In Revelation 4:5 we read about “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” How strange. Isn’t there just ONE Holy Spirit? A search for understanding will therefore be in order.
Isaiah comes to the rescue in chapter 11:1-2. “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. There shall rest upon Him (1) the Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of (2) Wisdom and (3) Understanding, the Spirit of (4) Counsel and (5)Might, the Spirit of (6) Knowledge and of the (7) Fear of the LORD.”
Seven Spirits, or shall we say a Sevenfold Spirit? A bit like the seven colours that make up the spectrum of white light.
Numbers 1 & 7. The Spirit of the LORD came down upon Jesus. The Spirit of the Fear of the LORD responded back to His Father. If Jesus had the Fear of the Lord, how much more should we.
Numbers 2 & 6. Wisdom and Knowledge are always related in Scripture. For example, the gifts of the Holy Spirit – “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit.” (1 Cor.12:8) Jesus received Wisdom and Knowledge throughout His formative years, in readiness for His ministry.
Numbers 3 & 5. Understanding and Might. Jesus received directions from His Father, and then used might to perform miracles. Never the one without the other. “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19)
Number 4. Counsel. We receive the Counsel of the Lord through Jesus’ words in the Gospels and in Revelation as He spoke to the Seven Churches. (Here again, there is only ONE Church, but for the sake of pinpointing strengths and weaknesses, seven letters were written.)
Do we have the effrontery to perform our ministry some other way?
