Companion Study Guide: 10 Lessons
Companion Study Guide: 10 Lessons
Companion Study Guide: 10 Lessons
RICK RENNER
How much do you really know about the Holy Spirit? How important is
His presence in your life? In this ten-part series, Rick Renner takes you on a
cross-testament journey, revealing 15 remarkable symbols of the Spirit that
help define His incomparable ministry in your life. Some of the symbols we
will explore include His manifestation as oil, dew, rain, water, wind, wine, fire,
glory, light, and clothing. You’ll also discover the powerful meaning of the
Holy Spirit’s function as a seal, an earnest, a dove, and a river. Get ready to
unwrap the greatest gift ever given — the marvelous gift of the Holy Spirit!
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the King
James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified® Bible.
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Founda-
tion. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from Holy Bible, New Inter-
national Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,
Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright
© 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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A Note From
Rick Renner
I am on a personal quest to see a “revival of
the Bible” so people can establish their lives on
a firm foundation that will stand strong and
endure the test when the end-time storm winds
begin to intensify.
In order to experience a revival of the Bible in
your personal life, it is important to take time
each day to read, receive, and apply its truths to your life. James tells us
that if we will continue in the perfect law of liberty — refusing to be
forgetful hearers but determined to be doers — we will be blessed in
our ways. As you watch or listen to the programs in this series and work
through this corresponding study guide, I trust that you will search the
Scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to help you hear something new
from God’s Word that applies specifically to your life. I encourage you to
be a doer of the Word that He reveals to you. Whatever the cost, I assure
you — it will be worth it.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
— Jeremiah 15:16
Rick Renner
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LESSON 1
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit in Action
SCRIPTURES
1. Genesis 1:1,2 — In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth. 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.
2. Luke 1:34,35 — …How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And
the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Son of God.
3. Matthew 3:16 — And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straight-
way out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon
him.
4. John 3:34 (TLB) — …For God’s Spirit is upon him without measure
or limit.
5. Acts 1:8 — But ye shall receive power, after that 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.
6. Acts 2:4 — And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began
to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
7. Acts 4:31 — And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where
they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
8. Acts 5:14-16 — And believers were the more added to the Lord,
multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought
forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that
at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some
of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about
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GREEK WORDS
1. “power” — δύναμις (dunamis): the New Testament word for explosive
power; used to describe the full might of an advancing army
SYNOPSIS
The ten lessons in this study on Symbols of the Holy Spirit will focus on the
following topics:
• The Holy Spirit in Action
• The Holy Spirit — Oil and Dew
• The Holy Spirit — Rain, River, Water
• The Holy Spirit — Fire, Dove, Clothing
• The Holy Spirit — Wind
• The Holy Spirit — Gift
• The Holy Spirit — Seal and Earnest
• The Holy Spirit — Glory and Light
• The Holy Spirit — Wine
• 15 Symbols of the Holy Spirit
If there is one word that really helps communicate who the Holy Spirit
is, it is the word “action.” All throughout Scripture — from Genesis to
Revelation — we see that when the Spirit of God is given freedom to
move and do what He wants to do, supernatural things take place.
Andrew Murray — a nineteenth century pastor, teacher, and prolific
author from South Africa — said, “Men ought to seek with their whole
hearts to be filled with the Spirit of God. Without being filled with the
Spirit, it is utterly impossible that an individual Christian or a church can
ever live or work as God desires.”
One reason we don’t see more supernatural activity in the Church today is
because we have restricted the movement of the Holy Spirit. In order to
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miraculous took place. When the Holy Spirit moves, new life is conceived.
Just like Mary, when we submit to the plans of God and allow His Spirit
to move in our lives, we become impregnated with new life.
Flash forward 30 years, and we come to a milestone in Jesus’ life that
would effectively launch Him into full-time ministry. After He carefully
made His way through the murky water, Jesus submissively stood before
John the Baptist to be baptized. The Bible says, “And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were
opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove,
and lighting upon him” (Matthew 3:16).
Here again, we see the divine movement of the Holy Spirit — He
descended gently on Jesus like a dove. In that moment, the Lord was
baptized in the Holy Spirit and supernaturally energized for His ministry.
In fact, Jesus was so full of the Holy Spirit, John declared, “…God’s Spirit
is upon him without measure or limit” ( John 3:34 TLB).
Clearly, the Holy Spirit had free rein in the life of Christ, and He was
actively involved in every aspect of His existence from His conception to
His resurrection.
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The Holy Spirit Released Healing Through Peter’s Shadow
Events like these were a common occurrence in the Early Church. When
the Holy Spirit was allowed to move, He seized the opportunity and
performed many signs and wonders through the hands of the apostles.
According to Scripture, the result was that “believers were the more added
to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women” (Acts 5:14).
One of the most mindboggling series of miracles to be noted in Scripture
is found in Acts 5:15 and 16. Here it is reported that the Holy Spirit was
moving so mightily, “…That they brought forth the sick into the streets,
and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter
passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude
out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them
which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.”
This passage is an example of what happens when we remove the restric-
tions off the Holy Spirit. These people were thinking outside the religious
box, discarding every preconceived notion of how the Spirit would and
wouldn’t operate. These people were so desirous to see the Holy Spirit
move, they placed sick people in Peter’s shadow believing they would be
healed — and they were!
The Holy Spirit Foretold the Future and Gave Divine Direction
When Jesus described the ministry of the Holy Spirit, one of the things
He said the Spirit would do is show us things that are yet to come (see
John 16:13). That is exactly what He did in Acts 11:28-30 when He
moved on a certain prophet by the name of Agabus. Through Agabus, the
Holy Spirit let believers know that a great famine was coming throughout
the world, which actually did take place during the days of Claudius
Caesar. Because believers were forewarned, they were able to prepare and
send relief to fellow believers in Judea.
The Holy Spirit also granted vital direction to the leaders of the church in
Antioch. The Bible says, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the
Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto
I have called them” (Acts 13:2). In this case, when the Spirit moved, Paul
and Barnabas were divinely selected and launched into ministry to the
Gentiles.
During their travels, they brought the Gospel to many dark, pagan cities
in the Roman Empire — including the city of Lystra. It was there they
encountered a man who had been crippled from birth and had never
walked. The same Holy Spirit that launched Paul and Barnabas into
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ministry moved upon Paul to declare healing to this lame man. Acts 14:10
says, “[Paul] said with a loud voice, stand upright on thy feet. And he
leaped and walked.”
Again and again, the Holy Spirit moved through the apostle Paul to
manifest the miraculous. This is seen all throughout the second half of the
book of Acts, including the time when Paul returned to the great city of
Ephesus and he ran into a group of men that had been disciples of John
the Baptist. After sharing the message of the Gospel and leading these
men to salvation in Christ, Paul laid his hands on them and “…the Holy
Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” (Acts
19:6 NIV). Speaking in tongues and prophesying are two sure signs the
Spirit is moving.
Before leaving Ephesus, the Bible says, “And God wrought special mir-
acles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the
sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and
the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11-12).
Friend, happenings like these are interwoven throughout the pages of the
Book of Acts. It is the pattern book that set the precedent for how the Holy
Spirit is to move in the Church in every generation. His actions were not
anomalies confined to the Early Church. They are meant for today — they
are meant for you!
If we will remove all the restrictions from the Holy Spirit and allow
Him to move freely, Jesus Christ’s power will be released in our lives,
our families, and in our churches. It is what will happen for you if you’ll
remove the restrictions and allow the Holy Spirit to move.
STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
1. The Bible says that Jesus was supernaturally conceived by the Holy
Spirit. In what other ways was the Holy Spirit intimately involved
in Jesus’ life? Take a few moments to look up these passages for the
answers.
• Luke 1:35 — Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
2. Through Agabus, the Holy Spirit let believers know that a great
famine was coming throughout the world, and they were able to
prepare for it (see Acts 11:28-30). What promise is demonstrated here
that is available to you? (See Amos 3:7; John 16:13; First Corinthians
2:9,10.)
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22
1. Can you remember a time when you surrendered yourself to God and
allowed the Holy Spirit to move freely in your life? Describe what
took place.
2. One reason we don’t see more supernatural activity in the Church
today is because we have restricted the movement of the Holy Spirit.
How about you? Is there any area in your life that you have made “off
limits” to the Holy Spirit? If so, where? If you don’t know why you’ve
restricted the Holy Spirit, ask Him to show you, and then give Him
free access.
3. At the beginning of creation, the Holy Spirit moved across the
formless void and darkness of the earth and brought order, structure,
and meaning to it. Are there areas in your life that are empty and
dark? Pray and invite the Holy Spirit to move in you and release His
creative power that brings order, structure, and meaning to your life.
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LESSON 2
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit: Oil and Dew
SCRIPTURES
1. Acts 10:38 — How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
2. Genesis 28:18,19 — And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and
took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar,
and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that
place Bethel….
3. Exodus 30:22-31 — Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred
shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and
fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, and
of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and
of oil olive an hin: and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an
ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy
anointing oil. And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congrega-
tion therewith, and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all his
vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,
and the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and
his foot. And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy:
whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint Aaron
and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me
in the priest’s office. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel,
saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your
generations.
4. Luke 4:18,19 — The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recov-
ering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to
preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
5. 2 Corinthians 1:21 — Now he which stablisheth us with you in
Christ, and hath anointed us, is God.
GREEK WORDS
1. “anointed” — ἔχρισέν (chrio): to anoint with oil; a form of (cheira)
means the human hand
SYNOPSIS
In our first lesson, we learned that when we remove all the restrictions
from the Holy Spirit and allow Him to move freely, He causes miraculous
things to take place. We see this principle throughout Scripture, beginning
in Genesis 1:1 and 2. At the dawn of creation, the Holy Spirit was there,
moving upon the chaos and confusion of the world, bringing divine order
and structure. When the Holy Spirit moved, God’s creative power was
released. The same is true for you. If you will create an environment that
invites the Spirit to move, His creative power will be released in your life.
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The Holy Spirit is referred to as:
1. Oil
2. Dew
3. Rain
4. A River
5. Water or Living Water
6. Fire
7. A Dove
8. Clothing
9. Wind
10. The Gift
11. A Seal
12. The Earnest of our salvation
13. Glory
14. Light
15. Wine
All of these are symbols, emblems, or metaphors to describe the person,
the power, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
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Again, the oil of holy ointment represented the presence and power of
God’s Holy Spirit. What was Moses to do with this oil? God said:
“And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation
therewith, and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all
his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of
incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and
the laver and his foot. (Exodus 30:26-28).
This verse makes it emphatically clear that everything in the tabernacle
was to be anointed with holy oil. Likewise, God wants us to anoint
everything in our lives, in our homes, and in our churches with the oil of
the Spirit. What else was the oil to provide? God said:
“And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy:
whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint
Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may min-
ister unto me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt speak unto
the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil
unto me throughout your generations” (Exodus 30:29-31).
The oil of the Holy Spirit touches us and comes into our lives the moment
we get saved. Through these verses, God is telling us that when the oil of
the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, it sanctifies us, consecrates us, and
it sets us apart for His use for the rest of our lives. We need the oil of the
Holy Spirit — the anointing — to bring the presence and power of God
into our homes, our churches, and everywhere we go.
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In this passage, Jesus conveys His understanding of the anointing
perfectly. He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath
anointed Me….” The word “anointed” here means to apply with a hand. It
was the equivalent of Jesus saying, “The Holy Spirit is upon Me because
God has laid His hands on Me and placed the anointing of the Holy
Spirit on Me.” In the rest of the passage, Jesus described the results of the
anointing: to preach the Gospel to the poor; to heal the brokenhearted; to preach
deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty
them that are bruised; and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Thus, Jesus
recognized that He’d been anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, and it
is what empowered Him for ministry.
6. God anointed believers with the Holy Spirit
(2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:20,27)
God gives the oil of the Holy Spirit to every individual believer. Second
Corinthians 1:21 says, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ,
and hath anointed us, is God.” Hence, every person who repents of sin
and makes Jesus the Lord of his life receives the Holy Spirit. And when
the oil of the Spirit comes, He comes with His full presence and power to
consecrate us, sanctify us, and separate us for God’s purpose.
7. Anointing with oil symbolizes the healing work of the Holy Spirit
( James 5:14-15)
The oil of the Holy Spirit is also used symbolically to describe the healing
power of God. We see this described in James 5:14 and 15, which says, “Is
any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the
prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if
he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
Praying for the sick was — and is — a divine moment when people
release their faith. Although the oil itself has no magical healing powers,
it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. In faith, the oil
was (and is) applied, believing that God’s healing power is available and
present to make the sick person whole.
8. The oil symbolizes the teaching work of the Spirit
(1 John 2:27)
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moisture was there all along. But it didn’t manifest until the right condi-
tions were met.
Psalm 133:3 says the anointing of the Spirit is much like dew. Verses 1
and 2 let us know that “unity” among God’s people is the condition that
causes the anointing to be released. In other words, “unity” is like the dew
point that triggers the anointing to manifest. Like the moisture that is
always in the air, the Holy Spirit is always with us. Although we may not
see or sense His presence, He is there in our churches, our homes, and our
lives. But He only manifests His presence where there is unity and peace.
When a church or person is in strife, they will most likely not experience
the manifest presence of God. But when unity emerges, suddenly the
power and presence of God begin to show up, and everyone gets touched
by it. Evidence of the Spirit’s anointing shows up everywhere. That is what
happened when the disciples were unified in prayer on the Day of Pente-
cost. Indeed, where there is unity, “…the Lord commanded the blessing,
even life for evermore” (Psalm 133:3).
In our next lesson, we are going to look at three more symbols of the Holy
Spirit in Scripture: The Holy Spirit depicted as rain, rivers, and Living
Water.
STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
1. Do you have a situation in which you are in desperate need for the
Holy Spirit to move? Pray and ask God to show you how you can cre-
ate an environment that invites His Spirit to move and release creative
power in your life.
2. God told Moses to anoint the tabernacle and everything in it (see
Exodus 30:26-28). According to First Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19 and
Second Corinthians 6:16, you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Pray
and ask the Holy Spirit to release His anointing everywhere in your
life, in your family, and in your home.
3. Be honest, how important has unity been in your life — with family
members, church members, and coworkers? Is there anyone you know
you’re not in unity with right now? Take a moment and ask God to
forgive you for being in strife and holding on to unforgiveness; then
ask Him for strength to go and make things right with whoever you
need to.
LESSON 3
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit: Rain, River, Water
SCRIPTURES
1. Joel 2:23 — Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord
your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he
will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the
latter rain in the first month.
2. Joel 2:28,29 — And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour
out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those
days will I pour out my spirit.
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3. John 7:37-39 — In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood
and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which
they that believe on him should receive….)
4. Psalm 46:4 (NIV) — There is a river whose streams make glad the city
of God….
5. Isaiah 44:3 (NIV) — For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and
streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your off-
spring, and my blessing on your descendants.
6. 1 Corinthians 12:13 — For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
GREEK WORDS
1. “flow” — ῥέω (rheo): pictures a rushing stream, so full that it over-
flows its banks
2. “living water” — ὕδατος ζῶντος (hudatos zontos): water that is living;
water filled with vibrancy and life
3. “drink” — ποτίζω (potidzo): literally, to drink; consume; imbibe;
irrigate
SYNOPSIS
In our last lesson, we learned about two symbols in Scripture that describe
the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The first was oil, which appears about 200
times in the Old and New Testament. We also saw how the anointing of
the Spirit is compared to the morning dew, which is seen in Psalm 133.
Just as moisture is always in the air but is not visible until the conditions
are right to meet the dew point, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit
are always around us, but He will not manifest until we come together in
unity. This is what is known as the corporate anointing. God promises that
where there is unity, “…the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for
evermore” (Psalm 133:3).
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The prophet Joel went on to say, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that
I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days
will I pour out my spirit” ( Joel 2:28,29). Metaphorically, God said through
Joel, “I’m going to send an early rain upon the Church and a latter rain.
In the context of Scripture, rain symbolizes the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit. The early rain — or outpouring — is what took place on the Day of
Pentecost. The apostle Peter declared this in Acts 2. God brought the early
rain of the Holy Spirit to prepare the soil of humanity to receive the seeds
of the Gospel. With the early rain, God also forecasted that there will be
a latter rain, or a latter outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The latter rain is
essential to bring about the final harvest of souls just before the coming
of Jesus. That is what we’re experiencing today, and it will continue to
increase as we come nearer to the rapture of the Church.
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Here we see there is one river with multiple streams. Clearly, the Holy
Spirit is one river that moves in countless ways. Just when you think He’s
going to move one way, He moves in a way that is totally unexpected. We
need to be careful not to get stuck in doing things for God the same way.
We need to be flexible and go with the flow of the Spirit.
The bottom line is, the Holy Spirit wants to move like a mighty river in
your life. He wants you to jump in and surrender your life to His flow. Are
you ready? The adventure awaits!
STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
1. Jesus is the exact image of the Father (see Hebrews 1:3), and He longs
to be in a close, vibrant relationship with you every day! In John 7:37,
He said, “…If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” He
offers you another invitation in Matthew 11:28-30. What is this offer
to “drink,” and have you accepted this extraordinary opportunity?
2. Being refreshed by the water of the Spirit is something we need
regularly — especially in the times in which we are living. According
to First Corinthians 14:4, what is one of the best ways to tap into the
river of living water inside you? What can you expect to happen every
time you utilize this special gift from God? (See Romans 8:26,27.)
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22
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the Holy Spirit to function spiritually? What changes can you make
in your daily routine to take in more Living Water?
LESSON 4
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit: Fire, Dove,
and Clothing
SCRIPTURES
1. Matthew 3:11 — I indeed baptize you with water unto repen-
tance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes
I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost,
and with fire.
2. 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.
3. Matthew 3:16 — And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straight-
way out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon
him.
4. Luke 24:49 — And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon
you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with
power from on high.
5. Acts 1:8 — But ye shall receive power, after that 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.
SYNOPSIS
So far in our study of the symbols of the Holy Spirit, we have seen that
the Bible metaphorically depicts the Spirit as oil, dew, rain, a river, and
water.
Every believer receives the oil of the Holy Spirit the moment he or she is
saved. This is the anointing of God that belongs to every believer. Second,
the Holy Spirit functions as dew in our lives. Just as moisture is in the
air at all times but only becomes visible under certain circumstances, the
Holy Spirit is always with us, but He only manifests His presence when
believers come together in unity (see Psalm 133:1-3).
Third, we saw that the Holy Spirit is like rain. God pours His Spirit out
on us like the early rain and latter rain that fell on the land of Israel. He
knows exactly how much rain of the Spirit we need at any given time, and
He will send it to us if we will humble ourselves and pray for it. That is our
part.
The Holy Spirit is also like a river. Jesus described this in John 7:38 when
He said, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his
belly shall flow rivers of living water….” The Holy Spirit is like a mighty
river filled with vibrancy, bringing us life and removing things that are
hindering what He wants to do. His intention is to move like a river
through the Church and flood us with His divine life.
The fifth symbol of the Holy Spirit we’ve studied is water. In Isaiah 44:3
(NIV), God said, “I will pour water upon the thirsty land and streams
on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my
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blessing on your descendants.” As Christians, God has fashioned us to
“drink” of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12:13). He wants to flood us
with His Spirit in such a way that we are completely irrigated and are able
to produce abundant fruit.
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empowers us to live like Jesus. The Holy Spirit’s dovelike qualities are
certainly a treasured gift to us.
STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
1. What would your life be like without the fire of the Holy Spirit? Has
His fire gone out in you? Carefully read, heed, and put into prac-
tice Paul’s instruction to young Timothy who dealt with the same
dilemma (see 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6).
2. Hebrews 12:29 declares, “For our God is a consuming fire.” One of
the qualities of His fire in our lives is depicted in First Corinthians
3:13-15; First Peter 1:6,7; and Malachi 3:2-4. What is this necessary
quality?
3. Are you spiritually exhausted? Do you feel mentally, emotionally,
and physically depleted? God stands ready, willing, and more than
able to release His tangible, supernatural energy into you! Take a few
moments to reflect on His words in Isaiah 40:28-31. What is He
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speaking to you through this passage? How can you take this promise
and make it a personal prayer for God’s strength?
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22
1. One of the ways the Holy Spirit operates in our lives is like a dove.
Can you recall a time when the Holy Spirit handled you with dove-
like qualities? What do you appreciate most about this aspect of His
nature?
2. Like the disciples in the Early Church, Jesus wants you to be “endued”
with the power of the Holy Spirit. That is, He wants you to be clothed
with His supernatural might so comfortably that you sink right into
it. How comfortable are you with the power of the Holy Spirit? Is
there anything specific that makes you feel uncomfortable with Him?
If so, what is it?
3. Are you experiencing spiritual coldness in your life? Are things dark
and dull? Are you lacking spiritual energy? Take time now to pray
and ask the Holy Spirit to impart fresh fire in your life. Ask Him to
illuminate the truth about God and His Word that you need to see in
this season.
LESSON 5
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit: Wind
SCRIPTURES
1. John 3:8 — The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it
goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
2. Acts 2:2 — And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of
a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting.
SYNOPSIS
From the very first mention of the Holy Spirit in Scripture, we see that
when He is present, supernatural activity is taking place. Metaphorically,
the Spirit is depicted as 15 primary symbols.
The Holy Spirit is like…
• The anointing oil that heals, strengthens, and teaches us.
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• The dew of heaven that touches everyone when there is unity among
God’s people.
• The early and latter rain that prepares the soil to receive seed and
produce a bumper harvest.
• A mighty river flowing and teeming with life.
• Water that saturates and satisfies the thirsty souls of mankind.
• A fire that illuminates, energizes, and purifies.
• A dove that is tender and gentle in His dealings.
• Clothing that dresses us in dynamic, supernatural power.
Indeed, there is no one equal to the extraordinary Holy Spirit of God!
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inclusion of this word tells us that when the Holy Spirit moves, He can be
very loud — just like the howling of tornadic winds.
Continuing His description of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus told
Nicodemus — and us — that we “…canst not tell whence it cometh, and
whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” ( John 3:8).
The word “Spirit” is the Greek word Pneumatos, and it is capitalized here,
which means it is referring to the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus Himself likened
the work of the Holy Spirit to the wind.
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STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
1. What new insights did you learn about the Holy Spirit operating like
wind?
2. How much can you get done on your own, without the empowerment
of the Holy Spirit? Take time to reflect on what God’s Word says in
John 6:63; 15:5; Romans 7:18; and Zechariah 4:6.
3. According to Philippians 4:13, what is the source of power God has
given you to draw from — moment by moment, day by day? In practi-
cal terms, how can you tap into this unlimited power source? (Con-
sider John 15:4-7; Ephesians 3:20; Luke 10:19.)
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22
1. What would your life be like personally without the wind of the
Spirit?
2. When the wind of the Holy Spirit begins to blow, things begin to
change! Think back to a time in your life when God showed up like
a rushing mighty wind. In what ways did the Holy Spirit visibly show
up and bring positive change to a negative situation you were in? How
does remembering His divine assistance encourage you to trust Him
for help in your current circumstances?
3. Do you feel stagnant inside? Has the contamination of this sinful
world polluted your soul and spirit? Take time now to pray and ask
the Holy Spirit to blow like a rushing, mighty wind in your life —
energizing and empowering you to move out of the doldrums of
defeat and despair and into the light of His joy and peace.
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit: Gift
SCRIPTURES
1. Acts 2:38,39 — Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise
is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the Lord our God shall call.
GREEK WORDS
1. “repent” — μετανοέω (metanoeo): pictures a change of mind that
results in a complete, radical, total change of behavior; a decision to
completely change or to entirely turn around in the way that one is
thinking, believing, or living; a total transformation affecting every
part of a person’s life, both inside and outside, resulting in a behavioral
change
2. “remission” — ἄφεσις (aphesis): a release from the effects of broken-
ness; to set free; to release; to permanently dismiss; to send away with
no option to ever retrieve again; to loosen from the detrimental effects
of sickness or shatteredness
3. “receive” — λαμβάνω (lambano): to seize or to lay hold of something
in order to make it one’s very own, almost like a person who reaches
out to grab, capture, or take possession of something; depicts one who
graciously receives something that is freely and easily given
4. “gift” — δωρεά (dorea): a gift that is freely given and not acquired
by merit or entitlement; a gift given freely; a gift given gratuitously
SYNOPSIS
Several decades ago — in the sixties, seventies, and early eighties —
the gifts of the Holy Spirit were manifesting considerably in many
denominational churches and arena meetings. Tongues, interpretation of
tongues, words of knowledge, healings, and miracles were commonplace.
But something happened along the way that has greatly diminished and
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restricted the movement of the Spirit. God wants to see this change, and
it can! Anyone who welcomes the gift of the Holy Spirit and makes room
for Him to move will experience His tangible, supernatural presence once
again.
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6. FIRE. In Lesson 4, we learned that the Holy Spirit is also symbol-
ized as fire. John the Baptist identified Jesus as the one who would
baptize us with the Holy Ghost and with fire (see Matthew 3:16).
This prophecy began to be fulfilled in Acts 2:1-4, which describes the
Holy Spirit descending on the disciples in the Upper Room on the
Day of Pentecost. Verse 3 says, “And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
Just as fire drives engines and moves ships, when the Holy Spirit
comes as fire, He empowers us with divine energy to do what God has
called us to do. As fire, the Spirit also purifies us and removes rubbish
from our lives so that we can serve Him unhindered. Without the fire
of the Holy Spirit, life would be a very cold, dark place spiritually.
7. A DOVE. All four gospels tell about the baptism of Jesus in the Jor-
dan River and indicate that the moment He came up out of the water,
the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him “like
a dove.” The Bible doesn’t say the Holy Spirit is a dove; it says He is
like a dove, which means when He speaks to us and deals with us, He
is gentle and tender like a dove.
8. CLOTHING. In Luke 24:49, Jesus said to His disciples, “…Tarry
ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on
high.” The word “endued” here is the Greek word enduo, which means
to be clothed; to array, clothe, endue, or to put on. This word carries the
idea of sinking into a garment and depicts one who is so comfortable in
his clothing, he sinks into it. Hence, the word “enduo” is the Greek word
for a new set of clothes. God wants us to become so comfortable in
His power that we sink right into it — like a familiar environment in
which we live. The power of the Holy Spirit is to be every believer’s
new surroundings.
9. WIND. In our last lesson, we saw how wind has helped shape
civilization into what we see today. In addition to driving ships that
transported the early explorers to new lands, wind has also been
instrumental in keeping the world from being a stagnant place filled
with pollution and the stench of decay. Just as we’re dependent on the
natural wind for our existence, we’re also dependent on the supernatu-
ral wind of the Holy Spirit for power and progress.
Jesus talked about this during His conversation with Nicodemus in
John 3, and it is also mentioned by Luke in Acts 2 when he described
the arrival of the Holy Spirit as a “rushing mighty wind.” Although
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Repentance Positions Us
To Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit
Peter said that anyone who makes the decision to repent will receive the
“remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). This word “remissions” is the Greek word
aphesis, which means to set free; to release; or to permanently dismiss. It can
also be translated to send away with no option to ever retrieve again; to loosen
from the detrimental effects of sickness or shatteredness; to release from the effects
of brokenness.
The use of this word tells us that when you have received the “remission
of sins,” (forgiveness), you are permanently set free from past sins. God
dismisses them from you and sends them away, never to retrieve them
again. This wonderful promise is confirmed in Psalm 103:12, which says,
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgres-
sions from us.” East and west will never meet, which means when God
dismisses your sins, they are gone forever. Praise God!
Along with the remission of sins, Peter said, “…and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). The word “receive” here is the Greek
word lambano, which means to seize or to lay hold of something in order to
make it one’s very own, almost like a person who reaches out to grab, capture,
or take possession of something. This word lambano depicts one who graciously
receives something that is freely and easily given.
What does God want us to graciously seize and lay hold of and make our
very own? It is “the gift of the Holy Ghost.” In Greek, the word “gift” is
dorea, and it describes a gift that is freely given and not acquired by merit or
entitlement; a gift given freely; or a gift given gratuitously. Dorea is the exact
same word used in Ephesians 2:8, which says, “For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
God’s gift to you is the Holy Spirit, and it is the most marvelous gift you’ll
ever receive. Every person receives this gift the moment he or she fully
surrenders to the Lordship of Jesus and repents of sin. In fact, Peter went
on to say, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).
Friend, God wants you to totally unwrap the gift of the Holy Spirit and
explore everything about Him. In our next lesson, we will look at another
STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22
1. The moment you repent of sin, you are immediately forgiven (see 1
John 1:9). God’s Word says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far
hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). How
does knowing that God forever dismisses your sins encourage you and
instill gratefulness in your heart?
2. Knowing that repentance is a decision of the mind and will, it is
sometimes a process that takes time before the full effects are experi-
enced. In what areas of your life can you see that repentance has done
a full work? What area(s) are you still working through the process of
repentance?
3. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is a gift to every believer. How has
the Holy Spirit personally been a gift to you? What new aspects of
His character has He recently unwrapped for you?
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LESSON 7
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit: Seal and Earnest
SCRIPTURES
1. Ephesians 1:13,14 — In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that
ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is
the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.
2. 2 Corinthian 1:22 — Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest
of the Spirit in our hearts.
GREEK WORDS
1. “sealed” — σφραγίζω (sphragidzo): pictures a seal placed on a pack-
age after the product had been thoroughly examined and inspected
to make sure it was fully intact and complete; the seal was proof the
product was impeccable; normally such seals bore the insignia of a
wealthy or famous person, which meant that this package was to be
treated with tender care; the seal affirmed who was the owner and
guaranteed the package would make it to its final destination
2. “earnest” — ἀρραβὼν (arrabon): a payment given in advance to guar-
antee the whole amount will be paid afterward; earnest-money; an
installment; a deposit; a down-payment which guarantees full delivery
of a promise; security deposit given by the purchaser to assure confi-
dence and peace to the seller that he will fulfill his promise
SYNOPSIS
Jesus said that we are the light of the world — a light that should not be
hidden in any way (see Matthew 5:14). He said, “Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light
unto all that are in the house (Matthew 5:15).
The word “candle” in this verse doesn’t refer to a traditional candle you
might think of. It was actually a small lamp filled with oil. These lamps
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2. DEW – When unity emerges among God’s people, the anointing of
the Holy Spirit manifests on everyone like the morning dew (Psalm
133).
3. RAIN – The Holy Spirit is portrayed as the early and latter rains that
come at just the right time with the exact amount of spiritual rain we
need to help us grow ( Joel 2:23).
4. A RIVER – The Holy Spirit is also likened to a river that floods us
with new life and washes away anything that’s resistant to His will
being done on earth as it is in Heaven ( John 7:37,38).
5. WATER – God promised to give the water of the Holy Spirit to
anyone who is thirsty. Only He can completely quench our spiritual
thirst (Isaiah 44:3).
6. FIRE – The Holy Spirit also comes to work in us like an all-consum-
ing fire. He purifies our lives, burns up the rubbish, and empowers us
to move forward in life (Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3).
7. A DOVE – When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the Holy
Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. This describes His gentleness
and tenderness in the way that He operates in our lives (Matthew
3:16).
8. CLOTHING – The Bible says we are to be “endued” with power
from on high. In Greek, “endued” describes a brand new set of clothing
that becomes so comfortable one simply sinks into it. God’s intention
is for us to sink into the power of the Holy Spirit and learn to be
comfortable in Him (Luke 24:49).
9. WIND – On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended as a
rushing, mighty wind. When He operates as wind, we can’t see Him,
but we can feel the effects of His presence. ( John 3:8; Acts 2:2).
10. A GIFT – God wants us to graciously lay hold of the gift of the Holy
Ghost and make Him our very own. He is a gift that’s freely given and
can’t be acquired by merit or entitlement (Acts 2:38).
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Figuratively speaking, Jesus poured His spiritual wax on you and pressed
the insignia of the Holy Spirit into you. Through the Spirit’s indwelling
presence, you have guaranteed proof that you belong to God and that you
will make it all the way to your ultimate destination, which is Heaven.
That’s what the word “sealed” means. Even if you’ve had some bumps and
detours along the way, the seal of the Holy Spirit on your life is God’s
guarantee that you will make it all the way to your heavenly home.
Taking into account the original Greek meaning, here is the Renner
Interpretive Version (RIV) of Ephesians 1:13:
When you were placed in Christ, God stamped you with a
special seal and embossed it so deeply that it cannot be broken,
erased, rubbed out, wiped out, deleted, or removed; THAT
unbreakable seal is the Holy Spirit. Once you were stamped
with Him, it meant you had God’s approval. He examined the
contents of your heart and found nothing flawed or inferior.
And because everything was in order, He stamped you with
the Holy Spirit, which is His seal of approval. Anyone who has
this stamp is headed for special treatment. THIS seal means
you belong to God and no one is to interfere with you as a
“package.”
This ‘Holy Spirit stamp’ means the postage is prepaid to get you
all the way to your ultimate destination. That means you can be
sure that once your journey with the Lord begins, you are going
to make it all the way to where God wants you to go! As good
as all of this already seems, it’s only the beginning of what God
has planned for us.
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you have been bought by God and you are going to make it all the way
into eternity with Him!
In our next lesson, we will examine two more symbols of the Holy Spirit
that are particularly used in the New Testament. They are “glory” and
“light.”
STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
1. The Bible says you are “sealed” with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit’s
indwelling presence is proof that you belong to God and that you will
make it all the way to your ultimate destination, which is Heaven.
What does the Bible say in Jude 1:24 and Second Timothy 1:12 that
confirms this? (Also consider 1 Thessalonians 3:3 and Jesus’ prayer in
John 17:9,11,12,15.)
2. The Holy Spirit is also an “earnest” or down payment in your life,
showing that God is serious and intends to complete the deal He
initiated. What has God specifically promised to do for you in Philip-
pians 1:6 and First Thessalonians 5:23 and 24? How do these passages
confirm that the Holy Spirit is working as an “earnest” in your life?
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22
LESSON 8
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit: Glory and Light
SCRIPTURES
1. 1 Peter 4:14 — If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are
ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part
he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
2. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 — But if the ministration of death, written
and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel
could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his
countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the
ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of
condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righ-
teousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious
had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which
remaineth is glorious.
3. 2 Corinthians 3:17,18 — Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the
same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
4. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 — But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that
are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach
not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants
for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of
darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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5. Ephesians 1:17 — That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of him.
6. Ephesians 5:14 — Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and
arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
7. John 16:13,15 — Howbeit when he... is come, he will guide you into
all the truth... He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
GREEK WORDS
1. “glory” — δόξα (doxa): pictures brightness; glory; honor; something
exalted, majestic; magnificent, resplendent, of great worth; the heavy
weight of God’s presence; the manifestation of God’s presence
2. “was glorious” — γενήθη ἐν δόξῃ (egenethe en doxe): was produced by
glory; came into existence by glory; shows that creativity is released in
glory
3. “rather” μᾶλλον (mallon): much more; comparatively much more;
vastly more
4. “much more… exceed” — πολλῷ μᾶλλον περισσεύει (pollu mallon
perisseuei): much more abound, overflow, and flood
5. “the glory that excelleth” — τῆς ὑπερβαλλούσης δόξης (tes huperbal-
louses doxes): the word ὑπερβάλλω (huperballo): is something that is
above and beyond what is normal; exceeding or surpassing; pictures
an archer who aims his arrow at the bullseye, but shoots way over
the top; depicts something beyond the range of anything considered
normal; something unparalleled
6. “much more” — πολλῷ μᾶλλον (pollo mallon): much, much more;
vastly more; incomparably more
7. “liberty” — ἐλευθερία (eleutheria): liberty, freedom; a state of freedom
from slavery; emancipation
8. “open face” — ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ προσώπῳ (anakekalummeno
prosopo): perpetually unveiled faces; hence, no hiding or pretending or
dishonesty, the Greek tense doesn’t refer to a one-time unveiling, but
to a veil that, once lifted, remains lifted forever
9. “beholding as in a glass” — κατοπτρίζομαι (katoptridzomai): to look
into a mirror to see an image; to peer intently into a mirror
10. “from glory to glory” — ἀπὸ δόξης εἰς δόξαν (apo doxes eis doxan): the
words ἀπὸ (apo) and εἰς (eis); ἀπὸ (apo): means to depart or to leave,
SYNOPSIS
Throughout the Old and New Testament, we see the Holy Spirit man-
ifesting in the form of the glory of God. In Moses’ day, the glory settled
over Mount Sinai in the form of a cloud (see Exodus 24:15-17), and it
covered the Tent of Meeting and filled the tabernacle (see Exodus 40:34).
At the beginning of Solomon’s reign, the glory of God filled the newly
built temple (see 2 Chronicles 7:1,2), and in Jesus’ day, it manifested on the
Mount of Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1-6). Indeed, the glory of God
is a recurring symbol of His Holy Spirit.
Light is also a repeated metaphor throughout Scripture. Again and again,
David declared God to be the light of his life (see Psalm 27:1; 36:9), and
Micah said He is our light in darkness (see Micah 7:8). Jesus Himself said,
“…I am the light of the world…” ( John 8:12), and the apostle John called
Him “the light of men” (see John 1:4). What is the meaning of this imagery
of “light” and “glory,” and why does God use it to reveal the character of
His Spirit?
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In Lesson 3, we learned about the early and latter rains in Joel 2:23, which
prepare and replenish the soil and mature the seed. Rain is the third
symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself gave us the fourth symbol of the
Spirit in John 7:38, likening Him to a river of living water that brings life
and removes hindrances. This brings us to the fifth emblem of the Spirit,
which is water. God promised to pour out His Spirit like water on the
thirsty souls of men who long to have their thirst quenched (see Isaiah
44:3).
In Lesson 4, we saw that the Holy Spirit is also represented by fire, a dove,
and clothing. As a fire, He purifies our lives from the rubbish of the flesh
and this world and empowers us with divine energy. As a dove, the Holy
Spirit operates in our lives with gentleness and tenderness. As clothing, the
Spirit “endues” us with power from on high (see Luke 24:49). The word
“endued” describes a set of clothing that becomes so comfortable we sink
right into it. That is how relaxed and at peace Jesus wants us to be with the
power of His Spirit.
In Lesson 5, we discovered that the Holy Spirit is also like wind. Although
we can’t see wind with our eyes, we can feel its effects all around us. When
the wind of the Holy Spirit begins to blow, He brings powerful, positive
change into our lives. He is truly a gift God wants us to fully unwrap and
understand, which is what we uncovered in Lesson 6.
In Lesson 7, we saw in Ephesians 1:13 that the Holy Spirit is a seal. The
word for “sealed” in verse 13 is the Greek word sphragidzo, which describes
a seal placed on a package after the product had been thoroughly examined and
inspected to make sure it was fully intact and complete. The seal was proof
that the product was impeccable. It also identified who the owner of the
package was and guaranteed its safe arrival at its ultimate destination. This
tells us that the moment we are saved, God thoroughly inspects our hearts
and finds us perfect and complete. He then seals us (figuratively) with the
Holy Spirit, guaranteeing our safe entrance in Heaven. Yes, we may have
difficulties in this life, but the seal of the Holy Spirit certifies that we’re
going to arrive in the presence of God intact.
We also learned from Ephesians 1:14 and Second Corinthians 1:22 that
the Holy Spirit is an “earnest.” In Greek, the word “earnest” is the word
arrabon, which describes a payment given in advance to guarantee the whole
amount will be paid afterward. It denotes earnest-money; an installment; a
deposit; a down-payment, which guarantees full delivery of a promise. The fact
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the people in place to provide the provision. Whatever the need is, the
“glory” discerns it and begins to meet it. That is what happens when the
Holy Spirit is present as the Spirit of glory.
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believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who
is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
2 Corinthians 4:3,4
The word “blinded” in this verse is very important. It is the Greek word
tuphloo, which doesn’t just depict a person who is unable to see; rather, it
vividly portrays someone who has intentionally had their eyes gouged out and
no longer has eyes to see. This is a clear picture of an unbeliever who cannot
see the Gospel until the Holy Spirit supernaturally gives them spiritual
eyes to see. How does the Spirit do this? The Bible says He brings them
“light.” Paul continued:
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who com-
manded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:5,6
Two words appear repeatedly in these four verses. First is the word “shine”
or “shined.” It is the Greek word lampo, which means to shine, and it
pictures a direct beam of light. This tells us that when the Holy Spirit begins
to “shine” His light in our lives, it is as if He focuses a direct beam of light
on the problem that needs to be addressed.
The word “light” also appears multiple times, and it is the Greek word pho-
tismos, which is from where we get the word photo. It describes a light that
is so intensely bright that it makes a permanent, lasting impression. This means
that when the Holy Spirit shines His searchlight on our lives and on the
truth of God’s Word, He creates such a lasting impression that we’re never
the same again. Only the Holy Spirit can give us spiritual eyes to see and
understand Scripture and know what needs to change in our lives.
The symbols of light and glory are powerful and important, and in our
next lesson, we will turn our attention to how the Holy Spirit manifests as
wine.
STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22
1. Have you ever been in a worship service when the “glory” (doxa) of
the Holy Spirit manifested? In what specific ways was the heavy
presence of God’s glory felt, seen, or experienced by the people? What
needs did He meet? How did the Holy Spirit personally touch you?
2. Second Corinthians 3:17 says, “…Where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty.” In what areas of your life have you already experi-
enced the marvelous emancipation power of the Holy Spirit? In what
areas are you still bound and need the Holy Spirit to bring freedom?
Pause and pray: “Holy Spirit, what practical steps can I take to cooperate
with You and experience freedom in my life?”
3. Name at least two areas of your life where the Holy Spirit has shined
an intensely bright light of truth. How have His actions made a per-
manent, lasting impression on you? What has forever changed in your
thinking and/or behavior?
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LESSON 9
TOPIC
The Holy Spirit: Wine
SCRIPTURES
1. Acts 2:15 — For these are not drunken, as ye suppose….
2. Ephesians 5:17-21 — Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understand-
ing what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein
is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your
heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting your-
selves one to another in the fear of God.
3. Luke 5:37,38 — And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else
the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles
shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are
preserved.
4. Psalm 51:7,10 — Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash
me, and I shall be whiter than snow… Create in me a clean heart, O
God; and renew a right spirit within me.
GREEK WORDS
There are no Greek words in this lesson.
SYNOPSIS
Altogether, we have examined 14 symbols used to depict the Holy Spirit
in the Old and the New Testament. First, we saw that the Spirit is
portrayed as anointing oil more than 200 times. In Psalm 133, we saw the
Spirit of God compared with dew. Then in Joel 2:23, the Holy Spirit is
likened unto rain that comes in the right amount at the right time. The
fourth symbol of the Spirit is a river of living water, and it was described
by Jesus in John 7:38.
In Isaiah 44:3, the Holy Spirit is depicted as water, which God gives to
those who are spiritually thirsty. The sixth emblem of the Spirit is a dove,
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were hearing was what was prophesied by the prophet Joel — God was
pouring out His Spirit!
What’s amazing is that the devout Jewish men from every nation heard
the disciples speaking about the wonderful works of God in their own
native dialects. But how could this be? How could thousands of people
from over a dozen different regions clearly hear praise to God in their own
native tongue?
The answer is simple. The miracle didn’t happen in the mouths of the
speakers; the miracle happened in the ears of the hearers. Again and again
in Acts 2, the listeners made statements like, “…How hear we every man
in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:8). By the time the
language of tongues reached the ears of the listeners, the Holy Spirit had
supernaturally translated the words so that each person could hear the
wonders of God in their own language!
Indeed, when we begin to drink of the wine of the Holy Spirit, we come
under His influence, and it affects our behavior in amazing ways.
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would more accurately be translated, “Be being filled.” In other words, we
are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
God wants us to become professional drinkers! He wants us to develop
the habit of feasting on His Word and drinking of His Spirit every day.
Remember, Paul said we “…have been all made to drink into one Spirit”
(1 Corinthians 12:13). So we have a God-given ability to drink of the
wine of the Holy Spirit and experience the life-giving effects He brings.
Just as people who regularly drink wine become controlled by it, the more
we drink of the Spirit, the more we become controlled by Him. That is
why Paul went on to say, “Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every
season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of ] prayer and entreaty… (Ephe-
sians 6:18 AMPC). Praying in the Spirit is drinking of the Spirit! And the
intoxicating effects it produces are amazing!
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in His hands we must be willing to submit ourselves to the process of spir-
itual scrubbing, beating, washing, and heating. If we are willing to submit
ourselves to God’s dealings with us, we can be made new again and refilled
with the wine of His Spirit.
How about you? Have you become like an old wineskin? Do you want to
be made new again? If you are willing to submit to God’s dealings, pray as
David prayed:
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow…. Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy
presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto
me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
Psalm 51:7,10-12
STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15
1. Do you know someone who has been under the influence of excessive
alcohol? How would you describe their behavior? How were their
actions different from when they were sober?
2. God’s instruction through Paul — to not be drunk with wine —
doesn’t just apply to alcohol consumption. It involves anything of this
world that would try to take God’s rightful place of priority in your
life. Take a moment to pray, “Lord, is there anything of this world that I
have a tendency to be ‘drunk’ with that is negatively impacting my think-
ing and behavior? If so, what is it?
3. Did God show you something detrimental that you’re drinking of
excessively? Take a moment to repent and ask for His forgiveness.
Then ask Him to give you the power and desire to be filled with His
Spirit. What adjustments can you make in your daily routine to make
time to drink in more of the Holy Spirit?
4. Have you become like an old wineskin — dry, hardened, and inflexi-
ble? God can make you new again if you are willing to submit to His
dealings. Take time now to pray as David did:
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow…. Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy
presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto
me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit”
(Psalm 51:7,10-12).
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LESSON 10
TOPIC
15 Symbols of the Holy Spirit
SCRIPTURES
1. 2 Corinthians 1:21 — Now he which stablisheth us with you in
Christ, and hath anointed us, is God.
2. Psalm 133:1-3 — Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for breth-
ren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon
the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went
down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the
dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord
commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
3. Joel 2:23 — Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord
your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he
will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the
latter rain in the first month.
4. Joel 2:28-29 — And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour
out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those
days will I pour out my Spirit.
5. John 7:37,38 — In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood
and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living water.
6. Isaiah 44:3 (NIV) — For I will pour water upon the thirsty land, and
streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your off-
spring, and my blessing on your descendants.
7. 1 Corinthians 12:13 — For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
8. Matthew 3:11 — I indeed baptize you with water unto repen-
tance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes
GREEK WORDS
There are no Greek words for this lesson.
SYNOPSIS
Without question, the Holy Spirit is amazing! He is the third person of
the trinity, who is fully God and lives inside of us as believers. He loves
you intensely and longs to be welcome in every aspect of your life. In the
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previous nine lessons, we have seen that throughout the Old and New
Testament, there are numerous symbols or metaphors that are used to
describe how the Spirit works in our lives. The more you come to know
and understand these symbols, the richer and more meaningful your life
will be.
1. OIL
The first symbol we saw of the Holy Spirit in both the Old and the New
Testament is anointing oil. It appears more than 200 times and is the most
widely used metaphor of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. The word “anointed”
is from the Greek word chrió, which means to anoint with oil. The word
chrió is a form of the Greek word for the human hand — the word cheira.
Hence, the word “anointing” pictures God putting His hands on us and
massaging the oil of the Holy Spirit deeply into our lives.
This truth is illustrated in Second Corinthians 1:21, where the apostle
Paul writes, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath
anointed us, is God.” This verse tells us that the moment we get saved,
God lays His hands on our life and places the Holy Spirit into us, and we
are anointed with oil of the Spirit. From that point on, He is with us to
the end of our life.
2. DEW
The second symbol of the Holy Spirit we examined is dew, and this
is clearly seen in Psalm 133:1-3, which says: “Behold, how good and
how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the
precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even
Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of
Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for
there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”
The word “dew” in this passage is talking about the anointing of the Holy
Spirit. It is saying that the Holy Spirit functions like “dew.” Just as there
is always moisture in the air, the Holy Spirit is always with us. Although
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And just as there are different types of rivers, there are also different types
of moves of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He is noisy when He moves, like
a shallow river. Other times, He does a deep, quiet work and resembles a
deep river. One thing is certain: the river of the Spirit will remove every
resisting force it needs to in order to flood us with His divine life.
5. WATER
Water is the fifth symbol of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. In Isaiah 44:3
(NIV), God said, “For I will pour water upon the thirsty land, and streams
on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my
blessing on your descendants.”
The apostle Paul also used the metaphor of water in First Corinthians
12:13 when he said, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have
been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Notice he said we “have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” The word
“drink” is the Greek word potidzo, which means to drink, to consume, or to
be irrigated. By using this word, God is saying, “If you’re thirsty or hungry
for more of Me, I will pour out My Spirit on you like water. Even if your
soul feels like parched ground, I will irrigate you and revive you with My
Spirit, so you can once again produce fruit.”
6. FIRE
The sixth symbol of the Holy Spirit we discovered is fire. John the Baptist
talked about this aspect of the Spirit in all four gospels. For instance, in
Matthew 3:11, he said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:
but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not
worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
The person that John referred to who was coming after him was Jesus. He
is the One who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire!
What does fire do? It illuminates the darkness, burns up rubbish, and is
used to purify our environment. In the same way, when the Holy Spirit
begins to work in our lives, He brings His holy fire to purify our hearts
and minds, incinerate all the rubbish in our lives, and illuminate the
darkness with truth.
Furthermore, just as fire is used to empower engines, the Holy Spirit’s
fire empowers us for God’s service. In Acts 2:2, when the disciples were
filled with the Holy Spirit, cloven tongues of fire settled on each of them.
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We saw that the word “sound” in this verse is the Greek word echos, which
describes the deafening roar of the sea. If you’ve ever been caught in a storm,
you know how loud it can be. It can be so deafening that you have to yell
to the person next to you so they can hear what you’re trying to say. That
is the intensity of the noise being described by the Greek word echos —
translated here as “sound.”
Another important word in this verse is the word “mighty.” It is the Greek
word biaias, which describes something violent. The sound of the Holy
Spirit’s arrival thundered like the roaring of a sea. When He descended in
the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, there was nothing quiet about
it. In fact, it was quite deafening. Like a rushing mighty wind, the Spirit
filled the whole house, which means no one could escape from the sound
of it. Although they couldn’t see the Spirit because He came like wind,
they could hear Him and feel the effects of His presence.
The same is true for you. Although you can’t see the Holy Spirit, you can
feel and see the effects of His presence when He begins to move. Just as
tornadic winds are so powerful they can change the earth’s topography,
when the Holy Spirit begins to move like wind in your life, in your
church, or in your nation, He comes with such a powerful force He can
reshape the spiritual landscape.
10. A GIFT
In Scripture, the Holy Spirit is also referred to as a gift. We see this clearly
in Acts 2:38, which says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to you — a gift that is freely given and
not acquired by merit or entitlement. The question is, have you unwrapped
it? If someone you know and loved gave you an extravagant gift that was
exquisitely wrapped, would you just carry it around and never open it?
Of course not — you would unwrap it. That’s what God wants you to do
with the gift of His Spirit. He wants you to take off all the wrappings and
explore the most amazing gift you’ll ever receive — the gift of His Holy
Spirit.
11. A SEAL
Another powerful symbol of the Holy Spirit is that He is a seal. The
apostle Paul described this in Ephesians 1:13, which says, “In whom
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14. LIGHT
The fourteenth symbol of the Holy Spirit that we examined is light. The
Bible says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
The words “shine” and “shined” in this verse is the Greek word lampo,
which means to shine, and it depicts a direct beam of light. This means, when
the Holy Spirit comes and begins to “shine” His light in our lives, He
focuses a direct beam of light on the problem that needs to be addressed.
This brings us to the word “light,” which is the Greek word photismos.
It is from where we get the word photo, and it describes a light that is so
intensely bright that it makes a permanent, lasting impression. The use of this
word lets us know that when the Holy Spirit shines His searchlight on our
lives and on the truth of God’s Word, He creates such a lasting impression
that we’re never the same again. Only the Holy Spirit can give us spiritual
eyes to see and understand the truth and know what needs to change in
our lives.
15. WINE
Last, but certainly not least, we saw that the Holy Spirit is also likened to
wine. Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul
wrote, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with
the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). When we are filled with the Spirit, some-
thing amazing happens. Just as consuming an excessive amount of alcohol
changes us, drinking of the Spirit changes us too — but in a positive way.
It enlivens our faith, makes us bolder, and enables us to do and say things
we couldn’t normally do. Indeed, being filled with the wine of the Spirit
has intoxicating effects that are transforming.
Friend, these are the 15 symbols of the Holy Spirit that we have explored,
which appear in the Old and New Testament. As a believer, the Holy
Spirit has made His permanent home inside of you, and He desires to
make every expression of His character real in your life! Take time today
to thank Him for His extraordinary, personal ministry to you and surren-
der yourself anew to His leadership in your life.
1. Can you think of any additional symbols of the Holy Spirit not cov-
ered in these lessons? If so, what are they? What verses of scripture do
you know that illustrate these symbols?
2. Without question, the Holy Spirit is a priceless, indescribable gift
we have been given! In light of this fact, what does the Bible caution
you not to do in Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; and Hebrews
10:29? What specific activities do you need His strength to help you
avoid? (Consider Ephesians 4:25-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:19,20; and
Hebrews 10:29.)
3. Have you received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the gift of
speaking in tongues? If you haven’t but would like to, carefully read
Jesus’ words in Luke 11:9-13. Ask Him for faith to believe in your
heart that what you ask for is given to you the moment you ask (see
James 1:6,7; Mark 11:24). Then pray and ask Jesus to baptize you in
the Holy Spirit.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22
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Holy Spirit? Is it a distant, hit-or-miss relationship? Or is it a close,
ongoing connection?
4. As you complete this final lesson, take a few moments to pray this
prayer:
Father, thank You for the marvelous ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Thank You that when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord, You
laid Your hands on me and worked the anointing of the Spirit into
my life. Holy Spirit, thank You for making me Your permanent
home. Please remove all the hindrances that are blocking me from
knowing You. Take the head knowledge You’ve shown me and make
it a heart revelation of who You really are. I love You Lord! In
Jesus’ Name, Amen!
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