Some notes and comments on various Biblical texts some have used to promote the doctrine of the Trinity. The main approach that will be used to arrive at a proper balanced view of these texts is based on the FACT that the Bible interprets itself.

 "But Peter said: "An·a·ni'as, why has Satan emboldened you to play false to the holy spirit and to hold back secretly some of the price of the field? As long as it remained with you did it not remain  yours, and after it was sold did it not continue in your control? Why was it that you purposed such a deed as this in your heart? You have played false, not to men, but to God."

PLEASE NOTE THAT PETER STATES THAT THE ACT ANANIAS PERFORMED - WAS DONE IN HIS HEART!!

Some here say that this is a proof that the holy spirit is God, the third person of the trinity.

 I KNOW YOU ARE SICK & TIRED OF ME SAYING IT - BUT IT IS GODS WORD THAT IS TELLING US THAT WHEN YOU LIE TO HOLY SPIRIT - THEN IN YOUR HEART YOU ARE LYING TO GO. PLEASE SEE THE HIGHLIGHTED WORDS AGAIN?

 They think this, because, Peter first said, that Ananias lied to the holy spirit, and then he said that Ananias lied to God, thus the holy spirit is God. Is this sound Biblical logic? YES IT IS!

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED PETER. (John 20: 21-23; Acts 2:4 & 38) GOD WILL NOT DENY HIM SELF ONLY MAN WILL DENY GOD.  2 Timothy 2:11-13.

Trinitarians take it a step further and say: Not Trinitarians – but the Word of God states it – all Christians do is point it out as it is written in the Bible. "Can you lie or speak to a thing?" NO.

IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT IS WRITTEN IN GODS WORD - THEN WE MAY AS WELL THROW IT OUT & NOT BE HERE!!

WE EITHER BELIEVE WHAT IS WRITTEN BY GOD OR NOT. THAT SIMPLE.

IF YOUR CHOICE IS TO FOLLOW MEN & WHAT THEY SAY. THAT IS YOUR CHOICE & NO ONE ELSE.

I C AN ONLY POINT TO WHAT GODS WORD TELLS ME & THEN SHOW IT TO YOU. YOU EITHER BELIEVE GOD OR MAN - IT IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU - OK!!

HEY = CAN YOU LIE TO A RADAR BEAM??

YES YOU CAN LIE ALL THAT YOU WANT TO THE POLICEMAN HOLDING THE RADAR GUN - BUT WILL THAT GET YOU ANYWHERE??

Holy Spirit is not a thing but a person that we can not see. Just like God. God is a Spirit & we can not see it so we make things up just because God identifies Himself in 3 persons. Thus the holy  spirit is God because it was spoken against and lied to. Is this true?

YES IT IS!!

LETS REASON THIS OUT – FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE – LET’S SAY THAT YOU ARE NAMED “HOLY SPIRIT” – I CAME ALONG & LIE TO YOU.

HAVE I LIED TO A “THING” OR HAVE I LIED TO YOU? OBVIOUSLY I HAVE LIED TO YOU AS YOU ARE “NAMED” HOLY SPIRIT.

NOW – PETER CLARIFIES THIS FURTHER BY SAYING – NOW THAT I HAVE LIED TO “HOLY SPIRIT” (YOU in this case) – I HAVE LIED TO GOD.

WHAT DOES THAT MAKE YOU? A THING OR “GOD”?  - GOD RIGHT! ALSO NOTE WHAT HAPPENED TO Ananias.

AS SOON AS PETER TOLD HIM THAT HE LIED TO GOD. IN VERSE 5 WE READ:

“WHEN ANANIAS HEARD THIS, HE “FELL DOWN & DIED”. AND A GREAT FEAR SEIZED ALL WHO HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED.”

LIE TO HOLY SPIRIT  & ZAPPOE - YOU ARE DEAD- NO MORE { PLACE YOUR NAME HERE}!!

THINK IT OUT – HOW COULD ONE DROP DEAD IF HE LIED TO A “THING”?

NOT POSSIBLE, THERE IS A MUCH, MUCH HIGHER AUTHORITY FIGURE HERE THEN JUST SOME “THING”. IN SHORT – PETER WAS A “MOUTH” PIECE FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT (GOD).

WHAT PETER IS INSISTING IS THAT “SIN” (IN THIS CASE A LIE) IS A SIN AGAINST GOD.

FAILURE IN DILIGENCE IS SIN AGAINST GOD.  FAILURE IN “TRUTH” IS SIN AGAINST GOD.

WHEN WE SLIP INTO FALSE HOOD IT IS SIN AGAINST THE“ GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS.”

CHRISTIANS SHOULD NEVER FORGET – THAT WE WILL GIVE ACCOUNT PERSONALLY FOR EVERY IDLE WORD WE SPEAK. IN OUR THOUGHTS - MIND & HEART.

IN SAYING THAT - OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN - BUT ONLY WHEN WE ACCEPT 100% WHAT GOD'S WORD IS TELLING US.

WHEN WE CONTINUALLY DENY HIM - THE TIME WILL EVENTUALLY RUN OUT & WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REPENT AGAINST OUR SINS AS WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY BREATH LEFT TO DO IT.

First let it be said, that the lie Ananias told was told to "Peter and the Apostles." (Acts 5:2) Nowhere we going be consistent and say, that because Peter said, "You have played false, not to men, but to God," that Peter and the Apostles were God?

NO THEY WERE  NOT GOD - BUT THEY HAD GOD RESIDING IN THEIR HEARTS & WHAT PETER WAS SAYING WAS ACTUALLY COMING FROM GOD & NOT FROM PETER HIMSELF.

We would be under obligation to do so IF we were also going to say that "because they lied to the holy spirit, and they lied to God, that the holy spirit was God." So are trinitarians consistent on this point?
No.

AS USUAL DEAR READERS – PLEASE READ THE CONTEXT OF THE “WHOLE” PASSAGE AT HAND. THE STORY BEGINS AT ACTS 4: 32  & CARRIES THROUGH TO 5:11.

THE STORY TELLS US THAT MANY MEN WANTED TO SHARE IN THE GLORY OF GOD & THEY SOLD THEIR HOMES (PERSONAL POSSESSIONS etc.) & GAVE THE PROCEEDS TO THE APOSTLES TO SHARE & DONATE TO THE NEEDY – PLEASE READ IT & YOU WILL SEE THAT IS WHAT WAS SAID.

NOW THIS MAN ANANIAS & HIS WIFE SAPPHIRA (VERSE 1) CAME TO PETER AFTER SELLING PIECE OF PROPERTY & BROUGHT ONLY “PORTION” OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF PROPERTY.

THIS WAS A WRONG THING TO DO AS APOSTLES WERE “INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT” (John 20:21-23).

THAT IS THEY HAD GOD WORKING WITHIN THEM - & WHEN THIS MAN DIDN’T OFFER THE FULL PORTION “HOLY SPIRIT” THAT WAS WITHIN PETERS HEART KNEW STRAIGHT AWAY THAT THIS MAN WAS TRYING TO LOOK GOOD IN THE  EYES OF THE ONLOOKERS BY SELLING HIS PROPERTY.

HOWEVER  HE WAS NOT PREPARED TO GIVE THE “WHOLE” AMOUNT IN THE SERVICE OF GOD TO BE SHARED AMONG GOD’S POOR PEOPLE.

STRAIGHT AWAY “HOLY SPIRIT” TOLD PETER TO TELL THIS BLOKE THAT HE IS A DECEIVER & A LIAR. HE PAID WITH HIS LIFE FOR LYING TO GOD.

SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIS WIFE IN – IN VERSES 7-10 = LUKE TELLS US WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

PETER EVEN GAVE HER A CHANCE TO REDEEM HERSELF WHEN HE ASKED HER ABOUT THE SELLING PRICE OF THE LAND, BUT SHE LIED ALSO & PETER TOLD HER “HOW COULD YOU AGREE TO “TEST” THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.”

PETER WAS ACTING AS A“ MOUTH” PIECE FOR HOLY SPIRIT.

FOLKS WHEN WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN OUR HEART WE ARE NOT SPEAKING WITH OUR OWN AUTHORITY, BUT GOD’S AUTHORITY.

THIS HUSBAND & WIFE TESTED GOD & PAID WITH THEIR LIVES. DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT ALSO? WE HOPE YOU DO NOT!

IN EFFECT WE BECAME MOUTH PIECE FO GOD – THIS IS BECAUSE – GOD IS A SPIRIT WHO IS TELLING US WHAT TO SAY.

"HE HAS NO HANDS BUT OUR HANDS TO DO HIS WORK TODAY:
HE HAS NO FEET BUT OUR FEET TO LEAD MEN IN HIS WAY:
HE HAS NO VOICE BUT OUR VOICE TO TELL MEN HOW HE DIED:
HE HAS NO HELP BUT OUR HELP TO LEAD THEM TO HIS SIDE:”  By W. BARCLAY. SCOTTISH THEOLOGIAN.

Now here's a thought, what if it wasn't Peter, but it was Jesus whom Ananias lied to?

HERE WE GO - NOW WE ARE REALLY MAKING THE STORY UP FOLKS – THE VERSES TELL US THAT IT WAS PETER. BUT THE AUTHOR IS TELLING US – IT WASN’T PETER THAT THIS MAN SPOKE TO.

Would trinitarians say that because Ananias originally lied to Jesus, and then Ananias didn't lie to men, but to God, that Jesus was God, because they originally lied to Jesus? I think they would. But lets explore some other facets of this verse shall we?

FOLKS – WHO IS MAKING IT UP – CHRISTIANS OR THIS AUTHOR?

NOTE SOMETHING INTERESTING IN THIS LAST STATEMENT – JESUS IS NOW “GOD” & NOT “a god”.  WOW ISN’T THIS A NEW LIGHT.

GOD DOES NOT MAKE THINGS UP & HE DOES NOT DENY HIMSELF ONLY DEVIL DENIES GOD AS HE WANTS AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE CAN DECEIVE TO KEEP HIM COMPANY IN THE ETERNAL FIRE. PLEASE DRIVE HIM OUT IN THE NAME OF “CHRIST” & THE POWER OF HIS BLOOD.

 Now, as we look at the sentence structure of this verse, we see that Peter said [SEE FOLKS IT WAS PETER WHO WAS SPEAKING & WAS SPOKEN TO] that Ananias lied to the holy spirit, and then later, that he lied, not to men, but to God. (This means in the eyes of trinitarians that the holy spirit was God) [BIBLE TELLS US THIS] Let's take this line of reasoning based on this sentence structure, and go to a similar sentence structure and see if this holds water.

[NOW WE HAVE TO DO MORE WALKING FOLKS – SO THAT WE GET TIRED & HOPEFULLY GIVE IN TO THE REASONINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY]

Let's look at John 9:21,22 which reads: "But how it is he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. ASK him. He is of age. He must speak for himself." His parents said these things because they were in fear of the Jews, for the Jews had already come to an agreement that, if anyone confessed him as Christ, he should get expelled from the synagogue."

THIS PASSAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SUBJECT AT HAND – BUT IT IS DESIGNED TO DECEIVE THE READER AGAIN.

Look at the sentence structure of these verses. Who is being spoken about?

FOLKS THE PERSON WAS SPOKEN “ABOUT” & IN ACTS PETER WAS SPOKEN  “TO” – BIG DIFFERENCE THERE. ISN’T IT?

I CAN SPEAK “TO” YOU FACE TO FACE OR I CAN SPEAK “ABOUT” YOU BEHIND YOUR BACK. NOT THE SAME THING.

It is the man that was blind, but was healed by Jesus. Yet verse 22 gives us the impression that the man WAS the Christ, by the use of the same word "him" that was referring to the man that was blind.

FOLKS COME ON PLEASE – THE WORD “HIM” REFERS TO THE “BLIND MAN” THAT WAS HEALED & NOT JESUS.

Look at this closely: "But how it is he (the man born blind) now sees we do not know, or who opened his (the man born blind) eyes we do not know.  ASK him (the man born blind). He (the man born blind) is of age. He (the man born blind) must speak for himself. (as the man born blind)" His (the man born blind) parents said these things because they were in fear of
the Jews,

[FOLKS NOTE HERE – THERE IS A CHANGE OF SUBJECT LINE – FROM TALKING ABOUT THE BLIND MAN – TO - FEARING JEWS.

IF YOU CONFESS JESUS AS CHRIST IN FRONT OF JEWISH LAW KEEPERS YOU WERE DOOMED. PLEASE READ THE CONTEXT FOLKS]

for the Jews had already come to an agreement that, if anyone confessed him (the man born blind – [NO FOLKS THIS LAST HIM REFERS TO JESUS] as Christ, he should get expelled from the synagogue."

HOW DID THIS AUTHOR CAM UP WITH THE SUGGESTION THAT THE BLIND MAN WAS BEING CONFESSED AS CHRIST - I DO NOT KNOW - BUT THE JEWS MAD UP THEIR MINDS THAT ANYONE WHO CONFESSES JESUS WOULD BE EXPELLED FROM SYNAGOGUES ETC.

Is this proper to conclude that the man born blind IS the Christ? Of course not. But why?

SORRY FOLKS – ONLY THIS AUTHOR COMES TO THIS CONCLUSION & NO ONE ELSE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THIS PASSAGE AS SUCH, UNLESS YOUR CHISEL IS EXTREMELY SHARP & YOU HAVE A LARGE HAMMER HANDY.

ALSO - IF WE CAN NOT CONCLUDE THE ABOVE - THEN WHY DID THE AUTHOR SPEND SO MUCH TIME DISCUSSING IT & CONFUSING THE ISSUE AT HAND??

TO TOTALLY CONFUSE & HOPE THAT YOU DO NOT PICK IT UP!  THAT'S WHY!!

Because the thought or object of the sentence shifted from speaking about the man born blind to speaking about Jesus. The same is true in Acts 5:3,4 [NOT SO- SEE ABOVE COMMENTS] where the thought or object of the sentence shifted from just lying against men and the holy spirit, to the serious reality that Ananias had blatantly lied against God. This sin involved the direct, wilful opposition to the evident demonstration of Jehovah's spirit in action. Thus he was struck dead.

DEAR READERS WE HAVE ALREADY COVERED THIS. BUT LET’S SEE THE VERSE AGAIN:

 PETER TELLS THE MAN THAT HE HAS LIED TO “HIM” – AS PETER WAS THE “MOUTH PIECE” FOR GOD (HOLY SPIRIT).

IT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO KNEW THAT THE MAN WAS LYING.

THERE IS NO WAY PETER COULD HAVE KNOWN THAT MAN HAS SHORT-CHANGED HIM, UNLESS HE WAS AT THE SALE OF THIS MAN’S PROPERTY.

THEREFORE  WHAT PETER WAS DOING, UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE “HOLY SPIRIT” WAS TO TELL THIS MAN THAT HE IS A LIAR & DECEIVER. SO TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK GOOD IN THE EYES OF MEN BY TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING & THEN DECEIVING GOD BY NOT GIVING THE “WHOLE” SHARE TO POOR “GOD’S CHOSEN” PEOPLE.

SAME THING HAPPENED IN VERSE 9 – WHERE PETER TELLS THE WIFE THAT SHE TRIED TO TEST THE “SPIRIT OF GOD” – BECAUSE OF HER LIES SHE ALSO DIED.

Let's look at a few other Bible examples of similar sentence structures to get a clearer meaning:

HERE WE GO AGAIN – BUT THIS PASSAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SUBJECT AT HAND.

Jonah 3:4,5 reads: "Finally Jo'nah started to enter into the city the walking distance of one day, and he kept proclaiming and saying: "Only forty days more, and Nin'e·veh will be overthrown." And the men of Nin'e·veh began to put faith in God, and they proceeded to proclaim a fast and to put on sackcloth, from the greatest one of them even to the least one of  them."

Now here we read that: "Jonah.....kept...saying.......Only forty days more......And the men.....put  faith in God." So are we to conclude that Jonah was God because Jonah  WAS the one speaking these things and the people put faith in God? The scripture does not say that Jonah said "In the name of God I say these things." So do we conclude that Jonah was God? Of course Jonah was not God, and neither is the holy spirit.

FIRST OF ALL - JONAH WAS GOD TO THEM - IF THEY DIDN'T REPENT FROM THEIR SINS - JUST AS JONAH INSTRUCTED THEM - THEN THE WHOLE CITY OF SOME 120, 000 PEOPLE WOULD HAVE PERISHED.

JONAH WAS THE ,MOUTH PIECE FOR GOD & JONAH WAS SPEAKING GOD'S WORDS. WHEN GOD SPEAKS WE BETTER LISTEN OR ELSE DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOLLOW - A AL ANANIAS & HIS WIFE.

LETS SEE HOW THIS PASSAGE WAS RENDERED IN NIV:  PASSAGE BEGINS IN VERSE 1 & ENDS IN VERSE 10.

“THEN THE WORD OF LORD CAME TO JONAH A SECOND TIME: 2 “GO TO GREAT CITY OF NINEVEH AND PROCLAIM (preach) TO IT THE MESSAGE I GIVE YOU.”

3 JONAH OBEYED THE WORD OF THE LORD AND WENT TO NINEVEH. NOW NINEVEH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT CITY – A VISIT REQUIRED 3 DAYS.

4 ON THE FIRST DAY, JONAH STARTED INTO THE CITY. HE PROCLAIMED (preached): FORTY DAYS AND NINEVEH WILL BE OVERTURNED.”

5 THE NINEVEH BELIEVED GOD. THEY DECLARED A FAST, AND ALL OF THEM, FROM THE GREATEST TO THE LEAST, PUT ON SACKCLOTH.

6 WHEN HE NEWS REACHED THE KING OF NINEVEH, HE ROSE FROM HIS THRONE, TOOK OFF HIS ROBES, COVERED HIMSELF WITH SACKCLOTH AND SAT DOWN IN THEDUST.

7 THEN HE ISSUED A PROCLAMATION IN NINEVEH: ‘BY THE DECREE OF THE KING AND HIS NOBLES: DO NOT LET ANY MAN OR BEAST, HEARD …etc. please read the decree.

10 WHEN GOD SAW WHAT THEY DID AND HOW THEY TURNED FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS, HE HAD COMPASSION AND DID NOT BRING UPON THEM THE DESTRUCTION HE HAD THREATENED.”

AS YOU CAN SEE - JONAH RECEIVED THE WORD FROM GOD & HE WENT ON & PASSED ON THE MESSAGE OF DESTRUCTION WILL BE UPON YOU "IF" YOU DO NOT REPENT & TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINFUL WAYS.

YES JONAH WAS THE MESSENGER - OF - GOD - BUT HE WAS NOT GOD!

Jonah was a prophet of God – God asked him to “PREACH” the word of God to Nineveh & he did as he was asked. No more No less.

WE HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY TODAY - NOT IN THE SENSE THAT PEOPLE WILL DROP DEAD IN THE STREETS IF THEY DO NOT HEED THE GODS WORD FROM OUR MOUTHS, AS SOME WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THIS: ANYONE WHO IS GIVEN THE TRUTH  ABOUT GOD'S WORD & THEY DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM THEIR SINFUL NATURE - THEN EVENTUALLY WHEN THAT DAY OF DEATH DOES COME - THEY WILL NOT HAVE SPIRITUAL LIFE WITH CHRIST. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT??

THE CHOICE IS TOTALLY YOURS - I CAN NOT FORCE YOU - NOR WILL I FORCE YOU TO BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAID - THAT IS COMPLETELY BETWEEN YOU & HIM.

ALL THAT I CAN DO IS PROVIDE YOU HIS MESSAGE - WHICH IS REPENT & STOP FOLLOWING MEN & START FOLLOWING & OBEYING GOD'S WORD AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLES THAT FAIR ENOUGH?? I CAN NOT DO ANY MORE THEN THAT.

BIBLE TELLS US THAT WHEN YOU LIE TO HOLY SPIRIT YOU WILL DIE - SO WHO AM I TO DISAGREE WITH WHAT GOD TELLS US?  NO ONE - I ACCEPT GOD'S WORD BY FAITH & I DO NOT FOLLOW ANY MAN, BUT JESUS CHRIST OUR BELOVED SAVIOR. BLESSED BE HIS NAME FOR EVER.

Matthew 16:23 says: "But, turning his back, he said to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you think, not God's thoughts, but those of men."

So are we to imagine that Peter WAS Satan THE Devil because Jesus called him Satan? And are we also to imagine that Satan is a Man because Jesus called Peter SATAN, who thinks MEN'S thoughts? Of course not, and neither is the holy spirit God.

REGARDS THIS PASSAGE, WE HAVE TO READ FEW VERSES EARLIER AS WELL AS THE WHOLE PASSAGE. IN THIS PASSAGE PETER WAS ACTING ON HIS OWN BEHALF & HE WAS TELLING GOD (JESUS) THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. PETER TOLD JESUS THAT “HE WILL NOT DIE”. PETER WASN’T GIVEN THE HOLY SPIRIT AS YET HE WAS STILL WITHOUT FULL KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHAT MUST HAPPEN.

IN FEW VERSES EARLIER – PETER WAS GETTING ANNOYED BECAUSE JESUS ASKED HIM 3 TIMES ABOUT HIS LOYALTY (verses 13- 20) – PETER TOLD JESUS THAT HE IS THE “SON OF THE LIVING GOD” (verse 16). JESUS TOLD PETER THAT, THAT
STATEMENT WAS REVEALED TO HIM BY JESUS’ FATHER & NOT BY MAN i.e.. He DID NOT COME UP WITH THAT STATEMENT OF HIS OWN ACCORD. YET LATER PETER TRIED TO DEFEND JESUS & TELL HIM THAT HE WOULD NOT DIE. THIS STATEMENT
WAS FROM HIS OWN COURAGE & NOT FROM JESUS’ FATHER AS IT HAPPENED EARLIER. THEREFORE – JESUS WAS TELLING PETER THAT IT WAS “SATAN” WHO WAS TELLING HIM THOSE LIES & HE TOLD “SATAN” TO GO BEHIND HIM (JESUS) &

NOT PETER. THE FOLLOWING VERSES (24-28) EXPLAIN THAT.

 WE ARE NOT MEANT TO “PHYSICALLY” PICK UP OUR SWORDS & GO INTO FIGHT FOR JESUS, BUT WE ARE TO ALLOW HIM TO LIVE IN US & HE WILL FIGHT HIS OWN BATTLE FROM WITHIN US. HE WILL DRIVE THE DEVIL OUT OF US AS WELL AS
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LISTEN TO HIM. DO YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO HIM??

THIS IS NOT AN EASY THING TO GET USED TO AT FIRST, BUT AS WE LEARN TO “TRUST” HIM MORE & MORE IT BECOMES EASIER AFTER A WHILE.

SATAN IS AN ADVERSARY OR ACCUSER & THIS IS WHAT SATAN WAS TRYING TO DO WITHIN PETERS BODY. HE WAS TRYING TO TELL JESUS THAT HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HE WAS SAYING.

THEREFORE  JESUS TOLD SATAN & NOT PETER TO GO BEHIND HIM & LEAVE HIM (JESUS) ALONE TO DO HIS WORK. REMEMBER SATAN IS ALSO a spirit, but an evil sprit. He tries all the time to lead us astray & it is up to us to tell him to go away.

Deuteronomy 31:3 says: "Jehovah your God is the one crossing before you. He himself will annihilate these nations from before you, and you must drive them away. Joshua is the one crossing before you, just as Jehovah has spoken."

Now, are we to conclude that Joshua IS Jehovah because first it says that Jehovah is the one crossing before you, THEN it says Joshua is the one crossing before you? Of course not, and neither is the holy spirit God.

We have already covered this – REMEMBER THAT IT WAS GOD WHO CROSSED FIRST & THEN JOSHUA FOLLOWED & THEN THE ISRAELITES FOLLOWED HIM. THIS IS GAIN A FALSE STATEMENT AS IT COMES FROM A FALSE BIBLE. PLEASE REREAD THE ENTIRE PASSAGE – DEUTERONOMY 31: 1- 8, PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT MOSES SAYS IN VERSE 3.

 YES – HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD.

Keep Paul's words in mind at 1 Thessalonians 4:8: "So, then, the man that shows disregard is disregarding, not man, but God, who puts his holy spirit in YOU."

PLEASE READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE from verse 1- 12! I WILL ONLY CITE FEW VERSES.

6  “AND THAT IN THIS MATTER NO ONE SHOULD WRONG HIS BROTHER OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIM. THE LORD (JEHOVAH) WILL PUNISH MEN FOR ALL SUCH SINS, AS WE HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU AND WARNED YOU. 7 FOR GOD DID
NOT CALL US TO BE IMPURE, BUT TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE. 8 THEREFORE “HE” WHO REJECTS THIS INSTRUCTION DOES NOT REJECT MAN BUT GOD, WHO GIVES “YOU" HIS HOLY SPIRIT.”

Yes, God puts his holy spirit in the disciples. But notice that if a man shows disregard to one of the disciples, they disregard God. Are we to now conclude that disciples are also God because the holy spirit is in them and by disregarding the disciples, they disregard God? Or course not, and neither is the holy spirit God.

 AGAIN FOLKS – THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS NOT TRUE – LOOK AT THE VERSES CAREFULLY. THEY STATE THAT “HE” WHO REJECTS THE HOLY SPIRIT REJECTS GOD. AS GOD GAVE HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO “YOU”.

WHAT PAUL IS TELLING US IS THAT “WE ALL” HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE “HOLY SPIRIT” – “ANYONE” THAT “REJECTS” THIS FREE GIFT IN EFFECT IS “REJECTING GOD.”

 PLEASE DO NOT REJECT “HOLY SPIRIT”, BUT ACCEPT HIM WITH OPEN ARMS. AS HE IS GOD.

Another scripture that drives home this point, is found at Exodus 7:17 which reads: "This is what Jehovah has said: "By this you will know that I am Jehovah. Here I am striking with the rod that is in my hand upon the water that is in the Nile River, and it will certainly turn into blood."

THIS IS WHAT THE PASSAGE SAYS IN FULL – SORRY FOLKS – BUT WE HAVE TO SEE THE “WHOLE” PASSAGE TO GET THE WHOLE PICTURE. I WILL START AT VERSE 14 & WILL SNIP HERE & THERE – BUT WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE PASSAGE.

 “ THEN THE LORD (JEHOVAH) SAID TO MOSES, PHARAOH'S HEART IS UNYIELDING …

15 GO TO HIM IN THE MORNING… WAIT ON THE BANK ON THE NILE TO MEET HIM, AND TAKE IN YOUR HAND THE STAFF THAT WAS CHANGED INTO A SNAKE.

16 THEN SAY TO HIM – “THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEBREWS, ‘HAS SENT ME TO SAY TO YOU’: LET MY PEOPLE GO, SO THAT THEY MAY WORSHIP ME IN THE DESERT. BUT UNTIL NOW YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED.
 

17 THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS: BY THIS YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD: WITH THE STAFF THAT IS IN MY HAND I WILL STRIKE THE WATER OF NILE, AND IT WILL BE CHANGED IN TO BLOOD.”

Verse 19 – “THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, ‘TELL AARON, TAKE YOUR STAFF AND STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND OVER THE WATERS OF EGYPT…”

 Now the question is, "who struck the river Nile with the rod that was in his hand," that turned the river to blood? Was it Jehovah? Or was it Aaron?

THAT IS NOT THE QUESTION FOLKS – THE QUESTION IS – WHO GAVE THE “INSTRUCTIONS TO SAY WHAT?” IT WAS LORD WHO TOLD – MOSES TO DO THE TALKING ON HIS BEHALF.

IN OTHER WORDS – MOSES WAS “THE MOUTH PIECE” FOR GOD. JUST LIKE JONAH WAS & JUST LIKE PETER WAS IN ACTS PASSAGE!

MOSES FOLLOWED THE “INSTRUCTIONS” TO THE LETTER – THAT’S WHY HE WAS THE ONE WHO STRUCK THE WATERS. AGAIN I ASK YOU – PLEASE READ THE “WHOLE PASSAGE!.

Exodus 7:19,20 answers: "Subsequently Jehovah said to Moses: "Say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and stretch your hand out over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their Nile canals and over their reedy pools and over all their impounded waters, that they may become blood.' And there will certainly be blood in all the land of Egypt and in the wooden vessels and in the stone vessels." Immediately Moses and Aaron did so, just as Jehovah had commanded, and he lifted up the rod and struck the water that was in the Nile River under the eyes of Phar'aoh and his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile River was turned into blood."

Here we see, while Jehovah said in verse 17, that "He himself" would strike the Nile, the reality was, that Jehovah caused Aaron to be used as the one who literally struck the Nile with the staff that was in Aaron's hand. So are we to conclude that Aaron was Jehovah? Of course not, and neither is the holy spirit God. NOT SO !

THE PERSON WHO IS SPEAKING IN THE VERSE 17 IS MOSES “UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONS” OF GOD,

FROM VERSE 16– WHEN GOD SAID – “THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEBREWS, “HAS SENT ME TO SAY TO YOU:””. I

In VERSE 19 – LORD “INSTRUCTS” MOSES TO “TELL” AARON TO PERFORM A DUTY & THAT DUTY WAS TO STRETCH OUT HIS ARM OVER THE RIVER.

NOTE – THAT BOTH “MOSES & AARON” WERE UNDER INSTRUCTION OF GOD. MOSES WAS THE “MOUTH PIECE” & AARON WAS GOD’S “HAND”. AS WE CALL IT TODAY = THEY WERE GODS “PROXIES”.

Now, on to this concept of "not being able to lie or speak to a thing." Some use this argument to prove that the holy spirit must be a person, because you cannot lie or speak to a thing. Is this a Bible fact? Is this sound Biblical logic?

GOD WOULDN’T TELL US THAT IT IS SO – IF IT WASN’T TRUE. DO  WE BELIEVE GOD’S WORD OR MANS ALLUSIONS?

Let's peruse this question.

James 3:14 reads: "But if YOU have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in YOUR hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth."

GUESS WHAT I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO. YEP – PLEASE READ THE “WHOLE” PASSAGE FROM VERSE 13 – 18.

Is the truth a person because you brag and lie against it?

FIRST & FOREMOST WHEN YOU BRAG & LIE – YOU CAN ONLY DO IT IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE – OTHERWISE YOU ARE RAMBLING TO YOURSELF.

BUT, PLEASE NOTE HERE THAT IT STATES “IF YOU HAVE BITTER JEALOUSY AND CONTENTIOUSNESS IN “YOUR HEART”, DO NOT BE BRAGGING & LYING AGAINST THE TRUTH.”

OK FOLKS – WHO IS LIVING IN YOUR HEART?

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN AS THE PEOPLE WERE TO WHOM JAMES WAS ADDRESSING THIS LETTER. THEN “GOD” IS RESIDING IN YOUR HEART (JOHN 3:3-7, 1 JOHN 5:1; GALATIANS 4:5-7; ROMANS 8: 1-16) – THEN YOU ARE BRAGGING & LYING TO “GOD”.

THIS IS NOT AN ADVISABLE THING TO DO!

REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO POOR Ananias & Sapphire? YUP – IT IS A HEALTH HAZARD FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IN OTHER WORDS – THE “TRUTH” SPOKEN OF HERE IS “GOD’S WORD”!!

Mark 4:39 says: "With that he roused himself and rebuked the wind and said to the sea: "Hush! Be quiet!" And the wind abated, and a great calm set in."

Are the wind and the sea "persons" because Jesus "rebuked the wind" and "spoke to the sea?"

NOT AT ALL. THEY ARE “ELEMENTS” OF GOD THAT HE HAS FULL CONTROL OVER.

NOT IT WAS GOD WHO HAD THE POWER TO CALM DOWN HIS ELEMENTS & NOT MAN. HMMMM JESUS “DIDN’T LIE” TO ELEMENTS HE “CONTROLLED” THEM. BIG DIFFERENCE THERE, FOLKS.

Luke 4:39 reads: "So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Instantly she rose and began ministering to them."

Is a fever a person because Jesus rebuked it?

NOT AT ALL !! FEVER IS AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE THAT A HUMAN (in this case) GOES THROUGH. IT’S AN UNPALATABLE “ELEMENT” OF HUMAN LIFE THAT WE ALL GO THROUGH SOONER OR LATER IN OUR HUMAN EXISTENCE.

JESUS PERFORMED THIS MIRACLE – SO THAT JEWISH PEOPLE COULD SEE THAT JESUS HAD “POWER” OVER FEVERS (SICKNESS) AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HE PERFORMED.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL EXPRESSION OF HIS LOVE, HE DIDN’T EVEN WANT PEOPLE TO SUFFER FROM THIS SICKNESS.

All these examples show that "things" in the Bible can be personified, or spoken of as being a person, or alive, and yet are not literally conscience beings.

 NOT AT ALL FOLKS – THE ABOVE THINGS ARE “ELEMENTS” OF CIRCUMSTANCES & SITUATIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE IN. TOTALLY DIFFERENT TO PERSONS SPEAKING, TALKING ETC.

This is the same of the holy spirit which in Acts 5:4 is said to have been "lied to."

NOT AT ALL – IF YOU LIE TO WIND, FEVER ETC & YOU WILL NOT DROP DEAD FOLKS, BUT DO THAT TO HOLY SPIRIT & YOU WILL LOSE YOUR LIFE JUST AS THE HUSBAND & WIFE DID IN ACTS 5:3-4.

IN THIS DAY TODAY, THE DEATH ISN’T AS INSTANTANEOUS, BUT IF YOU PERSIST TO LIE & DENY HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE & TEACH YOU. YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS & HAVE ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD. See Mark 3:29; Matthew 12:31-32 & Luke 12:10.

More along this line under the Acts 13:2 section.

What do the scriptures elsewhere say of the holy spirit with regard to our discussion? Is it indeed a person of the Godhead? Is it really "equal to God?"

Matthew 12:28 says: "But if it is by means of God's spirit that I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken YOU."

PLEASE READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE – FROM VERSE 22- 37, BUT THE PASSAGE READS LIKE THIS:

“And if I drive out demons “BY” the Spirit of God,” then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Is the Kingdom of God upon you?

Looking at a parallel verse at Luke 11:20, Jesus described the holy spirit this way: "But if it is by means of God's finger I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken YOU."

AGAIN PLEASE READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE FROM VERSE 14 TO 28, BUT THE PASSAGE READS LIKE THIS

“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”

Note the differences in the TRUE SCRIPTURE ??

JESUS  IS SAYING THAT WHEN HE IS USING HIS FINGER THEN HE IS DRIVING DEMONS OUT "BY" THE FINGER OFGOD !!!

So is the holy spirit a literal "finger?"

 IN BOTH PASSAGES “JESUS WAS DRIVING OUT” DEMONS FROM PEOPLE & HE WAS TELLING THEM THAT – DEVIL WILL NOT WORK AGAINST ITSELF, THAT IS THAT DEVIL WOULD NOT DRIVE OUT DEVIL OUT OF A HUMAN BEING AS DEVIL WOULD BE
TELLING ANOTHER DEVIL GET OUT OF HERE.

THERE WOULD BE A FIGHT AMONGST FAMILY MEMBERS. NOT A PRETTY SIGHT.

NORMALLY HOW JESUS DROVE OUT DEMONS WAS, BY POINTING A FINGER/ HAND OR PLACING A HAND ON A PERSON & THEN DEMON WOULD LEAVE THE PERSONS BODY.

THEREFORE - WHEN HE SAID. “BUT IF I DRIVE OUT DEMONS BY THE “FINGER OF GOD”, THEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME TO YOU.”

NOW PICTURE IT - JESUS WAS POINTING AT THIS PERSON (HOW DO YOU POINT?

BY YOUR FINGER OR HAND,) & THEN HE TELLS JEWS THAT WHEN “HE DRIVES OUT DEMONS BY THE FINGER OF GOD” TO WHOM IS HE REFERRING?

REMEMBER IT WAS JESUS’ FINGER THAT WAS POINTING AT THIS PERSON!!!!!

 YES FOLKS – JESUS WAS SAYING THAT, WHEN HE USES “HIS” FINGER HE IS USING “GOD’S” FINGER TO DRIVE OUT DEMONS.

GETTING THE PICTURE YET??

ALSO – WHEN HE DRIVES THE DEMONS OUT OF YOU – THEN “THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIVES IN YOU.”

DOES GOD’S KINGDOM LIVE IN YOU?  IF YOU SAY NO – THEN ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE & FOR HIM TO LIVE IN YOU.

If the holy spirit IS God, then why does Matthew 12:32 read: "For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come."

If the holy spirit is equal to God, and Jesus, why can you sin against Jesus and it will be forgiven you, but if you sin against the holy spirit, it won't be forgiven you?

REASON FOR THIS IS FOUND IN LATER SCRIPTURES – LUKE 12:12; 21:15; MARK 13:11 etc. tells us that “Holy Spirit” will teach us everything. We do not need men to teach us when we have “Holy Spirit” teaching us.

HAVE ALREADY GIVEN YOU THESE PASSAGES JOHN 3: 3-7; 1 JOHN 5: 1; GALATIANS 4: 5-7; ROMANS 8: 1-16: HOLY SPIRIT IS CALLING OUT “ABBA FATHER (Daddy, Daddy) PLEASE HELP THIS PERSON, HE IS ONE OF YOURS.

HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES, DIRECTS OUR LIVES SO THAT WE BECOME ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.

THAT’S WHY IF WE DENY HIM ENTRY IN TO OUR LIVES – WE  DO THINGS  FROM MAN’S POINT OF VIEW, AS MAN DOESN’T KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO. BUT WHEN WE HAVE GOD (HOLY SPIRIT) INDWELLING IN OUR HEARTS – WE HAVE GODTELLING US WHAT TO SAY & HOW TO SAY IT. BLESSED BE HIS NAME.

NOW THE BIG POINT ON HOLY SPIRIT: JESUS TELLS US THIS  IN JOHN 16: 8-11: NIV

"WHEN HE COMES. HE WILL "CONVICT" THE WORLD OF GUILT IN REGARD TO SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS & JUDGEMENT:

9 IN REGARD TO SIN, BECAUSE MEN DO NOT BELIEVE IN ME: 10 IN REGARD TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE I AM GOING TO THE FATHER, WHERE YOU CAN NOT SEE ME NO LONGER:

11 IN REGARD TO JUDGEMENT, BECAUSE THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD NOW STANDS CONDEMNED. 13 BUT  WHEN HE, THE
SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL THE TRUTH.'  please read the entire passage = from verse 1 to 16?

 Dear readers that first verse is so powerful for me - HE WILL CONVICT MEN OF SIN BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS & WHO HE IS!!!!

HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHO TELLS JESUS & HIS FATHER IF WE ARE JESUS FOLLOWERS  & IF WE ARE NOT THE HE TELLS IS LIKE IT IS & GUESS WHAT HAPPENS IF WE STAND CONVICTED??

HOLY SPIRIT DOE NOT "CONDEMN" US - BUT HE "CONVICT" US -

HE IS NOT THE ONE WHO IS MAKING US FEEL GUILTY WHEN WE DO WRONG - THAT IS DEVIL WHO IS CONDEMNING US.

HOLY SPIRIT IS THE FINAL PERSON WHO IS TELLING US ALL THE TIME TO REPENT & ACCEPT JESUS - & HE TIRES EVER SO HARD TO DO THAT - BUT HE WILL NOT FORCE HIMSELF UPON YOU - YOU MUST ALLOW HIM IN TO YOUR HEART!!

FOLKS – I HOPE THIS HELPS, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IS GO & READ THE PASSAGES THAT I RECOMMENDED TO YOU & THEN ASK GOD TO SEND HOLY SPIRIT INTO YOUR HEARTS. REPENT FROM SINNING AGAINST HIM & HE WILL COME
IN & TEACH YOU ALL THINGS. BLESSED BE HIS NAME.

 If the holy spirit is God, then why does Matthew 11:27 read: "All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one fully knows the Son but the Father, neither does anyone fully know the Father but the Son and anyone to whom the Son is willing to reveal him."

PLEASE READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE – FROM VERSE 25- 30.

REASON THAT JESUS MAKES THIS STATEMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SUBJECT AT HAND. BUT WHAT IT DOES TELL US IS THIS.

THIS IS DONE ONLY WHEN HOLY SPIRIT IS INDWELLING IN OUR HEART.

IS JESUS CARRYING YOUR BURDENS OR ARE YOU TRYING TO DO IT ALL BY YOUR SELF?

IF YOUR ANSWER IS NO. THEN GO & LET HIM CARRY YOUR BURDENS FOR YOU. BLESSED BE HIS NAME.

What of the holy spirit? Does "he" not also know the Father or the Son? YES HE DOES!
Does the Son need to reveal to or teach the holy spirit? NO – ALL 3 WORK IN UNISON.

If the holy spirit is God, then why does Mark 13:23 read: "Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father."

 BECAUSE WE WERE NOT MEANT TO KNOW IT – SO IT WAS NOT REVEALED TO US. ANY JW READING THIS & WHO REMEMBERS 1975 DEBACLE. YOU WILL KNOW WHY, THERE WAS SO MUCH CHAOS & MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST SO MUCH.

ALSO JESUS WAS IN FLESH & NOT SPIRIT – HE DIDN’T WANT US TO KNOW TO MUCH AS WE COULD NOT HANDLE IT.

JEWS COULD NOT HANDLE THE “MESSIAH”, AS THEY WANTED TO BIG NOTE THEMSELVES – SO - GOD DOES NOT WANT “US” TO KNOW “EVERYTHING” OF HIS PLAN.

WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS TO WORRY ABOUT IN OUR DAILY LIVES, SO WHY PLACE ADDITIONAL BURDENS UPON OUR SELVES.

MORE IMPORTANTLY – GOD WANTS OUR LOVE BY OUR FAITH IN HIM & THAT HE WILL PROVIDE US WITH OUR DAILY BREAD & NOT WORRY ABOUT OUR TOMORROW'S.

Why does not the holy spirit know the day and hour? Why is the holy spirit not even mentioned here? It is not involved in prophecy? SEE LAST COMMENT.

The answer to these questions are very simply: "The holy spirit is God's active force, that he uses to accomplish his will through out the universe." Genesis 1:2

ONLY TO ANYONE WHO DENIES HIM & THAT ONE WILL DIE IN “HIS SINS” & GOD CAN NOT HELP HIM AS HE IS DENYING GOD’S TEACHINGS, BUT IS PREPARED TO ALLOW MERE MAN TO LEAD HIM.

DEAR READERS - WHEN WE ARE MARKED IN HIM (JESUS) WITH THE SEAL, THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS A DEPOSIT “GUARANTEEING" OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THOSE WHO ARE GOD’S POSSESSION – TO THE PRIZE OF
HIS GLORY. (EPHESIANS 1:13-14).

So is the holy spirit a person, based on Acts 5:3,4, because of the "you can't lie to a thing theory?" Not according to the above verses.

THE ABOVE VERSES PROVED THAT THIS PERSON “DOES NOT” HAVE HOLY SPIRIT UPON HIS HEART. AS HE CONTINUALLY DENIES HIM (HOLY SPIRIT) & GOD DOES NOT DENY HIMSELF, ONLY MERE MEN WHO DO NOT HAVE HIM – DENY HIM.

The holy spirit is not revealed in the Bible as a person, but rather, is revealed as God's active force. [NOT SO!] It is indeed a thing. [NOT SO!] This is borne out in several places where it is spoken of. (Genesis 1:2; Psalms 147:18).

IN OT – HOLY SPIRIT IS CALLED “SPIRIT OF GOD” – NOT FATHER NOT SON – BUT SPIRIT OF GOD. IN NT – HE WAS REVEALED TO US AS “THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

WHILE WE ARE HERE LET’S LOOK AT THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

In JOHN 16:8,13 WE READ:

“AND WHEN HE COMES (THE HOLY SPIRIT), HE (PERSONAL PRONOUN) WILL SHOW THE WORLD HOW WRONG IT WAS ABOUT JUDGEMENT (COMMUNICATION).. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING (TALKING HERE) AS FROM HIMSELF BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNED (KNOWING AND THINKING); AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME (COMMUNICATING)."

 IF HOLY SPIRIT WAS AN IT THEN PERSONAL PRONOUNS WOULD NOT BE USED - BUT "IT" - AN INDEFINITE ARTICLE WOULD BE.

“ONE DAY WHILE THEY WERE OFFERING WORSHIP TO THE LORD AND KEEPING A
FAST, THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID (COMMUNICATING AGAIN), “I” [USING PERSONAL PRONOUN] WANT [DEMANDING] BARNABAS AND SAUL SET APART FOR THE WORK WHICH I HAVE CALLED THEM,”  (Acts 13:2).

In both these passages the Holy Spirit is described as acting in very way a SELF- CONSCIOUS PERSON ACTS: HE COMMUNICATES, THINKS, AND IS DESCRIBED IN PERSONAL PRONOUNS (I.e. “he” & “I”).

A THING OR IMPERSONAL FORCE (LIKE A RADAR BEAM) CAN NOT DO THAT.

 More on the holy spirit under the holy spirit section.

"And they went on casting stones at Stephen as he made  appeal and said: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Some say this verse points to Jesus being Jehovah because Stephen appealed or "prayed" as some translations put it, to Jesus. Thus Jesus is indeed Jehovah for prayers should only be directed to Jehovah. Is this the case? Is Jesus indeed Jehovah, let us investigate.

FOLKS THIS AUTHOR JUST CITED NWT & NOW HE IS TELLING US THAT 'SOME' TRANSLATIONS PUT IT!!   COME ONE  LEST GET REAL HERE!!

ISN'T NWT RIGHT AGAIN??  WOW!! DIDN'T THE TRANSLATING BODY GET IT RIGHT AGAIN??

YES JESUS IS JEHOVAH!! – WE HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT. JUST SEE MALACHI 3:1 - MATTHEW 3:3 ETC.

We really need to look at the entire context of this verse to arrive at a proper conclusion of our questions. Starting with verse 55 to verse 60, we read of Stephen: "But he, being full of holy spirit, (NOTE HERE THAT STEPHEN WAS FULL OF HOLY SPIRIT – IF HOLY SPIRIT WAS A THING, THEN HOW CAN STEPHEN BE FULL OF A “THING”?)

gazed into heaven and caught sight of God's glory and of Jesus standing at God's right hand, and he said: "Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God's right hand." At this they cried out at the top of the voice and put their hands over their ears and rushed upon him with one accord. And after throwing him outside the city, they began casting stones at him. And the witnesses laid down their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they went casting stones at Stephen as he made appeal and aid: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then, bending his knees, he cried out with a strong voice: "Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them." And after saying this he fell asleep [in death]." –

BEFORE WE GO ON- THE WORD JEHOVAH IN THIS PASSAGE IS MISTRANSLATED “LORD” FORM GREEK (KURIOS & GB TRANSLATING COMMITTEE RENDERED IT AS JEHOVAH) TAKE A LOOK IN YOUR KIT & YOU WILL SEE WHAT WE MEAN.

BUT MORE TO THE POINT - STEPHEN WAS ASKING JESUS TO RECEIVE HIS SPIRIT & THEN IN THE SAME BREATH HE SAID "JEHOVAH" DO NOT etc..  - JESUS WAS LOOKING AT JESUS WHILE SAYING THESE WORDS!!

Thus the context here shows us that Stephen was given a miraculous vision. In this vision (verse 55,56), he sees not only God, but Jesus at God's right hand. - [SO TRUE] - Stephen, who was about to be stoned, was filled with holy spirit, and was thus able to see the reality of the situation, that he was about to be put to death for his being Jesus' follower. Stephen, during this vision, then makes an appeal, or request of Jesus, seeing him in this vision, to receive his spirit.

 NOTE THAT STEPHEN MAKES A REQUEST OF “JESUS” & NOT HIS FATHER.

NOW THE AUTHOR HIMSELF IS TELLING US THAT JESUS WAS THE ONE THAT STEPHEN WAS LOOKING AT & APPEALING TO!!! HMMMM

STEPHEN THEN ASKS “JEHOVAH” DO NOT CHARGE.. AS HE WAS ADDRESSING JESUS HE ENDED UP CALLING JESUS “JEHOVAH.” INTERESTING ISN’T  IT?

The Greek word here translated "appeal" or "prayer," as in some translations, is "epikaloumenon." It literally means "appeal, invoke, aid, request, call, or call on."

QUESTION ARISES AGAIN – OF WHO DID STEPHEN REQUEST THINGS? JESUS OF COURSE!

It is used else where in the Bible by Paul for instance at Acts 25:11 where he "appealed," or "called on" Caesar. Certainly, Caesar was not God, nor did Paul "pray" to Caesar! And again at Acts 26:32. Also at Acts 10:18, at another form of the same word (epikaleo) is used with reference to the one "called" (epikaleo) Peter. Thus, we see that this word "epikaloumenon" hardly means that Stephen is offering a "prayer," or "worshipful address" to Jesus.

NOT AT ALL – FOLKS – IF I “APPEAL” TO YOU FOR MERCY – DOES THAT MAKE YOU, OR ANYONE ELSE OTHER THAN YOURSELF? OF COURSE NOT.

ALL THAT I HAVE DONE IS “APPEALED” OR “EXPRESSED” TO YOUR SENSE OF HUMANITY AND HOPE FOR ANOTHER HEARING.

HERE STEPHEN APPEALED TO JESUS SO THAT HE DOES NOT PUNISH HIS ACCUSES FOR STONING HIM. NO MORE NO LESS.

 We know this because Matthew 6:9 tells us to "pray" to the Father....The Greek word here translated "pray" is "proseukhmai." This word means to "pray, offer worshipful address." It is NOT the same word as used in Acts 7:59.

SO WHY ARE WE DISCUSSING IT HERE? TO CONFUSES FOLKS – TO CONFUSE YOU & TAKE YOU AWAY FORM THE SUBJECT AT HAND.

Thus we conclude, that Stephen, who was about to die, was given a vision. There he saw Jesus, at the right hand of his Father in heaven. Then, at the moment right before his death, he requested Jesus to receive his spirit,

(NOTE, THAT STEPHEN REQUESTED JESUS TO RECEIVE HIS SPIRIT ) as well as offer petition to Jehovah, not to hold this sin against them.

NO – NO – NO – NOW WE ARE COMPLETELY CHANGING WHAT THE AUTHOR SAID ABOVE.

JESUS IS OUR FINAL JUDGE (JOHN 5:22-23) – ALSO STEPHEN WAS SPEAKING & ADDRESSING JESUS & NOT HIS FATHER. PLEASE RE READ THE PASSAGE & YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS THE CASE).

JESUS IS THE "DOOR" TO THE FATHER - NO BODY COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME - JESUS SAID THIS IN JOHN 14:6.

"SALVATION IS FOUND IN "NO ONE ELSE," FOR THERE IS "NO" OTHER NAME UNDER THE HEAVEN GIVEN TO MEN BY WHICH WE "MUST BE" SAVED." Acts 4: 12

"SIMILARLY, IF ANYONE COMPETES AS AN ATHLETE, HE  DOES NOT RECEIVE THE VICTOR'S CROWN UNLESS HE COMPETES ACCORDING TO THE RULES." 2 Timothy 2: 5

What a sterling example of humility and faith on Stephen's part! His request to Jesus,

[HERE THE AUTHOR AGREES AGAIN THAT THE REQUEST WAS TO “JESUS"]  whom he saw in vision, was just that, a request, to receive his spirit. Would not any one of us, who saw Jesus in a vision, do the same?

YES WEMUST!!

Yes! May we likewise do the same and be faithful to death in deafens of the truth, by defending that Jehovah alone is the Most High God. He being the Father of Jesus, is the only true God. Psalms 83:18; Micah 5:4; John 20:17; Rev. 3:12; John 17:1-3

WE HAVE ALREADY COVERED THESE PASSAGES – SO WOULD YOU PLEASE GO & RE READ THEM IN A “TRUE” BIBLE & NOT NWT. IF YOU MUST READ THE NWT – WOULD YOU AT LEAST READ IT WITH THE KIT PLEASE & SEE THE DIFFERENCES FIRST HAND.

 "As they were publicly ministering to Jehovah (please see KIT on this word) and fasting, the holy spirit said: "Of all persons set Bar'na·bas and Saul apart for me for the work to which I have called them."

APOSTLES WERE JESUS’ DISCIPLES & THEY WERE WORSHIPPING HIM.

Some here feel that because the holy spirit "spoke" that it must be a person. Is this the case?

IF IT IS NOT – THEN WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM FOLKS. THE WHOLE BIBLE WOULD BE A ONE BIG LIE & WE KNOW THAT IT IS NOT.

Because something "speaks" does this mean that it has to be a person?

YES – OTHERWISE IT IS NOT A PERSON – DOGS “BARK” – COWS “MOO”- HORSES “NEIGH” – CATS “MEOW” – BIRDS “CHIRP” – etc. ONLY HUMANS SPEAK.

Also, because the holy spirit is written with a personal pronoun "I," this also indicates that the holy spirit is a person. Is this the case?  SURE DOES!!

Let's peruse these thoughts from a Biblical perspective.

HERE WE GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AGAIN = AS IF THIS PASSAGE ISN'T ENOUGH!!  ITS' LIKE ME TALKING TO YOU - I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR TO GET THE MEANING OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING - HMMMM!

Let's look at some other Bible verses for our answer: Revelation 16:7 says: "And I heard the altar say: "Yes, Jehovah God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judicial decisions."

Are we to imagine that there is an altar in heaven that is a person because it "speaks?"

FOLKS YOU MUST BE SICK OF ME ASKING YOU READ THINGS FROM BEGINNING TO END & NOT MAKE THINGS UP. FROM THE BEGINNING OF REVELATION WE READ MANY THINGS.

DO WE UNDERSTAND THINGS OF GOD?? I KNOW THAT I DO NOT - AS HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS WHAT HE IS ABOUT.

AGAIN IN THE CHAPTER 6: 9,10. WE READ THAT THERE WERE THE SOULS & VOICE OF THOSE THAT WERE SLAIN COMING FROM UNDER THE ALTAR – IN CHAPTER 9:13 “ THE VOICE COMES “FROM” THE HORNS OF THE GOLDEN ALTAR. IN CHAPTER 16:1 WE READ THAT THE VOICE COMES “FROM” THE “TEMPLE.”

I AM  NOT ASKING YOU TO  “IMAGINE” ANYTHING – ALL THAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IS UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE JOHN WAS IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS HE “SAW” & “HEARD” MANY THINGS THAT WE NORMALLY WOULDN’T SEE & HEAR, HERE ON EARTH. HE RECORDED IT AS SUCH.

 IN REV. 16:7 THE ALTAR IS PERSONIFIED - & - THERE ARE OTHER PASSAGES THAT TELL US THAT THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE SPEAKING FROM “UNDER” THE ALTAR & THEN WE CAN FORM THE BIGGER PICTURE OURSELVES.

IS IT ALWAYS NECESSARY TO GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO INFORM US THAT A PERSON IS TALKING TO US & HE/SHE IS SAYING THINGS? NOT AT ALL!  RIGHT !!

WE CAN COME TO OUR OWN CONCLUSIONS WHEN WE ARE READING A BOOK. WE ARE INTELLIGENT CREATIONS OF GOD WHO GAVE US “BRAINS” TO REASON THINGS OUT FOR OURSELVES & NOT ALWAYS TO LOOK FOR EACH & EVERY WORD

TO TELL US THAT A PERSON IS SPEAKING.

ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EXPLAIN TO YOU HIS THINGS & HE WILL - BUT YOU MUST BE WILLING TO HAVE FAITH IN HIM 100%.   TO HAVE FAITH  EVEN AS LITTLE AS RAHAB HAD - HE WILL COME

HE STARTS SLOWLY & AS YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCEPT & HANDLE HIS WORD HE WILL GUIDE YOU!!

Galatians 3:8 says: "Now the Scripture, seeing in advance that God would declare people of the nations righteous due to faith, declared the good news beforehand to Abraham, namely: "By means of you all the nations will be blessed."

Here we are told that the scriptures "see" and "declare." Are the scriptures a "person?"

PLEASE READ THE “WHOLE” PASSAGE AGAIN FROM VERSES 1- 14 & YOU WILL SEE THAT PAUL IS TELLING US – THAT SCRIPTURE FROM MOSES TIME “FORE SAW” THAT GOD WOULD JUSTIFY GENTILES BY FAITH.

THE AUTHOR OF OT – WHO WAS “JESUS” WAS TELLING US IN WORD FORM THAT WE “GENTILES” WOULD BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH & NOT BY PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION & SACRIFICES OF INNOCENT ANIMALS.

YES SCRIPTURES “FORESAW” AS THE AUTHOR (JESUS) WROTE IT IN THEM.

WHAT PAUL IS TELLING US – IS THAT  “AUTHOR” (JESUS) KNEW WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE & HE PUT IT IN THE WORDS SO THAT OTHERS WHO WOULD READ THEM WOULD SEE FOR THEMSELVES THAT THIS WAS TO BE SO.

 THE WORD OF GOD = IS THE “LIVING WORD” OF GOD.

IT TELLS US OF THINGS THAT WE DO NOT KNOW & IF WE BELIEVE GOD’S WORD THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL“ SPEAK” TO US. IF

WE DO NOT BELIEVE GOD’S WORD THEN WE BELIEVE WHAT SOME “MEN” TELL US. THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TURNED A DEAF EAR TO GOD.
.
Hebrews 12:24 says: "and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling, which speaks in a better way than Abel's [blood]."

This verse says that "Abel's blood speaks." Is Abel's blood a person?

NOT AT ALL – FOLKS – BLOOD IS “LIFE” & ABEL'S BLOOD WAS SCREAMING TO GOD FOR “VENGEANCE” – GOD HEARD THAT CRY.

YET JESUS’ BLOOD IS TELLING US DIFFERENT THINGS TO ABEL’S & THAT IS FREEDOM & LOVE INSTEAD OF VENGEANCE.

DO YOU HEAR WHAT THE WORD OF GOD IS TELLING YOU OR ARE YOUR EARS TURNED OFF TO GOD & ARE OPENED TO MEN ONLY?

PLEASE TURN THEM (EARS) ON FOR GOD & TURN THEM OFF TO MEN.

  PAUL TELLS US IN COLOSSIANS 3: 9B-13 THAT IF WE HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT ANYONE, THEN WE SHOULD FORGIVE EACH OTHER & NOT BARE GRUDGES AGAINST FELLOW BROTHER OR SISTER. SO THIS IS WHAT JESUS IS TEACHING US NOW & WE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE.

And again at Genesis 4:10: "At this he said: "What have you done?  Listen! Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground." –

I SAID THIS EARLIER. GOD HEARD THE SPILT BLOOD CRYING OUT FOR VENGEANCE. WHAT DID HAPPEN TO CAIN?

YOU KNOW THE ANSWER. IF ABEL'S BLOOD WASN’T CRYING OUT – GOD WOULD NOT HAVE HEARD IT. WOULD HE?  BLOOD WAS PERSONIFIED -= SO TO PAINT A PICTURE FOR US. CAN YOU SEE THAT PICTURE?

THE BEST COACHES & TEACHES “PAINT” MENTAL PICTURES FOR THEIR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE VISION THEMSELVES & THEN REACT TO IT. CAN YOU SEE WHAT GOD IS TELLING YOU THROUGH HIS “LIVING WORD”? WE HOPE YOU CAN – IF NOT WHY NOT ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU?

Is Abel's blood a person because it is "crying out? – NO – IT’S PERSONIFIED – SEE LAST STATEMENT.

James 5:4 says: "Look! The wages due the workers who harvested YOUR fields but which are held up by YOU, keep crying out, and the calls for help on the part of the reapers have entered into the ears of Jehovah of armies."

Here we see the wages are "crying out." Are the wages a person as well?

WE CAN NOT SEE THEM CRYING OUT FOLKS = BUT GOD CAN SEE THEM CRYING OUT AS HE SEES WHAT IS IN OUR HEARTS.

GOD CAN SEE WHEN WE DO WRONGS TO OTHERS AS OUR HEART TELLS HIM.

GOD DOES NOT JUDGE US BY OUR OUTWARD EXPRESSIONS, BUT BY OUR HEART CONDITION. PLEASE READ HEBREWS 8 & 10 & JEREMIAH 21: 9- 40 & 31: 31-35.

GOD DOES NOT JUDGE US BY HOW MANY HOURS WE HAVE BEEN DOOR KNOCKING IN ANY ONE WEEK -

GOD NO WHERE TELLS US THAT WE MUST PUT IN HOURS OF DOOR KNOCKING & SELLING MAGAZINE.

IN EPHESIANS 2;8-9 HE CLEARLY TELLS US THAT SALVATION  IS HIS GIFT TO US - THROUGH HIS GRACE & NOT WORKS - UNLESS WE WANT TO BOAST.

ABRAHAM DIDN'T GO TO GOD & SAID - YOU KNOW WHAT GOD - I WILL OFFER YOU MY SON ISAAC - JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. DID HE?

NO - GOD TESTED ABRAHAM'S FAITH & IT WAS GOD WHO ASKED ABRAHAM TO GO FOR A LONG WALK & GOD WANTED TO SEE IF ABRAHAM TRUSTED GOD THAT MUCH.

ABRAHAM WENT WITHOUT HESITATION AS HE REMEMBERED THAT GOD TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD BUILD A NATION UPON HIS SON ISAAC - SO HE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF - GOD WILL RAISE HIM UP - NO MATTER WHAT = SO HE WENT ALL THE WAY WITHOUT HESITATION.

 WHERE IS YOUR HEART WITH GOD OR MAN MADE RULES & REGULATIONS??

Psalms 49:14 says: "Like sheep they have been appointed to She'ol itself; Death itself will shepherd them; And the upright ones will have them in subjection in the morning, And their forms are due to wear away; She'ol rather than a lofty abode is for each one."

Here we see that death is called a "shepherd." Is death a person because it "shepherds?"

DEATH IS PERSONIFIED – TO TELL US THAT THOSE WHO DO NOT FOLLOW GOD & HIS WORD WILL BE KILLED & THERE WILL BE NO HEAVENLY PLACE FOR THEM.

THEY WILL HAVE ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD. IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT? GOD HOPES THAT YOU DO NOT. TURN TO HIM AS HE IS WAITING TO CARRY YOU TO HIS KINGDOM. BLESSED BE HIS NAME.

Joshua 24:27 reads: "And Joshua went on to say to all the people: "Look! This stone is what will serve as a witness against us, because it has itself heard all the sayings of Jehovah that he has spoken with us, and it must serve as a witness against YOU, that YOU may not deny YOUR God."

Here is an interesting verse that tells us that "a stone" would serve as "a witness" against the people. Why? because it "heard" all the sayings of Jehovah." So are we to conclude that the stone is an actual person because it is a "witness," and it "hears?" Of course not, it is being personified, just as the holy spirit is at Acts 13:2

NOT AT ALL – PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING VERSES

25- “ON THAT DAY JOSHUA MADE A COVENANT FOR THE PEOPLE, AND THERE AT SHECHEM HE ‘DREW UP FOR THEM DECREES AND LAWS.’

26- AND JOSHUA ‘RECORDED’ THESE THINGS IN THE “BOOK OF THE LAW OF GOD.’ THEN HE TOOK THE ‘LARGE STONE’ AND SET IT UP THERE UNDER THE OAK NEAR HOLY PLACE OF THE LORD.

27- SEE HE SAID TO ALL THE PEOPLE. ‘THIS STONE’ WILL BE A WITNESS AGAINST US. IT HAS HEARD ALL THE WORDS THE LORD HAS SAID TO US. IT WILL BE A WITNESS AGAINST YOU IF YOU ARE UNTRUE TO YOUR GOD.”

 PLEASE READ THE FIRST 25 VERSES ALSO SO TO GET THE MENTAL PICTURE THAT “JOSHUA WAS PAINTING” FOR HIS PEOPLE.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THIS STORY AGAIN.

SAME APPLIES  TODAY – FOLKS – IF WE DO NOT FOLLOW THE GOD’S LIVING WORD “THE BIBLE” – IT WILL SPEAK AGAINST US AT THE JUDGEMENT TIME. DO YOU WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO YOU? HOPE NOT!

 As we can see from all the above samples, things in the Bible are often personified and written about as if they are "real persons," that can "speak, see, declare, cry  out, shepherd, hear, and even serve as a witness," but in reality, they are not persons at all. BUT HOLY SPIRIT IS.

WE HAVE ALSO SHOWN THAT “EVERY” VERSE WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT SO TO MAKE “GOD’S WORD” A LIE. THIS IS NOT A HEALTHY THING TO DO. JUST AS THE STONE BOOK THAT JOSHUA WROTE SPOKE AGAINST HIS PEOPLE – SO WILL THE BIBLE SPEAK AGAINST US, AS GOD KNOWS WHERE OUR HEART LIES (1) WITH HIM OR (2) AGAINST HIS WORD.

 But what of the personal pronoun used of the holy spirit? Does this mean it is a person?  YES it does!!

Let's look at Numbers 22:28-30: "Finally Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass and she said to Ba'laam: "What have I done to you so that you have beaten me these three times?" At this Ba'laam said to the ass: "It is because you have dealt ruthlessly with me. If only there were a sword in my hand, for now I should have killed you!" Then the she-ass said to Ba'laam: "Am I not your she-ass that you have ridden upon all your life long until this day? Have I ever been used to do to you this way?" To which he said: "No!"

VERSE 31 STATES – “ THEN THE LORD OPENED BALAAMS EYES, AND HE SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STANDING THE ROAD WITH HIS SWORD DRAWN. SO HE BOWED DOWN LOW AND FELL FACE DOWN…. ETC.

PLEASE READ THE “WHOLE PASSAGE FROM VERSE 1- 41 & YOU WILL GET THE BIGGER PICTURE. PREFERABLY NOT IN THE NWT, BUT IN A RECOGNIZED BIBLE.

Here we see that Balaam’s donkey is referred to with the personal pronoun "I." Are we to assume the donkey is a person? Of course not, and neither is the holy spirit a persons because it is written using a personal pronoun.

FOLKS – AGAIN – PLEASE RE READ THE PASSAGE & YOU WILL NOTE THAT IT WAS THE “LORD” WHO OPENED THE DONKEYS MOUTH & HE SPOKE. THIS TELLS US THAT GOD CAN USE WHO EVER HE WANTS AS HIS “MOUTHPIECE.”

THE INTERESTING THING FOLKS IS THIS. FEMALE - NOT MALE :-))  ASS (DONKEY) WAS ABLE TO SEE GODS ANGEL STANDING THERE – BUT MAN WHO TURNED AGAINST GOD COULD NOT
SEE. INTERESTING ISN’T IT?

ARE YOUR EYES LIKE THE DONKEY WHO CAN SEE GOD’S WORKERS SEEKING YOU OR ARE YOU LIKE THE BLIND MAN WHO LIKES TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF HIS LIVING WORD?

GOD LOVES YOU & HE IS WAITING FOR YOU, AS HE WANTS TO CARRY YOU. PLEASE DO NOT GO INTO BONDAGE TO MEN – BUT BE FREE IN CHRIST.

"Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed YOU  overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own [Son]."

This verse is used by some to promote the idea of Jesus being Jehovah because some translations render this verse as "with his own blood," with reference to God's blood. Is this the case? Is Jesus indeed being identified as "God" in this verse? We shall see.

OK DEAR READERS LETS SEE HOW KIT TRANSLATES IT – THE WORDS ARE AS THEY APPEAR IN KIT WORD FOR WORD.

“BE YOU PAYING ATTENTION – TO SELVES- AND - TO ALL – THE- FLOCK,- IN – WHICH- YOU – “THE -SPIRIT – THE HOLY” – PUT – OVERSEERS, - TO BE - SHEPHERDING – THE – ECCLESIA – OF THE – GOD, WHICH – “HE RESERVED FOR SELF” – THROUGH – THE - :BLOOD” OF THE – OWN ( ONE) . ?

 THIS WORD “ONE” WAS INSERTED AS IT DOES NOT RELATE TO THE WORD “OWN.” THIS IS HOW THIS VERSE APPEARS IN NIV:

“KEEP WATCH OVER YOURSELVES AND ALL THE FLOCK OF WHICH THE “HOLY SPIRIT” HAS MADE YOU OVERSEERS. BE SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD, WHICH “HE BOUGHT” WITH “HIS OWN BLOOD.”

First, whom does the Bible say was the one who's blood was actually shed for the congregation? [GOD’S].

BUT WE HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER PASSAGE TO PROVE OUR POINT. WE CAN NOT SEE IT IN THIS VERSE OR WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO ADMIT TO THE TRUTH.

1 John 1:7 says: "However, if we are walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we do have a sharing with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us  from all sin."

Here we see that is the blood of God's Son, Jesus.

YES WE AGREE – THAT IS WHAT WE SAID IN THE ABOVE PASSAGE.

Look also at Romans 8:32: "He who did not even spare his own Son but delivered him up for us all, why will he not also with him kindly give us all other things?"

BLESSED BE HIS NAME FOR BEING SO KIND & GIVING. - OF HIMSELF FOR OUR BEHALF.

Here Paul helps us to see that God did not even spare his own Son, so that we might have everlasting life. So clearly it was Jesus that was sent by God, to shed his blood in behalf of mankind. But why is Acts 20:28 written as it is then? It is written this way, to help us realize the depth of God's love for mankind, in that he gave of his own [Son].

PLEASE SEE THE VERSE IN FULL ABOVE. BUT THE ANSWER IS – BECAUSE IT IS THE TRUTH & HE WANTS US TO HAVE FAITH IN HIS WORD.

Well, we can provide a deeper answer of this question, by looking else where in the Bible for similar sentence structures to understand the meaning of this passage here in Acts.

John 1:11 says: "He came to his own [home], but his own [people] did not take him in."

BECAUSE THE AUTHOR IS USING NWT TRANSLATION & NOT THE “TRUE WORD OF GOD” FOR BOTH KJV & NIV RENDER IT THIS WAY.

“HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT” KJV. & NIV HAS IT LIKE THIS “HE CAME TO THAT WHICH WAS HIS OWN, BUT HIS OWN DID NOT  RECEIVE HIM.”

Now in this verse, the words "home" and "people" [in brackets] are not in the original Greek. This is because the word "own" in the Greek ' ho idious' is used without the noun expressed. We can add the words "home" and "people" here, because the context implies the noun is understood as the home of Jesus and the people of Jesus. This is because the word own here implies kinship, or being a part of. Thus it would be the closest kin to Jesus.

NOW THINGS ARE UNDERSTOOD – BUT IN JOHN 1: 1-3 THEY ARE NOT UNDERSTOOD. HMMMM – WE MUST CREATE RULES FOR THOSE VERSES.

The same sentence structure is found here in Acts 20:28. The word "own" or "idious," is used at the end of the sentence without the noun expressed. So then, as in John 1:11, it is understood that the word "own" would have reference to that which was "of" God's own, or family, or the nearest relative of God, "of" his own Son Jesus. Remember, ho idious (own) is used here without the noun expressed as in John 1:11. We can find other places throughout the Bible where own is used in a similar fashion such as at John 13:1; Acts 4:23; and 24:25.

THE WORD “OWN” APPEARS IN THE GREEK – TO SHOW US THAT WHEN SOMETHING IS OURS – THEN IT IS OURS. NO MORE NO LESS. JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD AS FLESH THAT HE CREATED, THAT SIMPLE.

The word [Son], as found in brackets above, shows that the blood that was spilled for the purchase of the congregation, belonged to that which was "of" God's OWN, or his [SON].

NO – NO – NO – FOLKS – WHEN THE WORDS SAY “GOD’S OWN” THAT MEANS “GOD’S OWN” & TO NO ONE ELSE. NOW WE ARE MAKING THINGS UP AGAIN – IF WE DIDN’T THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO ADMIT THAT JESUS IS “THE GOD”, AS THIS PASSAGE TELLS US. IS JESUS “TRUE” GOD OF “FALSE” god?

Yes, of God's own, YES - in the person of his own SON, [NOT SO – THIS IS INTRODUCING ANOTHER PERSON INTO THE SUBJECT LINE THAT ISN’T THERE].  is the one whom God gave to mankind as their redeemer, by allowing his own Son, to be used as the "Lamb of God" that shed his blood in behalf of mankind. [THIS SECOND PART OF THIS SENTENCE IS TRUE].  More on the uniqueness of Jesus' relationship to his Father in the Colossians 1:15 and Revelation 3:14 sections.

 "So, because they were at disagreement with one another, they began to depart, while Paul made this one comment:" The holy spirit aptly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to YOUR forefathers, saying, 'Go to this  people and say: "By hearing, YOU will hear but by no means understand; and, looking, YOU will  look but by no means see."

This verse is used by some to say that the holy spirit is Jehovah because of this being a quote of Isaiah 6:8,9 which says: "And I began to hear the voice of Jehovah saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I proceeded to say: "Here I am! Send me [This is Isaiah asking to be sent]." And he went on to say: "Go, and you must say to this people, 'Hear again and again, O men, but do not understand; and see again and again, but do not get any knowledge.'" Here we see that the verse in Isaiah says "Jehovah says" and the text by Paul says "The holy spirit spoke." This leads some to conclude that the holy spirit is Jehovah. is this true? SURE IS!

Well, let's look at John 5:37.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DISCUSSING ACTS 5:3-4; but we went all over the Bible & now we are discussing 28:25-26 – BUT WE HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AGAIN & AGAIN, AS THE PASSAGE DOES NOT AGREE WITH OUR TEACHING.

It reads: "Also, the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. YOU have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his figure."

AND NO ONE HAS – IF WT TRANSLATED THE NWT   BIBLE CORRECTLY THERE WOULD BE NO  PROBLEMS HERE. THE GREEK WORD “KURIOS” TRANSLATES AS “LORD” & NOT JEHOVAH – SEE THE KIT & YOU WILL SEE WHAT WE MEAN.

Thus, we see that no man actually ever heard the voice of God, or saw his figure.

THE AUTHOR FINALLY HAS REALIZED THAT & NOW WILL TELL US SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT WHEN WE USE THIS REASONING TO THE BIBLE TRUTH  - THEN IN OT – WHERE JEHOVAH DOES SPEAK – THAT CAN NOT BE THE FATHER AS “NO ONE” HAS HEARD HIS VOICE. HMMMM. INTERESTING IDEA.

Some say that Moses saw Jehovah at the burning bush, and literally spoke with Jehovah, hearing his voice. Is this true? Did Moses literally hear Jehovah's voice and see his figure? [IT WAS JESUS ]-

First let us look at the text in Exodus 20:1-3 which reads: "And God proceeded to speak all these words, saying: "I am Jehovah your God, who have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves. You must not have any other gods against my face."

OK FOLKS LETS SEE WHAT THE PASSAGE ACTUALLY STATES.

VERSE 1- “AND GOD “SPOKE: ALL THESE WORDS.” [Note that God spoke these words & NOT “PROCEEDED to say” – GOD actually ‘Spoke them” big difference there] –v- 2 “I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE LAND OF SLAVERY. –V-3 YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER gods BESIDE ME.”

Here we see that the text says that Jehovah proceeded [NOT SO – GOD ACTUALLY ‘SPOKE’ THE WORDS] to speak the words of the law that was given to Moses and the nation of Israel. So then, is it correct to conclude that Moses heard Jehovah's voice?

DOES JEHOVAH LIE? NO HE DOES NOT HE IS THE TRUTH – WHOLE TRUTH & NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. BUT WE WILL TELL HIM SOMETHING THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW.

Galatians 3:19 [WHY GALATIANS?] answers this for us: "Why, then, the Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive to whom the promise had been made; and it was transmitted through angels by the hand of a mediator."

THIS GALATIANS PASSAGE TALKS ABOUT THE LAW & THE PROMISES. PLEASE READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE FROM VERSE 15- 25.

V18 “FOR IF THE INHERITANCE DEPENDS ON THE LAW, THEN IT NO LONGER DEPENDS ON A PROMISE; BUT GOD IN HIS GRACE ‘GAVE IT’ TO ABRAHAM THROUGH A PROMISE

19 WHEN, THEN, WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW? IT WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS UNTIL THE ‘SEED’ TO WHOM THE PROMISE REFERRED HAD COME. THE LAW WAS ‘PUT INTO EFFECT’ THROUGH ANGELS BY A MEDIATOR.

20 A MEDIATOR, HOWEVER, DOES NOT REPRESENT JUST ONE PARTY; BUT GOD IS ONE.”

PLEASE NOTE THAT ‘GOD GAVE’ A COVENANT TO MOSES JUST AS THE EXODUS PASSAGE STATES.

REGARDS THE ANGELS PLEASE NOT THAT IT SAYS THAT IT (THE LAW) WAS PUT INTO EFFECT BY ANGELS UNDER MOSAIC COVENANT, WHICH WAS A FORMAL ARRANGEMENT OF MUTUAL COMMITMENTS BETWEEN GOD AND ISRAEL, WITH MOSES AS THE MEDIATOR.

BUT SINCE THE PROMISE GOD COVENANTED WITH ABRAHAM INVOLVED COMMITMENT ONLY FROM GOD’S  SIDE (AND GOD IS ONE –see Deut 6:4) NO MEDIATOR WAS INVOLVED. WHAT IN EFFECT THIS IS  SAYING IS THIS – THAT THE CONTRACTING PARTY HERE IS GOD AND NOT THE MEDIATOR.

Notice, the law was transmitted through angels, NOT from Jehovah directly to Moses. Jehovah used angels as his messengers of the law covenant. [NOT SO – SEE LAST COMMENT AND REREAD THE VERSES CAREFULLY.]  See Acts 7:30,35,38 for further proof that it was an angel that Moses saw and spoke with, not Jehovah!

 LET’S SEE WHAT THE PASSAGE SAYS: 30

"AFTER 40 YEARS HAD PASSED AN ANGEL APPEARED TO MOSES OF A BURNING BUSH NEAR MOUNT SINAI.

V31 WHEN HE SAW THIS, HE WAS AMAZED AT THE SIGHT. AS HE WENT OVER TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY, HE HEARD THE ‘LORD’S’ VOICE’:

V32 I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB. MOSES TREMBLED WITH FEAR AND DID NOT DARE TO LOOK.

33 THEN THE LORD SAID TO HIM, TAKE OFF YOUR SANDALS WHERE YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND.

V34 I HAVE INDEED SEEN THE OPPRESSION ‘OF MY PEOPLE’ IN EGYPT. I HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANING AND HAVE COME DOWN TO SET THEM FREE. NOW COME, I WILL SEND YOU BACK TO EGYPT.

V35 THIS IS THE SAME MOSES WHOM THEY HAD REJECTED WITH THE WORDS, “WHO MADE YOU RULER AND JUDGE?” HE WAS SENT TO BE THEIR RULER AND DELIVERER BY GOD HIMSELF THROUGH AN ANGEL WHO APPEARED TO HIMIN A BUSH.

V36 HE LED THEM OUT OF EGYPT AND DID WONDERS AND MIRACULOUS SIGNS IN EGYPT, AT THE RED SEA AND FOR 40 YEARS IN THE DESERT.

V37 THIS IS THAT MOSES WHO TOLD THE ISRAELITES, GOD WILL SEND YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR OWN PEOPLE.

V38 HE WAS IN THE ASSEMBLY IN THE DESERT WITH THE ANGEL WHO SPOKE TO HIM ON MOUNT SINAI AND HE RECEIVED LIVING WORDS TO PASS ONTO US.”

 AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ABOVE STATEMENT THERE WAS AN ANGEL WHO APPEARED AS A FLAME AND “FROM WITHIN” THAT FLAME THE “VOICE OF GOD” APPEARED.

THE BIBLE TELL US THAT A HUMAN CANNOT SEE GOD AND LIVE, SO WHAT WE SEE HEAR IS ANGEL (FLAME) BEING USED AS A VESSEL TO PROTECT MOSES FROM SEEING GOD IN SPIRITUAL FORM.

IT WASN’T THE ANGEL THAT WAS DOING THE TALKING BUT “GOD’S VOICE FROM WITHIN” THE FLAME THAT WAS SPEAKING.

AS I KEEP SAYING YOU HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE AND THEN SEE WHAT THE PASSAGE TELLS US AND NOT JUST A FEW VERSES HERE AND THERE AND THEN MAKE THE STORY FIT AS FEEL.

So then when we see the text written as in Isaiah 6:8,9 that "Jehovah spoke" and Paul says that it was the "holy spirit," we understand that Jehovah used the holy spirit to reveal these things that  Isaiah wrote down.

NOT SO (BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKS NOW) ACTUALLY IN ISAIAH THE VERSE GOES LIKE THIS –
 “THEN I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD  SAYING…..”

WE HAVE SHOWN YOU FROM THE WORD OF GOD IT  IS THE LORD WHO IS SPEAKING IN EVERY OCCASION AND NOT AS THIS AUTHOR ALLUDES TO, ONE MINUTE IT IS JEHOVAH SPEAKING, THEN ANGELS SPEAKING,

THEN HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKING. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE PASSAGE AND THEN MAKE
UP YOUR OWN MINDS.

NOTE ALSO THAT THE AUTHOR TELLS US THAT JEHOVAH USED HOLY SPIRIT TO REVEAL THINGS TO ISAIAH!!  IN OTHER WORDS - HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT AN IMPERSONAL FORCE!!

Not that Isaiah literally heard Jehovah's voice, any more than Moses literally hear Jehovah's voice when receiving the Law.

DEAR READERS MAKE UP YOUR MIND ON THIS AFTER READING THE ENTIRE PASSAGES AND NOT JUST A VERSE HERE AND A VERSE THERE.