Where Does the Bible Teach that the Holy Spirit is God?

Where does the Bible teach that the Holy Spirit is God and should be worshiped. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today and encouraging story about dedication and perseverance, Russell H was once a hospital security guard and he is now working on the front lines as a medical student at the very same hospital Russell work security at Baton Rouge Medical Center for about five years and during that time he was studying medicine on note cards and asked doctors that pass by if you could shadow them. He said that while many of the doctors told him I didn't have the time Dr. Patrick Griffin Stein, the chief surgery resident was one mentor willing to take him under his wing Russell who is a US Navy veteran earned his PhD in molecular oncology from New York University and is currently enrolled in medical school at Tulane University as part of this training. He helps coronavirus patients at his old hospital is not cool how yeah that's so cool Bill that we need those feel-good stories these days.

I'm coming when you know you just wonder if there are people still the hospital that remember him from the security guard job and now they're saying oh Dr. Lavette well very cool with it to our first question of the day and Ruben emailed us with this. He says the Bible mentions that God is our shepherd refuge fortress, etc. in Psalm 28 one it says, oh Lord, my rock, why is a rock that's significant. I don't know Palestine, but I would think that there are rocks all over that land yeah will one. I mean, if Nick is so cool that the Bible gives to so much imagery so many analogies for the Lord and for our relationship to him. You mentioned some of them there, the shepherd, the one who guides us the one who leads us the one who nourishes us and protects us from the wolves, a refuge or fortress you think about a mighty fortress and running to it when you're under attack or something like that you and the fact that were safe in the presence of the Lord in the arms of the Lord is fortress that's impenetrable and then you also have that language of the Lord being our rock. I think also Psalm chapter 18 verse two with the psalmist said the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold just the different imageries right there horn, for example, in the ancient near East of the horn was the symbol of rank you think about seeing this, you know, mighty animal with these great big horns used for protection used for defense.

You know that the bigger the horn the stronger the animal, the more fiercely animal.

God is the mighty horn of our salvation.

Reminds me of the just recently I night I shared a few days ago we were camping out in Utah did a couple hikes on one of the hikes we come around this corner and we see, I know what kind of you know animals, there is this sort of mountain goat or something like that with these great big horns and I thought to myself okay yeah etc. know if those things charge your card, the skies safe. You know that kind of thing. But the other thing that you notice, and in bill you probably know this. I know that you like to hike, is that when you're out there you know there's that slippery gravel that Sandy rock that you don't really want to be on because you can slip and fall.

We were trying to navigate through areas like that with our kids, you know really concern for them. But then there's also those places when you're hiking later on this stable bedrock. It's safe and it feels secure. Why think that's Ruben with the psalmist is getting at here. It's being on the rock stability not falling, not slipping, not not on treacherous ground but resting in on the Lord who is strong and powerful and secure. I think even of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7. He uses this imagery in Matthew chapter 7 verse 22, or beginning in verse 22, a passage of Scripture that it is actually quite concerning.

For many people.

Jesus said on that day many will say to me Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name and then will I declare to them, I never knew you depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock and everyone who fears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand in the rain fell in the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell in great was the fall of it. Ruben, the question is for you and and for you.

Listening right now. What are you building your life on are you building your life on the rock on God.

Jesus Christ is referred to as the chief cornerstone.

Are you building your life on him or are you building your life on sand, gravel. They hear sitting in the challenges that the world throws at us, the winds and the waves the storms. If your life is built on the sand. It's going to crumble in the house is going to fall down. But if were built on the rock, and God is our rock. Jesus is the chief cornerstone. Then then come what may.

We are secure and stable in him. That's the question. Each of us needs to ask ourselves and Ruben I think that's were getting from this imagery is that God is the stable one on whom we build our lives, our protector are stability our rock. Thanks for your question Ruben, thanks so much for taking the time to write to us.

We appreciate your listening to core Christianity, where the question it will from Maddie who posted on her Instagram account and she says what was the good news of the kingdom of God being preached by John the Baptist in Luke chapter 3, and by Jesus in Luke chapter 5. If Jesus had not yet died. That doesn't make sense to me. Jesus even warned his disciples not to tell anyone of his identity and impending death and resurrection. In Luke chapter 9. I thought that this was the heart of the gospel.

Could you please clarify my understanding on this Maddie. Thank you for that question yet defining the kingdom of God. I think this is really important because we see is certainly the Gospels but it it begins way before the Gospels.

If you think way back to the beginning of Genesis. Now God is depicted in the early chapters of Genesis.

He's depicted as this great and sovereign King was the creator of all things. There is nothing in competition with him. God is the one who speaks and it comes to pass these like this King is making these decrees was calling things into existence, and ultimately the whole creation. The cosmos are his kingdom that he is made now. He creates Adam and Eve to rule over his kingdom, if you will to tend the garden to keep the garden and yet they fall, and you have the rise of the kingdom of darkness. Sin, brokenness, and in the story of God throughout the Scriptures is the story of God establishing and reestablishing his kingdom through Jesus Christ and in the Old Testament you had the monarchy. It was this true of God's kingdom on earth. Ruled by the king was the type of Jesus Christ. The other prophets who talked about it over and over how these kings in Israel would fail, that would be called to repentance and the prophets. They foresaw a day where God's kingdom would cover the whole earth where the king the Davidic king and according to second Samuel chapter 7 and Psalm chapter 2 and some chapter to rule over the whole world. I think of that prophecy that's made in Isaiah chapter 9 verses five through seven, unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of peace of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

So there's the promise right there of the kingdom and who is that promise made to and and who does it come through it comes to the son who is born who is given the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ himself was the heir of the Davidic throne, the king of the whole earth, and so when Jesus shows up Maddie and he begins preaching the message of the kingdom as people, especially as the Jews are hearing vesting of the kingdom of God is at hand. Rejoice there, thinking back to promises like the one that I just read there in Isaiah chapter 9 and Jesus through his life through his ministry through his miracles and ultimately as you as you recognize through his death on the cross establishes that kingdom and let me just say you know you read those promises there in Isaiah 9 and throughout the Scriptures throughout the prophets, especially of this perfect kingdom of justice and righteousness and we long for that today because when we look around us in society.

One of the things we don't see so often is justice is righteousness the nation's is grieving all over again because of things that were saying you know the shooting that just happened in Wisconsin a father shot in the back and front of his children and we mourn and you know the sad reality is our our nation is so polarized right now that we can even weep with those who weep. Everything is this political fight and people trying to know one up each other. We have to just say no God.

We long for your kingdom of perfect justice and righteousness and peace and we know Jesus Christ that you came to establish that kingdom and through your blood.

We are forgiven of our sins, and that ultimately you are gonna establish your kingdom over the whole world that kingdom that Jesus preached that he inaugurated when he came and preached is going to be consummated on the last day, and every wrong is going to be righted, and every injustice is going to be dealt with, and all of our tears are going to be wiped away and right now I just want to take a moment to pray because I know there is so much turmoil in our country so much pain and just to mourn that injustice and the brokenness that we see all around us, gracious father, we need you. We need your kingdom to calm Jesus as you taught us to pray your kingdom come, your will be done that kingdom of justice, of righteousness, of peace. Lord we look around us and when we know that man cannot bring that kingdom about that.

That's a work of your Holy Spirit. We long to see justice Lord we long for your peace. We long for your righteousness.

We thank you for the hope that we have in your gospel for the comfort God that you give to us for the hope that we have gotten in your perfect justice in your kingdom that is coming, but we do pray right now. In the meantime, for your peace to reign in the hearts and minds of people for righteousness to come here justice to come in father for those who are suffering.

II think, especially right now if all of the pain those who are suffering for those children that were in the car Lord who witnessed this this horrible event Lord for your comfort for your mercy for your peace of father would the truth injustice rule out here.

We pray for your mercy again. In Jesus name, amen, amen. You're listening to core Christianity with Bill Meyer and Pastor Israel Sanchez.

We were just talking about the brokenness of this world around us. And speaking of that, we have a very important resource.

We want to tell you about today. I mean, what an important resource that is seen in times like this are for. We study why is the world a mess. I think you have to be a Christian to see it.

Whatever background you're coming from the look of the world and say things are broken things are broken, what, why are things broken wise the world a mess take students through the reasons for the existence of evil and suffering and what God did to deal with evil and suffering is that it contains the following lessons.

God made the world good cosmic treason. The human condition, guilt, corruption, shame, hope of restoration. This study is perfect for those who are new to Christianity as well, as those who have an interest in deepening their understanding of God's response to evil and suffering. As I said in days like these, we really have to understand this stuff as we engage with non-Christians is outside the church were asking that same question that many of us resting wise the world. Such a mess.

So for a donation of any amount, get your hands on this four-week study by going to core Christianity.com/offers can also call us for any one of our offers at this number 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core drill a schedule another question. This is a call that came in from a listener named Delsie adding listening sometime guarding Holy Spirit. You had said under father � son.

I want nation, it would hardly explain John 1612 to 15 say that we speak awfully the spirit of truth, and I don't see any man has to be worshiped only after break these sound terrified at thank you very much and thank you for listening to the program. Those who would agree. Question let me read John 1612 through 15 and then I talk about it and then talk about why it is that we should praise and pray to the Holy Spirit. John 16 beginning in verse 12 Jesus that I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you all that the father has is mine. Therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you now Delsie. This comes in the context of Jesus's upper room discourse.

It is the discussion that he has of the teaching that he gives to his disciples right before his crucifixion, resurrection, and then later ascension so he's he's preparing his disciples for the fact that he's about to leave, and if you remember that as Jesus is speaking in this way. Throughout this upper room discourse.

In John 14 through 17. The disciples are afraid.

As you can imagine, so I mean it that they've been with Jesus for all this time and now he say I'm about to leave you guys and there wondering what where you going.

Can we go to what you talking about, but he's comforting them here with the knowledge of the fact that the Holy Spirit is going to come and be with them to remember it in the book of acts on the day of Pentecost when Jesus ascended into heaven, what he do he poured the spirit out upon the church and Jesus is preparing them for that very thing that the spirit is going to come and one of the things of the spirit is going to do one of the roles that that the spirit plays if you will.

Today is testifying of the truth and revealing Jesus to us that the primary ministry of of the spirit is opening our eyes or ears our hearts through the gospel to receive and worship Jesus a lot of confusion today about what what is the spirit do now what it what is the present ministry of the Holy Spirit will primarily.

Here's what you need to know the spirit reveals Jesus so that's what Jesus is talking about but nowhere does this text.

Though Delsie tell us that the spirit is not God or that we should pray to him or worship him. The Scriptures make it very clear that we must. Paul said in here's here's a verse I think that you want to jot down first Corinthians chapter 6 verses 19 and 20. He said this, or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body that it's a very interesting verse now who lives in the temple, man, Scripture, God is the one who takes up residence in the temple under the old covenant in in Jerusalem or the Temple in Jerusalem. God was the one who was said to live there will Paul says our bodies are a temple for God for who, for the Holy Spirit within us therefore glorify God in your body or with your body. We worship God, we glorify God the Spirit who lives within us in acts chapter 5 went when Peter is talking to Ananias and Sapphire who lie to the apostles. It Peter says you have not lied to men but you have lied to God you've lied to the Holy Spirit.

It's very clear in Scripture that the spirit is referred to as God. The third person of the holy Trinity, and that were called to worship him. And that's why the church throughout history has done just that giving these we call doxologies praise to the father into the sun and to the Holy Spirit. From the very beginning I'm taking really from the baptismal formula that Jesus gave these disciples. We baptize people in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, the holy Trinity, one God, one in essence three distinct persons, father, son and Holy Spirit. The reason we believe that is because the Scripture makes it absolutely clear. As I just gave you those two verses there one in acts five and the other in verse 20 and six says quite clearly that the Holy Spirit is God and that we ought to worship him.

Thank you for your question and let me just go on to say this.

There is so much confusion about the Holy Spirit. Today Delsie without.

I was talking about, you know there are a lot of people, they will that the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit today is this the miraculous things like prophecy and speaking in tongues and that's how we know that the spirit of God is really at work in our churches is when we begin to see the supernatural manifestations like you saw early in the book of Axel there's a lot of confusion today.

And Jesus makes it absolutely clear the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit. One of the spirit of God is present in your church is Jesus being proclaimed with clarity is the gospel being upheld are the fruit of the spirit being manifested. Ultimately, love that's how we know the spirit is present today. I men are, let's go to another call Israel Bible will were doing well.

Thanks for studying law wondering what your guide technology by thank you yeah Britt hey that's cool to hear that you're in a Bible study studying the Scriptures the love that and what a wonderful passage of Scripture you're referring to Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse four the Shema that that word should much. The Hebrew word here is the first word in the text. It's the skull that says hero Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. The minutes as verse five you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. In these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. Is this this call that we find in the Scriptures and this call. In particular, it was almost like this prayer that the Jews would pray every single day. I mean it was some of said the heartbeat of Hebrew Jewish monotheism.

It's right here.

There is one God we worship and its this prayer but it's also sort of like the screed is in it.

We believe in one God, you think of creeds like the Nicene Creed or the apostles Creed and right there in Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse four. You have this sort of ancient Hebrew creed. Its this confession. We believe in one God and its this call to love that God and the Jews had this habit of every day praying this confessing this they wanted to describe it onto their hearts. This is something we really want to get what's so interesting is you know what the New Testament does with the Shema. This call hero Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, is it inserts Jesus right into the middle of it.

If you have a Bible check this out. It's in first Corinthians chapter 8 verse four I'll start there.

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence and that there is no God but one.

For, although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many quote gods and many quote lords yet for us. Paul said there is one God.

He's echoing alluding to the Shema there. Deuteronomy 6 for the father from whom are all things and for whom we exist and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist so is this so fascinating that the sort of heartbeat of Jewish monotheism that this prayer that the Jews wanted to have inscribed on their hearts hero, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Paul says for us.

There is one God the father and one Lord Jesus Christ puts Jesus right in the middle of it. Among other things, one of the things this is really teaching us that Jesus is God in me the doctrine of the holy Trinity. We believe in one God the father the son and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are one God, the same and substance equal in power and glory. I think that's what we get from the text of Scripture.

So the same way that this was the daily prayer of the Jewish people. I think this is what we want to be praying and confessing believe in one God and its this call to love that God thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, the court when you contact us.

Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together