"But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."
Matthew 10:19-20 NASB
Mark records this,
"When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit."
Mark 13:11 NASB
And Luke records Jesus' words,
"So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute."
Luke 21:14 NASB
Notice in Matthew we read of the Spirit of the Father giving the words at the right time, and in Mark it says the Holy Spirit. Luke's account records Jesus saying that it is He who will give the utterance and wisdom needed.
We see here the unity within the Godhead, how the Father, Son, and Spirit work together to accomplish their purposes. In this case, providing the right words, at the right time, so that even in persecution the gospel goes forth in power.
It can be safely assumed that the Father's Spirit is in fact the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 we read that the Spirit reveals to us the things of God. Within this passage we see the Spirit also referred to as the Spirit of God. If the Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, how can He not be divine?
Peter also tells us that prophecy does not originate in the will of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:21).
Acts 4:25-26 records that the Holy Spirit speaking through David prophetically uttered what we read in Psalm 2:1-3.
Likewise Acts 28:27 attributes the words of God found in Isaiah 6:9-10, to the Holy Spirit speaking through the prophet Isaiah.
It is interesting to note that the Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Christ. In 1 Peter we read that the Spirit of Christ within the prophets was revealing to them the future suffering and ultimate glorification of Jesus. These things were for our benefit, for us who have heard the gospel preached by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven (1 Peter 1:10-12).
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
1 Thess 1:5 NASB
The gospel witness of Paul as recorded in the above verse came with the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who brings conviction (John 16:7-11).
This same convicting power must attend everyone sharing the gospel, whether a minister in a church on Sunday or an individual suffering in prison, about to stand before the authorities. It is the convicting power of the Spirit attending the message that is necessary. In reality it is God (the Holy Spirit) speaking through an individual.
Read the example of Peter in Acts 2:14-41. He has just been filled with the Holy Spirit and now preaches a powerful message filled with conviction. Read the disciples prayer for boldness in the face of opposition found in Acts 4:24-31. The result? They were filled with the Spirit and began to speak the word with boldness.
Jesus speaks of the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell those who believe in Him in John chapters 14-16.
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."
John 14:23 NASB
From this verse we see that the Father and Son come to dwell with those who love and obey Jesus. How is this accomplished? It is through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are in fact the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). He lives within us.
One can clearly see the triune nature of God in these passages. We have seen the unity of the Father, Son and Spirit working together in the ministry of the prophets, in the witness of the apostles, and it continues for us today. The same Spirit that filled them, is available for us, bringing us into fellowship with the Father and Son.
We have seen the Holy Spirit referred to as the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Father, and the Spirit of Christ. Isaiah 61:1 calls Him the Spirit of the Sovereign LORD.
As Christians we absolutely believe in one God. Isaiah 45:5 declares,
I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.
This statement found in Isaiah and many others like it are absolutely true and I firmly embrace them. Yet as I have shown in previous posts many of these passages are applied to Jesus in the New Testament. We see throughout the Bible references to the Father, Son, and Spirit. Not three separate gods as many accuse us of believing, but one absolute God comprised of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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