The Holy Spirit is God as much as the Father and the Son are God (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14). When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3), he indeed lied to God (Acts 5:4). The Holy Spirit was there in the beginning of creation (Gen. 1:2) The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force. Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit using personal pronouns, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (Jn. 16:13, 14; cf. Jn. 14:26). The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Eph. 4:30); this statement would be nonsense if the Holy Spirit was merely energy or power but is entirely understandable since He is a person.

The Holy Spirit has worked in revealing the truth through inspired men and providing miraculous confirmation (2 Pet. 1:20-21; Heb. 2:1-4). David wrote, “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). The psalms David wrote came about by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1, He prefaced it by saying, “For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool,’” (Mk. 12:36). The Spirit inspired prophets like Elijah and Elisha who did not write books of the Old Testament, but nevertheless spoke to Israel to turn from their idolatry (1 Kings 17:1; 18:21, 22; 2 Kings 2:15). The Spirit also gave Samson miraculous strength to deliver Israel from their enemies (Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).

The Old Testament came about through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21). Likewise, the New Testament is what the Holy Spirit revealed through the apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:5). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to engage in miraculous activity which we do not see in the Old Testament. For example, speaking in other languages (Acts 2:6, 8, 11; 1 Cor. 14) and casting out demons (Mt. 10:8; Lk. 10:17) were abilities provided by the Holy Spirit in New Testament times, which we have no account of in the Old Testament (Mk. 16:17) —though the Holy Spirit did give an indication through Isaiah that speaking in other tongues was coming (Isa. 28:11; 1 Cor. 14:21).

The Holy Spirit has been the great revealer of divine truth throughout time. The Bible, the completed revelation of God to us, is a result of the Spirit’s work. The Spirit confirmed the word through accompanying miraculous signs (Mk. 16:17-20). God has not asked us to believe someone is speaking for Him without proof. The miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit serve as authentication. We must then beware of any who claim to be a spokesperson for God when miraculous confirmation is lacking, and the content of the teaching contradicts the Bible (Rev. 2:20). The Spirit’s work today will not oppose what He has revealed in the Scriptures.

We are to have a mindset of humble, sacrificial service for others (Phil. 2:5). The example of Jesus Christ is the greatest incentive for us in this regard because His total, voluntary humiliation for the benefit of others (Phil. 2:6-8) was followed by His great exaltation by the Father (Phil. 2:9-11). Jesus as deity is so much better than the angels (Heb. 1:4); however, He became man, made lower than the angels, to experience death (Psa. 8:5; Heb. 2:7-9).

Jesus did not use His divine position and power to assert Himself. He was tempted to take the selfish shortcut to have all the earthly authority and carnal glory of the kingdoms of this world without sacrifice for others (Lk. 4:5-7), but His firm resolve was to serve God (Lk. 4:8) by giving His life as a ransom (Mk. 10:45). He endured the cross, then sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2). He now has all authority in heaven and earth (Mt. 28:18).

In light of the absolute sacrifice of Christ, where then does our self-assertion stand? What of our claims to supremacy over others? They vanish. To Christ belongs the highest glory we can offer. Our knees should bow in submission to His authority (Phil. 2:10); our tongues should confess His Lordship over us (Phil. 2:11). While this submission and confession will come from all on the day we stand before Christ’s judgment seat (Rom. 14:11), Christians offer them voluntarily now in response to His great love for us, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14, 15).

Let us follow the example of Christ. Jesus taught us to humble ourselves that we may be exalted in due time (Mt. 18:4; 23:12; Lk. 14:11; 18:14). James 4:10 commands, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” The first epistle of Peter is filled with exhortations to submit to those to whom the Lord has delegated authority and surrender to suffering which will come our way as Christians. At the end of these exhortations, Peter sums them up by saying, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” (1 Pet. 5:6). Before I receive the crown of life, I must take up the cross daily by enduring suffering and tribulation (Rev. 2:10; Lk. 9:23).

Lord, help us to learn from you the motivation of love which serves others (Gal. 5:13). While we are here on earth, shape us to be servants like Jesus Christ so that we one day hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Mt. 25:21, 23).