Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

LESSON 4 | GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT / 247

The root meaning of Providence is to foresee, or to provide. The question of providence concerns how God thinks ahead to care for all creatures. . . . God’s providing looks ahead for needs as yet unrecognized by creatures. But more than simply foresight, providence has to do with the active, daily caring of God for the world in its hazards.

~ Thomas C. Oden. The Living God . p. 271.

b. The work of the Holy Spirit in providence: the Life-giver. (1) The Spirit is at work to create, renew, and provide for all the forms of life that exist within the created order.

Throughout the universe the

immense forces that are at work in suns, stars, and galaxies are energized by the Spirit of God. All energy and power are there by virtue of the divine Spirit. ~ J. Rodman Williams

(2) OT: Ps. 104.29-30; Isa. 32.14-15 (3) NT: John 6.63; Rom. 8.2, 6, 11

2. The scriptural symbols of the Holy Spirit reveal him as Life-giver.

a. Water – the source of life. (1) Isa. 44.2-4a (2) John 7.37-39 (3) John 4.14

4

T heology and E th i c s

(4) 1 Cor. 6.11 (cf. Titus 3.5) (5) Rev. 22.17

See Ray Pritchard, Names of the Holy Spirit . Chicago: Moody Press, 1995. pp. 57, 69, 77, 100, 187.

b. Oil – the sustaining of life In biblical times, olive oil was used for both food and medicine as well as for fuel for lamps which lit the house. It was so vital to daily life that it became a symbol for prosperity. One could not think of oil without thinking of healing, security, and abundance. It sustained life.