Expert: Dennis Herman - 5/30/2011

Question
is it true that the holy spirit is a person in Godhead??
I believe that the Holy Spirit personality is same with the Father and the Son but i confuse with it after i have read Zachariah 6:13 where the Holy Spirit is not mention as the third person in the Godhead..
Can you please give me some explanation and thought about this verse which is not mention to the Holy Ghost...

Answer
I've just been doing a study on the 9th commandment, you shall not bear false witness.  In a court of law we are asked to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  If you look at the subject on those terms, withholding truth is the same as bearing false witness.  I used the trial of Jesus as an example.  The 2 witnesses twisted Jesus' words by withholding a part of His message.  

I think the same is true when I read some studies and comments on God's personality, and the Holy Spirit.  Being only human and subjected to constant sin, and temptation, we can not hope to completely understand God's character.  When people imply they have the answer, they are bearing false witness of the Father, and the Holy Spirit.  

God is named the FATHER to imply a very close personal relationship.  Like an earthly father, one child may be drawn more to one aspect of the father, than the other children.  There is nothing wrong with people expressing their relationship with God, but when they imply that is the only way to relate to God, or understand Him, it is crossing the line into dangerous territory.   A relationship with God is supposed to be a personal experience.  People have no business dictating that relationship to others.  Guiding is one thing, dictating is quite another.  


Zechariah 6:12-13 KJV  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:  (13)  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

The BRANCH, represents Jesus.  The temple has a few interpretations.  It may be God's followers, and it can also represent the relationship, and service to God.  When considering Jesus bearing the glory, remember some of the parables and lessons He taught, such as the servant is not above the master, and He came to serve, not to be served.  These are illustrations of God, and how He leads His people.  

The Bible has so many lessons and illustrations we could never hopes to remember them all.  Lessons have a way of showing themselves based on present circumstances.  This is why it is important to develop a relationship with God, and allow the Spirit to reveal these lessons.