PORTRAYAL OF THE WORD (SPIRIT) IN THE HOLY BIBLE

[ozell]

There are several spirits in the pages of the bible. When we run across this word we must be able to define it at each instance.

Once a person begins to understand the different types of spirits, and how the word spirit is used, all the guessing games will be alleviated.

By properly dividing the scriptures, we will cut down on all of the confusion of an individual’s creative ability. In other words, read the scripture and allow the book to explain itself.

Many people today think when the word spirit is used in the pages of the bible it either has no substantial existence, or some imagined form of shapeless apparition.

When spirit is used does it represent a phantom only?

Or does it portray other things

? We will take a look at this word in the pages of the bible and see what the scriptures have to say about this.

Let's take a close look at this word and see if we can gain an understanding as to how it's used in the scriptures.

Let us begin this study in Genesis chapter 1

 

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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. (Genesis 1:1-2)

When Moses wrote this, what did he mean by "the spirit of God moving the upon the face of the waters?"

Was it the Lord Himself, or was it a ghost that was floating above the waters, or some shapeless mist flying around?

Take a look at this verse in the 104th Psalm.

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:30)

What spirits are sent forth that they may create?

What spirit is sent forth by the Lord that renewed the face of the earth?

Before we answer these questions let's see the Lord's method of operation.

Is it Jesus that does all these things, or does He give the order and it come to pass?

How do these things come to pass?

 

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Let's take a look at how the Lord destroyed Egypt, and we will see how the Lord operates.

We will take a look at some of the plagues the Lord sent to destroy Egypt, then we will see how they came to pass.

We will not concern ourselves with the story line.

We are looking for the definition or the portrayal of the word "spirit" and how it is used in certain verses.

Let's pick this up in Exodus the 7th chapter.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. (Exodus 7:19)

We see above that Moses and Aaron were sent to bring this plague correct?

Was it really the rod that changed the water to blood?

 

[ozell]

Let's look at another plague in the 8th chapter of Exodus.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, “Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.†(Exodus 8:16)

We see once again Moses and Aaron were sent by the Lord and told to stretch out the rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Was it the rod that brought forth the lice? L

et's take a look at more plagues and then we will see who or what brought forth these plagues upon Egypt.

 

[ozell]

Let's go into the 9th chapter of Exodus and pay close attention to what the Lord says to Moses.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go? Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. (Exodus 9:13-18)

 

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Note what the Lord says, "For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence. I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail"

Let's skip to the 22nd verse and see what Moses did.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. (Exodus 9:22-24)

 

[ozell]

Was it the rod or was it by the hand of the Lord that the plagues were brought upon the land of Egypt?

Let's see who brought these to pass.

Let us have the scriptures interpret this for us.

Take a look at the 78th Psalm.

How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan: And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. (Psalms 78:43-49)

 

[ozell]

So, who brought forth the plagues?

It was evil angels who brought them forth.

The Lord operates through His angels.

Yes, brothers and sisters the Lord uses evil angels as well as holy angels to bring things to pass.

In the case of Genesis chapter one where it states, "The spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters," it wasn't God Himself, rather it was a spirit of God.

The Lord sent forth His spirit or His angel to create and renew the face of the earth, as it is stated in the 104th Psalm.

Now that we see that the Lord operates through His angels why did Moses write "the spirit of God moved upon the waters," instead of angel?

Let's return to the 104th Psalm and find out why Moses chose the term spirit.

Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: (Psalms 104:4

 

[ozell]

We see that the angels are made of spirits.

That's why Moses wrote the word spirit and not angel.

The simple fact is, that angels are spirits. In the case of Genesis chapter one, verse two the definition or the portrayal of the word spirit is "angel" and not a phantom.

Notice in the scripture above the Lord also calls them His ministers?

What is a minister?

One who takes care of, tends to, or cares for.

That is exactly what the spirits/angels of God do; they take care of the Lord's business.

The spirit that moved upon the waters was simply an angel.