The Holy Spirit is not merely a mystical presence but the very breath, wisdom, and power of God working in and through believers. Isaiah 11:2 offers one of the clearest biblical outlines of the Holy Spirit's attributes, describing seven distinct manifestations—often called the seven powers or spirits of the Holy Spirit. These powers were fully embodied in Jesus Christ and are given to believers to live godly and victorious lives. Isaiah 11:2 (KJV) " And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. " Let’s look at each power in detail: 1. The Spirit of the Lord This is the foundational presence of the Holy Spirit—the sovereign power of God that rests upon a person for divine assignment. It represents God’s anointing, approval, and presence. ...
The Bible often exposes hypocrisy as a serious spiritual problem, especially among religious leaders and those who profess godliness without living it. A hypocrite is someone who pretends to have moral standards or religious beliefs that they do not truly possess. Jesus and the prophets frequently rebuked such behavior. Below are the key characteristics of hypocrites as revealed in Scripture: 1. They Pretend to Be Righteous but Are Inwardly Corrupt Matthew 23:27-28 (NIV): “ Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. ” Hypocrites maintain an outward form of godliness but are morally or spiritually dead inside. They focus on looking holy while neglecting heart transformation. 2. They Preach but Do Not Practice Mat...