Pursuing the Creator: Reexamining the Spirit in Scripture

2. My spirit is with you Jonathan Stahl Started: 9-Jun-2012 2012-July-28

3. Personal Disclaimer • According to scripture, I must pursue the Creator in all things, and so I try. • I am not perfect, but I pursue it. • My intention, even if it hurts, good and sound studying of ALL scripture in context. • I do not identify myself with a religion, but prefer to say: I am an apprentice of the Creator. • I am sorry if any part of this presentation upsets you, or makes you uncomfortable, but I do hope that reading the very words of the Creator will guide us along the straight path of righteousness. • Let us begin….

4. Purpose of this presentation • My purpose is to demonstrate from scripture that the dogma “that the spirit of Hashem was only available to the masses after Pentecost, 31AD, is flawed. • That in reality, the spirit was made available to anyone from the dawn of time with no exceptions…just like today. • But, of course, I may not be able to show that according to scripture. Let’s find out …

5. From Wiki-pedia • Judaism - Holy Spirit (Judaism) • The term "holy spirit" only occurs three times in the Hebrew Bible. (Found once in Psalm 51:11 and twice in Isaiah 63:10,11) Although, the term "spirit" in the Hebrew Scriptures, in reference to "God's spirit", does occur more times. • In Judaism, God is One, the idea of God as a duality or trinity among gentiles may be Shituf (or "not purely monotheistic"). • The term Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is found frequently in Talmudic and Midrashic literature. In some cases it signifies prophetic inspiration, while in others it is used as a hypostatization or a metonym for God.[17] The Rabbinic “Holy Spirit,” has a certain degree of personification, but it remains, “a quality belonging to God, one of his attributes” and not, as in mainstream Christianity, representative of “any metaphysical divisions in the Godhead.”[18]

6. From Wiki-pedia • Judaism - Holy Spirit (Judaism) • In Judaism, the references to The Spirit of God, Ruach HaKodesh, The Holy Spirit of YHWH, abound, however it has rejected any idea of The Eternal God as being either Dual or Triune. The term ruach ha-kodesh (Hebrew: רוח הקודש, "holy spirit" also transliterated ruah ha-qodesh) occurs once in Psalm 51:11 and also twice in the Book of Isaiah [19] Those are the only three times that the precise phrase "ruach hakodesh" is used in the Hebrew Scriptures, although the noun ruach (רוח, literally "breath" or "wind") in various combinations, some referring to God's "spirit", is used often. The noun ruach, much like the English word breath, can mean either wind or some invisible moving force.[20] • However, Shekinah is derived from the Hebrew verb שכן. In Biblical Hebrew the word means literally to settle, inhabit, or dwell, which suggests the concept of a Holy Spirit, and is used frequently in the Hebrew Bible. (See Exodus 40:35, "Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, for the cloud rested [shakhan] upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle." See also e.g. Genesis 9:27, 14:13, Psalms 37:3, Jeremiah 33:16), as well as the weekly Shabbat blessing recited in the Temple in Jerusalem ("May He who causes His name to dwell [shochan] in this House, cause to dwell among you love and brotherliness, peace and friendship").

7. From Wiki-pedia • Islam - Holy Spirit (Islam) • In Islam, the Holy Spirit (Arabic: الروح القدس al-Ruh al-Qudus, "the-Spirit the-Holy") is mentioned several times in the Qur'an, where it acts as an agent of divine action or communication. In Hadith it is commonly identified with the angel Gabriel (Arabic Jibreel). The Spirit (الروح al-Ruh, without the adjective "holy") is also used as the creative spirit from God by which God enlivened Adam, and inspired the angels and the prophets. The belief in Trinity, as it is defined in the Qur'an, is explicitly forbidden by the Qur'an and called a grave sin. The same applies to any idea of the duality of God (Allah).[21][22] Though grammatical gender has no bearing on actual gender in non-personal nouns, the term holy spirit translates in and is used in the masculine form in all the Qur'an. In Arabic language the word "Holy Spirit" does not translate as سكينة Sakinah used in a feminine term. The term sakinah means state of relaxation. • Bahá'íFaith - Maid of Heaven • The Bahá'í Faith has the concept of the Most Great Spirit, seen as the bounty of God.[23] It is usually used to describe the descent of the Spirit of God upon the messengers/prophets of God, which are known as Manifestations of God, and include among others Jesus, Muhammad and Bahá'u'lláh.[24] In Bahá'í believe the Holy Spirit is the conduit through which the wisdom of God becomes directly associated with his messenger, and it has been described variously in different religions such as the burning bush to Moses, the sacred fire to Zoroaster, the dove to Jesus, the angel Gabriel to Muhammad, and the maid of heaven to Bahá'u'lláh.[25] The Bahá'í view rejects the idea that the Holy Spirit is a partner to God in the Godhead, but rather is the pure essence of God's attributes.[26]

8. Hebrew – spirit • #7307. רוּחַ ruachfrom an unused word breath, wind, spirit:—air(2), anger(1), blast(2), breath(31), breathless*(1), cool(1), courage(1), despondency*(1), exposed(1), grief*(1), heart(1), inspired(1), mind(3), motives(1), points(1), quick-tempered*(1), side(4), sides(2), Spirit(76), spirit(127), spirits(3), strength(1), temper(2), thoughts*(1), trustworthy*(1), wind(98), winds(7), windy(2), wrath(1).

9. They profess… • Many believe in the modern-day statement / dogmathat in the New Testament that the “holy spirit” came on Pentecost AFTER the resurrection • And ONLY from that point forward, “it” has been available to anyone by simply repenting (which is misunderstood), • stating a “name” (which is not even the name) • and then getting wet (some by sprinkles and some by dunking) • Let’s see if that premise holds water….

10. Can we agree that … • The Creator has ALWAYS been somewhere? • And that HIS spirit has ALWAYS been with Him? • And, that from the beginning of time, His plan has ALWAYS been the same: • Meaning: either you are part of Israel (12 tribes) [His people] • or you can join them or be adopted into the nation upon accepting YHWH?

11. What is the “spirit” ? • Is it SOMEONE? • Is it something? • Is it a mentor? • Is it an action? • Is it a decision? • Is it a submission to? • Is it an objective? • Is it the goal? • Is it worthwhile? • Is it all of these and more???

12. He HAS the spirit of … • HATE! • Did that spirit come upon / into him? • OR did he simply do “HATE” • Proverbs 1 talks about hanging around the wrong crowd… • So we know that there is a SPIRIT of HATE / envy / jealousy / etc. can influence us by BAD company (external force) • So is there something actually LIVING in you? • And, we know that there is a SPIRIT of understanding, wisdom, and of life coming from a human father that follows the Creator to his son (Proverbs 4)

13. So, was the spirit of the Almighty Available to mankind in the old testament? • No, not really. • Just a few select people had access to the spirit • Just the high priest, couple of kings… • Oh, sure, the prophets probably had it • But, no. The little man on the street just did not have access to the almighty. • The little guy on the street, he is just wandering around life like a little zombie … just tossed to the dust by a cruel and vengeful “Creator”

14. Let’s find out …

15. Original Testament – spirit recipients • Ge 1– Surely Adam and Eve had the spirit of God • Abel, Seth, Noah, Shem • What about Cain? Did he have it and then lose it? • Abraham • Ge 41:38- “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” = Joseph • Ex 28:3 - …speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill • Ex 35:31-36:2 – Bezalel and Oholiab and EVERY craftsman he has filled him with the Spirit of God… • Nu 11:25 - Then the Lord came down in a cloud and spoke to him; He drew upon the spirit that was on him and put it upon the seventy elders. And when the spirit rested upon them, they spoke in ecstasy,but did not continue. • Nu 24:2 - As Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him.

16. Original Testament – spirit recipients • Nu 27:18 - Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him • Judges 3:9-10 - Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him… • Judges 6:34 - But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon • Judges 11:29 - the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jephthah • Judges 13:25 - And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir Samson • Judges 14:6 - the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him [Samson], and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat • Nu 11:26 - Eldad, and Medad, and the Spirit rested on them

17. Saul • 1 Sa 10:69 - Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you [Saul], and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. • 8 - Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings [Samuel] . Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.” • 9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. !!!!!!!!!! • Can we ASSUME that Samuel also had the SPIRIT of the Almighty!!! • 1 Sa 10:26 - and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched (that’s close enough for me)

18. Saul and the oxen • 1 Sa 11:6-7 - And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces… • and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.

19. David • 1 Sa 16:13 - Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. • Rushed – Strong#6743

20. What YHWH gives … He can take right back! • 1 Sa 16:14 - Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him

21. Spirit is like the wind: comes and goes • With Saul “it” came and went and came and went multiple times. • But seemed to stick with David • Solomon asked for it and got a truckload’s worth, but then apparently lost the keys later in life

22. Messengers + Messengers + Messengers • 1 Sa 19:20 - Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied • 1 Sa 19:21 - When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. • And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.

23. Saul gets it back ? • 1 Sa 19:23 - And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied

24. Elijah and Elisha • Can we safely declare that Elijah had the spirit? YES • 2 Ki 2:24 - And Elisha turned around, and when he saw them [naughty, disrespectful hoard of boys], he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys. • I believe with all my HEART, that a man who can call out 2 she-bears to tear up 42 disrespectful BOYS has the spirit of YHWH

25. Original Testament – spirit recipients • 1 Chron 12:18 - Then the Spirit clothed Amasa • 1 Chron 15:1 - The Spirit of God came upon Azariah • 2 Ch 17:34 - The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. • 2 Ch 18:18 - And Micaiah (prophet) said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord… • 2 Ch 20:14 - And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel • 2 Ch 20:37 - Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied • 2 Chron 24:15-16 - Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. He was 130 years old at his death. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

26. Original Testament – spirit recipients • 2 Ch 24:20 - Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest • 2 Ch 36:22 - Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia…

27. You think 3,000 in one day is huge, think again! • Ne 9:20 - You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. … • 2-3 million!!!

28. All the prophets – Minor and Major … • Ne 9:2930 - You bore with them for many years, admonished them by Your spirit through Your prophets, • Jer 1:9 - Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth

29. Job • Job 27:3 - as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils [Job]… • Job 32:8 - But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.

30. Past, Present and Future • Is 44:3 - I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. • Is 42:5–6 - and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, • Is 48:16 - And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit. [Isaiah]

31. Anyone … with conditions! • Is 57:15 - For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

32. Original Testament – spirit recipients • Is 61:1 - The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me [Isaiah]; • Ezek 2:2 - And as he spoke to me [Ezekiel], the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

33. Eze 18:31–32 - Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.” • Mic 3:8 - I [Micah] am filled with strength by the spirit of the LORD…. • Hag 1:14 - Then the LORD roused the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and the spirit of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the spirit of all the rest of the people: They came and set to work on the House of the LORD of Hosts, their God

34. And …. • Don’t forget about Ruth and Esther! • Isaac? • Jacob? • Sarah? • Rebecca? • Noah • Shem

35. Forever there • Haggai 2:4–5 - for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

36. More than hearts of STONE • Zec 7:12 - They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts.

37. In marriage, there is the spirit • Mal 2:15 - Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.

38. Spirit is more than just “a” spirit • Is 11:2-3 - The spirit of the Lord shall alight upon him: A spirit of wisdom and insight, A spirit of counsel and valor, A spirit of devotion and reverence for Adonai. 3 He shall sense the truth by his reverence for Adonai

39. Opposite of His spirit… • Is 30:1 - Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

40. King Asa (1 of 3) • 2 Ch 15:2-15 - The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, 4 but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. 6 They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. 7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

41. King Asa (2 of 3) • 8 - As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the Lord. 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers came to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

42. King Asa (3 of 3) • 10 - They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 They sacrificed to the Lord on that day from the spoil that they had brought 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 13 but that whoever would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. 14 They swore an oath to the Lord with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns. 15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.

43. NT - These folks “certainly” had spirit • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John … how do you know? • Paul? • Peter? • Apostles? • 120 disciples? • 3,000 in Jordan? • And a couple of others named… • That’s it.

44. Can people with the spirit make mistakes? • Adam and eve did • Abraham did • Moses did • Aaron did • Samson did • David did • Solomon did • Jonah did • Peter did • Paul did • I do … • You do … • Everyone do (does)!

45. Some say the spirit is made MORE available today because of Messiah • Perhaps true! Because the word is getting out ??? • But does not mean that it was not available to the general public from the dawn of time! • General Public meaning: if you were going to follow TORAH you certainly had access to His spirit • Before Messiah, who had access to the CREATOR? • ANYONE (Israelites & non- Israelites) • AFTER Messiah, who has access to the CREATOR? • ANYONE (Israelites & non- Israelites)

46. Spirit of God was fully functional from the beginning • Ge 1:1When God began to create heaven and earth • 2 the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind (spirit) from God sweeping / vibrating over the water

47. Did the most POWERFUL force in the universe leave His very children all alone? • My soul will not reject you (Lev. 26:11) • How can i give you up? (Hos. 11:8) • God will not reject a blameless man (Job 8:20) • I will not reject them (Lev. 26:44) • The lord will not reject for ever (Lam. 3:31) • You will no longer be called ‘forsaken’ (Isa. 62:4) • A city not forsaken (Isa. 62:12) • The lord will not forsake his inheritance (Ps. 94:14) • I will not leave any of them there any more (Ezek. 39:28) • You will not abandon me to sheol (ps. 16:10) the lord will not leave him in the hand of the wicked (Ps. 37:33) • I am old yet have i not seen the righteous forsaken (Ps. 37:25) • The lord does not forsake his godly ones (Ps. 37:28) • The lord will not abandon his people (1 Sam. 12:22 Ps. 94:14) • God will not forsake you (Deut. 4:31) • God will never leave you or forsake you (Deut. 31:6 Deut. 31:8 Josh. 1:5 1 Chr. 28:20) • I will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5) • I will not leave you (Gen. 28:15) • I will not forsake my people (1 Kgs. 6:13) • I will not forsake them (Isa. 41:17) • I will not leave you as orphans (John 14:18) • Only then would i cast off all the seed of israel (Jer. 31:37) • God has not forsaken us (Ezra 9:9) • Israel and judah have not been forsaken by god (Jer. 51:5) • God has not rejected his people (Rom. 11:1) • You did not forsake them (Neh. 9:17 Neh. 9:19 Neh. 9:31) • You have not forsaken those who seek you (Ps. 9:10) • We are persecuted but not forsaken (2 Cor. 4:9) • They will be as though i had not rejected them (Zech. 10:6) • God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew (Rom. 11:2).

48. So, was the spirit of the Almighty available to mankind in the old testament? • No, not really. Yes, really it was • Just a few select people had access to the spirit Far more are mentioned having the spirit than in the “NEW” testament • Just the high priest, couple of kings…Far more had access and received it • Oh, sure, the prophets probably had it Of course they did! • But, no. The little man on the street just did not have access to the almighty. Anyone and his neighbor had access to the Creator. All they had to do was follow his ways…just like TODAY • The little guy on the street, he is just wandering around life like a little zombie … just tossed to the dust by a cruel and vengeful “Creator” – No, we all have a CHOICE to listen to the Creator or not

49. Ezek 36:22-36 • 22 Say to the House of Israel: Thus said the Lord God: Not for your sake will I act, O House of Israel, but for My holy name, which you have caused to be profaned among the nations to which you have come. • 23 I will sanctify My great name which has been profaned among the nations—among whom you have caused it to be profaned. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord—declares the Lord God—when I manifest My holiness before their eyes through you. • 24 I will take you from among the nations and gather you from all the countries, and I will bring you back to your own land. • 25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your fetishes. • 26 And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit into you: I will remove the heart of stone [and hard as diamonds] from your body and give you a heart of flesh; 27 and I will put My spirit into you. Thus I will cause you to follow My laws and faithfully to observe My rules. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers, and you shall be My people and I will be your God. • 29 And when I have delivered you from all your uncleanness, I will summon the grain and make it abundant, and I will not bring famine upon you. 30 I will make the fruit of your trees and the crops of your fields abundant, so that you shall never again be humiliated before the nations because of famine. • 31 Then you shall recall your evil ways and your base conduct, and you shall loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abhorrent practices. 32 Not for your sake will I act—declares the Lord God—take good note! Be ashamed and humiliated because of your ways, O House of Israel! • 33 Thus said the Lord God: When I have cleansed you of all your iniquities, I will people your settlements, and the ruined places shall be rebuilt; 34and the desolate land, after lying waste in the sight of every passerby, shall again be tilled. 35And men shall say, “That land, once desolate, has become like the garden of Eden; and the cities, once ruined, desolate, and ravaged, are now populated and fortified.” 36 And the nations that are left around you shall know that I the Lord have rebuilt the ravaged places and replanted the desolate land. I the Lord have spoken and will act. • Version: Tanakh

50. So, has ANY of this happened yet? • If not, then does anyone HAVE the spirit in them ? • The heart of STONE will be changed to FLESH • We don’t have a spiritual heart … no one does • You either have a heart of stone or flesh: which is it? • That’s my point … Hardly any of that passage has come to pass YET. • But, has what is the state of our HEART! • We either WANT and DESIRE to follow our Creator or we don’t • There does not appear to be a STATE of TIME in which our Creator has and has not been wanting to be with creation. • He has ALWAYS been there for us. He has always been waiting for us.