NATURE OF THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD

Part 2

 

 

November 11, 2022

 

Few subjects appear in the Word as frequently as that of Wisdom, and Understanding is not far behind.  Scriptures that talk about Wisdom appear 222 times and Scriptures that deal with Understanding appear 156 times.

 

The Word that comes most often to me when I think of Wisdom and Understanding appears in Proverbs 1.

 

Proverbs 1:2-7:  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

 

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

 

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

We return to the original quote by Isaiah concerning the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding. 

 

Isaiah 11:2:  "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding."

 

This is an incredibly important part of Holy Spirit.  Without the wisdom and understanding of God, we are left almost like the blind being led by the blind.

 

 The apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians, says the following:

 

Ephesians 1:15-23:  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

 

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom (sophia: practical, clear understanding; being wise, sagacious; the faculty for applying knowledge judiciously and carefully) and revelation(apokalupsis:to take off the cover, to disclose, the manifestation of something hidden, causing something to appear that was previously invisible) in the knowledge (epignosis:recognition, full discernment, revealed knowledge from above)of him:

 

The eyes of your understanding (dianoia:the exercise of the intellect; the disposition of the mind; deep thought; imagination) being enlightened (photizo:to shed rays, to illuminate, to cause to see [in the darkness]); that ye may know (eido:to gaze with eyes wide open; to see, to perceive, to consider and be certain) what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

 

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

 

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

 

This is an expansion of the KJV text.  Allow me to share with you a re-translation and amplification from the Greek text:

 

As a result, I also [and at the same time as the Lord Jesus Christ] when I heard of the integrity of your faith and constancy in the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the agape love you have demonstrated towards all those who have set themselves apart to the Lord,

 

I continually (without ceasing) give thanks for you, drawing attention to you in my daily worship (and intercession)

 

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is also the Father of Glory, may give and commit unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the full knowledge and discernment of Him;

 

Having the ability to see with full brightness, so that you will know and perceive the anticipation and expectation of His calling and invitation, and as well, the extraordinary wealth and abundance of his honor, wealth and glory of his heirship and possession in those who have set themselves apart unto Him;

 

As well as the superabundant magnitude of His dynamic and miraculous force and power toward us who particularly believe (and act accordingly) in full proportion to the operation and exhibition of His ability, strength and force

 

Which He energized and produced in the Anointed One and His anointing when He raised Him from the dead and established His position at His own right hand in the Heavenlies,

 

Far above every magistrate, every power every appointed authority, every place of a king’s rulership and dominion, and every onoma – every character, every personality, every essence of existence – that is mentioned or professed, not only in this time and age, but in every age and time to come,

 

And He has subordinated ALL under His feet and gave Him (the Lord Jesus
Christ) to be THE Supreme Head over ALL to the Ekklesia,

 

Which is His Body, the very essence and makeup of Who He is, the completion of Him Who completes and brings ALL to the finish line. (RAC Translation & Amplification)

 

We come back to how the Hebrew text of Isaiah’s prophecy reads:

 

Isaiah 11:1-2:  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD(YHVH)shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom (chokmah:[parallels the Greek sophia] practical, judiciously applied knowledge, to cleverly apply and teach; to be wise in mind, word and act) and understanding, (biynah:[parallels the Greek dianoia] to separate mentally, to distinguish; to be cunning, direct, eloquent; to prudently perceive)

 

Thus, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding is referred to by Paul as the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation.  This part of the makeup, the character, the personality, the very essence of the Lord (His onoma) is where and how we receive impartations – revelations AND anointings – from the Holy Spirit.

 

It may seem superfluous to say so, but each of the Seven Spirits of God is manifested and revealed by and through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit was sent to us to reveal the very character and makeup of the Lord Jesus Christ, to teach and instruct us, to transform, mold and conform us into His image and likeness, and prepare us as the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Holy Spirit IS – depending on the situation and the need at hand – the manifestation, the character and personality of each of the Seven Spirits.

 

When that which we need revealed to us requires wisdom and understanding (or revelation) the Holy Spirit takes on the character of the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.

 

When we have misinformation, a lack of understanding concerning some truth of God’s Word, or perhaps some doctrine or teaching we’ve come to believe which errs concerning the Word, the Holy Spirit becomes the Spirit of Truth.

 

If the need at hand is for guidance concerning some decision or an answer from the Lord as to what to do in some crisis situation, the Holy Spirit manifests as the Spirit of Counsel and Might.

 

Consider how the apostle Paul describes giftings and manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

 

I Corinthians 12:1-11:  Now concerning spiritual gifts,[Note: the word “gifts” does not exist here in the Greek text.  The term which appears in the original text is pneumatikos: “spirituals.” ] brethren, I would not have you ignorant.  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  Now there are *diversities of gifts,[charismata: grace-empowerments and demonstrations] but the same Spirit.  And there are *[diairesis:separate and distinct] differences of administrations, [diakonia: service, attendance as a servant] but the same Lord.

 

And there are *diversities of operations, [energema: empowering, energizing, or outward effect] but it is the same God which worketh all in all.  But the manifestation[phanerosis: exhibition or expression] of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  For to one is given by the Spirit

 

⁽¹⁾the word of wisdom; to another

 

⁽²⁾the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

⁽³⁾To another faith by the same Spirit;

 

⁽⁴⁾to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

 

⁽⁵⁾To another the working of miracles;

 

⁽⁶⁾to another prophecy;

 

⁽⁷⁾to another discerning of spirits;

 

⁽⁸⁾to another divers kinds of tongues;

 

⁽⁹⁾to another the interpretation of tongues:

 

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

 

Are you seeing a clear illustration of the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, and how it operates in Paul’s description to the Corinthians?

 

The manifestation or exhibition of the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding comes through the operation of “the word of wisdom” or “the word of knowledge.”  At the same time, we may be seeing a manifestation of the Spirit of Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord at work.

 

Consider each of thesecharismata– grace-empowerments or demonstrations – within the framework of the Seven Spirits of God.

 

Might the Spirit of Counsel and Might also be at work in “the working of miracles” or perhaps “faith”?

 

How about “the discerning of spirits”?

 

What about “divers kinds of tongues” and “the interpretation of tongues”?

 

No matter how we see the Holy Spirit at work, we are seeing the Seven Spirits of God in operation.  Paul makes it clear that “it is the same God which worketh all in all” and/or “that one and selfsame Spirit.”

 

Here’s a puzzle for you to think about.  We know that God has a triune character and makeup: that He is at the same time Father, Son and Holy Spirit exhibited in three persons and personalities.  He is at the same time ONE, and yet He is THREE.

 

But how about the concept that the Holy Spirit actually consists of Seven Spirits which make up the totality of the character and essence of who and what God is – in Father, Son and Holy Spirit?  That means that He is also SEVEN.

 

These are mysteries of the Spirit realm, but they are easily understood when one lives and walks in the Spirit.

 

“In the Spirit” is a phrase that recurs 28 times in the KJV, but in I Corinthians 12:3, the Greek phrase “en Pneumati Theou” or “en Pneumati Hagios” appears where the KJV translates “by the Spirit of God” or “by the Holy Ghost.”

 

In each case, it should be read “in the Spirit of God” or “in the Holy Spirit.”  This makes clear the fact that whether we function IN the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, or IN the Spirit of Judgment and Burning, or IN the Spirit of Grace and Supplications, in each instance, we are operating in God.

 

By the same token, we are operating IN agape.

 

The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding has one purpose and one function: to exhibit, to manifest, to demonstrate the Love of God – both to us, and in us – so that the world around might see a facet of God’s Love on display.

 

This Spirit manifests His operation in some pretty unique ways.

 

Most of you have heard me talk about my personal experiences in broadcast engineering, and how the Holy Spirit gave me revelation at different times and under different circumstances of the source and cause of technical problems.  Not only did I receive understanding of the technical issues in play, but I received wisdom on how to deal with the problems and solve them.

 

Shortly after I became Chief Engineer for FOX Television in Anchorage, I received a phone call at around 2:00 AM in the morning telling me that the station was off the air.  Although I had seen the transmitter before, I had never worked on it.  The transmitter was basically a WW-II relic that had been upgraded and converted to color operation.  There were no schematics to show the upgrades.

 

The transmitter room was filled with smoke when I walked in, and of course, the transmitter was down completely.  When I opened up the High Voltage section, the final output tube had melted down and molten lead had poured down through the High Voltage cage.

 

I was looking at tearing everything out and rebuilding that section of the transmitter completely.  It took me about two-to-three hours to rebuild it and ensure that it was ready to go.  However, I still had no clue what caused the failure in the first place.  The transmitter was close to fifty years old.  The electronics consisted of parts and pieces you would never see in any modern transmitter.  How in the world was I going to get this thing operating again with no clue of where to start.

 

The only answer was to receive wisdom and revelation from the Holy Spirit.  I laid hands on the transmitter, closed my eyes, and siad , “Lord, I need you to show me what exactly caused this failure.”  Immediately, he gave me a vision of a specific component in the back of the transmitter.  I went around to the back of the transmitter and opened up the doors.  Staring me in the face was exactly what Holy Spirit had given me in the vision.

 

I tested the component in question, a fluid-filled capacitor, and sure enough, it was shorted out.  When I went to the parts cabinet, there was nothing like it.  So I constructed a new component our of several different values in order to match the value of the shorted one.  After installing it, there was nothing to do but close everything up and fire the transmitter up.  Just like that, we were back on the air.  After some tweaks to the operation, I notified Master Control that they could resume programming.

 

It was a practical demonstration for me of seeing the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, or the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in operation.  That experience has paid great dividends in the 35 years that have followed.

 

Wisdom and Understanding (or Wisdom and Revelation) were at work in me when I was working on the Command Programmer for the Agena rocket that put John Glenn in space.  I saw a small segment of a computer circuit on a drawing one day, and the Spirit gave me both revelation and understanding of how I could apply that circuit to create a musical instrument computer which would generate the sounds of different instruments in accompaniment to my guitar playing.

 

Many years ago when I was at Bethel Union Church in Duarte, California, one of the elders in that church received both understanding and revelation on how to deal with traffic problems and congestion at intersections.  He sketched out the solution on paper and took it to the Greater Los Angeles Planning Commission.  The plan was implemented and later adopted nation-wide.

 

It may seem pretty simple now when we think of it, but the solution that this man presented (I’ve forgotten his name) was to slightly widen the streets and incorporate a center turn-lane.  Maybe it wasn’t a spectacular invention, but it solved a major issue, and it was simplicity on display – the simplicity that is “in Christ Jesus.”

 

This is a bit of a sidetrack in our discussion, but consider the significance of what takes place when we partake together at the Table of the Lord.

 

It’s that same “simplicity” that is in Christ Jesus that we partake of every time we sit at the Table of the Lord and eat and drink of Him.  The bread is an example of the very substance of His body which is filled with the light and life of the Seven Spirits.

 

Each time we partake of the Cup, we are drinking of the very life force that is in Him.   Jesus shed His blood in order to break the curse that came upon the whole human race.  He did it so that we can look forward to and experience the replacing of the blood in our veins with the light and life that fill His veins now — that same light that filled Adam and Eve prior to the fall.

 

Wisdom, Understanding and Revelation are a natural part of the character and makeup of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that’s what we have imparted to us each time we sit at His Table. Let’s wrap up today’s discussion with some quotes from Proverbs.

 

Proverbs 3:13-20:  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

 

Proverbs 4:1-9:Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

 

 In case you are missing out on real fellowship in an environment of Ekklesia, ourSunday worship gatherings are available by conference call – usually at about 10:30AM Pacific.  That conference number is (712) 770-4160, and the access code is 308640#.  We are now making these gatherings available on video usingZOOM.  If you wish to participate by video on ZOOM, our login ID is 835-926-513.  If you miss the live voice-onlycall, you can dial (712) 770-4169, enter the same access code and listen in later.  The video call, of course, is not recorded – not yet, anyway.

 

Blessings on you!

 

 

Regner

 

     

Regner A. Capener
CAPENER MINISTRIES

RIVER WORSHIP CENTER
Temple, Texas 76502

Email Contact: CapenerMinistries@protonmail.com

 

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