The Holy Spirit

• The wind and the Spirit of God are a lot alike. Both Greek and Hebrew use one word for both meanings.                                                                                                                                   spirit Greek: pneuma                     Hebrew: ruach (roo akh)
  wind  Greek: pneuma                     Hebrew: ruach

• Live a supernatural life under supernatural guidance. Be blown by God’s Spirit. He blows whenever He pleases and takes us where the world cannot go. “The Wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you n tell when it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

• The Spirit’s touch is intensely personal. The Spirit speaks through the thoughtful and loving interaction of God’s people.

• The fruit of the Spirit and Spiritual gifts are not of our own achievement. They and others are the outgrowth of the Spirit’s work in us, by grace, through our faith in Jesus the Christ and they are not given for personal gain. Through these fruits and gifts, the Holy Spirit empowers us for ministry in the word.

According to a study conducted by the Barna Group, about 40 percent of American Christians believe the devil ‘Is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” Another 20 percent are less convinced, but leaning in that direction. However, about half of those also believe a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces such as demons.

About 60 percent of Christians believe the Holy Spirit is merely “a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.” On the other hand, about half of these same people also believe the Bible is completely accurate in all its claims and yet the Bible is saturated in Holy Spirit language!

The same percentage of people who do not believe the Holy Spirit is an actual being are actually more likely to believe in ghosts. In fact, the percentage of those who believe in ghosts is three times higher than it was twenty ago.

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge... Hosea 4:6

Three good articles on the Holy Spirit:
"Who Or What is the Holy Spirit," Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

"What Does The Holy Spirit Do?" Christianity Today

"Our Christian Roots: The Holy Spirit," The United Methodist Church

The Barna Group is a research and resource company, widely considered to be a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture. The Barna Group offers customized research, resources and training to serve churches, non-profits, businesses and leaders.