THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CREATION AND REVELATION

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Creation and Revelation.

We look for what the Father, Son and Spirit are doing, and we don't have as much clarity about the Holy Spirit, so we wonder, what is his role particularly in creation, because there's a lot said about him touching creation and indwelling people and acting in particular ways. And so, the general principle seems to be that he is the agent of the three that are the Triune God that touches creation. So, any work that God is going to do in creation is the Spirit's job. So, God speaks to create, but it's the Spirit who is hovering over the face of the deep. God saves us, but it's the Spirit who applies that to us. Jesus comes to us and won't leave us as orphans, but it's the Spirit who is going to indwell us. And God sanctifies us, but it's the Spirit who is the one who comes in. So, it seems to be that when God works in creation, it's the Spirit's job as the one who carries that out. He is the doer of the works of God and can be spoken of in a generic way in the Old Testament — "The Spirit of God does this and this" — and then the New Testament gives more personality, where he has a masculine pronoun that is making choices, and he is relating to us, and he is sent on mission by the Father and the Son to come in and work with us. So, in some ways he is the one that we encounter the most among the three. The Father is very much God over us; the Son is God with us by incarnation, but the Spirit is God in us to work and be nearest to us.

Imagine a great artist creating a beautiful masterpiece. In the same way, the Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit played a crucial role in making our world and revealing God's plans to us. The Holy Spirit is like God's creative and guiding hand that has been at work since the very beginning.

In the opening pages of the Bible, we read about how the world was formless and empty, covered in darkness. But then something amazing happened. The Holy Spirit, often described as a powerful wind or a gentle breath, moved over the waters. It's like the Holy Spirit was part of the divine team that helped shape the world into the incredible place we see today. This shows us that the Holy Spirit has always been there, helping create and bring life to everything around us.

As the story of humanity unfolded, the Holy Spirit continued to be active. Think about the prophets – those special messengers who spoke on behalf of God. They didn't come up with their messages on their own. The Holy Spirit inspired them, like a guiding light, helping them understand God's thoughts and plans. These prophets shared truths about the future, giving us a glimpse of what God had in store.

Let's look at some Bible verses that show the Holy Spirit's role in creation and revelation:

Genesis 1:2 (NIV): "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

2 Peter 1:21 (NIV): "For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

Job 33:4 (NIV): "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life."

As we move forward to the time of Jesus, we see the Holy Spirit's role becoming even more significant. Jesus Himself was filled with the Holy Spirit and led by it. He promised His followers that after He left, the Holy Spirit would come to them as a helper and a guide. This happened on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in a powerful way. They were filled with boldness and began to speak in languages they hadn't learned before. This event marked the beginning of the spread of the message of Jesus to people from different nations and languages.

John 14:26 (NIV): "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

Acts 2:4 (NIV): "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

Today, the Holy Spirit continues to play a vital role in our lives. It empowers believers, gives them spiritual gifts, and guides them in making good choices. Just like a skilled artist working on a masterpiece, the Holy Spirit shapes and guides the story of humanity, revealing God's plans and helping us understand our purpose in the world. It's like having a divine GPS that leads us on the right path and helps us experience the beauty of God's creation and revelation.