upon the Apostles. In Peter’s first sermon, 3,000 people were saved. That had not happened before. What was the difference? It was the Holy Ghost who was the difference. In what appears to have been Peter’s second sermon, 5,000 more were saved. The Holy Ghost was giving them power to be witnesses, just as Jesus said.
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