In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

-Genesis 1: 1-2

 

In the beginning, before there was form or function on this earth, the Spirit of God in the Hebrew “Ruach” was hovering over the waters.

The Holy Spirit in Genesis is a person with form and function.  In the story of Genesis God goes to great lengths to make sure we understand the Holy Spirit is not a New Testament concept but just like with Yeshua the Holy Spirit was a part of the fabric of creation.

 

This word “Ruach” is mentioned 377 times throughout the Bible.  It is translated as the following:

-       Spirit (232 times)

-       Wind (92 times)

-       Breath (27 times)

-       Side (6 times)

-       Mind (5 times)

-       Blast (4 times)

-       Vain (2 times)

-       Air, Anger, Cool, Courage (1 time)

-       Miscellaneous Meanings (6 times)

 

 

The Holy Spirit in Genesis

But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.

-Genesis 8:1

 

God made the Holy Spirit blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.  The Holy Spirit is an activate participant in helping God the Father manifest and move on this earth.

 

The Holy Spirit in Exodus

So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. 

-Exodus 10:13

 

The Holy Spirit had brought the east wind and the locusts.  We also see in verse 19 of the same chapter it is the Holy Spirit that then drives the locusts out of the land into the sea.

 

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

-Exodus 14:21

 

The Holy Spirit helped drive back the waters of the Red Sea during the Exodus.  In verse 10 of chapter 15 of the book of Exodus we see the Holy Spirit also closing the dry land and covering the Egyptians in the sea.

 

The Holy Spirit in Numbers

Then a wind from the LORD sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground.

-Numbers 11:31

 

The Holy Spirit brought quail from the sea for the Israelites.

 

The Holy Spirit in the Prophets 

He rode on a cherub and flew; he was seen on the wings of the wind.

-2 Samuel 22:11

 

He was seen on the wing of the Holy Spirit.  Puts things in a different perspective.  I specifically wanted to focus on the wind function, as I know many have done the word studies on the places where Spirit is mentioned.  I wanted to take a different approach to fill out your understanding. 

 

By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

-Job 26:13

 

By the “Ruach” the heavens were made fair.  We see this triune nature of God not only in the physical world but also in the heavenly hosts.

 

The Divine Nature of the Holy Spirit

1.     The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2, Judges 3:10)

2.     The Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4)

3.     The Holy Spirit is considered God (Acts 28:25-27, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Hebrew 3:7-9)

4.     The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and Son (Matthew 3:16, 28:19, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 2:18, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Peter 1:2)

5.     The Holy Spirit is everlasting and eternal (Hebrews 9:14)

6.     The Holy Spirit is self-existent (Romans 8:2)

7.     The Holy Spirit is omnipresent (Psalms 139: 7-8)

8.     The Holy Spirit is omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10-11, John 14:26, 16:13)

9.     The Holy Spirit is sovereign (Zech 12:10)

10.  The Holy Spirit was involved with creation (Genesis 1:1-2)

11.  The Holy Spirit enabled the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:21)

12.  The Holy Spirit reveals the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:4)

13.  The Holy Spirit enables us to call upon Yeshua (1 Corinthians 12:13)

 

The Personal Characteristics of the Holy Spirit

1.     The Holy Spirit has a will (1 Corinthians 2:11, 12: 7-11)

2.     The Holy Spirit can be resisted (Acts 7:5)

3.     The Holy Spirit can be tested (Acts 5:9)

4.     The Holy Spirit is intelligent (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)

5.     The Holy Spirit has a mind (Romans 8:27)

6.     The Holy Spirit loves (Romans 15:30)

7.     The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30)

8.     The Holy Spirit examines (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)

9.     The Holy Spirit testifies (John 15:26)

10.  The Holy Spirit speaks (2 Samuel 23:2, Acts 1:16, 8:29, 10:19, 11:12, 13:2, 21:11, 28:25-26, 1 Timothy 4:1, Hebrews 3: 7-8, Revelation 2:7, 14;13, 22:17)

11.  The Holy Spirit is a person (John 6:63, 14:26, Romans 8:11, 16, 26, 1 John 5:6)

The Holy Spirit isn’t just some force without form or function.  The Spirit is a part of God and has an intentional mission to help execute God’s will in your life and on this earth.

 

Practical Ways the Holy Spirit Works Today

1.     The Holy Spirit makes Jesus known (John 15:26, 16:14, Acts 5:32, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 John 4:2)

2.     The Holy Spirit conforms us to the image of Jesus (John 15:8-11, Galatians 5:16-25)

3.     The Holy Spirit reveals understanding of the word of God (Romans 1:16, 10:14-16)

4.     The Holy Spirit calls us to work (Acts 13:2, Acts 8:26-40, Acts 16:6-7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 12:1-2, Proverbs 11:14)

5.     The Holy Spirit empowers us to our calling (Numbers 27:18, 1 Samuel 11:6, Luke 4:14, Acts 1:8)

6.     The Holy Spirit aids us in prayer (Romans 8:26-27)

7.     The Holy Spirit leads and guides us (Galatians 5:16-25, Acts 8:29, 13:2, 15:7-9, Matthew 4:1, Romans 8:4)

8.     The Holy Spirit give us gifts to further the kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 14:22, Romans 12:3-8)

 

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit is a vital part of not only the creation of the world we live in, but to the function of the kingdom of God on this earth.  The “Ruach” in Hebrew is known as the Comforter, Advocate, Helper, Teacher, Guide, the one who convicts us of our sins, and empowers us to walk in an upright relationship with our Creator.  The “Pneuma” or breath, the “Paraclete” or spirit.  It is how the Lord takes His commandments from stone and embeds them in our heart.  As apprentices of Jesus, it is crucial for us to be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to operate in our gifts and callings.