The Holy Spirit on Assignment in Africa

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God,The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, equal in nature,
power, and glory with the Father and the Son, and is to be worshiped together with them. The Holy
Spirit is sent from the Father and the Son to apply Christ’s saving work to all who trust in him. The Spirit
applies salvation by giving life, granting faith, uniting us to Christ, sanctifying, persevering, and glorifying
all followers of Christ¹.

The Holy Spirit as God

Through out the bible, it is clear that the holy spirit is God Himself. This is seen in the attributes which
are given to the Holy Spirit in the scripture which are only attributed to God;

He is eternal: which means there was never a time he was not.

He is all powerful; " And the angel of God said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High overshadow you;..(Luke1: 35)

THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE

. The Spirit Created and Sustained Life

We observe the initial work of the Holy Spirit in Genesis. The Spirit hovered over the waters that God
made out of nothing (Genesis 1:1-2), bringing life and setting things in order.God created this world for
man to inhabit. The Trinity worked together to form this universe, including the earth, in absolute
perfection. After initially bringing the materials into being and giving them form, the Holy Spirit moved
with generating, dynamic and life-giving power “upon the face of the waters.” In a spiritual sense, this is
the same power that was evident on the Day of Pentecost … “But ye shall receive power after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8).

Because of His movement over creation the power for life and the power to sustain life surged into the
formless, void and dark universe. “By His Spirit He hath garnished the heavens” (Job 26:13). It would be
the same power that energised Adam when “the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7), for Job 33:4
states, “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” The
Hebrew word ‘ruach’ is used for wind and breath as well as for spirit. Some of cults regard the Holy Spirit
as nothing more than a ‘force’ like electricity, but He is a Person with creative power rather than an
impersonal energy³

The Spirit Spoke God’s Words

The Holy Spirit played a primary role in the Old Testament prophecy. David said that “The Spirit of the
Lord speaks through me; His words are upon my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2), and Ezekiel explained that
“The Spirit came into me as He spoke, and He set me on my feet” (Ezekiel 2:2a)

The Spirit of the Lord Gave Special Ability to Certain Individuals;

The Old Testament also records the Holy Spirit giving special ability to certain individuals. We read the
following in the Book of Exodus.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of
Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts”
(Exodus 31:1-3 NIV).

This man was given unique gifts from Spirit the Lord. Consequently, there was the acknowledgement of
the existence of the Holy Spirit as well as His ability to specially gift those whom He had chosen.

Later in Exodus we again read of this special gift.

Exo 35:31 NKJV - 31 “and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in
knowledge and all manner of workmanship

This man had the high and holy privilege of constructing the most sacred object which has ever been
created; the Ark of the Covenant.We are told that the Lord gave others special skills to do His work.
Scripture has the following to say about this

He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple
and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers (Exodus 35:35
NIV).

The Holy Spirit is able to teach special skills to individuals to do the work of the ministry. In this case, He
was intimately involved with people from the nation of Israel to construct holy vessels for service in the
tabernacle or the “tent of meeting.”

. Baptism: New Position

By the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we are placed in Christ, becoming a part of His body forever (1Co
12:13). This gives us a new position spiritually. Before we believed, we were dead in Adam; now we are
alive in Christ. We have been identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6:3–4)
and have been seated with Him in heaven (Eph 2:4–7; Col 3:1–4). When the believers in the new
testament were baptised by the Holy Spirit, they began to function in divinity. He launches them into a
new position of sonship with Christ, place of intimacy with Christ, reason Apostle Paul who called
himself a chief sinner could stand as a voice that beckons people to Christ.

The Holy Spirit in the Old testament versus new testament

From the beginning of Genesis, the Spirit is moving.l The Spirit’s activity is inseparable from the work of
God. It is an extension of God himself. Spirit is involved in creation, in bringing order, and preventing
chaos. The Spirit gives life to humanity. The Spirit communicates God’s will and Word through the
prophets. The Spirit equips craftsmen and artisans (such as Bezalel in Exodus 31:3; 35:30-35 and the
skillful women who make priestly garments in 38:3). The Spirit brings wisdom for leadership (Numbers
11), equips for service (1 Samuel. 16:13,14; Numbers11:24-30), and brings good insight (Isaiah 11:1-5;
42:l-4). The Spirit even protects God’s people through feats of strength and daring that can hardly be
imagined.
The Spirit cannot be controlled or predicted. See how the wind dries the land and divides the sea
(Genesis 8:1; Exodus 14:21). It comes with force and power. In Judges (3:10 and 11:29) the Spirit
[literally] “clothed itself with Gideon” or “took possession” (RSV) of him. The Spirit grants Samson
extraordinary strength (Judges 14:6) and overwhelms Saul (1 Samuel 10:5-11; 19:18-24). The Spirit is
sovereign. Look at Balaam — the reluctant prophet who blesses God’s people because the Spirit forbids
him to curse them. See how the Spirit controls the last words of David in 2 Samuel 23:1,2.

The Spirit is mysterious and comes in strange ways-like dreams (Genesis 41:38,39) and visions (Genesis
15:1; 46:2;Ezekiel 1:1; Daniel 1:17), guerrilla warfare of Gideon, and wild dances! In 1 Samuel 10:7-13,
King Saul becomes “a different man.” In fact, so strange is the Spirit that Amos (7:14-16) tells the
people, “I’m not a prophet!” But, God invades the world, not to scare us (although sometimes that could
be the case), but primarily to communicate. The prophets, for instance, are there to communicate the
will of God not to manipulate people or pad their pocketbooks.

In the Historical Books, the Spirit gives power for service and wisdom for leadership. Joshua (Numbers
27:18) is raised up to lead the people. The Judges (Judges 3:10) settle disputes, answer questions, solve
problems, comfort the people, and lead them to victories (all in the power of the Spirit). The Scripture
describes the activity of the Spirit as one of “rushing into” (Judges 14:6,19; 15:14) or “putting on as
clothes” (Judges 6:30; 6:34; and 1 Chronicles 12:18).
There is an outward sign that God’s presence is there. God is at work. But as spectacular as all this is, the
Spirit is only temporary and occasional.
In the Wisdom Literature, the Spirit is again seen as “God-at-Work” within the world-giving life (Job
27:3; 33:4; 34:14,15), bringing wisdom (Job 28:12-18; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10), prompting to action (Job
32:18), bringing judgment (Job 4:9; 34:14), coming in power (Job 26:12,13) and making holy
In the Prophets, the activity of the Spirit turns from the outward sign and witness to the real content of
God’s message — the redemption of His people. The work of the Spirit is especially seen in connection
with prophecy of the Messiah (the Anointed One). In Isaiah, the Spirit anoints the Servant of God (11:1-
5; 61: l-4). The seven-fold Spirit speaks of a complete and unlimited giving of the Spirit. This anointing
leads to the fulfillment of the new covenant, the restoration of God’s people, and judgment on the
unbeliever.

But, all of this only points the way to when God will bring a new heart and spirit to a revived people of
God, a time when “old men will see visions, and young men will dream dreams” and the Spirit will be
poured out upon “all people” (Joel 2:28). The prophetic hope is that a new Spirit will be give.
The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
In the Old Testament, the supernatural activity of God is seen in creative acts of the Spirit — the
creation of the earth and engraving the tablets on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:18; 40:34,35), but now the
ultimate creative act is to be seen when God becomes incarnate and “in the fullness of time, God sent
forth His son” (Galatians 4:4), born of a virgin. And the Spirit-filled prophets are there “waiting for the
consolation of Israel,” the comforting of God’s people, the restoration of the Messianic Age, the
salvation through the Messiah, the Anointed One And so Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simon, Anna, Mary —
none are surprised that one born, not of flesh, but “by the Holy Spirit” comes on the scene!

John the Baptist, the prophet who links the old and new declares, “He will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and with fire”Salvation has come. Judgment has come. The Spirit, as a dove, descends. The
sacrifice for the poor is now paid. What is predicted in the Old is now fulfilled in the New.
In John, the Paraclete (the Intercessor, Interpreter, Comforter, Mediator, the “one called along beside”)
appears. The “Spirit of truth” comes who makes known the things of Christ and glorifies Jesus, who
teaches us of God and convicts the world of sin. Here, the breath of God regenerates human souls
(3:5,6), leads to true worship (4:24), gives life (6:63), and promises greater things to come (7:38,39) for
“out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” John 14:26, “the Holy Spirit will teach you
[about me]” and will “abide with you and be in you” (14:17).
HOLY SPIRIT ON ASSIGNMENT IN AFRICA.

Christianity was present in Africa 1000 years before the first European Colonialists arrived on African
shores. A whole millennia before any European nation docked their ships, Christianity had been
flourishing in Africa—the gospel was already spreading in Africa, by African heralds!

I am not just talking about the Northern African countries that were part of the Roman Empire and so
were Christianised in the first few centuries of Christianity’s spread. No, Christianity initially travelled in
three directions from Jerusalem: west into Europe, east into Asia, and south into Africa.Eusebius even
wrote that the Gospel writer, Mark, came to Alexandria as early as 43 AD. In 330 AD, King Ezana of
Ethiopia declared Christianity its national religion.

To become the nation’s official religion, it’s likely that Christianity was already established in the country
a long time before. For comparison, it took two and a half centuries for Christianity to become the
official religion of the Roman Empire. We have some clues to how Ethiopia was reached. Eusebius and
Origen, both based in Northern Africa, wrote of Christian preaching occurring in Ethiopia in the 3rd and
4th centuries.(Adversus Haereses, 3.12.8). And going back further still, Luke writes of the 1st century
conversion of an Ethiopian high official (Acts 8:26-40). Could this official have started the first church in
Ethiopia?But, from all this, we can say that Christianity has been established in Ethiopia for at least 1600
years—possibly even 2000.

The shaping of the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds by AFRICAN

The approach of African, especially Athanasius against heresy is well recognized. C.E.A.C. (2010, 2.5)
affirms Surprising Role of heresy: The major dogmatic battles with heresy were fought out in Africa
before they were received ecumenically. Gnosticism, Arianism, Montanism, Marcionism, and
Manichaenism were all thoroughly and substantively argued as problems of biblical interpretation in
Africa before these arguments reached clear definitions in the North. What is difficult to see is that this
controversy is thoroughly African in character, language, and spirit. The astute reasoning set forth by
Athanasius had already long resided quietly in the apostolic memory and tradition, but was articulated
by the leading bishop of Africa in opposition to another influential African, Arius.

Among conflicts that were first settled in African Synods before Nicaea were issues on penitence,
diocesan boundaries, Episcopal authority, and ordination, as well as Christology and teaching on the
trinity. The main voices in these debates were African. They sorted out the ecumenical acceptability of
the views of Sabellius and Tertullian and Arius and Athanasius and Origen— all Africans. Ecclesiology and
penitential patterns that became normative for Europe were first tested in Africa.

It is known that Athanasius was present as a deacon and that the Council of Nicea was deciding the issue
of Christ’s relation to the Father—and issue that had its origins in Alexandria, Egypt in Africa. Most of
the energy of the church in the first few centuries was concerned with the doctrine of Christ and his
relationship to the Father. That, in fact, is why the first ecumenical or world-wide council was called in
325 A.D. And Africans were very well represented at the council. In fact, the chief person who spoke on
behalf of the church was a deacon by the name of Athanasius. He spoke in defense of the Son’s equality
with the Father, and the result was what is known as the Nicene Creed which many churches, including
my own, say every Sunday in church as a summary of what Scripture teaches about God.The Africans,
Athanasius inclusive, stood the controversy whose arguments were very important in the struggle to
define the Trinity and the role of the Holy Spirit.

Amongst these mighty men, Augustine stands head and shoulders above the rest. He was a prolific
writer, leaving behind 113 books, 218 letters, and over 500 sermons. Two of his books, Confessions and
City of God are considered classics and shaped theological thinking for many centuries to come. A true
indigenous North African is one of the greatest theologians Christendom has ever had. we also have
Irenaeus of Lyons, writing in 180 AD. He wrote that a ‘Simon Backos’ preached ‘the coming in the flesh
of God’ in his homeland of Ethiopia
Reference:

1. Taylor, Justin. “How Do We Know the Holy Spirit Is a Person?” The Gospel Coalition. Last modified
December 12, 2013.

2. Thomas Nelson, the holy spirit in the old testament.

Living word bible church, the creative power of the holy spirit, retrieved from
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3. Donald L. Tucker, Th.M, the holy spirit in the old and new testament( Enrichment journal
4. Billy Graham, the holy Spirit:(warner communications company: USA,1980)

5. Religious of C.S.M.V., St. Athanasius on the Incarnation, the Treatise De Incarnatione Verbi Dei.
London: A.R. Mowbray & Vo Ltd, 1953.17.

6. Archibald, Robertson. Athanasius: Christology of the later fathers. The library of Christian classic,
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7. Athanasius. On the Incarnation: The Treatise De Incarnatione Verbi Dei. Crestwood, New York: St.
Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1953.

8. Babalola, E.O. Christianity in West Africa, Ibadan: Scholar Publications International (Nig.), Ltd, 1976.

9. CEAC. How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western
Christianity. Seminar I: Introduction, Center for Early Africa Christianity, 2010.