Ruach ha’Kodesh – One of the Divine Ones or a Non-sentient Force?
All Scripture taken from my new Son Of Man Bible, original work available at www.unfoldingword.org. Email me, and I’ll send a FREE copy to you. E-Sword Bible program available FREE at www.e-sword.net. The e-Sword Module Installer is also available at biblesupport.com for those wishing to download and quickly install several or dozens of e-Sword modules.
This is going to be a warning to teachers of Yahweh’s holy word. 1 Timothy 4:1-2, “Now the Ruach clearly says that in later times some people will leave the faith and pay attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons 2 in lying hypocrisy. Their own consciences will be branded.” Friends, we are in the last days, so do not be deceived by false teachers. It is time for you to know the Word of Yahweh for yourselves.
Over the last few years I’ve heard or read teachings on Ruach ha’Kodesh from those in the Messianic or Hebrew Roots movements. Some don’t believe Ruah ha’Kodesh is a member of the Divine Family. Some believe the doctrine of the trinity came out of the Catholic Church of Rome. So, is Ruach ha’Kodesh a real person or just a figment of some pope’s imagination? Is He just a mindless force or non-sentient power flying around the universe doing good? I believe the teachings reducing, demeaning, and trying to eliminate the divinity of the Ruach border on blasphemy of Ruach ha’Kodesh, the one sin that will damn anyone’s soul to hell. This post is not a complete Bible study on Ruach ha’Kodesh, nor is it a treatise on the doctrine of the Trinity, but let’s investigate some Scriptures and you all make up your own mind, as to whether or not the Ruach is in or the Ruach is out.
Zechariah 4:6, “So he said to me, “This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Ruach, says Yahweh of hosts.” (emphasis mine)
This verse differentiates the Ruach of the Almighty from force/might and power/vigor. This verse declares itself to be the Word of Yahweh. It’s pretty clear Yahweh doesn’t think Ruach ha’Kodesh is the same as force/might or power/vigor. In Zechariah 4:6 it’s Ruach minus might and Ruach minus power = job done.
Luke confirms Zechariah’s thought in Luke 1:35, “The angel answered and said to her, “Ruach ha’Kodesh will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will come over you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of Yahweh.”
Luke makes it look like Ruach ha’Kodesh is distinct from force or miraculous power. He is actually described as the Creator of Yeshua HaMashiach. Come on folks, Ruach ha’Kodesh implanted the living seed of Yeshua, with complete Divine DNA, into Miriam’s womb. It looks to me like Ruach ha’Kodesh is a powerful, gracious, gentle, and discrete Doctor. Could a mindless force or non-sentient power do that? In Luke 1:35 it’s Ruach plus Yahweh’s power = job done.
Can a waterfall bear children? John 3:1-8, “Now there was a Pharisee whose name was Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. 2 This man came to Yeshua at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher that came from Yahweh, for no one can do these signs that you do unless Yahweh is with him.” 3 Yeshua replied to him, “Truly, truly, unless someone is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of Yahweh.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Yeshua replied, “Truly, truly, unless someone is born of water and the Ruach, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Yahweh. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Ruach is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear its sound, but you do not know where it came from or where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Ruach.””
Notice how Yeshua distinguished the Ruach from the wind that blows. Ruach-led believers act similar to wind, but we are not wind and neither is Ruach ha’Kodesh. Just as we are distinct individuals separate from the wind, so is the Ruach.
May I ask you, how can you insult a tornado? Hebrews 10:29, “How much worse punishment do you think one deserves who has trampled under foot the Son of Yahweh, who treated the blood of the covenant as unholy—the blood by which he was sanctified—and insulted the Ruach of grace?”
How can you have fellowship with a hurricane? Philippians 2:1, “If there is any encouragement in Messiah, if there is any comfort from his love, if there is any fellowship of the Ruach, if there are any tender mercies and compassions,” 2 Corinthians 13:14, “May the grace of the Lord Yeshua Messiah, the love of Yahweh, and the fellowship of Ruach ha’Kodesh be with all of you.”
How can you blaspheme a tsunami? Mark 3:29, “but whoever blasphemes against Ruach ha’Kodesh will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” Luke 12:10, “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to him who blasphemes against Ruach ha’Kodesh, it will not be forgiven.” Matthew 12:31-32, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Ruach will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks any word against the Son of Man, that will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against Ruach ha’Kodesh, that will not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.”
How can you grieve electro-magnetic energy? Isaiah 63:10, “But they rebelled and grieved his Ruach ha’Kodesh. So he became their enemy and fought against them.” I pray that 21st century Bible teachers are not grieving Ruach ha’Kodesh.
How can an earthquake speak or guide you into all truth? Ezekiel 3:24-25, “The Ruach came to me and stood me up on my feet; and he spoke with me, and said to me, “Go and shut yourself up within your house, 25 for now, son of man, they will place ropes upon you and tie you so you cannot go out among them.” Matthew 10:20, “For it is not you who will speak, but the Ruach of your Father who will speak in you.” Mark 13:11, “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry about what you should say. For in that hour, what you should say will be given to you; it will not be you who speak, but Ruach ha’Kodesh.” John 16:13, 15, “13But when he, the Ruach of Truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak from himself. But he will say whatever he hears, and he will tell you things that are to come. . . . 15 Everything that the Father has is mine. Therefore, I said that the Ruach will take from what is mine and he will tell it to you.” Acts 1:16, “Brothers, it was necessary that the scripture should be fulfilled, that Ruach ha’Kodesh spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who guided the ones who arrested Yeshua.” Revelation 14:13, “I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Ruach, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.””
Does a mindless force or non-sentient power even know what truth is? Can you quote what a thunderstorm speaks?
Look at that last phrase of John 16:13, “. . . he will tell you things that are to come.” RUACH HA’KODESH IS A PROPHET!!! Can a mindless force or non-sentient power do that? I think I could rest my case on this one sentence alone. But let’s keep plowing this field of good eating.
Can a lightning bolt teach you truth? Ruach ha’Kodesh is our teacher: Luke 12:12, “for Ruach ha’Kodesh will teach you in that hour what you should say.” John 14:26, “However, the Comforter—Ruach ha’Kodesh whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and he will remind you of everything that I said to you.”
Can a nuclear blast comfort you? John 14:16-17, 26, “And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Comforter so that he will be with you forever— 17 the Ruach of truth. The world cannot receive him because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. . . . 26 However, the Comforter—Ruach ha’Kodesh whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and he will remind you of everything that I said to you.” John 15:26, “When the Comforter—whom I will send to you from the Father, that is, the Ruach of truth, who goes out from the Father—comes, he will testify about me.”
The words “another Comforter” in John 14:16 above could be written as “one other Comforter”. Ok, these verses above show that both Yahweh the Father and Yeshua the Son will send us Ruach ha’Kodesh as our Comforter, so Who is this One Other Comforter? Is there at least three persons in this Family of Divine Ones, or not? Personally, I believe there are seven, not just three persons, in the Godhead. I believe the Scriptures teach us that. Only three of the seven have been revealed to humans so far. What is so difficult about that to understand? Do a search and Bible study on the seven spirits of Yahweh, especially in Revelation (see Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6) and Isaiah 11. Would Yahweh keep secrets from his immature arrogant children? Read Revelation 10:3-4.
Take a quick look at that word “testify” in John 15:26. Here is Dr. Thayer’s first definition for this word, martureo: “to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration” (Emphasis mine). So you tell me, can a mindless force or non-sentient power “testify”?
Can you lie to an avalanche? Acts 5:3, “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to Ruach ha’Kodesh and to keep back part of the price of the land?” Would an avalanche care if you lied to it? Would a tornado mind at all if you lied to it? Would a hurricane give a rip tide if you lied to it? Would a tsunami cry foamy tears if you lied to it?
Will a broiling sun intercede for you? Romans 8:26-27, “In the same way, the Ruach also helps in our weakness. For we do not know how we should pray, but the Ruach himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groans.
27 He who searches the hearts knows the mind of the Ruach, because he intercedes on behalf of the believers according to the will of Yahweh.”
Notice, Paul flat out plainly states that Ruach ha’Kodesh has a mind. That means He thinks thoughts with purpose and inclination. That means He can create things and solve problems. That means the Ruach can like or dislike things or people. I hope He likes you, ‘cause I know He likes me!!
Well folks, you make up your own mind, but this old student of the Scriptures has made up his mind, and I’ve never been a member of a Catholic church. Teachers of the word be careful to teach the truth of Yahweh’s word.
Gene Benjamin II
August 3, 2017