Just a clause today, from Isaiah 63:14. But remember first that several days ago we studied the Holy Spirit “resting” on Jesus. Indeed! He “rests” on us too, in fact more than that. He verily “indwells” us as New Testament Believers in Jesus!

Yet the Bible says even more of Him. “The Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest.” Isaiah 63:10, not just the Spirit resting “on” someone … but CAUSING HIM OR HER TO REST AS WELL!

The Holy Spirit is then, in a godly sense, the “Giver” of rest!

To be candid, Isaiah 63:14 is talking about a beast, an animal. But then that animal is likened to the Children of Israel, favorably so this time. “As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: SO DIDST THOU lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.” (Giving them rest, too, being implied.)

The verb translated “caused to rest” is “nuach.” It’s in the Hiphil stem (Hebrew grammar) and demands that whatever action is being depicted, it is a “caused” event!

The Holy Spirit “causes” rest in our lives!

Paul (Galatians 5:22) teaches is that one of the foremost traits of the Holy Spirit Himself is “Peace.” He is the Peace Causer of the Trinity!

Of course there exists the “Peace of God,” too, God the Father. Paul again calls Him “the God of Peace” in Romans 15:33, in prayer, a benediction.

Jesus is a Peace Bringer as well. Listen to Him in John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

But the Holy Spirit is first mentioned doing this, bringing rest out of turmoil! In fact, one might call Genesis 1:2 an illustration of the Holy Spirit bringing Peace, Order, and Tranquility out of a raging flood! “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD moved upon the face of the waters.” Then soon “peace” has come and God is calling things “good!”

Oh, how I personally need this Lesson today.

I need probably to sleep more, better realizing that real “rest” is a gift of God! Psalm 127:2 thunders: “For so He (our great God) giveth his beloved sleep.”

I need to take more time “off,” a day here and there to better realize the beautiful things of God.  Enjoying the sweet “rest” the Holy Spirit wants “to cause” in my life!

Well, that’s my thought for today, from the Bible.

I do know this. Without the smile of the Holy Spirit … there is not rest!

Truth!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Goodness! I just realized I did not fully define the verb “rest,” or “nuach.” It means once “to cease” from wearisome labor! Once “to be confederate” with someone! The closer He is to me, the more I will peacefully rest! Once to be “quiet.” Once “to settle down.” And naturally, 55 more times in Scripture … “nuach” means “to rest.”

 

Another Verse about the Holy Spirit!

Isaiah 63:10 teaches us: “But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit.”

Everything hinges on that verb, “vexed.” Am I being taught the Spirit of God can indeed be “vexed? Because of “rebellion?”

Yes!

By the way, “to rebel” (in Hebrew “marah,” which means “to disobey, to be contentious, to provoke, to be bitter”) is one of the ways a person allows the devil to have “place” in their lives. To rebel against God. (“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” 1st Samuel 15:23)

And just how does the Holy Spirit react to my misbehavior?

He is “vexed!”

Spelled “atzsab,” the word means “to cause pain!” Or “to displease.” Including “to hurt, to make sorry, to grieve!”

The verb here is (Hebrew grammar) a Piel stem! Vigorous action, energetic sinning! Intensive “grieving” of the Holy Spirit!

Wow!

Then, the Holy Spirit is not an “it!”

The Holy Spirit is a “Person!”

We say “The Third Person Of The Godhead.”

A Person with “feelings!”

He can rejoice!

He can encourage!

And He can be hurt!

What kind of relationship do I have with Him … right now?

How about you?

And if I deliberately, stubbornly, knowingly, “hurt” (disobey) the Holy Spirit … are there any consequences?

Apparently so. Because Isaiah 63:10 continues. “But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: THEREFORE HE WAS TURNED TO BE THEIR ENEMY, AND HE FOUGHT AGAINST THEM.” 

The Holy Spirit “for” me, as I obey my Lord.

Or the Holy Spirit “against” me … as I rebel!

What an important choice!

God the Spirit as my “Comforter.”

Or God the Spirit as my “enemy.”

What a Verse this morning.

“But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a series of little Bible Verses, “snippets” I used to call them, any more than these on the Holy Spirit! Nearly 3 weeks of Lessons, all focusing on the amazing Spirit of the Lord.

Today’s thought is equally interesting!

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19

Yes, there are always enemies, even in the Christian life. Or should I say especially in the Christian life? The Devil and his cohorts see to that!

Yet here in Isaiah’s Verse the enemy is formidable. He attacks “like a flood.” Or does he even attack? The verb “come in” suggests he just “joins” the group! Jude 4 says “crept in unawares!” Tares in the wheat field!

The noun “flood” (in Hebrew “nahar”) means “river” 98 of 120 times in the Bible. But the translators here felt that word was not strong enough, and used “flood” instead. In fact, 17 more times they did the same thing, as led by the Lord.

A roaring flood!

Destructive, deadly!

What is just one man or woman, though he or she may be a Christian, against such a massive onslaught?

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood ….” Notice not “if” he comes, but “when” he comes! We are in a battle, aren’t we?

But when Satan opposes, inundates us … we are not alone!

No.

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM.”

What an encouraging promise!

The Holy Spirit is with me!

Watching my back, surrounding me, protecting me!

What does he do? What is He doing right now? What will He do the rest of our earthly days? What is His very Nature?

“To lift up a standard” against the approaching harm, so says the Prophet, directly led by God to pen these powerful words.

And folks, all that is the result of a single Hebrew verb, “lift up a standard!” It is spelled “nus” (pronounced noos) and normally means (142 times in the Old Testament) “to flee.” But here that meaning does not exactly fit. Partly because of the phrase “against him,” opposing the enemy.

This is not running away from the enemy … no! This is running TOWARD him! Attacking him, counterattacking him! Going on the offense! Using the sword of the Spirit and lunging toward that old rascal!

Furthermore, still discussing grammar by the way … “nus” here is built (in Hebrew, not English) on the Polel stem, meaning its last letter is doubled (now spelled “nuss”) and this dramatically adds to the verbal action implied. It’s then a super-powerful “Piel” stem verb then. The Holy Spirit ENERGETICALLY, FURIOUSLY, WITH ALL HIS MIGHT counteracts that encroaching enemy of my soul! DILIGENTLY, WHOLE-HEARTEDLY, FERVENTLY

Clearly, it’s not defense here as much as OFFENSE, Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

This thought today gives new, fresh meaning to Paul’s words: “If God be FOR us, who can be AGAINST us? Romans 8:31

With the Holy Spirit’s aid we then literally can: “Be not overcome of evil, but OVERCOME evil with good.” Romans 12:21, where “overcome” is the verb “nikao,” meaning “to conquer!” In the Name of the Lord, of course!

This too gives more emphasis to the expression “the Sword of the Spirit!” Again note this is an “attack weapon.” Ephesians 6:17

And sheds even further illumination to 2nd Thessalonians 2:8-9, a yet future event, at Jesus’ Second Coming. “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord SHALL CONSUME with the spirit of his mouth, and SHALL DESTROY with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” Offense, for sure!

Running toward the floodtide, opposing it!

Oh, the amazing vastness of the Holy Spirit’s ministry among us today!

Mercy, how we ought to thank Him for being such a Warrior in our behalf!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Apparently Isaiah has a lot to say about the Spirit of the Lord. I found 37 times he mentions the word “spirit,” in just a quick count! And many of those clearly refer to God’s Spirit.

So again today that great Prophet (Isaiah) provides our Text. A lovely sentence where God says: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.” Isaiah 44:3

Technically this is a promise to Israel, her bright future being implied. As a saved Nation, trusting the Lord her Messiah!

But surely we children of God, born-again Christians, can “claim” part of this blessing as well. (If not the “full loaf,” at least some of the “crumbs!”)

I believe God here is likening (comparing) the Spirit (His Spirit) to “water” and then to a “flood” and finally to a “blessing!” Again: “For I (the Lord) will pour WATER upon him that is thirsty, and FLOODS upon the dry ground: I will pour MY SPIRIT upon thy seed, and MY BLESSING upon thine offspring.”

The Holy Spirit for the thirsty as a cool drink of water!

The Holy Spirit for the spiritually parched as a flood of life-giving rain!

And the Holy Spirit for the Dad or Mom who is burdened about one or more of their children! As a life-altering Blessing for all their future years!

Wow!

The sweet Holy Spirit in our lives!

AND in our children’s lives too!

A promise from God!

I skipped a clause too, deliberately.

For emphasis. “I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed ….”

The Holy Spirit “poured” on my sons, and daughter?

Looks like it!

Oh, how God wants to help his children … and apparently … his children’s children too! Generations of Christians!

The verb “pour” is “yatzsaq,” meaning “to overflow!”

The word “seed,” a noun, means “offspring.”

And “spirit” is still “ruach,” the very “Breath” of Almighty God. The “Third Person of the Trinity,” we sometimes say.

Oh, let’s claim that promise, or part of it anyway!

“God, do something for my children today!”

Yes, every born-again parent can so ask.

“I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.”

Amen!

This reminds me of Acts 16:31, the often unquoted portion. “And thine house!”

God is willing to do great things for us, as  Moms and Dads. Any of us who are vocally needy! “For I (the Lord God in heaven) will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.”

Now I’ve learned that God can also (and is willing, His idea) to bless my children too! And your children!

Yes, back to God’s very Words: “I will pour MY SPIRIT upon thy seed, and MY BLESSING upon thine offspring.” (“Blessing” here being another synonym for the Holy Spirit again, I think.)

How encouraging!

God, do it again!

For us!

And our children!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I never dreamed the Bible mentioned the Spirit of God as often as it does!

He is everywhere in the Word!

And today’s verse, even being a question, is significant as we learn of God the Holy Spirit.

The Prophet Isaiah asks, “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” Isaiah 40:13

Should I capitalize the pronouns referring to Him, the verse would look like this: “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being His counsellor hath taught Him?” 

The implication here is twofold. The Spirit is sovereign, all mighty, no one commanding Him. Nor is He ever short of knowledge, not once having ever needed a teacher!

Omnipotent, all powerful!

And omniscient, all knowing!

That’s God, rather He is God!

But this morning I’d like us to examine one of those verbs more fully. The one about the Holy Spirit never being “directed.” Isaiah again: “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD?“

It is spelled “takan” in Hebrew, pronounced “taw-khan,” accenting the last syllable. And of course it means “directed.” But let me show you how the Bible translators (King James Version) expressed the word long ago.

1. They have it meaning “to weigh” 3 times! The Holy Spirit, so vast, He is incalculable! He is “without measure!” No wonder every Christian alive today could be “filled” with the Spirit, and He yet never be one iota diminished! He is un-weighable! Here’s “takan” in Proverbs 16:2, using this very emphasis. “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.” His Own Spirit weighing most of all!

2. Then 9 more times in the Old Testament “takan” means “equal!” In the sense of being “on the level,” fair and right and even sinless! Listen to a godly prophet (echoing God) accusing the backslidden Israelites, Ezekiel 18:25. “Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?” The Holy Spirit is, then, always “equal,” always right! Always “balanced,” never “off-center!” Thus, no one has ever proved Him wrong!

Or maybe the “equal” idea here simply means no one has ever “equaled” the Holy Spirit … in any capacity whatsoever! He is supreme! Without match! Incomparable!

3. Furthermore, twice “takan” means “to ponder!” As used here in Proverbs 21:2. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” I think we’re now being told that we can never fully “understand” the heights and depths and breadth of God the Holy Spirit! He is unfathomable! Think about Him all you choose, a good thing to do, but realize you (we) shall … even after a lifetime of “knowing” Him … still be just beginners!

Wow!

How this clause magnifies God the Holy Spirit!

Un-directable!

Un-weighable!

Un-mistakable!

Un-limited!

Yet He, because of salvation, indwells the hearts of every saved man and woman!

This Friday, try to think of His greatness … every single hour.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell