Names of God the Spirit: Finger of God

"But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you" (Luke 11:20, NIV).

Jesus was accused casting out demons by the power of Satan. He challenged that notion by expressing the counter-productivity of such activity. A house divided cannot stand. He called his audience to recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in his ministry.

We know that Jesus meant "Spirit" when he said, "finger of God," because Matthew told us so in Matthew 12:28. Matthew most likely translates Jesus' words in order to help his readers. The reference to the "finger of God" is an obscure one. The expression only occurs 3 other times in the Bible.

It occurs first in Exodus 8:19. In this verse, the magicians of Pharaoh are warning him to let Israel go because God was at work against Egypt. The reference to the "finger of God" might have been meant to suggest that his judgment had been light up onto that point, and that Pharaoh should not provoke God to bring harsher judgment.

It occurs again in Exodus 31:18. This verse refers to the two stone tablets that were "inscribed by the finger of God." Deuteronomy 9:10 also references the finger of God.

So why does Jesus use the expression? His original audience would have understood his allusion. They would have likely connected his words with Exodus 8:19 or Exodus 31:18.

If Jesus was referring to Exodus 8:19, he was probably stressing the parallel between himself and the pharisees and Moses and Pharaoh. Pharaoh's magicians recognized that the power of God was at work in Moses, and encourage Pharaoh to respond appropriately. However, he only hardened his heart. The pharisees should have recognized the power of God in Jesus' life and responded accordingly, but they only hardened their hearts.

If Jesus was referring to Exodus 31:18, then he was comparing himself with the two stone tablets--the Spirit initiated revelation of God's will. It may have been that Jesus was encouraging them to understand that he spoke the very words of God.

Whatever, Jesus meant by using the term "finger of God," we can be certain he was speaking of the Spirit. We can also draw a couple of lessons from what he says.

1. Jesus was empowered by the Spirit, and it made him more powerful than his enemies. It is true that Jesus is fully divine and fully human, but his earthly ministry was performed in the Spirit's power not his own. Therefore, Jesus serves as an example to all those who are indwelt by the Spirit. We have power to do the will of God because the Holy Spirit lives in us.

2. The Spirit's presence is God's presence. We dwell in the presence of God because the Spirit dwells within us.

When we keep these truths in mind, they help us to keep on keeping on. The Spirit is power of God revealing God's will to his people. And he lives in and guides those who believe.

The Names of God the Spirit: Spirit of Truth

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come" (John 16:13, NIV).

In John 16:12-15, Jesus spoke of the Spirit as the Spirit of truth. Why does Jesus use the descriptor, "truth?" What is truth? George W. Knight spoke of two dimensions of truth of which people normally speak. The first way is to speak of something which "accords with reality." That is to say, that which is real is true. The second way to use truth is to speak of something "enduring or authentic." I think Jesus is using the name, "Spirit of Truth," to stress the Spirit's unique relationship to himself and the Father.

Jesus spoke of his teachings as truth in John 8:31-32. He went on to tell the crowd that the reason they didn't believe him is that they could receive the truth because they were the children of the devil (see John 8:31-59). Although Jesus doesn't use the term "spirit" to describe their relationship to the devil, he does state they live out the character of the devil. Thus we are either under the influence of the Spirit of truth or the spirit of lies.

Jesus told his disciples that  the Spirit of truth would teach them to bear his teaching. Apart from the work of the Spirit, it impossible for the world to bear with Jesus' teaching. For this reason, people have tried to redefine Jesus and his teaching from the beginning. When the Spirit of truth comes upon us, the truth becomes glorious and beautiful.

Jesus told his disciples that the Spirit of truth would guide them into all truth. How does the Spirit do that? He tells us what he has heard. When Jesus said this, he meant that he Spirit would report what Jesus had taught. We know that the Spirit moved in holy men of old to record the words and teachings of Christ. He guides us into truth by teaching us what Jesus said.

He also guides us into all truth by telling us what is to come. Some people wonder why new prophecies aren't coming about in our day (others believe they are, but that is a different post), but how easily we forget that the Spirit has already told us how it ends. He hasn't given it to us in fine detail, but he has given us the big picture (our side wins). I can't think of one place in Scripture where a believer is given the full plan. They are given a promise, and then they have to live each day in faith as they wait for its fulfillment.

The Spirit of truth guides us by making the things of Jesus known to us. Jesus says this not to brag, but to remind his followers that the Father has put all things into his power. The Spirit honors the Father by promoting the Son. The goal of this revelation is to glorify the Son. The Spirit reveals Christ not only to our intellect, but heart and soul. He isn't just teaching us about Jesus, but he is helping us to know the Jesus experientially and intimately.

By calling the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of Truth," Jesus highlights the Spirit's inability to lie. The name reassures believers that the Spirit bears true witness. His word can be trusted. As the Spirit of truth shows us Christ, we can trust him with confidence. We he confirms his presence in our lives, we can rest easy.

The Names of God the Spirit: Counselor

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17, NIV).

The term translated "Counselor" here is the same term translated "Advocate" in 1 John 2:1. In 1 John, John is expressing Jesus' role as intercessor. Jesus stands before the Father applying his merit to us. But in John 14:16, and 14:26, Jesus is explaining the Spirit's role as our Counselor. The King James Version uses "Comforter." The English Standard Version uses the term "Helper." The original word can be translated as adviser, mediator, intercessor, or legal advocate. It refers to one who comes along side in order to exhort or encourage.

Jesus said that he would ask the Father to send us another Counselor. The word another, in this context, means one of the same kind. For this reason, Jesus speaks of the Spirit's work in our lives as his own work. Throughout John 14:15-21, Jesus says things like, "I will come to you," or "you will realize . . . I am in you," or "and [I will] show myself to him." Even as he distinguishes himself from the Spirit, Jesus affirms his oneness with the Spirit.

So the Spirit is a Counselor for us. But in what way? Jesus offers a few ways in this passage.

1. He comes along side us to keep us from being orphans. The presence of the Spirit is a mark of sonship. As Paul said, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, and by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'" (Rom. 8:15).

2. He comes along side of us to give us life. Jesus said, "Because I live, you also will live." Why? Because the Spirit who lives with us also lives in us, and so Christ lives in us.

3. He comes along side of us to show us Jesus. Through the Spirit, we see Jesus with eyes of faith.

4. He comes along side of us to teach us all things. In John 14:26, Jesus said the Spirit would teach us all things. Jesus probably meant that the Spirit would teach us all things necessary to live in obedience to God.

5. He comes along side of us to remind us of what Jesus taught. Again, in John 14:26, Jesus said this would be one of the works of the Spirit.

Our Counselor, the Holy Spirit, brings us to life and enables us to know Jesus. He exhorts and encourages us to walk in obedience. And he brings us into the presence of Christ.

The Names of God the Spirit: The Spirit

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" (Rom. 8:9, NIV).

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 in Article II, part C, "God the Holy Spirit," states,

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

As Baptist, we are confident and comfortable talking about God the Father and God the Son, but I think we are less confident and comfortable talking about God the Holy Spirit. I offer a helpful warning: the Spirit is a real person, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son, and we should address the Spirit as he/him, and not as it.

There are three truths in Romans 8:9 at which I want to look.

1. The Spirit is simultaneously God's and Christ's, yet distinct from both. Paul stated, through contrast, that Christians were controlled by the Spirit. By referring first to the Spirit and then adding the expressions "Spirit of God" and "Spirit of Christ, Paul demonstrates that the Spirit is both one with God (the Father) and with Christ, while at the same time distinct from both. George W. Knight states, "The first dramatic truth emphasized by this verse is that the Holy Spirit is both the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ. This is a bold affirmation that Jesus was one with the Father, yet distinct from him at the same time" (The Names of God, pg. 213).

2. The Spirit is our life. The verse teaches us that the Spirit is both the source of our life and its driving force. The Spirit is our life because apart from him we are spiritually dead. His presence brings us to life spiritually, so that we can obey God. Paul tells us that we are "controlled" by the Spirit.  He moves us beyond sinful natural inclinations to pursue the glory of God.

3. The Spirit lives in us. Simply put, to have the Spirit is to have Christ. Or we could say that if we have Christ we have the Spirit. This should surprise us because Jesus said as much in John 14:15-21.

These truths are heavy and wonderful and worthy of contemplation. May they give you comfort.