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Fruitful Living

The ministries of the Holy Spirit

• The dove manifests the Holy Spirit

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise – Ephesians 2:11

INTRODUCTION

Last week we studied two of the various ministries of the Holy Spirit.

  1. His Ministry concerning the universe.
  2. His ministry concerning the scriptures.

We continue our study on the ministries of the Holy Spirit. Please enjoy and share it with others!

1. HIS MINISTRY CONCERNING ISRAEL

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He came upon Israel’s leaders. No less than sixteen Old Testament individuals are said to have experienced the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

  1. Upon Joseph

So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” – Genesis 41:38.

  • Upon Moses

I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone. – Numbers 11:17

  • Upon Joshua

The Lord replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. – Numbers 27:18.

  • Upon Othniel

The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. – Judges 3:10.

  • Upon Gideon

Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. – Judges 6:34.

  • Upon Jephthah

At that time the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and from there he led an army against the Ammonites. – Judges 11:29.

  • Upon Samson

Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he returned to his father’s home. – Judges 14:19.

  • Upon Saul: After he was anointed king by Samuel and Just before his victory at Jabesh-gilead.

i) When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. – 1 Samuel 10:10.

ii) When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. – 1 Samuel 11:6

  1. Upon David

Unlike Saul’s case, we are never told that the Holy Spirit departed from David. However, on one occasion David was afraid he might indeed withdraw himself. ‘So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.’ – 1 Samuel 16:13.

  • Upon Elijah

I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth. – 1 Kings 18:12.

  • Upon Elisha

 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. – 2 Kings 2:15.

  • Upon Ezekiel

As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me. – Ezekiel 2:2

  • Upon Daniel

I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. – Daniel 4:9.

  • Upon Micah

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, – Micah 3:8

  • Upon Azariah the prophet

The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. – 2 Chronicles 15:1

  • Upon Zachariah the High Priest

Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” – 2 Chronicles 24:20

2. He came upon Israel’s elders

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again. – Numbers 11:25

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  • He came upon Israel’s tabernacle

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. – Exodus 40:34

  • He came upon Israel’s Temple

When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. – 1 Kings 8:10.

  • He led Israel through the desert

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. – Nehemiah 9:20

  • He will come upon Israel during the tribulation

Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. – Revelation 7:2-4

7. He will come upon Israel during the millennium

Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.  I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’” – Ezekiel 37:13-14.

Culled from Willmington’s Guide to the Bible

Stay blessed!

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For further enquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0268130615 or 0243588467

Email:  saltnlightministries@gmail.com

Website: saltandlightgh.org

By Dr. Joyce Aryee, the author

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Fruitful Living

 Has man lost the essence of his creation? A reflective call to rediscover our divine purpose (Part 1)

Introduction: Rediscoveringour purpose

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and ask for His mercy. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.

In today’s increasingly materialistic and turbulent world, a profound ques­tion echoes louder than ever: Has man lost the essence of his creation? It is a question that compels every thinking soul to pause and reflect deeply.

In the midst of scientific break­throughs, booming technology, and eco­nomic pursuits, we must ask ourselves: are we fulfilling the sacred purpose for which we were created? Are we still living as stewards of Allah on earth, or have we strayed from our divine assign­ment?

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This article explores the Qur’anic foundation of man’s creation, the noble position he holds, and the deviation from this divine path in modern times. It further calls for a return to spiritual consciousness and outlines practical steps to help realign mankind with his intended purpose.

Man: Allah’s Vicegerent on Earth

The Qur’an states: “And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a vicegerent (Khalifah)…’” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30).

This declaration marks the beginning of man’s honorable journey on earth. Mankind was created from clay, as re­corded in Surah Al-Hijr:

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“And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud. And the jinn We created before from scorching fire. And [mention] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.’ So when I have propor­tioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:26-29).

This prostration of angels was not to worship Adam, but to recognize the honor Allah had bestowed upon man. It signified a spiritual hierarchy in which man, though of earthly origin, carries a divine trust and responsibility.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized this dignity. He taught that every human is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah) and bears the potential to fulfill their purpose as a servant of Allah and custodian of His creation.

The Purpose of Creation

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Allah did not create man in vain. The Qur’an states clearly: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56).

“And they were not commanded ex­cept to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.” (Surah Al-Bayyinah, 98:5).

Another profound verse underscores that life was not created aimlessly:

“And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.”(Surah Sad, 38:27).

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These verses convey that creation is intentional, meaningful, and divinely ordained. The essence of man’s cre­ation lies in his recognition of Allah, his conscious submission to the Divine Will, and his dedication to a life of worship, service, and ethical living.

Worship in Islam is not confined to rituals alone but extends to every as­pect of human existence—how we earn, govern, lead our families, engage with society, and preserve the environment. Every righteous deed done with sincer­ity for Allah’s pleasure becomes an act of worship.

Imam Al-Ghazali explains in Ihya Ulum al-Din that true worship stems from knowledge of Allah and a heart that submits lovingly to His will. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah likewise stresses that man’s highest honor lies in fulfilling the purpose of servitude (`ubudiyyah) to Allah, which brings inner peace and divine elevation.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) demonstrated this perfect balance of worship and engagement in worldly affairs. He was a husband, a leader, a statesman, and a worshipper who said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if they are few.”

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(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6464)

Living in harmony with this divine purpose not only brings personal fulfillment but also collective peace. Conversely, neglecting it results in moral confusion, injustice, and spiritual emptiness.

Therefore, recognizing and living by our purpose is not a luxury but a neces­sity. It is the key to real success in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

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Fruitful Living

 Trusting God with our anxieties (final)

 Jesus not only instructs us not to worry — He explains why worry­ing is counterproductive to our well-being:

❖ Worry is blind. It re­fuses to learn from nature, history, or personal experience. Birds and flow­ers testify to God’s faithfulness. The history of Israel is filled with God’s miraculous provision — from Egypt to the Red Sea to the Promised Land (Deut. 8:14–15).

❖ Worry refuses to learn the lesson of life. Time and again, God has helped us bear the unbear­able and overcome the insurmount­able. He strengthens us even when we reach the breaking point — and keeps us from breaking.

❖ Worry is irreligious. It stems not from our external cir­cumstances, but from a heart full of fear and distrust. Yet Scripture de­clares:“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

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The antidote to worry: El shaddai

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righ­teous run to it and are safe.” One of the most comforting names of God is El Shaddai, which first appears in Genesis 17:1 and appears 218 times in the Bible.

❖ El means “Strong One.”

❖ Shaddai means “The Breasted One.”

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Together, El Shaddai paints a picture of God as:

❖ Our Strong Nourisher

❖ Strength Giver

❖ Satisfier

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❖ All-Bountiful Supplier

❖ Fulfiller of Needs

❖ The Life-Giver who brings dead things back to life

(e.g., Abraham and Sarah conceiving Isaac at 150 and 90 years respectively)

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In knowing who God is, we find the courage to release our anxieties. If He is truly El Shaddai — strong, sufficient, and sustaining — then we are safe in His hands.

Practical steps to peace

In Philippians 4:6–7, we are given a divine prescription for peace:

1. Stop being anxious and fretful. Recognize the emo­tional and spiritual toll of worry.

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2. Go to God in prayer about everything. Nothing is too big or small.

3. Pray for yourself. God is your Father — your relation­ship with Him is personal.

4. Thank Him as you pray. Gratitude builds faith and reminds us of His past faithfulness.

When we do this, God’s peace — not the world’s peace — will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

CONCLUSION

We are living in uncertain times. Pressures abound and anxieties easily multiply. But as children of God, we are called to walk a different path — one of quiet confidence, steady trust, and daily surrender.

God’s Word is clear: worry doesn’t help — but trust in God brings peace. Let us shift our focus from fear to faith, from anxiety to adoration. Let us anchor our hearts in the unchang­ing character of El Shaddai — our Al­mighty God — and rest in His perfect care.

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By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author

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