This document discusses the Holy Spirit from a biblical and phenomenological perspective. It begins by exploring who the Holy Spirit is in the Old and New Testaments. It then examines various images and roles of the Spirit before discussing encountering the Spirit, discerning the Spirit's presence, and listening to the Spirit's voice. The document also explores the physical responses people may have to the Spirit's power and things that can hinder hearing the Spirit. It emphasizes the importance of discernment when interpreting spiritual experiences. Overall, the document provides a thorough examination of biblical themes and spiritual experiences related to the Holy Spirit.

1. Spirit Spirituality
(Spirituality is a relationship with the triunity, but
his immanence is today manifest in his Spirit –
hence the emphasis on the Spirit)
Viv Grigg

2. Objective
 To identify key Biblical
themes concerning the
Holy Spirit
 To correlate various
approaches to
contentious issues
 To correlate scripture
and phenomenology

3. 1. Who is the Holy Spirit?
 In OT: Ruach = wind, breathe of God
 He hovered over creation creating order
 Traditional Catholic theology of the Holy Spirit has to
do with unity and order vs chaotic manifestation,
though mysticism is allowed.
 The WCC (late 1990’s,Moltmann) focus on the Spirit
in creation
 The Spirit would come upon people
 They prophesied, they judged, they sang, they were
artisans, they spoke wisdom
 There were epiphanies, and the falling of the presence
of God

4. Discontinuity and Continuity
 What is the difference between the OT and
NT?
 What is the difference in the functioning and
nature of the Holy Spirit between the old
covenant and the new covenant?

5. Who is the Holy Spirit in NT?
 In NT: Incarnation = he came to dwell
 The work of the Spirit, after Pentecost, is not
different to the OT.
 He anointed Jesus
 Jesus released him on the disciples but he was not
yet sent, for they were to wait 40 days for his
coming.
 He fell on the early church, again and again (Acts
2,4…)

6. The Spirit and Conversion
 At conversion we receive the Spirit,
are born again by the Spirit, who
gives us life.
 He dwells within us.
 We are sealed by the Spirit, a
guarantee of the future.

7. 2. Images of the Spirit
 Fire of Cleansing Holiness
 Water of Life (Ezek to Rev 21)
 Dove of Peace
 Wind, breathe of God
 Paraclete, Comforter, counsellor (John 14)

8. Roles of the Spirit
 Truth (Focus of traditional Western
intellectual churches that require degrees to
become priests or pastors)
 Empowerment
 Cleansing
 Insight and Wisdom

9. 3. Discerning the Presence
 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control

10. 4. Encountering the Holy Spirit
 His Protection: He blocks me, he fends me off
with a sword of fire on the left and right, he
boxes me in.
 His Direction: He drives me with fire and
power in new directions, with such speed that
I never see the fruit of my work for many
years.
 His Overwhelming Presence: He comes, he
fills the room with love, he speaks.

11. 5. Spirit within or upon us?
 Spirit within
 Luke 4:1-2; Acts
6:3,5;&:55; 11:24;
13:52 Eph 5:18-19
 A growing continuous
state of being
 Produces character and
wisdom
 Maturity
 Spirit upon
 Elizabeth (Luke 1:41),
Peter (Acts 2:4: 4:8,
31;9:17-20;13:9-10)
 An experience
 Of empowerment
 Manifestations

12. 5a The Baptism of the Spirit as sign of conversion
 A. Indicates entrance, of 7 verses that mention it, 6 refer to
entrance to the day of Pentecost (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke
3:16;John 1:33, Acts 1:5; 11:16; 1 Cor 12:13)
 B. Thus doctrinally, baptism was recognized as the symbol of
entrance to a new faith.
 C. The word baptize means to overwhelm, to immerse someone.
It is very descriptive of the nature of many experiences of
empowerment with the Spirit.
 Many experience such an overwhelming at conversion, as did the three
phases of expansion of the early church (Jerusalem, Samaria, Gentiles).
 In contrast: many experience the overwhelming of the Spirit at points of
empowerment, subsequent to conversion
 Catholics, Lutherans are confirmed in the faith. They often experience
the Spirit (genuine rebirth?) later hence commonly interpret the Baptism
of the Spirit as a subsequent experience.

13. 5b Description of Phenomenology: The Baptism
as Anointing with Power
 The doctrine of being baptised in the Spirit as a second
experience is based on Acts 2 (they had already “received”
the spirit), Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17), Ephesians (Acts 19)
(did you receive the Spirit when you believed?)
 It grew from the preaching friars of the 12th
century, passed to
the pietists, was accentuated by Wesley, and then was picked
up during the holiness movement of the late 1800’s to surface
as a major theme in Pentecostalism.
 Entrance: In a context of a Christianised but nominal population, it
indicated entrance into spiritual life
 Holiness: For some in the holiness movement it indicated a later
point of deeper holiness
 Power: For others it indicated a later point of empowering for
ministry

14. 5c The Sign of the Baptism, the Manifestations
 Powerful Spirit on us, must affect our bodies
 The search of the holiness movement (Free
Methodists, Wesleyans) in the 1880’s – 90’s
 The fruit of the Spirit comes later, so the fruit is
not the sign of receiving the Spirit
 There are three stories involved
 Signs in Acts 2:2-4 include rushing wind, tongues of
fire, speaking in tongues
 With Cornelius (10:44-46, 11:15) tongues
 At Ephesus (19:6), it included prophesying and
tongues

15. 5d Problems with Tongues as The Sign of the Baptism
 Powerful Spirit must affect our bodies but:
 Do all speak in tongues? (1 Cor 12:30)
 48% of Pentecostals don’t speak in tongues
 Many other religions experience speaking in tongues, so
only a sign of a power affecting our spirit?
 Many other manifestations are seen when the Spirit falls
on groups in history (thus the Quakers, the Shakers…).
 In all places in Acts where the Spirit fell there was also
reconciliation, unity and witnessing (also at Asuza Street)
 But….Paul spoke in tongues and would have us also
use this gift. In practice, it is particularly useful in
intercession, worship and deliverance.

16.  In New Zealand to avoid disputes we use the
phrase the release of the Spirit from
Watchman Nee.
 Baptists prize freedom of belief in the context
of unity of Spirit.

17. 6a. Phenomenology: Physical Responses of
Our Body to the Power of the Holy Spirit
 When a powerful spirit controls us there are physical
responses – this may or may not be the Holy Spirit. How do
we discern?.
 OT evidence of those who fall down, are overwhelmed
 e.g. study of those “slain in the Spirit”
 Shaking, quaking – Hence “The Quakers”
 Heat e.g. River by Tatalon
 Prophetic Actions
 E.g. Delivering Timothy
 Speaking in Tongues
 Healing
 Dancing – e.g. Thai dance, healed dancer

18. 6b Phenomenology: Comfort and Joy of the Spirit
 The overwhelming presence of love when the
Spirit comes
 e.g. seeking to deliver Korean traveller
 This love seems to be a key element in those who
have gift of healing.
 The bubbling joy
 Springs of living water
 The laughter of the Holy Spirit

19. 6c Phenomenology: Our spirits hear
his voice through different faculties
Will Emotions
Mind
Spirit
BODY
SOUL
African Dance
Collective Worship
Activism
I being in the way, the Lord lead me
Intensive Study of the Word
Intensive study of the Times
Daniels Vision
Fasting
Suffering
Noise or Silence
Unity of Heart
Are you:
An Intuitive Listener
A Pictorial Listener
An Activist Hearer
A Mind

20. 6d Phenomenology: things that
hinder
Will Emotions
Mind
Spirit
BODY
SOUL
Sensuous Dance
Emotional Woundedness
InActivism
Being a nice Christian
Lazy Study of the Word
Laziness in Academics
Overeating
Ease and Luxury
Noise or Silence
Lustful Desires
Not communicating
In marriage
Unbridled
Passions

21. 7. Listening to the Voice of the Spirit
 All you need to do to succeed before God: Hear and
Obey
 To hear: Soak yourself in the Word of God
 The voice is very soft
 The voice is in the midst of battle
 The voice is the turning point, the opening of new
movements, the prophetic word that transforms lives.
 The voice becomes our prayer (Romans 8:26)
 E.g. write the vision down
 E.g. go to UP
 We hear him through different faculties.

22. 8. Discernment of Spirits
 Test Everything (1 Thes 5:21)
 (many of the intuitions, visions, words are not from him, just
delinquent pathways in my mind, probably not from evil spirits)
 The deviations of prophets like Ratana, Brian Tamaki etc.
 Have fellowship with brothers and sisters who can test with you.
 Evil Spirit powers, our spirit itself can also cause similar
physical manifestations. This is why discernment is needed
 E.g. Tirso
 His word and actions will not
violate his revealed ethics.
 His word and actions may
violate perceived customs
and order

23. References
 Boa, K. (2001). Spirit - Filled Spirituality: Walking in the Power of the Spirit. Conformed to
His Image. Michigan, Grand Rapids: 291-300.
 Karkainen, V.-M. (2002). Biblical Perspectives on the Spirit. Pneumatology. USA, Baker
Academic.
 Breen, M. (2002). Fivefold Ministries. In The Apostle's Notebook. Eastbourne, England, pp.
161-171, 220
 Cox, Harvey. (1995).Your Daughters Shall Prophesy. Fire from Heaven: The Rise of
Pentecostal Spirituality and the Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century. Reading,
MA: Addison-Wesley. 161-184.
 Grigg, Viv. (2005). Works of the Spirit of God. In Cry of the Urban Poor. GA, USA:
Authentic Media.
 Moltmann, Jürgen. (1997). The Holy Spirit and the Source of Life (Margaret Kohl, Trans.).
London: SCM.
 Nee, W. (1965). The Release of the Spirit. Box 74 - Route 2, IN 46120, USA, Sure
Foundation.
 Murphy, Ed. (1996). The Handbook of Spiritual Warfare. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 Prince, Derek (1993) Foundations for Righteous Living, Derek Prince Ministries,
Christchurch