WCC’s 7th meeting was held in Canberra, Australia, from 7th to 20th of February 1991. The main theme that was discussed during this meeting under the leadership of the then General Secretary Emilio Castro was this – Come Holy Spirit, Renew the whole creation. Rev. Dr. Emilio Castro was a blessed man who was a theologian, Pastor of the Methodist Church and a man who was in the leadership position of WCC for around 20 years. Emilio was the student of Karl Barth, the renowned theologian from Latin America. It was for the first time in the history of WCC that a topic related to Holy Spirit (Pneumatological study) was made the main topic for study in 1991. It was an attempt to educate the churches about the Holy Spirit and to eradicate the wrong teachings and assumptions about it.
Holy Spirit is one among the three persons of the trinity (John 4: 24; 2 Cor. 3: 17). Holy Spirit is not just a power but on the contrary a powerful person (Acts 1:8). Various activities of the Holy Spirit can be seen from the first book of the Bible. But various differences are evident in these activities. During the Old Testament days the Holy Spirit came only upon the anointed Kings, Lords and Prophets. But during the end times, that is now, after the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the Spirit is poured on everybody (Acts 2: 17;Joel 2: 28; Isaiah 28:2).
God’s character is seen in the Holy Spirit. That is why it is said that the Holy Spirit is God. Holy Spirit sets us free. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor 3: 17). The Bible promises us freedom from all forms of bondages. Holy Spirit is transliterated as Ha-qodeshRuach, in Hebrew, and Pneumahayonn, in Greek. In the Old Testament Ruach has been used 378 times and Pneuma has been used in the New Testament 379 times. Ruach has been used variously. God’s power or supernatural power is the meaning designated for this. To make people do superhuman things God send upon them the Spirit (Ruach)- Judges 3: 10; 6:34; 11: 29; 13: 25;14: 6, 19; 15: 14; I Samuel 11:6). Spirit of God was the power behind the prophets (Numbers 24:2; I Samuel 10: 6, 10; 19: 20, 23). But the Holy Spirit is not just a power but a power with a personality. The Bible points out the Holy Spirit as a person . A powerful person(Paraclitos). It is a masculine name.
1. Holy Spirit sets us Free (Isaiah 61: 1- 11)
Holy Spirit is a liberating Spirit. The freedom that the Holy Spirit gives is the release of the ones in bondages, sight for the blind and deliverance for the oppressed. When Jesus began his ministry, this is what he began preaching in Nazareth. That is why Luke 4: 18, 19 is known as the Nazareth Manifesto. This freedom is whole and complete. This is the spiritual, worldly and societal freedom.
2. Liberated to Liberate (Acts 2: 1- 13)
The Holy Spirit liberates us so that we may lead others also to this liberation. The Holy Spirit that was poured on the people on the day of Pentecost, in a way, led them to new portals of freedom. It was the completion of the prophetic voice that was much awaited (Joel 2: 28; Isaiah 28: 2-6). The Christian Church is a fellowship that was formed in Jerusalem. It was started with just 120 people and now it has spread far and wide throughout the world. Wherever these people went they raised the trumpet of liberation. The reason behind this was the Spirit that was in them.
3.Holy Spirit that is in Jesus Christ (Luke 4: 16 – 21)
“… the Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me”, this was an important part of the Nazareth Manifesto of Jesus. The work of Holy Spirit in Jesus is evident from his birth to death.
- Jesus was born by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1: 26 – 38)
- Even in childhood Jesus was strengthened by the Holy Spirit (Luke 2: 40)
- Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit and he began his ministry (Acts 4: 27; 10: 38; Luke 4: 18; Hebrews 1:9)
- Before the ministry he was led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted (Luke 4: 1; Matthew 4: 1)
- He did his ministry by the Holy Spirit (Acts 10: 38; Mark 5: 30; Luke 5: 17; 10: 21)
- Through the Spirit he offered himself to death on the cross (Hebrews 9: 14)
- He rose by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 11, Psalm 16: 10; Ephesians 1: 19, 20; John 10: 18)
John the Baptist introduces Jesus Christ as the ‘one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit’ (Luke 3: 16; Acts 11: 16). The meaning of the Hebrew word Messiah is ‘anointed one’. In Greek ‘Christos’ and in Latin ‘Christus’.
Even though Christ and Holy Spirit are two persons of the Trinity, the Church argues that Christ was cent percent God and cent percent man. Even though as a child he was strengthened by the Holy Spirit (Luke 2: 40), God the Father anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power in his 30th year (Acts 10: 38). Rev CH Spurgeon says so in his book 12 Sermons on the Holy Spirit- If Jesus, the son of God needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit, how much do we the weak humans need it.
The Anglican Priest, George Whitefield (1714- 1770) who worked powerfully to gain souls did his ministry with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley(1703-1791), the founder of the Methodist Church, an Anglican Priest and a man who brought many to Christ did his ministry filled by the Holy Spirit. CH Spurgeon(1834- 1892) who is known as the ‘Prince of Preachers’ was the minister of the Baptist Church for 38 years. He always stressed on the importance of being filled by the Holy Spirit. D L Moody (1837- 1899) who was the Vicar of the American Congregational Church and Charles Finny who was the Pastor at the American Presbyterian Church were all people who brought lakhs of people to Christ. They all ministered by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is said that DL Moody continually preached about the anointing of the Holy Spirit.