A number of years ago Tracy was reading one of A. W. Tozier’s books and came upon a concept she conveyed to me. It went something like this. At some point we must consider an extraordinary event that happens at the time of salvation — the inhabitation of our body by a spirit. Most people tend to get queasy when they think about spirits hanging around, playing with their minds, manipulating them, and especially inhabiting their bodies. After all, it is their body! The reality is spirits will have an impact on all of us even if we deny their existence.
I’m not sure anyone on Earth has a compete understanding of every aspect of the spiritual realm. So, it might be good at this point to consider it. In the Old Testament, the word rûach is used 378 times. In the New Testament, the word consistently used in conjunction with “holy” is pneuma. Both carry a similar meaning. They illustrate the concept of a breath-like entity, individual, or one with a rational mind who is invisible and immaterial and yet powerful and superhuman. While invisible or transparent, it is nonetheless powerful. It has unseen strength and courage to go wherever it desires, and will tear down buildings, uproot trees, sink ships, and even wear down the hardest rock. We may refer to this as “Mother Nature” because nothing man made can stand up to its temper and fury.
When we consider those descriptions, we have no choice but to get the sense that a spirit relentlessly nudges, pushes, or directs us either gently or with great power. In time we end up in places where it wants us. The reality is spirits — any spirit — can wear you down in time. They have learned much about how to manipulate mankind and our inherent weaknesses in their thousands of years of existence.
Now, consider the Holy Spirit rather than any spirit. The Hebrew and Greek words for Holy shed light on who the Holy Spirit is and how He operates. In the Old Testament the word for holy is qādôš. It is used 116 times and denotes something or someone that is devoted or dedicated to a particular purpose. Both qādôš and the New Testament Greek word hagios have strong religious connotations conveying “separation” from sin and the rest of creation. It also alludes to an overriding concept of power, morality, and purity. So, when we see the dictionary’s definition of holy we understand His personality and connection to the other God Family members:
- Belonging to or coming from God
- Spiritually perfect or pure
- Deserving deep respect, awe, reverence, or adoration
When you put the words Holy and Spirit together, you see why we need an intimate relationship with Him — He is perfect and comes from The Father and the Son at our invitation. He is the consistent factor pushing, pulling, or nudging you in the direction of the Kingdom. He provides unlimited power for any need at the beckoning of prayer. However, He is a gentleman who allows you the freedom of choice even if you choose to grieve him or ignore his nudging. If you want to halak with Him you must ask.
Love, Dad