NCCG.ORG Foundational Studies of the Bible - 5. THE RUACH HAQODESH (HOLY SPIRIT): The Gift of Yahweh

5.2. What does Paul (Sha'ul) say about the significance of the promised Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) that is given to us as believers? (Eph.1:13-14)

The Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) is a pledge or an engagement ring of promise. It is given to us as a promise from Yahweh that He will redeem us completely -- 'body, soul and spirit'. It is a promise of full redemption in order that we might be a holy and perfect dwelling place for Yahweh in the Ruach (Spirit) so that we might be transformed into the very image of Yah'shua (Jesus). The degree to which we are controlled by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) at the beginning of our Christian walk is but a mere seed of what will one day flood our whole being and cause those who go on to know Yah'shua (Jesus) to be filled with the fullness of "resurrection life".

The Amplified Bible says it this way:

"That Spirit (Ruach) is the guarantee of our inheritance --
the firstfruit, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment of our heritage --
in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring complete possession of it"
(Ephesians 1:14)

5.3. What is eternal life? (John 17:3)

5.4. What Ruach (Spirit) have we received? (Romans 8:15)

5.5. To what does the Ruach (Spirit) bear witness? (Romans 8:16)

5.6. Who are the sons and daughters of Eloah (God)? (Romans 8:14)

The Baptism of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) is the gateway into a life filled with fellowship and communion with the Father, Yahweh. It is the turning point from being enslaved to the spirit of this age and our fleshly desires to being under the power of Yahweh's Ruach (God's Spirit). Through the Ruach's (Spirit's) power, we may press on in Yahweh toward the fullness of resurrection life.

In our previous study (No.4), we found that besides being a revelation of Yah'shua (Jesus), the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) was given to empower us for effective witness and service. We shall now turn our thoughts toward the different gifts and graces that are resident in the gift of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), and that are available to us as believers.

5.7. What are a few of the glorious things that happened through the early Church/Community under the anointing of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (Acts 3:1-10; 8:5-7; 9:36-42)

5.8. How did Yah'shua (Jesus) Himself minister and preach to those in need? (Luke 4:18)

5.9. How did Yah'shua (Jesus) cast out demons? (Matthew 12:28)

5.10. What signs did Yah'shua (Jesus) say would follow all those who believe? (Mark 16:17)

It is very important to clarify here that these gifts are only given when they are necessary. For example, we are no more expected to speak in the gift of foreign languages (tongues) as a sign of salvation than we are expected to go and deliberately pick up poisonous snakes. The expression of all these gifts is not an absolute requirement of all born-again Christians at all times. We are not expected to go around drinking poison to prove that we have the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). Unfortunately, some Christian groups say that unless a believer speaks in tongues he is not born again. Others deliberately pick up poisonous snakes in meetings. This is a perversion of Yah'shua's (Jesus's) words. Salvation is not predicated upon the external manifestation of supernatural gifts but upon an inward change of heart that leads to righteousness. For further clarification, see the Olive Branch, PWNC 990404B, Revelation on Mark 16:9-20 (Supplement 1).

5.11. What did Yah'shua (Jesus) confirm with these signs? (Mark 16:20)

It is impossible to preach the Word of Eloah (God) without the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). All else is men's words. The Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) empowers the Word of Eloah (God) in such a way that hearts and lives are changed by bringing souls to repentance (see Bible Study No.1).

5.12. What was the first manifestation of the Baptism in the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (Acts 19:6)

5.13. What was the second manifestation of the Baptism of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (Acts 19:6)

The Amplified Bible says:

"And as Paul (Sha'ul) laid his hands upon them,
the Holy Spirit (Ruach haQodesh) came on them;
and they spoke in foreign languages and prophesied"
(Acts 19:6)

It is always important to read the context of every scripture. These signs were given to followers of John the Baptist at Ephesus in Asia Minor, which was a cosmopolitan city of the Roman Empire which, though mostly Greek, also contained minorities from many nations who spoke many languages. It was also the centre of the false religious worship of the Greek goddess Diana or Artemis. Her temple at Ephesus was one of the "seven wonders of the world". Paul's (Sha'ul's) preaching posed a major threat to this pagan religion (Acts 19:23-41). The signs that were given by Yahweh to the people in that city were therefore of such a nature as to leave no doubt in their minds that a God greater than Artemis was present, on the one hand, as well as to underline for the believers of John the Baptist that there was a Baptism of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) as well as a Water Baptism of Repentance (see Bible Series No.s 3 & 4).

Different gifts are given by Yahweh at different times and in different contexts to convince people of the power of Yahweh. Though all the gifts of the early Christian Church/Community are available to us today, not all may be expedient at all times. Where the gift of speaking foreign languages (tongues) is given, as for example on the Day of Pentecost (Shavu'ot), it has always been when people from different countries who speak different languages have been present both to minister the Word of Yahweh to them as well as to convince them of the supernatural power of Almighty Yahweh.

5.14. Which did Paul (Sha'ul) say was the greater of the two gifts experienced in Ephesus -- speaking in unknown tongues, or prophesying? (1 Cor.14:1,5)

The New Testament seems, at first sight, to talk of two kinds of tongue-speaking: (1) Speaking in known foreign languages, and (2) Speaking in unknown tongues. Paul speaks of the latter in 1 Corinthians 14, a chapter that is frequently taken out of context by various Christian groups and used by them to justify babbling nonsense in an uncontrolled manner in church/assembly meetings. Taken as a whole, the apostle Paul teaches that speaking in unknown tongues is of benefit only if it edifies the whole Body or congregation by bringing forth a revelation or Word of Knowledge. And this requires a translator. Or to put it another way, Paul is saying that no-one should be speaking in the presence of other human beings without being understood. The point of the apostle's message is it is not what language one speaks that it is important, whether a dialect or unknown (to the speaker) tongue, but whether or not one is understood. The speaking, therefore, of an unknown tongue has no place in the presence of other Christians without an interpretation into something intelligible. One of Paul's greatest concerns about the Corinthian Christians was the way that some of the women were imitating the pagan practice of speaking in "unknown tongues" at the Delphic Oracle just across the bay from Corinth.

For a more detailed study of this phenomenon, see Christopher C. Warren, Women's Ministry in the First Church of Christ: An In-depth Study of the Teachings of Peter (Kefa) and Paul (Sha'ul), (NCP Course SE/NT1).

Tongue-speaking is common in most pagan religions but it has no meaning, being the activity of demonic spirits on disobedient human souls. Paul (Sha'ul) was anxious that this kind of demonic activity be kept out of the churches/assemblies. To ensure this he gave several important keys to Christians to enable them to discern between these two different very kinds of activity.

For an extensive study on the tongues phenomenon, see Christopher C. Warren, Tongues of Contention: Settling a Difficult Issue in the Body of Christ (New Covenant Press, Arvika, Sweden, 2001); Apostolic Interviews XIV, A Question of Tongues (New Covenant Press, Arvika, Sweden, 1998) & A Message for Charismatic Christians (New Covenant Press, Arvika, Sweden, 1998, 2002)

5.15. What does Paul (Sha'ul) say regarding the free agency of believers and the activity of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (1 Cor.14:32)

The majority of so-called "tongue speaking" is uncontrollable -- the one coming under its influence loses all volition and has no idea what is going on. Its effects are not unlike those experienced by those who go into trances in pagan religions like Voodoo.

The Amplified Version of the Bible says:

"For the spirits of the prophets (the speakers in tongues)
are under the speaker's controll (and subject to being
silenced as may be necessary). For He (Who is the source
of their prophesying) is not a God (Eloah) of confusion and disorder
but of peace and order. As (is the practice) in
in all the churches of the saints (God's people)"
(1 Corinthians 14:32-33)

Biblical speaking in tongues is therefore peaceful, orderly, and edifying. It is not an uncontrolled outburst of gibberish which no-one understands or benefits from. Neither does it involve uncontrolled movements and jerkings of the body. If it is, it is not from Yahweh but from a demonic source.

5.16. When the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) communicates something to us that we cannot find words for, what is often the reaction? (Romans 8:26-27; Jude 20)

This "groaning" is not another "tongue" or "language" but the intense desiring of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) to bring our needs before Yahweh and have us set free. The depth of this concern and love for us by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) is utterly beyond language. The Son of Yahweh similarly groaned when He approached the tomb of Lazarus (El'azar) as He faced the awfulness of death and longed for the deliverance of His friend (John 11:38). We, too, as we face the awfulness of sin and desire redemption through the blood of Yah´shua (Jesus) for ourselves and others, will groan as Yah'shua (Jesus) and King David did (Psalms 38:9).

The Amplified Bible says:

"So too the (Holy) Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our
weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to
offer it worthily as we ought but the Spirit Himself (Herself) goes to meet
our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings
and groanings too deep for utterance"
(Romans 8:26)

5.17. What are the eight qualities of the human soul filled with the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), who is also called Wisdom (Hochmah)? (James 3:17)

5.18. How does the prophet Isaiah (Yeshayahu) describe the fruits of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (Isaiah 33:15a,17)

5.19. When prophecy is given, what happens to an unbeliever who may be present? (I Corinthians 14:24-25)

5.20. What is the spirit of prophecy? (Revelation 19:10)

There are many degrees of prophecy. In its simplest form, the spirit of prophecy is to have a living testimony that Yah'shua (Jesus) is the Messiah (Christ), the Son of Yahweh. All true Christians are therefore prophets since they are able to discern the truth of Yah'shua's (Jesus') divine nature. But the spirit of prophecy in this sense is more than passive belief -- it is also active, courageous declaration. Whatever Yahweh reveals to the Christian through the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), he is obliged to testify of.

Simon Peter (Shim'on Kefa) demonstrated the true nature of prophethood when he obtained a heavenly revelation and confessed with His lips that Yah'shua (Jesus) was "the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the Living Elohim (God)" (Matt.16:16). This was not something he had been taught from a book or even by a spiritual teacher but it was "revealed to you...by My Father in heaven" (Matt.16:17).

This spirit of prophecy is the foundation of the true Christian/Messianic Church/Community. It is upon this spirit of prophetic revelation that the true Church/Community is built (Matt.16:18). Notice that this is not not just belief but active knowledge or pure revelation. It is only by knowing through personal revelation from Yahweh that Yah'shua (Jesus) is the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the living Elohim (God), that a person obtains the spirit of prophecy. Only through this knowledge does a believer receive the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven (see Luke 17:21) -- namely, a knowledge of heavenly principles -- and is able to bind in heaven and on earth (Matt.16:19-20).

It is important to understand that nowhere does the Bible say that the Church of God (Assembly of Yahweh) is to be built upon the apostle Peter (Kefa) or upon any living flesh. The "rock" (Greek petra (feminine)) and "Peter" (Greek Petros (masculine)) are not equivalent (the same is true in Hebrew). This is a play on words. Kefa/Cephas (who is male) is renamed Petros (Peter) because he is now built on the feminine petra (rock), which is the spirit of revelation, i.e. the feminine Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)!. It is the spirit of revelation that Yah'shua (Jesus) is the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the Living Elohim (God), upon which the true Church/Community is built, not upon a man, Peter (Kefa), or upon any so-called apostolic succession, important though genuine apostolic succession is. The Church/Community is built upon the living spirit of the resurrected Messiah (Christ), not upon men. "This was not revealed to you by man", Yah'shua (Jesus) told Peter (Kefa) (Matt.16:17).

Millions of Christians have been deceived by a misuse of this passage in the Gospels. It is because so many churches have been built upon the false principle that the true Church is built upon the apostle Peter that they have lacked the spirit of prophecy and the spiritual gifts named in this Study. Whatever is built upon man is of the flesh; but whatever is built upon the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) is of Yahweh. It is in the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) that true authority lies, not in human institutions (see Bible Study No.13) per se.

Christians are not to passively and blindly follow the leadership or specially called ordained men and women but are to be active disciples themselves. It is for this reason that Moses (Moshe) rebuked Joshua (Y'hoshua) when he reacted strongly against Eldad and Meldad who were prophesying like their great leader, Moses. Indeed, Moses replied: "I wish that all Yahweh's people were prophets and that the Yahweh would put His Ruach (Spirit) upon them!" (Numbers 11:25-30).

One of the plagues of the Christian Church throughout history has been priestcraft where a small clique of priests rules over the Christian congregation and prevents them growing up into their spiritual calling as prophets and prophetesses. Though Christian congregations are led by specially called persons, all its members are now a Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Notice that the ministry of the true Christian Church includes apostles and prophets (Luke 11:49; 1 Cor.12:28-29; Eph.2:20; 3:5; 4:11). Where the ministry of true prophets is absent, no true Christian Church (Messianic Community) exists. It is for this reason that Paul (Sha'ul) lays stress on the superiority of prophetic ministry to tongue speaking.

5.21. What are three other gifts that can be used to instruct the Church/Community? (1 Corinthians 14:6)

5.22. Is the spirit of prophecy a gift of men only? List some important prophetesses in the Christian Church / Messianic Community and in Israel (Luke 2:36; Isaiah 8:3; 2 Kings 22:14; Judges 4:4; Exodus 15:20; Acts 21:8-9).

5.23. When we assemble together, what kinds of things should we bring? (1 Corinthians 14:26)

The Christian/Messianic congregation, when it assembles, should be singing praises to Yahweh, teaching the doctrine of Messiah (Christ) (John 7:16-17), and receiving revelation from heaven. This may, or may not, include speaking in a foreign language -- if it does, it will include interpretation.

5.24. Besides praying in the Ruach (Spirit), what else can we do? (1 Corinthians 14:15)

5.25. What are three distinct functions of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) in the Church/Community? (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

5.26. What are nine basic gifts resident in the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) that are avilable to us? (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

5.27. Besides each scripture below, list the gifts that were operating by the Ruach (Spirit) in the lives of the believers in the Book of Acts:

a. (Acts 3:1-10)

b. (Acts 5:1-6)

c. (Acts 9:33-35)

d. (Acts 16:16-18)

e. (Acts 21:10-11)

f. (Acts 2:4-11)

5.28. When Yah'shua (Jesus), who operated under the power of the Ruach (Spirit), gave an answer concerning the woman caught in adultery, what gift was in operation? (John 8:3-11)

All nine gifts are available to believers as they have need. If a demon needs to be cast out, the gift of prophecy is not needed. If a person needs to be healed, the interpretation of foreign languages is not needed. The Ruach (Spirit) manifests the different gifts as the need arises. These spiritual gifts generally operate in pairs or groups.

5.29. What are some of the varieties of ministries given to the Church/Community by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Cor.12:28)

These are a few of the ministries that are given by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) to the Church/Community. Not everyone is a prophet or an apostle. Not everyone has the ministry of tongues/foreign languages. The Body of Messiah (Christ) would be useless if everyone was an eye or everyone a mouth. Therefore, Yahweh has given each member in the Body a separate ministry, function, and ability. Each is given a special anointing or office in the "Royal Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). The gifts, resident in the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), equip each person with the ability to function in the office that Yahweh has given to him/her.

5.30. What are some of the varieties of effects given to the Church/ Community by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (Romans 12:7-8,13)

These are but a few of the different effects that Yahweh establishes in His Body or local congregation. The Body of the Messiah (Christ) is like a multi-faceted diamond each with a member reflecting some acpect of the beauty and character of Yahweh.

5.31. What are the nine fruits of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (Galatians 5:22-23)

5.32. Should a Christian have spiritual gifts without fruit? (1 Corinthians 13:1-2)

5.33. Should a Christian have spiritual fruit without gifts? (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1)

5.34. What are three ways that the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) will minister to believers in the last days? (Acts 2:17)

5.35. For what are the manifestations of the Ruach (Spirit) given? (1 Corinthians 12:7)

5.36. What did Yah'shua (Jesus) say about those who had received the Gift of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (John 4:14; 7:38-39)

Write and memorise the following scripture: John 4:10,14

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